Born in the parish of Longside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland on May 31, 1889, Pte Robertson worked as a carpenter before joining the CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Force) on September 18, 1914, near the start of the war, and at the age of 25. He noted on his attestation papers that he did have prior military experience, serving for 3 years with the 5th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, Territorial Force, which was a part-time volunteer service similar to the Canadian Militia and modern Reserves. He joined the 48th Highlanders in Toronto, Canada and his initial address was noted as 112 Elgin St., Thornhill, Ontario.

Pte Robertson’s written next-of-kin was Mrs Robertson, likely his mother as he wrote he was not married, who was in South Street, Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

On April 9, 1917, Pte Robertson was injured with a gunshot wound to his left thigh which fractured his femur and grazed by shrapnel on his upper left arm which left a scar. Over multiple months in hospitals and operations, the fractured part of his femur was deemed too damaged, noted as “necrosed” multiple times in medical documents and thus had to be removed. He was eventually released from the hospital in January 29, 1918 and officially discharged due to medical disability on November 6, 1918 with the disability noted as: “Impaired Function Left Knee”. At some point later in 1918 he did marry as he updated his next-of-kin documents in June 1, 1918 to: Mrs. J. Robertson – Wife – 28 Wellington Lane, Hull, Yorkshire, England. Though he also later makes an update in September 1, 1918 for his pay to be sent to his wife with her new information as: Mrs. I. L. Robertson – Wife, at Dufferin St., Toronto, Canada.

His final documents for pension and remaining pay by the post discharge office notes in 1919 and afterwards notes his address as Audrey Ave., Guelph, Canada.