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Benjamin Franklin Robertson Jr. (June 22, 1903 – February 22, 1943) : Journalist

Discussion in 'Countries, People and their part in WWII' started by Ramiles, Feb 2, 2023.

  1. Ramiles

    Ramiles New Member

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    Re. The American Journalist Ben Robertson...

    He gets a brief mention in the British Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers / SRY's) 1942 War Diary on 13th May 1942...

    13 May 1942 - Mr Ben Robertson, an American journalist, came down and lectured to the Regt and to personnel of other units of the Bde, in the cinema. He gave us the American point-of-view and an idea of their contribution towards the war effort. Regtl drill parade in the morning.

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    For someone that died so young, there's quite a lot about him online although unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a great deal that actually covers his time in Egypt itself...

    ben robertson american journalist - Google Search

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    Ben Robertson (journalist) - Wikipedia

    Benjamin Franklin Robertson Jr. (June 22, 1903 – February 22, 1943) was an American writer, journalist and World War II war correspondent. He is best known for his renowned Southern memoir Red Hills and Cotton: An Upcountry Memory, first published in 1942 and still in print. A native of Clemson, South Carolina, a horticulture graduate of Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina, class of 1923, and writer for The Tiger, the college student newspaper. He was an honorary member of Gamma Alpha Mu local writers fraternity. He died in 1943 in a plane crash in Portugal. The SS Ben Robertson, launched in Savannah, Georgia in 1944, was named for him.

    As well as an extensive archive...
    Ben Robertson Papers Mss.0077

    ...the 2012 thesis - "Losing a life to find it" is also online...

    'Losing a Life to Find It' Ben Robertson, Jr.'s Freedom Quest

    Abstract : This thesis is a revisionist perspective on the life and legacy of Ben Robertson, Jr. Throughout the last seventy years, a few efforts have been made to assess Robertson's significant contributions. For the most part, these have focused on his accomplishments as a southern author or journalist in the first half of the twentieth century. This thesis, in contrast, examines Robertson's life trajectory in terms of his understanding of and commitment to American freedoms. It examines how Robertson, a young man from the upcountry of South Carolina, was able to become a leader in one of the most significant freedom struggles in world history. How in his forty years did his use his various gifts to encourage American freedoms within his state, country and beyond?

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    The thesis, in particular highlights a great deal of his early work, but unfortunately due to his losing his life in February 1943, there is less - in terms of completed works - on his later assignments - such as whilst he was in Egypt etc. There is perhaps more in the Clemson archives of "Ben Robertson's Papers"

    Chronology
    June 22, 1903 - Ben Robertson (Benjamin Franklin Robertson), Jr. was born in the Calhoun community of Clemson, South Carolina
    1910, Ben's mother, Mary Bowen Robertson, dies.
    1918, Ben's stepmother, Hattie Boggs Robertson, dies.
    1924, Robertson graduates from Clemson Agricultural College.
    1926, Robertson receives his journalism degree from University of Missouri School of Journalism. Is hired as a reporter for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in Hawaii.
    1927, Joins the staff of The News in Adelaide, Australia.
    1929, Becomes a reporter for the New York Herald Tribune.
    1934, Leaves the New York Herald Tribune to take a job with the Associated Press in Washington and London.
    1935, Joins the United Press. Also writes for the Anderson Independent in Anderson, South Carolina.
    1937, Returns to the Associated Press. Works for the Red Cross during the flooding of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. Serves as a seaman aboard the freighter, the City of Rayville.
    1938, Traveler's Rest is published by Cottonfield Publishers in Clemson, SC.
    1940, Covers war-time England for PM. Covers the bombing of London with Edward R. Murrow.
    1941, I Saw England is published. Completes manuscript for Red Hills and Cotton. Continues as war correspondent in England.
    1942, Red Hills and Cotton--An Upcountry Memory is published. Serves as correspondent for PM and the Chicago Sun in Guam and Midway, India, Russia, and Egypt.
    Rejoins the staff of the New York Herald Tribune in December.
    1943, Robertson is killed in the crash of The Yankee Clipper which plunged into the Tagus River as it was approaching the airport in Lisbon, Portugal. Ben was enroute to England to head the British office of the New York Herald Tribune.
    1944, Launching of the S. S. Ben Robertson.
    1960, Red Hills and Cotton is reissued by the University of South Carolina Press, with a biographical essay by Wright Bryan.
    1973, Paperbound edition of Red Hills and Cotton is published by USC Press.

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    Last edited: Feb 2, 2023

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