9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
06/11/1883
Died:
06/12/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age:
34
Summary
William Roberts was the eldest son of Robert and Sarah Jane Roberts. He was born on 6th November 1883 near Aughnacloy, probably in County Monaghan. He was one of at least fourteen children. His mother was a farmer, as was he. The family lived at Drumbirn, Derrygorry, Monaghan. William enlisted in Enniskillen while he was living in Monaghan with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Private William Roberts was killed in action on the 6th December 1917 in France.
Further Information
William Roberts was the eldest son of Robert and Sarah Jane Roberts. Robert Roberts and Sarah Moffit were married on 1st February 1878 in the district of Dungannon.
William Roberts was born on 6th November 1883 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 1911 census records William as 27 years old. His father had died. His mother was a farmer, as was he. The family lived at Drumbirn, Derrygorry, Monaghan.
William enlisted in Enniskillen while he was living in Monaghan with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
1917
Private William Roberts was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the 6th December 1917 in France.
1918
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated Thursday 31 October 1918:
Mrs Roberts, Drumbearn, Aughnacloy, has now received official intimation that her son, Private William Roberts, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who has being missing since 6th December 1917, must be presumed killed. All Mrs Roberts' seven sons volunteered and of these three have been killed in action and two permanently disabled. Sergeant George Roberts, Canadian Infantry, was killed at Vimy ridge and Private Thomas Roberts, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, was fatally wounded on 1st July 1916. Sergeant Major John Roberts, Canadian Infantry, received serious wounds which necessitated his discharge and Corporal C K S Roberts, Royal Irish Fusiliers (now master of Dungannon Workhouse) lost his left arm at the first battle of Ypres. The other sons are Private Roberts, North Irish Horse (attached to the Royal Irish Fusiliers) who has been wounded and Chief Petty Officer Walter Roberts, Royal Navy.
Family
All Mrs Roberts’ seven sons volunteered and of these, three were killed in action and two were permanently disabled.
William’s brother, 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.
William’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, Charles K S Roberts, became Dungannon Workhouse master having been invalided out of the war after losing an arm in action.
Memorials
Private William Roberts has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval.
The Cambria Memorial photo above has been kindly donated by Bob Pike, courtesy of Carrie Pike, via the Great War Forum.
Private William Roberts and his two brothers are commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial.
The CWGC record Private William Roberts as the son of Mrs Sarah Jane Roberts of Drumbern, Derrygorry, Emyvale, County Monaghan
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'
