212337 Sgt. Albert John "Robbie" Roberts British Army 236th Brigade Royal Field Artillery from:5 Effra Parade, Brixton, London On 20th January 1909 Albert enlisted in the 6th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery, 2nd County of London Division (Later 47th Division), Territorial Force raised at 105 Holland Road, Brixton, as a Gunner in the 16th Battery. After much reorganisation this later became the 236th Brigade 47th Division.
At the start of the WW1 his Brigade were stationed in Hertfordshire before moving to France in March 1915. Being the first Territorial Army Division to go to France as a complete unit.
He saw action around Bethune, Lose, Vimy Ridge and the Somme. The Division moved from the Somme in 1916 to Ypres where they remained over the winter.
The Brigade Headquarters were moved forward to Bedford House for the build up to the Battle of Messine Ridge which started on 7th June 1917. The bombardment commenced on 21st May. The Germans retaliated in kind, and this is when Albert’s front line service comes to an end when a German shell landed on his dugout. On Saturday 2nd June 1917 he was wounded along with another unnamed sergeant. Staff Sergeant Thomas Masters and Gunner Joseph Alexander Gordon were both killed and are buried at Bedford House which was also a dressing station.
Albert always thought the other Sergeant in the dugout was also killed but just after WW2 he was in the White Horse Public House in Chislehurst when the other Sergeant walked in. Unfortunately who he was is lost to history.
I have done a lot of research on 236th Brigade which anybody can have a copy of. I also have transcribed the War Diary from March 1915 to 8th June 1917.
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