In early 1977, one of the founders of Lanarkshire’s Burma Star Association, Mr Bill Robertson of Blantyre, sadly died at the young age of only 51 after a long illness.
He was born and bred in Coatbridge and left school to go into the Royal Navy at the outbreak of the War. He saw action, serving on minesweepers in the Far East. He married Isa McArdle of High Blantyre in 1942.
At the end of WW2, both he and his wife joined the Merchant Navy and served together on the S.S Laurentia. He was quartermaster and his wife a stewardess for 5 years.
They moved to 176 Auchinraith Road, Blantyre in 1954 and Bill became a fishmonger then later an Excavator driver.
He was a founder member of the Lanarkshire Burma Star Association and was their Welfare officer for the 9 years before his death, also Branch Secretary. The Burma Star Association was a British veterans’ association formed to bring together and support veterans of the Burma Campaign during World War II. The Burma Campaign, fought between 1942 and 1945, was a significant theater of war in the Asian and Pacific regions during WWII, involving British, Indian, Commonwealth, and Allied forces against the Japanese Imperial Army. The Association provided comradeship, support, and welfare services to veterans who served in this campaign, as well as to their families.
Bill was a member of Blantyre Lodge Kilwinning No 557. Representatives from all over Scotland to attend his funeral. He was survived by his wife, 2 sons and 5 daughters.
On Social Media, the following comments were received on Facebook:
Stephen Mccall Another great story. Knew Isa and daughters Alison and Margaret also Billy.
Mary O’Brien My uncle he was a lovely man
Barbara Barton Norris God Bless him
Blantyre Project Bill was the father of Margaret who runs ‘Dreams to Themes’ who we buy our Pit Memorial and Remembrance wreaths from.