(Kent Simmonds/CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

Col. Robbie Robertson

Late WWII and Korean War veteran sent off in military fashion

Sep 18, 2021 | 4:29 PM

KAMLOOPS — A veteran of the Second World War (WWII) and the Korean War was finally laid to rest in military fashion.

Col. William “Robbie” Robertson was also the past commanding officer of the Rocky Mountain Rangers Regimental Association and former president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 52. Robertson passed away due to COVID-19 at age 97 in November 2020.

A funeral parade for Robertson started in Riverside Park and went through Kamloops’ downtown core on Saturday (Sept. 18) – where his family, a veteran escort, the pipe band, and flags accompanied him – and concluded with a service at his grave at Hillside Cemetery.

Mike Young, president of the Rocky Mountain Rangers Regimental Association, says it was great for Robertson’s family and the Regimental Association to formally say goodbye after nearly a year-long wait.

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“He was bigger than life,” Young told CFJC Today. “Through his war experiences and being able to as the commanding officer of the regiment and an honourary colonel… he was a mentor to so many people.”

Robertson served in the Canadian Military in some capacity for more than 60 years. His final posting was in Vancouver, and he decided to make Kamloops his home after that where he worked as a real estate agent. According to Young, Robertson was approached to put the uniform back on and become the commanding officer of the Rocky Mountain Rangers.