Pte 24648 John Roberts

• Age: 21
• From: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 11th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Warlincourt Halte Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: VIII.B.8

John was born on 18th November 1895 in Ellesmere Port the son of John Roberts and his wife Alice (nee King). His parents married at St Mary's Church, Birkenhead in 1882. John was baptised on 15th December 1896, his father is shown as employed as a Labourer who was born at Netherpool, Cheshire whilst his mother was born in Ellesmere Port.

John had the following siblings; Mary, Thomas,  Ann, William King, James, Alice, Frederick, Hannah and George. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 7 Union Street, Whitby, Ellesmere Port. John is five years of age and lives with his parents and seven siblings. His father is a 41 year old general labourer, whilst his mother is 36 years old. His siblings are shown as; Mary a 17 year old dressmaker, THomas a 15 year old apprentice baker, Ann is 12, William K. is 10, James is 7, Alice is 2 and Frederick is a new born. 

By 1911 the family have moved to 22 Westminster Road, Ellesmere Port, John is shown as a 15 year old office boy in an ironworks. He lives with his parents and eight siblings along with two uncles. His parents have been married for 28 years and have had ten children, nine of whom have survived. His father is now employed as a dock labourer. His siblings are recorded as; Thomas a 25 year old baker, Ann is 22, William King is 20 and an apprentice iron and brass moulder, James is 17 and a dock labourer, Alice is 12, Frederick is 10, Hannah is 8 and George is 5. His uncles are shown as James King aged 47 and a lighterman and Thomas a 44 year old hydraulic crane attendant.  

John enlisted in Liverpool joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 24648.

He died of wounds on 11th April 1917 aged 21, and now rests at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery in France at plot VIII.B.8 where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"GRANT HIM LORD ETERNAL REST AND LET LIGHT PERPETUAL SHINE UPON HIM"

The site of the cemetery was chosen in May 1916. It was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, in February 1917 by the 1/1st South Midland, and from April to June 1917 by the 32nd. The whole of plots VII, VIII, IX and X were filled in April and May 1917, the months of the Battles of Arras. From June 1917, the cemetery was practically unused until the fighting of May and June 1918, when field ambulances buried in it. After the Armistice the cemetery was increased by graves brought in from other smaller cemeteries.

The cemetery now contains 1,266 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 29 German and two French war graves.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

He was reported to have died of wounds in the Liverpool Daily Post on 16th May 1917.

Soldier Effects and Pension to mother Alice

CWGC states he was serving with 3 Coy when he died.

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