The second child, and eldest son of John Christian "Chris" Robertson (1868-1949),[2] and Mary Robertson (1872-1954), née Reardon,[3][4][5] Harold John Robertson was born at Kensington Hill, Victoria on 9 April 1895.
He married Rebecca Mary Shaw (1896-1967) (later Mrs. Patrick Corbett) at Middle Park, Victoria, on 21 April 1920.[6][7]
Full-forward Harold Robertson kicked 38 goals in 1919, which was enough to top South Melbourne's goalkicking.
Robertson played in South Melbourne's 1918 premiership team, kicking two goals from a half forward flank in their five-point victory — 9.8 (62) to 7.15 (57) — over Collingwood in the 1918 VFL Grand Final.
Robertson's 14 goals was the first time that a South Melbourne player had kicked 10 or more goals in a match. It was not until 1933 that his feat was equalled, with Bob Pratt kicking 10 goals twice — 10 goals on 8 July 1933 and 11 goals on 15 July 1933 — and, then, setting a new record with his kicking 15 goals against Essendon, at the Lake Oval, on 19 May 1934.
Swimming
In his youth, Harold, like his younger brother Hans, was an accomplished swimmer.[11][12]
Death
Following his retirement from football, he suffered with illness over a long period of time, and died at Albert Park, Victoria, on 19 March 1935, at the age of 39.[13][14]
References
^"Family Notices". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 20 March 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 24 September 2014.