ROBERTS Alec

Alec Roberts enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 19th March 1915 at New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. On his attestation form he gave his date of birth as 4th July 1890 in Worcester, Worcestershire, his occupation as a motorman and his next of kin as his brother Charles Roberts, 57th Ave, East of Fraser, S. Vancr, B.C. This was later amended to 4530 Inverness St., Vancouver, B.C. Additional next of kin given in his records are for his widow, Mrs Florence Roberts, 53 Droitwich Rd., Worcester, England and his mother, Mrs Ellen Roberts, Blackmore Rd., Hanley Swan, Worcester, England. Alec was 5ft 7ins tall with brown eyes, brown hair and a medium complexion.

Alec sailed from Canada on SS Missanabie on 13th November 1915, arriving in England on 23rd November. He was admitted to military hospitals in England where he was treated for a sprained right ankle in July 1916 and Debility in October 1916. On 21st December 1916 he was granted permission to marry. Alec was posted overseas in 1917, arriving in France on 14th May 1917. In November 1917 he was treated in hospital for Trench Feet, returning to his unit on 7th December 1917. A week later he was granted leave to the UK from 15th December 1917 to 29th December, returning to his unit on 31st December 1917. Alec was killed in action on 8th August 1918.

He is also recorded as Alexander Roberts.

National Archives of Canada Reference: RG150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8326 – 22.

The Canada War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty) record the following information for Alec Roberts:
“Killed in Action.”
While taking part in the attack on DODO WOOD, he was wounded by shrapnel from an enemy shell, and while proceeding to a dressing station, he was instantly killed by enemy shell fire.

The Canada Commonwealth War Graves Registers record the following information for Alec Roberts:
Killed in action. Buried in Hourges Orchard Cemetery, Domart-Sur-La-Luce, 2 miles N.N.E. of Mareuil.

The war diary account of the action in which Alec Roberts was killed is available courtesy of Jim Busby.  Please email me if you would like a copy: rememberthefallen.co.uk@gmail.com

A photograph of a Private A. Roberts of Worcester can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 14th September 1918, available at Worcestershire Archives.  This MAY relate to this casualty.