WWI family lot. Roberts. Ex reformatory schoolboy and former Franconia crewman, KIA Somme July 1916. Brother survived the War. West Derby, Liverpool.
£120.00
Availability: 1 in stock
Correctly named Pair 45966 Gnr HP Roberts RA
Harold Pendleton Roberts was born to David and Isabella in 1895.
In 1901, we find the family living at 113 Pythian Street, West Derby, Liverpool.
In 1911 though, we see Harold as an inmate at Weston Boys Reformatory in Warwickshire.
Two years later in 1913, Harold is seen to be a crewman aboard the RMS Franconia of the Cunard Line.
The RMS Franconia was an ocean liner operated by the Cunard Line. She was launched on 23 July 1910 at the Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Wallsend shipyard. Franconia was intended for the line’s Boston service, being the largest ship of the time to enter Boston harbor, with winter service in the New York-Mediterranean cruising service.
Her maiden voyage in February 1911, was between Liverpool and Boston, USA. She was nicknamed the “bathroom ship” as she had more bathrooms and showers on board than the Mauretania. She was unusual, as she did not have staterooms on the upper deck, instead she had a library, gymnasium and a lounge and smoking room.
She completed her final crossing from Liverpool to Boston on 22 September 1914, by which time she had carried 52,695 passengers westbound to Boston.
After several years service primarily in the North Atlantic, she was taken into service as a troop transport in early 1915. On 4 October 1916, while heading for Salonika, she was torpedoed and sunk by the German U-boat UB-47 195 miles east of Malta. She was not carrying any troops but out of her 314 crew members, 12 died. The others were saved by the hospital ship Dover Castle.
He served with the 2nd Heavy Group Royal Artillery and was with these when he was killed in action on the 12th of July 1916.
He is buried at Boulincourt Communal Cemetery Extension.
Correctly named Victory medal MR/47329 Pte F Roberts ASC
Frank Bellis Roberts was born in April 1901.
He married Edith Laura Oliver in 1931 and in 1939 we find them living at 19 Bolan Street, Liverpool. Frank was at that time working as a night telephonist.
Entitled to a Pair, sadly his BWM is no longer with the rest of the family medals.
Frank died in 1966.
