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Sgt. Francis J. Roberts
British Army 9th Btn. Devonshire Regiment
from:Plymouth, Devon
Francis Roberts was born in Plymouth, Devon on 5 May 1894. He served with the Devonshire Regiment from 1914 to 1918. Later, during WWII, he served with the Home Guard, 5th Btn., St. Austell in Cornwall from 2nd of November 1942 until 31st of December 1944. According to my research, original records of the Devonshire Regiment were destroyed by enemy bombing during WWII. I have therefore extracted from books, The Bloody Eleventh and C. T. Atkinson, The Devonshire Regiment 1914-1918, the following information in trying to trace were my father was. Certain facts (e.g., Mametz and Italy) were given by F. J. Roberts, otherwise one presumes he could have been in many or all of the places mentioned. The chapter and page numbers cited below are for the Devonshire Regiment Book:
- Assuming a volunteer joined on 31st of January 1916, it is thought his training took up to the usual period of 6 months. Therefore, he would not have been sent to France until July or August of that year.
- Chapter XII, page 146: On 19th July 1916, having its front line at Mametz (map ref J7), the Borderers on the left, then the 9th Devons and the 2nd Gordons beyond them.
- Page 148/9: In Shrine Alley, which swept round Mansel Copse (Picardy), the company on the right of the 9th Devons had to move. Assembly trenches had therefore been dug 250 yards further back, and in these the troops formed up on the evening of 30 June. The 9th Devons had A and B companies in front and company C in second line as support.
- Page 153: From 2 July to 5 July, the 9th Devons were withdrawn for reorganisation.
- Chapter XIII, page 154: On 11 July 1916 at Bazentin (map J7), yards from the German trenches on the ridge and between Bazentine and Lonueval, the 9th Devons were the first to go into the new front line through Fricourt and Marlborough Wood to Caterpillar Valley. The second stage of The Battle of the Somme, the contest for the main ridge, was ushered in on 14 July. In the interval, large drafts had been received and the 9th Devons had 486 men coming from other West Country and Southern regiments.
- Page 155: In the 20th Brigade, the 8th Devons on the right, the Borders on the left, and the Gordons in support the of the 9th were holding the whole of the brigade’s front until the attack began and being drawn into reserve as the other units passed through.
- Page 167: Since the capture of Mametz (map J7), there was less fighting for the 9th Devons as construction work was carried on at Ailly sur Somme.
- Page 175: On 3 September, whilst the Division had 5 weeks rest, the 8th and 9th Devons, in the middle of a football match, were unexpectedly summoned back to the fray at Ypres (Ieper) or Vimy or Ploegsteert. They embussed at Buire. The 9th led the way, debussing at Mametz (map J7), then to Montauban (map J7) near Toulose.
- Page 177: The attack of the 9th Devons was gallantly launched, but they had a painful and tedious march to their position near Ginchy (map J7) and were in support of the Gordons. It was a bitter memory for the 8th and 9th Devons.
- Page 181: Near Morval (map K7) and route D20.
- Page 193: On 21 November, both battalions tramped to Bertrancourt and on the 23rd to Mailly Maillet (map I7) near Abbeville, and received reinforcements of 220 men.
- Page 235/6: On 1 January 1917, the 9th Devons were at Hope Post. There was fighting. However, from 20 January until the end of February, they were in reserve and training. Twenty-four officers and 203 enlisted men joined the 9th, which now mustered a total of 46 officers and 1,030 enlisted.
- Page 241: On 8 and 9 March, the Battalion was in Mailly Maillet, training and working.
- Page 242: From 21 to 26 March, they were in the front line, and the 9th relieved the Gordons on the right of the Brigade.
- Page 243 In April, the fight for Ecoust (map K6) near Arras was entrusted to both the 8th and the 9th, and after their success at Ecoust they were out of the line until 20 April.
- Page 250: On 7 May, the Gordons came up to attack Bullecourt near Ecoust (map K6). Twenty-two men were killed and 7 were listed as missing. Ten men awarded the Military Medal.
- Page 254: From May to September, there was a long spell of quiet. At Bailleulost, then Dickebusch, then Reninghelst in Belgium, the 8th and 9th Devons were inspected, then entrained for Proven. At Steenvoorde ( west of Hazbrouck), training took place at St. Martin au Leert. On 29 September, with a strength approximately 1,000 men, they proceeded to Abeele, 17 km. west of Ypres.
- Page 284: On 4 and 5 October, they were carrying parties and resting at Reninghelst.
- Page 288: On 24 October, the 9th relieved two battalions of the 14th Division in the front line, holding 200 yards of line on the right of the Menin road during Third Ypres, then crawling back to Blaringhem (near Hazebrouck-Nord, map I3). October was the worst month the 8th and 9th Devons ever experienced. The 9th listed 143 killed or missing and 151 wounded (page 293).
- Chapter XXV, page 322: On 17 November 1917, they were resting at Le Croquet (near Saint Ghislam, Belgium) and were inspected by the King of Belgium.
- Page 326: Both the 8th and 9th were transferred to Legnano, Italy. They were then moved to Giavera and later to Piave.
- Page 425: The 8th and 9th were held in reserve, with the 9th going into the trenches at the end of January 1918.
- Page 437: In April 1918, the 9th was billeted at Montecchio Maggiore.
- Page 438: On 13 September, they were moved back to France, first to St. Riquier, then to Canchy (near Abbeville).
- Page 435/6: On 8 October 1918, they were near Ponchaux. On 9 October, they were at Buitry Wood and Elincourt. On 23 October, they were fighting at Selle in Picardy. On 3 November, they were east of Bois l’Eveque. On 7 November, at Pommereuil, they fought their last fight. At the beginning of January 1919, the 9th Devons moved to Englefontaine, and on 27 January 1919, they were presented their King’s Colours. Demobilization began in January, but on 1st March 1919, 250 men of the 9th joined the 5th DCLI as part of the army of occupation.
