Name
Frank Roberts
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/12/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20225
Northamptonshire Regiment
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GUARDS CEMETERY, WINDY CORNER, CUINCHY
III. H. 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Abbots Langley Village Memorial, St. Lawrence Church Memorial, Abbots Langley, Not on the Wheathampstead memorials
Pre War
Frank Walter Roberts was born at Wheathampstead in 1887, to Thomas Roberts a labourer, and Anna Louisa (nee Allen). He was baptise on 31 Jul 1887. Frank’s father, Thomas died in 1890.
On the 1891 Census Frank was living with his widowed mother, Alfred (born 1880), Edith (born 1882), William R (born 1884), Louisa (born 1886) at Necton Road, Marford, Wheathampstead. Also recorded were Anna parents John and Sophia Allen.
On the 1901 Frank was living at Necton Road with his mother (now recorded as Ann L) and William, an apprentice Bricklayer, and Grandmother Sophia.
On the 1911 Census Frank was working as a Gardener and living at Northcote Villa, Marford, Wheathampstead with his mother (now Ann) and brother William, now a carpenter.
Relatively little has been discovered about this man, or how it came to reside at Abbots Langley.
Wartime Service
Frank enlisted with the Northamptonshire Regiment, no Service records could be found for Frank. A Service Number of 5636 seems to have been associated with him, this number may been used while Frank was in training with 3rd (Reserve) Battalion. It is known he went to France on 11 Dec 1915 and was probably given the Service number of 20225 on his posting to 5th (Service) Battalion (Pioneer), Northants, who had been with the British Expeditionary Force since May 1915. As Divisional Troops in 12 (Eastern) Division they were located in a quiet sector at La Baissee. Although described as ‘quiet’ losses in the Division for the period 12 Dec 1915 – 18 Jan 1916 were 102 Officers and 670 Other Ranks. Frank was one of these casualties being Killed in Action on 28 Dec 1915.
His death was first recorded in the Hertfordshire Advertiser on 29th January 1916, where he was recorded serving with the 3rd Battalion of the Northampton’s, however all other sources recorded him serving with the 5th Battalion. The report noted: “Private Frank Roberts, 3rd (sic) Northants has been killed in action. He was of most amicable disposition and was latterly employed at Messrs Goodyear & Co, Railway Wharf”.
Frank was listed on the Abbots Langley War Memorial and Vicar Parnell included the following obituary in the Parish Magazine: “The name Frank Roberts appeared for the first time on our Roll of Honour in the February (1916) Magazine, and on the very day that the Magazine was issued we heard that he had been killed in France. Although he did not actually belong to this Parish, he had worked for some time for Mrs Simons, in the butcher's shops and had made his home here. He was extremely boyish-looking, but he was older than he looked. Everyone who knew him had a good word for his civility, courtesy, and good manners. May he rest in peace”.
Additional Information
Frank is believed to be the mans standing as Frank was the younger brother. War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £3 10s 7d was paid to Annie Poole. Brother William served with Royal Engineers, Inland Water Transport, Sapper 125881 and was demobilised on 15 Jan 1919.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org, Shirley Millward
