Albert Sidney Roberts was the youngest of three brothers who are all ‘Men on the Gates’ – William Henry Roberts and Ernest Maurice Roberts. They came from a large family with 15 children John, Evan, William, Mary, Richard, Hugh, Ernest, James, (Albert) Sidney, Frances, Kate, Norman and Albert. Their father was Thomas Roberts, a general labourer working in a brickyard. Their mother was Catherine, she would die in July 1911. The family lived at Morda Factory Cottages. Of the brothers, with the exception of the two youngest, all would serve. The Roll of Honour in BCA records that one was awarded the Military Medal, one was a PoW since 1915, a third was serving in France and another in Egypt.

Albert Sidney Roberts was born in 1896 Oswestry. He was the youngest of the 11 brothers. In 1911 he was living with his parents at Morda, and was working as an errand boy for Messrs WH Thomas & Co. builders, timber merchants and brick makers in Oswestry – very likely also his father’s employers. Albert probably enlisted in late 1915 or early 16 joining King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and was posted to 7 Bn KSLI going over to France in June 1916.

Albert was KIA on 23 August 1918 during the Battle of Albert. The battalion were to attack from around Ayette with the objective of the Arras-Bapaume railway at Courcelles le Comte and then to advance towards Ervillers. His body was lost; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial. There is also a commemorative stone on the family grave in Oswestry Cemetery. He is also commemorated on St Oswald’s Church War Memorial.

The Brother’s Commemorative Medallions

References and Sources

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