Talk:James Robertson Justice

Latest comment: 3 years ago by 1.129.106.234 in topic IMDB biography: Ph.D. (or doctorate?) and falconing

Scotland edit

JRJ owned an estate in the north east Highlands called "Spinningdale". He was an extremely keen falconer and employed Britain's most famous 20thC falconer, Philip Glasier, on the Spinningdale Estate, where he often played host to the Royal family and luminaries such as the author Gavin Maxwell. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.148.40.33 (talk) 18:31, 17 October 2014 (UTC)Reply


JRJ's Birthplace edit

I have been trying to correct the birthplace and birthyear of JRJ and someone keeps changing it back, claiming he was born in Wigtown. As I have a copy of his birth certificate (which confirms he was born in Lee in 1907) I would ask them to leave it be. Many thanks.

This is the document - copied from Jeff Watts' talk page. JackofOz 02:58, 3 December 2005 (UTC)Reply


The changes (Wigtown, 1905 > Lee, 1907) were reverted on the basis that they breached the no original research policy. This has caused me some disquiet ever since. I hate to see clearly wrong information being perpetuated through the narrow application of a rule. I've recently been involved in a discussion at Nick Adams' talk page on the use of birth/death certificates. The following interpretation of the no original research policy has been provided:

  • WP policy specifically does not forbid the use of verifiable primary sources, it forbids original research (which is to say, drawing or extrpolating inferences or secondary conclusions, i.e., "NA was born in a Pennsylvania coal mining town during the Great Depression, therefore it is likely that his father was a poor coal miner.")
  • Reading the word "married" off a published death certificate is not original research, nor would be ascertaining other basic facts like birth and death dates, spouse name etc, especially if the certificate is cited. Wyss 23:05, 7 February 2006 (UTC)
  • I'd agree with that assessment. Birth certificates are verifiable, especially when published by 3rd parties. The only thing we need to avoid is drawing conclusions from source material, which would be original research. But the bare facts are not.

On that basis I intend to use the information in JRJ's birth certificate to correct his article. JackofOz 00:05, 8 February 2006 (UTC)Reply

Which Lee is this? South London or Ireland? Tks--Cunningham 11:49, 31 March 2006 (UTC)Reply

It's not even close to being original research. The Dictionary of National Biography, the definitive British biographical guide, gives his place of birth as 39 Baring Road, Lee, Lewisham on 15 June 1907. -- Necrothesp 14:20, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Could it be possible that JRJ was born in Lee, London and moved to Wigtown at a young age? I ask this because his accent is definitely shaped by a Scottish upbringing. Or perhaps the evidence supplied in the form of the birth certificate is flawed! Brazilfisher 21:00, 13 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

Quote edit

I was privileged to have made the acquaintance of James Robertson-Justice in the 50's-60's. 'Jimmy' R-J, as he was actually referred to by his colleagues, was a very thorough man, researching his role in the Doctor films by attending medical school in London, even performing surgical procedures at St. Bart's 'body-shop' (you DIDN'T call it that in front of the Chief Surgeon!). In plain English, he cut up dead bodies and sewed them up again. In the films he wasn't acting, he KNEW what he was saying and doing. He was a committed humanist, who fought in the Spanish Civil War. A dedicated Socialist, he was the first to tell you (as he told me) that the Russians WEREN'T true communists, but a Fascist State, a la Hitler. He greatly enjoyed his country's treasures, and, had he been younger, he would have joined David Attenborough in bringing nature to 'his' people. He had a mean streak in him though: he loved nothing better than to soundly thrash Diana Dors in typing competitions! They both used to help with the scripts in the top London theatres, and, should they both be there at the same time ... sparks flew. He would look on with that leering smile we know so well, as we gently washed Diana's bleeding fingers, and gloat 'We won again, of course...'

Strangely, in contrast to his screen persona he was a quiet, gentle, loving man, genuinely interested in life and the people around him. I liked him.

-S.L. Helgesen.

Civil War edit

James Robertson Justice Not really sure how a person born in 1907 could have possibly played a part in the Spanish Civil War! Why could a person of 29 not be able to fight as the was from 1936-1939 —Preceding unsigned comment added by JackofOz (talkcontribs) 11:26, 13 September 2007 (UTC)Reply

James Robertson Justice edit

To say he spoke up to 20 languages means nothing. How well he spoke a language is not mentioned at all. Did he speak fluently? I know 1000 words in French and many phrases, but I wouldn't consider myself a French speaker. There needs to be evidence to back up this 20-languages assertion..

Not clear edit

'The son of an Aberdeen-born geologist who was named after his father, James Justice was born in Lee...'
This appears to mean that JRJ's father was named after his father. If it means that JRJ was named after his own father, does it mean that all the names were replicated? Valetude (talk) 18:07, 26 June 2014 (UTC)Reply

Good point. This has since been clarified. —DIV (1.129.106.234 (talk) 03:21, 30 January 2021 (UTC))Reply

External links modified edit

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Material moved here from main page edit

The following paragraph was added to the main page recently by user46.18.177.138. Clearly it belongs on the talk page, so I have moved it here.


Perhaps it would be pertinent to point out that JRJ (James Robertson Justice) was born in DIJON, FRANCE. His natural mother was a ROBERTSON (a French Citizen), who died in childbirth; his father a Catholic; Norval Justice; born Harald (a surburb of Copenhagen): Denmark.

− For the record; the family history, on both sides (both mother's and father's); was Scottish; infact: 'Highlands and Islands' (which includes both Scandinavia and France - but not JACOBITE).

− Both a fabulous actor and a deeply learned attend in educational terms; his formal SUBJECT STATUS was: BRITISH. Please note; he was not RNVR (Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve): he was too knowledgeable to be caught out in that way... He was Merchant Marine and made it happen as Royal Naval attend; RFA (Royal Fleet Auxillary): in Battle. He was there (at sea); looking side on at the Bismarck. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.18.69.41 (talk) 00:08, 4 March 2018 (UTC)Reply

2nd marriage edit

The factbox says he married Irene von Meyendorff in 1975, the year of his death. The wiki page for von Meyendorff does not give a marriage-date, but seems to suggest that they had been married for some years. Valetude (talk) 17:49, 17 June 2020 (UTC)Reply

Newspaper reports after his death state that they were in a very close relationship from 1960 when he first asked her to marry him, but his first wife refused to grant the divorce until 1968. Everyone close to them accepted that he and von Meyendorff were married in all but name and von Meyendorff said that putting the official seal on it in 1968 would have belittled all that had gone before between them, but when it was clear he was nearing death he said "Come on, let's do it" and she agreed. I'll add something to the page in a bit Mighty Antar (talk)

IMDB biography: Ph.D. (or doctorate?) and falconing edit

The IMDB biography has: "A Ph.D., a journalist, a naturalist, an expert falconer, a racing car driver, JRJ was certainly a man of many talents."
Falconing is also mentioned in a previous comment.
There is no information in the WP article about JRJ being a falconer or having a Ph.D. (or doctorate). If further reliable sources are available to confirm that to be accurate, it may be worth adding to the article.
—DIV (1.129.106.234 (talk) 03:24, 30 January 2021 (UTC))Reply