Eric Robertson (athlete), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Eric Robertson (athlete)

British marathoner

Date of Birth: 12-Sep-1892

Place of Birth: St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Date of Death: 01-Jan-1975

Profession: marathon runner

Nationality: United Kingdom

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Eric Mackenzie Robertson (12 September 1892 – 1975) was a Newfoundland marathoner, who competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium for Great Britain.
He was born in St.
John's, Newfoundland. When the Great War broke out, Robertson volunteered immediately and joined the first contingent of the Newfoundland Regiment, shipping out on the SS Florizel on 10 October 1914.
He served in Gallipoli, before being transferred with his regiment to the Western Front.
On the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916, at Beaumont-Hamel Robertson was among the hundreds of the regiment wounded, suffering a wound to his right leg.
After the war he settled in London.
While working in a clothing store some of his co-workers were members of the Polytechnic Harriers, and through them he developed his love of running.
In 1920, he travelled to Antwerp to cheer on his teammates from the Harriers, who were members of the British team.
However, the British team was short one person and his teammates convinced their coach to let Robertson run in the marathon.
His inexperience showed as he finished in last place, 35 minutes behind the second to last place finisher.