L/Cpl 17142 Evan John Roberts

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Wancourt Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: VI.G.12

Evan John was born in Liverpool in October 1892 the eldest son of Robert John Roberts of Llandegai, Caernarvonshire and his wife Jane (nee Morgan) who was born in Liverpool. They were married in 1890 in Toxteth. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 126 Northumberland Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. His father is listed as a 41 year old compositor whilst his mother is 37 years of age. There are five children listed in the household; Ellen Roberts aged 17 employed as a domestic servant, Evan aged 8, Robert aged 7, Thomas A. aged 4 and Osborne M. aged 3.
 
By 1911 the family had moved to 372 Smithdown Road, Liverpool. Both parents are still in the household and they state that they have been married for 21 years and have had five children who have all survived. His father is now a Private Secretary for a forwarding agent. There are again five children listed but there is no sign of Ellen who was originally stated as a daughter in 1901 then aged 17. However, those listed are; Annie aged 20, Evan John now 18 and a railway clerk, Robert John aged 17 and a clerk in a tobacco factory, Aneuryn Thomas aged 14 and an apprentice in a forwarding agents and Osborne Morgan aged 13. Despite the discrepancy between Ellen and Annie, Jane declares that she has had only five children and all lived. There is also a boarder present at the property.   

Evan enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 01st September 1914, joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17142. His brother Robert John also enlisted on the same day as Private 17144. Evidently they traveled together as their service numbers are so close to each other.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

In July 1916 Evan was appointed Lance Corporal (unpaid). In September 1916 he attended Lewis Gun School at Le Torquet and was awarded his Good Conduct Badge on 28th Nov 1916 and was appointed paid Lance Corporal on 13th Dec 1916. He spent two weeks on leave in the UK from 30^th November 1916 and then returned to France. In February 1917 he had a period in hospital in France suffering from impetigo. 

Evan was killed in action on 09th April 1917 aged 25. This was  Easter Monday and the opening day of the Battle of Arras.

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the 18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 25th April 1917: 

Evan now rests at Wancourt British Cemetery in France at plot VI.G.12 where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"REST UNTIL WE MEET".

Wancourt was captured on 12 April 1917 after very heavy fighting and the advance was continued on the following days. The cemetery, called at first Cojeul Valley Cemetery, or River Road Cemetery, was opened about ten days later; it was used until October 1918, but was in German hands from March 1918 until 26 August, when the Canadian Corps recaptured Wancourt. At the Armistice, the cemetery contained 410 graves, but was very greatly increased in the following years when graves were brought in from the following small cemeteries and isolated positions on the battlefields south-east of Arras :-  HENIN NORTH CEMETERY, HENIN-SUR-COJEUL, about 800 metres North of the village, contained the graves of 29 British soldiers who fell on 9 April 1917, almost all of whom belonged to the 2nd Wilts or the 18th King's Liverpools. The cemetery now contains 1,936 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 829 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 76 casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and to 20 who were buried in Signal Trench Cemetery whose graves were destroyed in later battles. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

ROBERTS - In loving but sad birthday remembrance of Evan, Lance Corporal E.J Roberts, K.L.R., our eldest son, killed in action, April 9 1917. (Never forgotten by Mam, Dad, Tom, Ossy, Annie and Will.)

ROBERTS - in loving birthday remembrance of my dear nephew Evan, killed in action, April 9 1917. (Cu iawn oeddit genyf - Auntie Phoebe.)

His medals went to his father 15 Dovedale Road, Mossley Hill, Liverpool. 

Both men earned all three medals.

In a sworn declaration dated 11^th July 1919, his father named his surviving family as himself and his wife, his sons Aneuryn Thomas and Osborne Morgan Roberts, and his daughter Annie Hughes. All are said to be living at 15 Dovedale Road, Mossley Hill, Liverpool.

On 05th January 1920 his father wrote from his home address; Tawelfan, 15 Dovedale Road, Liverpool to Liverpool Cathedral who were in the process of collecting names for the Scroll of Honour which was to record the names of the fallen of the City. He wished to record the names of both of his sons:

Reverend Sir,

Having heard that there is to be a tablet erected at the Cathedral in Memory of the Liverpool Boys who made the Supreme Sacrifice, I should be very grateful if the names of my two boys can be included:

L/Cpl Evan John Roberts No.17142 18th King's Liverpool Regiment Killed in Action April 9th 1917 at Arras

L/Cpl Robert John Roberts No.17144 "do" Killed in Action July 1st 1916 at the Somme.

They are at present on the Lord Mayor's Roll of Honour and should you like further particulars, I shall be glad to give you any information I have.

Respectfully yours

R J Roberts    

On 30^th July 1920, their father also wrote to the Army Records office asking them to to confirm that his sons were still in the same graves as he intended visiting them.

Both Evan and Robert John are commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance at Liverpool Town Hall on Panel 45.  

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