Name
Vernon Bavai Roberts
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/05/1917
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman/Private
533872
London Regiment *1
2nd/15th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KARASOULI MILITARY CEMETERY
Row F, Grave 1405.
Greece
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Not on the Bushey memorials
Pre War
Born on 11 May 1891 in New Southgate, Middlesex, Vernon Bavai Roberts was the son of Edwin Plato and Emma (nee Hawtree) Roberts. His parents were married in 1878 on 8 December (or possibly 25 December) at St Mary’s Church in Watford. Edwin died, aged 80, and was buried on 5 November 1936 at St Michael and All Angels in Brunswick Park, Barnet, and Emma died, aged 82, in 1941 in the registration district of Barnet.
At the 1901 Census, Vernon was 9 years old and living with his parents and his 21-year-old brother, Lionel, in Vicarage Road, Watford. Edwin and Emma are 46 and 43 years old respectively. Edwin is working as a Journeyman Photographer and Lionel is employed as a carpenter and joiner. The birthplaces are given as Watford for Edwin and Lionel, Radlett for Emma and East Barnet for Vernon.
Vernon attended Beechen Grove Board School in Watford from 4 March 1902 to 26 September 1902.
At the 1911 Census, Vernon is aged 19 and still living with his parents at 3 Melrose Villas, Brunswick Park, Brunswick Green, New Southgate in East Barnet. Edwin was still employed as a photographer and Vernon was a Merchants Clerk in the Tea Trade. The census shows that Edwin and Emma had six children, one of who had died in childhood.
Vernon married Emily Louie Janes in the last quarter of 1912 in the registration district of Barnet and they had one child.
Wartime Service
Vernon enlisted in Watford as Rifleman 533872 in the London Regiment, 2nd/15th (County of London) Battalion (Prince of Wales’ Own Civil Service Rifles). He served with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, which was formed in March 1916 from the remnants of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF), which had been evacuated from Gallipoli, together with the Force in Egypt, which was tasked with the protection of the frontiers and the Suez Canal. The EEF was effectively a strategic reserve, with ten of its fourteen infantry divisions soon dispatched to other theatres.
Vernon was killed in action on 26 May 1917 at Salonica, aged 26, and is remembered with honour at the Karasouli Military Cemetery in Greece. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals.
His pension card names Emily, living at 1 Woodlands Cottages, Oxley Lane in Watford, as Vernon’s dependant and also named his daughter, Joan, who was born on 10 March 1916. A pension of 18s. 9d. was awarded with effect for 10 December 1917.
There is an entry for Vernon in the National Probate Calendar for 1917 which reads: “ROBERTS Vernon Bavai of 1 Woodlands Cottages Oxhey-lane Watford Hertfordshire died 26 May 1917 at Salonica Greece Administration (with Will) London 27 June to Emily Louie Roberts widow. Effects £165 8s. 3d.”
Emily later moved to "Clearbrook" in Holland Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk.
Additional Information
Additional information’ provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London) Bn. London Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own Civil Service Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
