Name
Reginald Louis (poss Louis Reginald) Roberts
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/05/1917
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Serjeant
9987
Devonshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LA CHAPELETTE BRITISH AND INDIAN CEMETERY, PERONNE
Plot I, Row C, Grave 5.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Mary Elizabeth (nee MOORE) ROBERTS of Watford, and the late Charles ROBERTS.
His parents married 22 October 1882 at Holy Trinity, Eckington, Worcs. Charles died 1911 in Watford aged 53, and was buried 14 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Mary died 1938 in Watford aged 79, and was buried 2 March, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Reginald was born 29 April 1894 in Watford, and attended first Victoria Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 7 January 1901 to 13 April 1908. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 6 he lived in Watford, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, a gas fitter’s labourer aged 16, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and four siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hatfield; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 6 November 1914, and died at 34 Casualty Clearing Station of wounds received in action. He was awarded the Military Medal.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Reginald’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is an article about Reginald in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 23 December 1916, a brief article and Death announcement in the issue dated 19 May 1917, and another article in the issue dated 20 April 1918.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
