ROBERTSON, Duncan Glenerochie

Duncan Glenerochie Robertson (youngest child) was born in 1883 to Robert Robertson (Robertson & Sons Jewellers, Little Collins Street West) and Clara Jane Robertson (nee Low). The family resided at 'Archdale', George Street, Fitzroy. Both parents died in 1887. It is unknown who cared for he and his older brother Septimus Archdale, until they moved to Brighton in 1893 to live with his newly married half sister and husband. In this year he commenced at Brighton Grammar School matriculating in 1897.  In April 1901 he enlisted as a Corporal in the Boer War where he spent 9 months with the Australian Company 2nd Battallion Infantry Brigade. At this time his occupation was listed as a clerk. Duncan graduated from Edinburgh University with MB Ch B in 1909, then an MD in 1912. He worked as a medical officer at Lever's (later Unilever) soap factory in Merseyside. Returning to Australia in 1913, he joined the Commonwealth Department of Health as Chief Quarantine Officer in West Australia. Duncan first enlisted for WW1 in July 1915 joining the AAMC. He embarked on the HMAT Orsova for the UK, being posted on the No.2 Hospital Ship 'Kanowna' off Egypt. In December 1915 he was demobilised returning to Australia to act as Chief Health Officer, Tasmania. On January 21st, 1916 he married Ruth Clytie Harriet Beard from Cronulla, NSW at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne.

When Duncan reenlisted in May 1918 he held the position of Chief Quarantine Officer, Victoria residing with his wife in East Melbourne. He embarked mid July 1918 on the HMAT A30 'Borda' for the UK. On arrival he spent 3 months at Aust Army Headquarters in Southall before proceeding to Abbeville, France to join the 3rd Australian General Hospital. Until February 1919 he served with the 12th and 13th Field Ambulance in France. Arriving back in London he was employed at the No.1 Australian Dermotological Hospital, Bulford until August, 1919, when he was granted leave to work at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin. In mid November he disembarked for Australia from Liverpool on the 'Ypirunga'. Duncan went on to become a noted physician who was widely published in industrial hygiene and epidemiology. He was an active member of the Hookworm Campaign sponsored by the International Health Board of the Rockefellar Foundation. He spent several months at Harvard as part of this international project. Dr. Robertson continued his distinguished public health career becoming the Director, Division of Industrial Hygiene for the Commonwealth Department of Health. On June 9th, 1929, aged 45, he died suddenly from a heart attack whilst on a work trip in Perth, where he is buried in the Anglican section of the Karrakatta Cemetery.