Private William James Roberts

Serving Soldiers' Biographies

Private William James Roberts 60052 Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment

William was born at Great Green Farm the Rye in Eaton Bray in 1882. His father James Roberts was a Farmer of 84 acres employing men and boys from the village. Not a happy start in life for William as his mother Susanna nee Gadsden died in 1886 at the age of only 38 leaving James to bring up the family of 9 children.

William became a Butchers Assistant in the village and in 1905 married Clara Noah. Daughter Phyllis was born in 1913 at which time William had become a Master Butcher and had a shop in the High Street.

Enlisting in late 1915 he joined the Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment and was in action during the Third Battle of Ypres and in the Cambrai operations.

On the 16th or 18th of January 1918 William died of wounds.

On the Ancestry and Roll of Honour site he is listed as a Private but on the CWGC he is listed as a Lance Corporal.

Buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery Somme France Grave 1V E 35.