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Pte. John Henry Roberts
British Army 2/4th Btn. Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding) Regiment
from:Kilnhurst
(d.29th Sep 1918)
John Roberts was born on Tuesday 28th of July 1891 at 294 Queen Street, Kilnhurst in the Borough of Rotherham. He was one of 11 children born to Henry Leech Roberts and Jane Roberts. Census records indicate that 11 of these children died and that the only other survivor was a sister, Susannah, who was about 8 years his junior. When he left school, John worked as a trammer at Thrybergh Hall Colliery.
On Friday 28th of May 1915, at the age of 23 years and 10 months, he signed up for war service at Pontefract and was posted, apparently immediately, to the 3rd Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment based in Sunderland. Some time after his arrival in the town, he met local girl Frances Wright. As a soldier, John was categorised as Class W which meant that he was returned to his civilian job as a miner until the army were ready to recall him to the colours. On Monday 6th of August 1917, John and Frances married at the Parish Church in Hooton Roberts and they returned to Sunderland where they lived with Frances's family. On Friday 12th of July 1918, their daughter Mary was born.
John was recalled to his unit and embarked with the British Expeditionary Force to France on Friday 30th of August 1918 and on Monday 2nd of September 1918 was transferred permanently to C Company, 2/4th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment. Ten days later, the Regiment took part in the Battle of Havrincourt, where they broke through the Hindenburg Line. On Sunday 29th of September 1918, while fighting in Havrincourt, he was killed in action. He is buried in the Grand Ravine British War Cemetery next to Havrincourt Wood.
