Lieutenant Colonel John Charles Robertson (MC, VD) (28 October 1894 – 18 January 1942) was a senior officer in the Australian Army who served in both the First and Second World Wars.

Robertson died from gunshot wounds and other injuries when he fell off a motorbike after returning to his battalion from a brigade conference on Sunday 18 January 1942.

Nine days later on 14 August, Lieutenant Colonel William Bolton, the Commander of the 70th Infantry Regiment, formed the 8th Battalion, 2nd Division AIF.

On 23 July 1915, he enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) as a Private because it was necessary at that time for holders of commissioned rank to be more than twenty-three years of age.

[citation needed] After the war, Robertson was assigned to administrative work at headquarters in London for five months prior to embarkation home.

He was a buyer for Pettitt Robertson until the mid-1920s, travelling to Tasmania, New South Wales and all over Victoria inspecting and establishing contracts with companies such as the Melbourne Harbour Trust, the Tramways Board, and the Electricity Commission.

He added petrol bowsers on the corner of Sharp and Pakington Streets, and bought another block on the other side of the house to carry more stock.

The 2/30th would be a mobile unit located near the Jemaluang junction, and the 2/29th would be responsible for the Bukit Langkap iron mine area and the airfields at Kahang and Kluang.

On Monday 15 September 1941, the 2/29th moved from Singapore to the Segamat area (including Kluang, Kahang, Buloh Kasap and Jemaluang) where it would be based, train and prepare to defend.

[34][35] The Reverend Hamilton Aiken of Ipoh made a home movie of the 2/29th marching and conducting other training activities at Segamat on 11 October 1941.

[38][39] In the first few days of January 1942, General Bennett outlined a plan to defend Johore State following the withdrawal of British and Indian forces from the north of the country.

[42] The poorly trained 45th Indian Brigade under Brigadier Duncan arrived in Malaya on 11 January, the day that Japanese forces occupied Kuala Lumpur.

[43][44][42] By the morning of Monday 12 January, the 2/29th Battalion (less C and D Companies) was at Buloh Kasap, a small village on the Muar River about halfway between Segamat and Batu Anam.

[45] On the morning of 13 January, Robertson, the Adjutant (Morgan), the Intelligence Officer (Wastell), and the 2/29th’s A and B Company Commanders reconnoitred the area up to five miles north of Gemas.

The brigade’s 5/18th Royal Garhwal Rifles was located just north of the Bakri crossroads, with one company at Simpang Jeram further down the road towards Muar.

The regiment crossed the river upstream and quickly moved towards Simpang Jeram, pushing the company of the 5/18th Royal Garhwal Rifles back towards the Bakri crossroads.

Japanese troops from the 4th Regiment in small coastal craft travelled by sea down the coast, coming ashore at Parit Jawa and Batu Pahat in an encircling action designed to cut the road from Muar to Yong Peng.

These sources allege that John 'pleaded with Bennett to be allowed to take his Battalion into action for the first time and that his request was granted on the understanding that he would be relieved at the end of 24 hours'.

[62][63] The 2/29th Battalion War Diary includes a secret report accessible at the time only to officers, indicating that it was aware of the potential for both tanks and flanking activity.

[68][69][70][71][72][73][74] While these events were taking place, the 2/19th Battalion was moving from Yong Peng to the Bakri crossroads, having been ordered by Bennett to provide support for the planned offensive against the Japanese.

Anderson reported to Brigade HQ at 0945 hours, noting that ‘owing to a breakdown of comms [communications] the tactical position was not very clear’.

Soon after 1000 hours, Japanese infantry, including ‘a couple of hundred’ troops on bicycles, advanced towards B and C Companies with machine gunners in front – likely another distracting action.

[59] A small number of Japanese soldiers had managed to infiltrate unnoticed between the 2/29th and 2/19th Battalions, including on a slight bend in the road on the other side from the swamp.

On his return from the conference at Brigade HQ riding as a pillion passenger on a motorbike, Robertson was shot at by Japanese soldiers from the side of the road.

The Despatch Rider, VX36113 Private Sydney Thomas Bauckham made it back to the battalion, with one arm wounded, and ‘a strained smile on his face’.

[citation needed] Robertson was seriously wounded, having been hit by at least one bullet in the knee or thigh and likely with critical head injuries received when he fell off the motorcycle.

Consistent with the photographer’s account reported three days later, Captain Brand stated that after arrival at the RAP, Robertson ‘was lifted out of the carrier, badly wounded and only partly conscious.

Some were killed or died in the jungle, some ended up in Pudu Prison in Kuala Lumpur, two small groups managed to escape by boat (one reached Australia, the other was captured in Sumatra), and a couple joined the guerrilla forces fighting against the Japanese.

He was treasurer of the Alba Social Club which, as a result of its activities, distributed some hundreds of pounds among Geelong charities.’[92] In his letter of 23 January 1942 to Robertson's widow Dorothy, General Gordon Bennett that, 'under his able leadership [the 2/29th] stopped an enemy tank attack at a vital point thereby preventing a severe blow to the whole force in Malaya.

He had been discussing the situation with a senior member of the staff, and was moving forward again, on the back of a motor bicycle [sic] to his leading troops, when he was shot and killed.