9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
17/01/1889
Died:
01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age:
27
Summary
Thomas James Roberts was the son of Robert and Sarah Jane Roberts. He was born on 17th January 1889 near Aughnacloy, probably in County Monaghan. He was one of at least fourteen children. His mother was a farmer in Monaghan. Private Thomas Roberts was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916. Seven sons of Mrs Roberts served during the war, three of whom died.
Further Information
Thomas James Roberts was the son of Robert and Sarah Jane Roberts. Robert Roberts and Sarah Moffit were married on 1st February 1878 in the district of Dungannon.
Thomas Roberts was born on 17th January 1889 near Aughnacloy, probably in County Monaghan. He was one of at least fourteen children.
Known family: Sarah Jane Roberts, Robert Roberts, John Roberts (born 2nd December 1878), Ellen Roberts (born 10th February 1880), Harriet J Roberts (born 4th October 1881), William Roberts (born 6th November 1883), Walter Roberts (born 13th February 1885), Charles Roberts (born 15th June 1886), George Roberts (born 24th November 1889), Thomas Roberts (born 17th January 1889), Rebecca Roberts (born 11th April 1890, died 11th May 1892), David Roberts (born 22nd December 1891, died 13th December 1895), Malinda Roberts (born 4th July 1893), Albert Roberts (born 15th July 1898).
The 1901 census lists Thomas as age 11 living at house 1 Drumbirn, Derrygorry, Monaghan. His father had died.
The 1911 census does not list Thomas as living with the family at house 1 Drumbirn, Derrygorry, Monaghan. His mother was a farmer.
Thomas Roberts enlisted in Clogher, County Tyrone. He was living in County Monaghan when he enlisted.
1916
Private Thomas Roberts was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the first day of the battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916. He was 26 years old.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 13th July 1916:
Private Thomas Roberts, Drumburne, Aughnacloy, Tyrone Volunteers, killed.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 20 July 1916:
Private Thomas Roberts, killed, belong to Drumbearn, Aughnacloy, and was in the Clogher Valley platoon. He is a son of Mrs Roberts, Killybreen, who has given no fewer than seven sons to the service of King and country, one of whom Mr Charles K S Roberts has just been appointed Dungannon Workhouse master, having lost an arm in action.
Family
All Mrs Roberts’ seven sons volunteered and of these, three were killed in action and two were permanently disabled.
Thomas’s brother, Lance Corporal George Roberts, was serving with the 7th Company of the Canadian Machine Gun Corps when he was killed in action on 10th April 1917, aged 27.
Another brother, Private William Roberts, was killed in action on the 6th December 1917 in France, aged 35.
Another brother, Charles K S Roberts, became Dungannon Workhouse master having been invalided out of the war after losing an arm in action.
Memorials
Private Thomas Roberts is buried in the A.I.F. Burial Ground, two kilometres north of the village of Flers in the Department of the Somme.
Private Thomas Roberts and his two brothers are commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 30 September 2015: Brothers in Arms
Conference in Four Seasons Hotel including talk by Jack Johnston on 'Seven Monaghan Brothers In The Great War'
