2nd Lieut John Roberts

John Roberts was born in Birkenhead in the spring of 1894, the younger son of William Roberts and his wife Catherine (née Tilston). His parents, both born in North Wales, his father in Merioneth, and his mother in Denbigh, married in 1890 in Liverpool and had two children, both born in Birkenhead. John had an older brother James Tillston (Jim), born in 1891. John was affectionately known as “Bobs”.

 

In 1901 the family is living at 27 Crown Street, Birkenhead with two children and two boarders.  His father is a checker, railway goods (port), John is 7.  

 

1911 finds them at 11 Cranbourne Avenue, Birkenhead.  His father, 47, is a motorman with Corporation Tramways, his mother is 43. James is 20, a stock clerk for an oil company, and John, 17, is a junior clerk with a marine insurance company. 

 

Unfortunately his service record has not survived, but we know that he joined the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17143. He must have enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 01st September 1914 as all of the adjacent service numbers enlisted on this date.

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. 

John shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 7th November 1915.

 

He was discharged to commission on 26th June 1917 and posted to the 9th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as 2nd Lieutenant. 

 

He was killed in action on 14th September 1918, aged 24.

The battalion diary lists the action which saw John lose his life;

The enemy shelled INCHY very heavily during the afternoon & night. Brigadier called at Battn. H.Qrs about 4 p.m. "A" Coy was relieved during night by "C" Coy. The relief was delayed by enemy shelling, but only one casualty was reported. 2/Lieut. J. ROBERTS went out with a patrol of 1 N.C.O & men, and was proceeding towards the CANAL, when an enemy M.G. opened fire on them. 2/Lieut. ROBERTS was killed & the Sergt slightly wounded.

John now rests at Ecoust-St. Mein in France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"ONE MORE HIGH - SOULED DEFENDER OF HIS TRUTH"

 

Ecoust-St. Mein was captured by the 8th and 9th Devons in a blizzard on the 02nd April 1917, lost on 21 March 1918, and retaken at the end of the following August by the 3rd Division. The British Cemetery was then made, in continuation of a German Extension (now removed) of the communal cemetery. The cemetery contains 151 burials of the First World War, eight of which are unidentified. The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.

His death was reported in the press:

KILLED ON RETURNING TO FRANCE.

Mr and Mrs William Roberts of 11 Cranbourne Avenue, Birkenhead, have received the very regrettable news that their younger son, Second Lieutenant John Roberts, K.L.R., was killed in action on the 14th inst.

Twenty four years of age, this young officer was always extremely keen in his work as a soldier, and his death is sincerely regretted by the officers and the men of his battalion. He was a Old Higher Elementary School boy, and after leaving school was in the offices of Messrs. Brodrick, Leitch, Kendall, Marine Insurance Brokers, Liverpool. In September 1914, he joined the Liverpool "Pals", being among the earliest to take up arms against the enemy, and he saw considerable service in France, being out for about 19 months and taking part in the principle battles of the Somme. He gained his commission last year, and after returning to France as an officer he was badly wounded in the left-hand, and was invalided home. It is only on August 8th or 9th that again he went out to France and on the 14th he fell. The deceased's elder and only brother, Second Lieutenant J. T. Roberts, Welsh Regiment, has just come home from the front on leave. He joined the forces in August 1914, and like his brother, has seen much fighting.

 

His parents placed a notice in the Birkenhead News on 28th September 1918:

“September 14th, killed in action, 2nd Lieutenant John Roberts (Bobs), K.L.R., aged 24 years (one of the 1914 Pals), dearly beloved youngest son of William and Catherine Roberts, 11 Cranbourne Avenue, Birkenhead.  -  Deeply mourned by Father, Mother, and Jim.”

 

They also placed an In Memoriam notice on the anniversary of his death in 1920.

 

Soldiers’ Effects, shows that he was attached to the 1st/9th K.L.R., and earned a War Gratuity of £16.

 

John earned his three medals.

 

His brother Jim enlisted in August 1914, was commissioned as a Lieutenant, and served in the 6th Liverpools then the 2nd Welsh Regiment.  He was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his right shoulder.  He married after the war and called his only son after John.

 

In 1939 his parents are still at 11 Cranbourne Avenue. His father is 75, a retired tram driver, and his mother is 71.  It is not known when they died.

 

John is commemorated on the Men of Birkenhead Cenotaph.