Pte 15563 Rhys Roberts

He married Edith Mary Griffith on the 25th August 1915 at Saron Chapel, Red Beach, Anglesey. They had a son, named Rhys who was born on the 08th February 1916 at Moelfre, Anglesey. This was sadly after Rhys was killed in action.  

The marriage was reported in the North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser on  27th August 1915; 

August 25th, by special licence, by the Rev T. O. Jones, Benllech, Private Rhys Roberts, 17th Service Battalion (Liverpool Regiment), eldest son of Mr and Mrs William Roberts, Bwlch Farm, Beddgelert, to Edith Mary, second daughter of Mr and Mrs William Griffith, Bryn Celyn, Benllech, late of Bootle. 

His military record is unavailable but the Medal Roll shows him as Rees Roberts and shows that he earned his three medals. The records show that he died on 14^th January 1916 when he was killed by a premature grenade explosion which killed two of his comrades, Charles Edwin Harvey and Leonard Charles Brownlie.
 
The battalion diary for 14th January 1916 records:

2am 14.01.16 - No.16050 Pte Brownlee L.C. (D Coy), No.15563 Pte Roberts Rees (C Coy), & No. 24934 Pte Harvey C.E. (D Coy) accidentally killed by premature explosion of rifle grenade.   

The Liverpool Echo of 26th January 1916 reported the death of Rhys:

BOOTLE "PAL" KILLED.

Pte.Rhys Roberts, of the 17th Service Battalion K.L.R., has been killed in France. He was preparing a bomb to discharge at the enemy, when he was hit. Death was instantaneous. Two of his comrades similarly engaged, were killed at the same time. Before enlisting, Private Roberts lived at 5, Wadham-road, Bootle.

The Liverpool Daily Post of 26th January 1916 carried a more detailed report:

"ONE OF MY FINEST MEN"

TRIBUTE TO A LIVERPOOL"PAL"

Whilst preparing a bomb to discharge at the enemy "Somewhere in France" on January 14th, Private Rhys Roberts of the 17th (Service) Battalion King's (Liverpool Regiment) 30th Division, was accidentally killed, along with two of his comrades, owing to an explosion.

Writing from the front Second Lieutenant A. I. Draper 17th K.L.R., says:

"He was one of my very best and finest men and was selected for one of the most responsible positions in our battalion. Wherever he moved he won nothing but respect and admiration and was always willing to do anything he could for others."

Captain T Priestly, K.L.R., also wrote in similar terms.

"The same afternoon", writes the Rev. M. Linton Smith, hon canon of Liverpool and chaplain to the 89th Brigade, "I laid him and his friends to rest in the beautiful little cemetery, which has been formed nearby, and which after the war will become British property, so that the graves will always be cared for. A carefully made cross, with full inscription, marks each grave, and I shall e personally responsible as long as I am here for seeing that the cemetery is kept in proper order".

Private Rhys Roberts left with the first lot of Liverpool Pals who went to the front. He lived at 5 Wadham Road, Bootle, before he enlisted and came from Nant Gynant five years ago. A member of Stanley-road Calvanistic Methodist Church, he was one of eighty others who joined the colours from that place of worship. Much sympathy is felt for the parents and particularly for the young widow, the marriage having taken place last summer only".          

Rhys now rests at Cerisy Gailly Cemetery, Grave II H 5 where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"CU LAWN FUOST GENYUF FI"

Soon after his death, his father, William Roberts, signed a petition protesting at the leniency which the local military tribunal was showing to young men from the area who appealed against conscription.

After the war, when graves were concentrated, the burials from this cemetery and other small cemeteries were reinterred in Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery. 

 

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme. The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

On Thursday 13th sad news came to the village of Beddgelert from a Captain in the 'Liverpool Pals' , that Private David John Williams, Llys Gwynant, (previously of Plas Gwyn), had been killed on the field of the big battle in France, "killed in action". This happened on the 6th inst.

He was the only son of Mr. & Mrs. David John Williams, Llys Gwynant. He was 19 years of age last Christmas. He was one of the children of this village. He received his education in the council school under Mr. David Jones. He moved into service to Liverpool, and it was there that he joined the "Pals".

He was over in France about 9 months. He hadn't been home since going over. He sent frequent letters to his family.

The village was struck by deep sadness when the black news arrived. There is general/common sympathy with his mother and father and sister and the whole family in their deep grief.

David John belonged to the same regiment as Private Rhys Roberts, Y Bwlch, and now - see the two rest peacefully in the distant soil of France .

“Sweet be the sleep of the brave soldiers !”

Captain T Priestly, K.L.R., also wrote in similar terms.

"The same afternoon", writes the Rev. M. Linton Smith, hon canon of Liverpool and chaplain to the 89th Brigade, "I laid him and his friends to rest in the beautiful little cemetery, which has been formed nearby, and which after the war will become British property, so that the graves will always be cared for. A carefully made cross, with full inscription, marks each grave, and I shall e personally responsible as long as I am here for seeing that the cemetery is kept in proper order". 
Private Rhys Roberts left with the first lot of Liverpool Pals who went to the front. He lived at 5 Wadham Road, Bootle, before he enlisted and came from Nant Gwynant five years ago. A member of Stanley-road Calvanistic Methodist Church, he was one of eighty others who joined the colours from that place of worship. Much sympathy is felt for the parents and particularly for the young widow, the marriage having taken place last summer only".   

On the 1921 Census at Bryn Celyn, Llanbedrgoch, widow Edith is living with her Welsh born parents William and Elizabeth Griffiths. She is aged 32 and was born in Liverpool, Rhys is now aged 5. 

His widow Edith Mary died on 01st August 1983 at Frondeg, Llanallgo, Moelfre, Anglesey (from family tree).