John Roberts

Remembered with Honour on the Ypres (Menin gate) Memorial, Belgium1914 Star, British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal.

John Roberts.

Personal Details:

Born in Tushingham, Malpas in 1882.

Second son of William and (Agnes) Hester Roberts of Malpas.

John grew up in Tushingham; all his siblings are shown in the census records as having been born in Malpas.

John left home and joined the police force in Manchester in February 1908, when he married Harriett Beesley of 7, Derby Road, Withington, Manchester.

Father of John Joseph and Richard Raymond.

.

Military Details:

Regiment:           1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment.

Rank:                 Driver.

Serial Number:   5968.

Tushingham-born John Roberts was a Manchester policeman when he enlisted.

.

Record of Death:  

Killed in Action at Ypres in Belgium on 14th November 1914. Aged 32.

Commemorated on Ypres Menin Gate Memorial, Panel 22.

.

Medals and Awards:

John was awarded the Campaign Medals (1914 Star, British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal).

.

Further Information:

1891 census records that the family were living in Tushingham, the birthplace of all the Roberts' children.

The 1891 census records John's mother’s name as Hester and in the 1911 census she is recorded as Esther.)

The 1901 census shows the Roberts family living in Wirswall and in 1911 in Chowley.

The 1911 census shows John as a police constable and living with Harriet in Rusholme, Manchester with a 2 year old and a 1 year old.

(Sons John Joseph and Richard Raymond.)

John's wife Harriet remarried again to become Mrs Donaldson.

.

Note*

John is not currently recorded on the Malpas War Memorial or any other UK civic memorial.

It is suggested that this is because John had moved away to Manchester in 1908 and was not associated with the local community there.