Fonds 0109 - David J. Robertson, Capt. (Ret'd), fonds

David James Robertson was born at Clive, Alberta (Ponoka area) in 1928, the oldest son of Alexander Reid Robertson from Dundee, Scotland and Harriet Elvira Wiltse of Grand Falls, North Dakota, USA. His father immigrated to Canada in 1912 and his mother came from the States in 1919.
“Robbie” showed an early interest in medical and military affairs. He took his Junior First Aid Course at age 8, and by age 17 was a member of the 17 Field Dressing Station Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC) militia. In 1947 he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps as a Private. He trained as a hygiene technician at Camp Borden, Ontario, and in 1949 married Marie Alma Kathleen Kennedy from Toronto.
After spending some time training the Special Forces soldiers going to the Korean War, in 1951 Corporal Robertson himself went to Korea with the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group which was part of the First Commonwealth Division. He was the NCO in charge of an ADS (Advanced Dressing Station) Night Shift, then a CCP (Casualty Clearing Post) supporting the Royal 22nd Regiment. In 1952 he returned to Canada.
Back in Camp Borden, Sergeant Robertson taught Preventive Medicine for five years until he was sent to Germany as a brigade hygiene technician for the 27th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group in 1957. In 1959 he was transferred back to Canada where he added the skills of medical accountant, senior NCO for an army cadet hospital in Vernon, B.C., and small arms instructor, and RCAMC instructor’s course to his resume. He also spent 13 months in Indo-China as a hygiene technician and medical assistant for the Canadian Delegation before returning to Borden as an instructor in Preventive Medicine at the RCAMC school. He also taught at the Nuclear Biological-Chemical Warfare School.
In 1967, Robertson was commissioned as a Lieutenant and sent to National Defence Headquarters as a Career Manager Medical Other Ranks. In 1970 he was promoted to the rank of Captain and returned to the Training School, now called the Canadian Forces Medical Services School (CFMSS). The remainder of his career was spent teaching Preventive and Nuclear Medicine. After his retirement in 1977, Capt. Robertson moved to Grande Prairie, AB and put his military training to use in the public sector as a safety inspector in the oil field. He has four sons: David born in 1949, Donald in 1951, Steven in 1955 and Charles Anthony (Tony) in 1957.