Pte 228845 Albert Roberts

Albert Roberts was born in Liverpool on the 06th February 1898, the son of Joseph Roberts and his wife Catherine (nee Corcoran) who were married in 1880 at St Mark's Church, Liverpool. He was baptised on the 21st February 1898 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Toxteth. 

On the 1901 Census the family are living at 76 Jacob Street, Dingle. His father, Joseph, is aged 39,  and a cotton clerk, his mother Catherine is aged 40. They have four children in the household; William 19, Elizabeth 13, James A. 5, and Albert 3 (everybody born in Liverpool). 

On the 1911 Census the family are still living at 76 Jacob Street, Dingle. Albert's father, Joseph, is aged 49, and a cotton brokers clerk, his mother Catherine is aged 50. They have been married for 30 years and have had 4 children who are still in the household; William 29 cotton clerk, Elizabeth 23 chemists assistant, James Arthur 15 estate agents boy, Albert 13 at school, and William Arthur, Joseph’s grandson aged 3. 

His service record has survived.   

Albert enlisted in Liverpool on the 21st June 1915 as Private 30183, joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. He gave his age as 19 years and 11 months and his occupation as a cotton sampler. He was described as being 5'6 inches tall, weighing 117lbs,  with a 34”chest. His next of kin was his father Joseph, at 76 Jacob Street. 

22.5.16 - Embarked for France and posted to the 18th Battalion K.L.R. 

08.12.16 - Transferred to the “Hereford Regt.” 

29.12.16 - Transferred to the Monmouth Regt. 

25. 9.17 - Transferred to the 12/S.Wales Borderers as Private 228845

29.11.17 - Father informed he was missing 

25.12.17 - Reported missing 22-25 Nov. 

21.10.18 - Army Council declares he died on or after 22.11.17 

12/SWB War Diary:- 

GRAINCOURT NOVR. 22 

Moved in the darkness to GRAINCOURT, 2nd Lieut. F.W.Pozzi reported back from leave. Lieut H.R.Taylor (formally Divisional Claims’ Officer) reported for duty. Orders received for the Battalion to take part in the attack on BOURLON WOOD on the following day. 

BOURLON WOOD NOVR. 23 

At 10:30 our artillery opened an intense artillery bombardment on the southern edge of BOURLON WOOD and immediately afterwards the Infantry advanced to the attack. The 19th R.W.F were on the right of the Brigade sector, and the 12th SWB on the left. Tanks went in advance of our left company, but there were none in front of our right company. No opposition was met with until we got into the wood, when our right company got into touch with the enemy and forced him back. We continued to push forward until we reached the middle of the wood, where our left company met with very strong resistance. Enemy machine gun fire was severe, and we sustained a large number of casualties, particularly among Officers and N.C.O's. The right company reached the outskirts of BOURLON village, but had lost touch with both flanks and could not advance further. The left company reinforced by one company of the 17th WELSH at 12:45, and by a second company at 1.25 pm, continued to press forward, but were held up inside the Wood by heavy machine gun fire. At 1.30 pm, it having been reported that nearly all our Officers have become casualties, Major W.E.Brown was sent up to reorganise. A strong enemy counter attack forced back our left company and we lined a road running East and West through the middle of the wood. One company was still out off in BOURLON village, but with the aid of a tank they succeeded in forcing their way back and getting into touch with the rest of our line. About 3 pm. Lieut W.M.Evans was sent up to help Major W.E.Brown - all the other Officers of the Battalion having by now become casualties. At 4 p.m. the enemy counter attacked heavily, both are flanks were in the air at the time, but the 18th WELSH came just in time to prevent our being surrounded. The attack was beaten off and the 18th WELSH advanced and occupied the high ground in front of the road.  

At 7.0 pm. Lieut-Colonel R. Benzie was put in command of operations in the forward area on the Brigade front. From this time onwards the 12th S.W.B. formed part of a composite Battalion under Lieut-Colonel Plunkett, who was assisted by Major W.E.Brown. Lieut W.M.Evans was in charge of the 12 S.W.B. in the line.  

About of 8:30 a.m. the enemy attacked very heavily, coming on in droves without any particular formation. We waited until they were about 150 yards away and then opened rapid fire with rifles with Lewis guns. They melted away completely, and not a single German reached our line. When the enemy was seen advancing, a message was sent to our artillery and about 9.0. a.m. they put down a heavy barrage which fell short and dead on our line. We were compelled to retire and took up a position on a sunken road, about 300 yards in rear of the line. Here we were reinforced soon afterwards at 9 o'clock by two companies of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders. The barrage lifted about 9:45 a.m. and we move forward and occupied the original line -- the A. & S.H. in the front line, ourselves in close support about 50 yards behind.  

The enemy shelled our line heavily throughout the day, but we had comparatively few casualties.  

At 4.0. p.m. as the A. & S.H., who were then holding line on right of battalion, had withdrawn, Lieut. Evans withdrew to sunken road in rear, but was ordered to reoccupy the original line, which was done. At 11:15 p.m. the SCOTS GUARDS having come up, Brigade Details were reorganised. K.O.R.L. were ordered to hold left front line, while the Brigade held the centre with SCOTS GUARDS on right. While this reorganisation was in progress Major W.E.BROWN was wounded by an enemy bombing party which had succeeded in forcing one of our strong posts.  

NOVR. 25 

Throughout the morning we were worried by heavy machine guns and sniping, but the enemy did not put any shells on our front line. At 2.0. p.m. we again attacked, but found the enemy counter attacking at the same time. One burst of rapid fire completely broke up this attack and we tried to get on. Six separate attempts were made, all ranks displaying fine spirits and dash, but owing to the very heavy machine gun fire we were unable to take the strong point at the edge of the wood, which were our objectives. In response to a message from the 2nd SCOTS GUARDS, who were attacking on the right, we took our Lewis guns and all our men directed covering fire on enemy, enabling the Scots Guards to capture the high ground which formed their objective.  

All was quiet after this until about 10 p.m, when the enemy made another strong counter attack. His advance was observed by our forward posts and a terrific burst of fire was opened on him by rifles, Lewis guns and Vickers guns. The attack was completely beaten back and our line on the high ground was handed over intact to the 2/6 DUKE OF WELLINGTON ‘s regiment, who relieved us about 11.0. p.m.  

Our casualties during the operations 23rd – 25th November where as follows:- 

Killed or Died of Wounds - 9 Officers 46 OR 

Wounded – 12 Officers 241 OR 

Missing – 1 Officer 71 OR 

(Figures as of 30.11.17) 

Lieut-Colonel R. Benzie, Commanding 12th Bn. S.W.B. 

His father wrote to the Authorities in early 1918 asking the whereabouts of his son as he hadn’t heard from him for 6 weeks. Albert was with 10 Platoon, C. Coy, 12/S.W.B. 

He was reported as Missing in the Liverpool Echo on 23rd January 1918: 

MISSING MEN.   

Albert Roberts has been reported missing since November 25. Any information regarding him will be thankfully received by his parents at 76, Jacob-street, Liverpool. 

It was 9 months later that he was reported as presumed killed in the Liverpool Echo on 28th October 1918: 

ROBERTS - Previously reported wounded and missing, November 22-25, 1917, now presumed killed, aged 20 years. Private ALBERT ROBERTS, South Wales Borderers (late 18th Pals), the beloved youngest son Joseph and Catherine Roberts, 76, Jacob-street, Liverpool. Before joining up he was in the employ Messrs. Watson and Co., cotton merchants. Sadly missed and mourned by his loving Father, Mother, Brothers and only Sister. (No pen can write, tongue can tell, our sad and bitter loss.) R.I.P. 

Albert's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as his name appears on the Loos Memorial at Panel 129 & 130. 

The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay, from the first day of the Battle of Loos to the end of the war. On either side of the cemetery is a wall 15 feet high, to which are fixed tablets on which are carved the names of those commemorated. At the back are four small circular courts, open to the sky, in which the lines of tablets are continued, and between these courts are three semicircular walls or apses, two of which carry tablets, while on the centre apse is erected the Cross of Sacrifice.

The memorial was designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Charles Wheeler. It was unveiled by Sir Nevil Macready on 4 August 1930.

The CWGC has his regiment as 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment and his age as 19.

Soldiers Effects to father Joseph, Pension to mother Catherine.

His mother died, aged 59, on the 29th January 1920. 

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 02nd February 1920: 

ROBERTS - Jan 29, at 76 Jacob Street, aged 59 years, Catherine Roberts, interment St Austin’s, Grassendale, tomorrow (Tuesday) 4 o'clock. R.I.P. 

His father appears on the 1921 census still at 76 Jacob Street with children Elizabeth and James. A. He disappears from the Electoral Roll in 1927. 

Albert is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 43  

The photograph of Albert now on the site appears courtesy of the Imperial War Museum.

We currently have no further information on Albert Roberts, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.