Pte 26617 Edward Ernest Roberts

• Age: 22
• From: Portmadoc
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 4th December 1917
• Commemorated at: Hooge Crater Cem, Zillebeke
  Panel Ref: X.D.3

Edward Ernest was born in the June quarter of 1895 in Portmadog, the son of David Evan Roberts and his wife Margaret Mary (nee Jones). His parents were married in 1894 in Pwllheli.

The 1901 Census finds Edward aged 6 living at 72 Penllyn Terrace, Penrhyndeudraeth, the residence of his mother's sister Ann Dudding and family. His mother, Margaret Mary Roberts aged 26 and born in Portmadoc is there but his father David E. is meanwhile boarding at 32 St Paul's Square, Liverpool, working as a receiver for the Dock Board.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 5 Harvey Street, Liverpool. His father, David Evan, is aged 37, born 1874 in Carnarvon, his occupation listed as a mariner, whilst his mother  Margaret Mary is aged 37, born 1874 in Carnarvonshire is an officer’s caretaker. They have been married for seventeen years and have had three children, Edward Ernest now aged 17 , born in Portmadog, occupation painter, Kate aged 14, born 1897 in Liverpool a druggist packer and Annie aged 12, born 1899 at school who was born in Portmadog.

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 26617 when he was killed in action on the 04^th December 1917 aged 22. 

The 18th Battalion War Diary records -

On 4th December the battalion moved up to front line trenches at Gheluvelt, No.3 Coy on right, No.4 Coy in centre, and No.2 Coy on left.  Heavy enemy shelling, all calibres and Minenwerfers. Several direct hits on R. Coy posts. Retaliation asked for but little response from our guns.  Casualties 6 killed, 6 wounded.

Edward Ernest Roberts was one of those casualties referred to in the diary as killed. The other men killed on the same day were;  James Gerald Baron, John George Haywood, Thomas James Hennessy, Cornelius Palfrey, and Peter Walsh.

He was buried close to where he fell but after the war when graves were concentrated he was reburied and now rests at Hooge Crater Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium.

Hooge Chateau and its stables were the scene of very fierce fighting throughout the First World War. On 31 October 1914, the staff of the 1st and 2nd Divisions were wiped out when the chateau was shelled; from 24 May to 3 June 1915, the chateau was defended against German attacks and in July 1915, the crater was made by a mine sprung by the 3rd Division. On 30 July, the Germans took the chateau, and on 9 August, it and the crater were regained by the 6th Division. The Germans retook Hooge on 6 June 1916 and on 31 July 1917, the 8th Division advanced 1.6 Kms beyond it. It was lost for the last time in April 1918, but regained by the 9th (Scottish) and 29th Divisions on 28 September.

Hooge Crater Cemetery was begun by the 7th Division Burial Officer early in October 1917. It contained originally 76 graves, in Rows A to D of Plot I, but was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Zillebeke, Zantvoorde and Gheluvelt. 

There are now 5,916 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 3,570 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials record the names of a number of casualties either known or believed to be buried among them, or whose graves in other cemeteries were destroyed by shell fire.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Soldiers Effects to father David Evan, Pension to mother Margaret Mary

Edward is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Webster Road Welsh Chapel, Edge Hill, Liverpool

Liverpool Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 44 Left 

His father died in the September quarter of 1929, aged 55

We currently have no further information on Edward Ernest Roberts, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.