Pte M/414942 Samuel Roby (MM)

• Age: 25
• From: Lathom, Lancs
• Regiment: Royal Army Service Corps
• Died on Monday 7th April 1919
• Commemorated at: Bickerstaffe Holy Trinity Cy
  Panel Ref: New S.E. Part 50

Samuel Roby was born in 1894 in Lathom, nr Ormskirk and was the son of Joshua Roby and his wife Charlotte(nee Rosbotham) who were married on the 18th June 1875 at Holy Trinity, Bickerstaffe. Joshua was a 27 year old farmer of Bickerstaffe, father Henry a farmer, whilst Charlotte was aged 20 of Bickerstaffe, father Samuel a farmer. He was baptised on the 9th April 1894 at St Peter and St Paul, Lathom, his parents address Halsall Lodge, Lathom.    

The 1901 Census shows the family living on Halsall Lane, Aughton. His father Joshua is aged 37, a farm labourer born Bickestaffe, mother Charlotte is aged 31 also born Bickestaffe. The children born in Lathom are: Henry 10, Mary 8, Samuel 7, Joshau 5, Charlotte 4 and Margaret 2. 

By the 1911 Census the family have moved to Liverpool living at 37 Carr Lane, Croxteth. His father Joshua is aged 46, an agricultural labourer, mother Charlotte is aged 41(married 21 years, 10 children, 7 still alive). The children are Mary 18, a domestic servant, Samuel 17, a domestic under gardener, Joshau 16, a domestic under gardener, Charlotte 14, Margaret 12 at school and Thomas Edgar 9 at school. 

He enlisted in Liverpool in January 1915 as Private No.74101 in the 21st Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He did not receive the 1915 Star so must have gone to France at the earliest in 1916, transferring as Pte 34006 to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.  

His brother Henry received a commission in early 1916. 

Ormskirk Advertiser - Thursday 13 January 1916 

COMMISSION FOR PRIVATE. 

Pte. Henry Roby, eldest son of Mr. Joshua Roby, West Derby, and of the 3rd West Lancs. R.F.A., has been promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in the 3/6 North Northumberland Fusiliers. He came home from Tenerife, Canary Isles, in November, 1914, to join, having been in the employ of Elder Dempster for ten years. He also has two brothers in the 21st City Battalion, K.L.R., also a brother-in-law in the 2/6 K.L.R., all having been in the army over twelve months. 

Samuel’s service record has not survived but we do know he was amongst the contingent of L.N.L. that sailed from Marseilles in December 1917 to reinforce the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the Palestine Campaign against the Ottoman Empire. With around 2,200 troops and 160 nurses aboard, a convoy including HMT “Aragon” safely reached Malta, celebrated Christmas there and made for Alexandria, Egypt. Awaiting permission to enter the port on the 31st Dec 1917, “Aragon” was torpedoed by a German submarine and quickly sank.  

A nurse on board takes over the story:- 

Liverpool Evening Express - Thursday 31 January 1918 

LOST TOMMIES SINKS VAD NURSE'S VIVID STORY. 

A VAD nurse who was on board one of the two vessels sunk in the Mediterranean on December 30th, has sent home to her parents a graphic account of her experiences.  

She writes that the transport Aragon sailed from Marseilles with destroyers as escorts, The vessel spent five days at Christmas in harbour, where they had a “tophole” time. The vessel left harbour the following Sunday.  

Proceeding, the writer says “No doubt we were watched then, but as we were so close to land we thought we were quite safe. At about 10.30 in the morning we could see land. I went down to my cabin, and the steward was attending to my trunk, which had got damaged on the journey, when at 10.55 there was a terrible crash, and the steward cried out 'My God, we've got it.'  

Anyway he got me outside, though I was not frightened, and gave me my life belt, and I ran up the two flights of stairs to our boat stations, as we sisters had been detailed to boats. In a minute we had orders to get into the boats, which we promptly did without any confusion. We were lowered, which was a tricky business, a doctor and a colonel accompanying us, and we got away from the ship as soon as we could.  

Troops Singing. 

But by this time we could see the stern of the Aragon down in the water and her bows in the air. The troops on board her were singing “By Jove, it took some doing.” We picked up a lot of the boys in our lifeboat off the rafts, and when we were picked up we made for a trawler which was close by. Fortunately there were several close to hand as we were so near land.  

“In the meantime we looked up at the Aragon, which was rapidly sinking. There were hundreds of boys in khaki on board her, and the sight I shall never forget. In 15 minutes she had completely gone - no sign of her at all. Anyhow we got into the trawler, and in another minute, our destroyer was torpedoed right amidships. She went clean in half. She was close by, and helped pick up hundreds of Tommies. They had to go down again, and to my mind that was the worst of all. The trawlers headed for land at once.  

All the sisters were saved, but there is a heavy death-roll. We had many troops on board. As soon as we reached land we were taken to a sergeant's mess close by, where we had brandy and hot tea. We were then put in ambulances and taken to hospital. We had nothing in the wide world except what we stood in.”  

Continuing the writer adds: “A most awful thing happened yesterday morning. Another ship was torpedoed in exactly the same place. She went down in five minutes. There were 40 sisters on board and they were all in the water. A good many, I believe, were drowned. I know they brought eight sisters into the mortuary of the hospital.” 

Having survived this tragedy it is not known whether Samuel was repatriated or continued to serve in the Palestine Campaign.  

His father Joshua meanwhile sadly dies aged 54 on the 13th March 1918 and was buried at Holy Trinity, Bickerstaffe. By the Spring/Summer of 1918 he was back in the France with 2/4 L.N.Lancs. During fierce fighting at the front around Bailleulmont, near Arras, his distinguished conduct on the 29th August 1918 earned him the Military Medal (gazetted 24th Jan 1919).  

2/4 LOYAL NORTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT WAR DIARY 1918. 

Bailleulmont 

Aug 29 - Moved up to frontline taking over from 2/4 South Lancs, approximate line U17d7 S to U11c39. Zero hour was 1p.m, our first objective was HENDECOURT-BULLECOURT ROAD. 2nd objective was GREYHOUND TRENCH. The first objective was not to be taken without a barrage. The barrage was sent down on the first objective, our left flank was unprotected owing to the Canadians being 1,000 yards away. We succeeded in gaining our objective. The Battn on our right the 2/5 K.O.R.L. regiment taking RIENCOURT. Our objective was taken by 2p.m.  

Aug 30 -The Battalion held on to their objective during the night. About 12.35 p.m the enemy counter attacked in large numbers were beaten off three times. The enemy suffering heavy casualties. Owing to the K.O.R.L. regiment having to retire from RIENCOURT the Battn received orders to retire to CEMETERY AVENUE at 1.30 p.m. This line the Battalion held until relieved by the 171st Brigade. At about 4 p.m, moving back into area U2d24 - U3037 – U8b45.15 - Uga Central.  

Aug 31 - The Battn remained in support to 171st Brigade in area moved into previous night, moving into TUNNEL TRENCH area U7d65 - U14a45 at 5 p.m. and remaining for the night.

He was wounded again during this period, dropping back from the front and transferring to the Royal Army Service as Pte M/414942 in Motor Transport. The Armistice passed and his health took another hit when he contracted malaria. He was discharged in January 1919 and went back to live with his widowed mother in West Derby. He never really recovered and sadly died of pneumonia on the 7th April 1919. 

Ormskirk Advertiser - Thursday 17 April 1919 

GALLANT WEST DERBY SOLDIER.  

PRIVATE S. ROBY, M.M.  

The death occurred on the 7th inst from pneumonia at 29 Rosthwaite-road, West Derby, Pte Samuel Roby, son of Mrs Roby and the late Mr Joshua Roby. Pte Roby joined the Liverpool “Pals” in January 1915, served in France and Palestine over two years being awarded the Military Medal on August 29th 1918 for bravery in field in France. He had been twice wounded and also torpedoed on the “Aragon'’ on December 31st 1917 when bound for Palestine. He was demobilised last January from hospital suffering from malarial fever. 

He was buried with his father at Holy Trinity, Bickerstaffe on the 10th April 1919, the headstone reads:- 

In Loving Memory of  

JOSHUA,  

The Beloved Husband of  

CHARLOTTE ROBY,  

Who Died March 13th 1918,  

Aged 54 Years. 

“Thy Will Be Done.”  

Also  

RICHARD GEORGE and JOHN CROPPER  

Sons of the Above.  

Also  

SAMUEL  

Son of the Above  

Died April 7th 1919, Aged 25 Years.  

“Duty Nobly Done.”

There are 6 First World War burials in the Cemetery.

Samuel is commemorated on the West Derby Village Memorial. 

On the 1921 Census mother Charlotte and his siblings Charlotte, Margaret and Thomas Edgar have moved to the next road at 27 Hartington. 

On the 1939 Register after a move to 7 Hartington Road, mother Chartlotte, dob 11th July 1869, is living with married daughter Charlotte Rylands. She died at the grand age of 100 in 1970. 

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