Thomas Roberts

Name

Thomas Roberts
1890

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

08/10/1915
26

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Guardsman
20352
Grenadier Guards
3rd Bn.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 5 to 7.
France

Headstone Inscription

N/A

UK & Other Memorials

Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, Hoddesdon, St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon, Diocese - Book of Remembrance, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Diocese of St Albans - ROH, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Broxbourne C Of E Primary School Memorial, Broxbourne (*1)

Pre War

Thomas ROBERTS was born in the early part of 1890, in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, son of John James Roberts a Baker and Confectioner and Esther Roberts (nee Harris). The youngest of their nine children.

His parents were married on 30th September 1868, at St. Marks Church, Notting Hill, London.

Thomas was Baptised on 8th April 1890, in Hoddesdon, Herts.

1891 Census records Thomas aged 11 months, living with his parents, four brothers and two sisters in High Street, Hoddesdon, Herts. His aunt Sofia Roberts is living with the family.

1901 Census, Thomas (10), his parents, three brothers and two sisters are still all living in High Street, Hoddesdon, Herts. His cousin Elizabeth Roberts a Nurse is living with the family.

His mother Esther died on 25th January 1911, aged 62, in Hoddesdon, Herts.

1911 Census, Thomas (20), a Confectioner like his father, was living with his widowed father, two brothers and two sisters, at 87 High Street, Hoddesdon, Herts.

His father John died on 27th April 1912, aged 70, in Ware, Herts.

Some documents record his father as James John Roberts.

*1 We think this man attended Broxbourne C Of E Primary School, Broxbourne and is on that memorial.

Wartime Service

Thomas enlisted at St. Pancras, London, posted to the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards and issued with the service number 20352. (His service no. indicates he enlisted in November 1914).

On completion of his training Thomas and the 3rd Battalion, embarked for Le Havre, France, on the 26th July 1915, arriving the following day the 27th and joined the 2nd Guards Brigade, Guards Division.

Thomas was Killed in Action less than three months later on 8th October 1915, aged 26. The Battalion was in the front-line trenches near Vermelles, when in the afternoon of the 8th the trench was heavily attacked along the trench line, during the Battle of Loos. (Battle of Loos 25th September – 8th October 1915). He has no known grave; he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the missing in France. Panel 5 to 7.

Additional Information

His effects of £5-04s-05d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £3, went to his brother James J. Roberts his executor. 

Thomas is also commemorated on a headstone in Hoddesdon Cemetery. His part of the inscription reads:

Acknowledgments

Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox