Name
Kenneth Roberts
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/10/1917
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
270584
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
10th (R. East Kent and West Kent Yeomanry) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEERSHEBA WAR CEMETERY
M. 60.
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Sawbridgeworth Town Memorial, Great St Mary’s Church Memorial, Sawbridgeworth
Pre War
Kenneth was born in 1894 at Colehill near Wimborne Minster in Dorset. He was baptised in July of that year.
He was the nephew of Emma Roberts, of Wimborne House, Sawbridgeworth, Herts.
Wartime Service
He joined the Buffs (East Kent Regiment) and went on to serve in both Mesopotamia (Iraq) and Palestine (Israel).
Kenneth’s date of death is given as 31 October 1917. This was the date of the Battle of Beersheeba, a part of the Third Battle of Gaza. On that day, the British attacked the Ottoman Turkish Yildirim Army Group. The attack included a very successful cavalry charge, one of the last in history, and resulted in a major defeat for the Turks. However, one of the casualties was Kenneth Roberts who was killed.
Kenneth Roberts is buried at Beersheeba War Cemetery, Gaza, Palestine/Israel. He was aged 24.
Additional Information
Kenneth’s connection to Sawbridgeworth seems tenuous. So far it seems to be through an uncle and aunt who lived at Wimborne House in Hoestock Road, now the site of Wimborne Gardens.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Douglas Coe
