John William Robertson (15 July 1892 – 8 September 1982) was an Australian rules football player for . His career was cut short due to World War I and the injuries obtained in the conflict.

Family The son of John George Robertson (1868-), and Elizabeth Lucy Robertson (1865-1940), née Tuttle,Deaths: Robertson, The Adelaide Chronicle, (Thursday, 24 October 1940), p.21. John William Robertson was born in Semaphore South, South Australia on 15 July 1892.

He married Ruby Mary Emily Kelsey (1895-1975) in 1919. They had one child: a daughter, Joan Mary Robertson (born 1921).

Football Port Adelaide (SAFL) Robertson made his South Australian National Football League (SANFL) senior debut for Port Adelaide Football Club in 1912.Port Adelaide Team (photograph), The (Adelaide) Chronicle, (Saturday, 28 September 1912), p.32.The Football Champions (photograph), The (Adelaide) Journal, (Monday, 21 September 1914), p.2.

Interstate football He quickly became a leading player in South Australia and was chosen for the South Australian squad for the 1914 ANFC Carnival, held in Sydney.

The best player from each state in the carnival was awarded a gold medal known as the Referee Medal (after the sporting newspaper The Referee and Robertson was awarded the South Australian gold medal.

Military service He enlisted in the First AIF, and served overseas in France during World War One; and was wounded in action.Nominal Roll.Embarkation Roll.Service Record.326th Casualty List: South Australia: Wounded, The (Adelaide) Observer, (Saturday, 28 July 1917), p.34. He returned to Australia on the S.S. Swakopmund on 29 July 1919.Returning Troops: The Swakopmund, The (Adelaide) Advertiser, (Saturday, 19 July 1919), p.10.Torrens Defeat Port, The (Adelaide) Daily Herald, (Friday, 1 August 1919), p.7.

Death He died at his residence at Plenty, Victoria on 8 September 1982.Deaths: Robertson, The Age, (Friday, 10 September 1982), p.15.

See also 1914 Sydney Carnival 1916 Pioneer Exhibition Game

Notes

References Studio portrait at Studio portrait of members of 31st Battery, 8th Field Artillery Brigade (P11373.001), collection of the Australian War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Roll, Gunner John William Robertson (20007), collection of the Australian War Memorial. First World War Nominal Roll, Sergeant John William Robertson (20007), collection of the Australian War Memorial. First World War Service Record, Sergeant John William Robertson (20007), National Archives of Australia.

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