Donald Alexander Robertson – Royal Corps of Signals

Sergeant Donald Alexander Robertson – Royal Corps of Signals

Donald Alexander Robertson

Donald Alexander Robertson was born in Swansea in 1919, the son of Donald Alexander and Rosina Haskins. His early childhood unfolded within the centre of the town, shaped by a large and busy household that reflected both the challenges and resilience of post‑war Swansea families.

The 1921 Household at Mansel Street

1921 Census

By the 1921 Census, the Robertson family were living at 3 Mansel Street, Swansea. Donald himself was absent from the census return, but his mother Rosina, aged 38, was listed as head of the household and responsible for its daily running. Present were her children: Hubert A., 14, employed as a Credit Draper; Iris, 13, attending school full‑time; Jessie, 7, attending school part‑time; the twins Malcolm and Donald, aged 3; and Sidney, aged 1. This multigenerational, working household formed the foundation of Donald’s early life, providing both stability and the close family ties that would later shape his wartime decisions.

Marriage and Military Service

As a young man, Donald entered military service during the Second World War, serving with distinction as a Serjeant in the Royal Corps of Signals. In 1941, he married Joyce W. Laroche, establishing a family even as the pressures of wartime duty intensified.

Service Across Three Regiments

Donald’s military career was marked by movement across several branches of the Army, each reflecting his determination to serve where he was most needed. He enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1938, later transferring to the Welsh Guards, with whom he took part in the rearguard action at Boulogne before Dunkirk, where he was severely wounded. Refusing to let injury end his service, he subsequently transferred to the Signals, seeking to be stationed nearer his twin brother in Africa. His skill and perseverance earned him the rank of Serjeant.

Donald Alexander Robertson
Oystermouth Cemetery, Mumbles
credit - findagrave

Educated at Dynevor Secondary School, Donald was one of four brothers serving in the Army, a family deeply woven into Swansea’s wartime contribution.

Final Illness, Passing, and Burial

Donald died on 26 February 1944 at a North Wales military hospital, following a long illness contracted while serving in Africa. His death notice described a soldier whose service had been marked by endurance, injury, and unwavering commitment. He was 25 years of age.

Donald Alexander Robertson was laid to rest at Oystermouth Cemetery, joining the long roll of Swansea men whose lives were claimed by the war, and whose stories remain part of the city’s enduring memory.