Pte 16271 William Edward Roberts

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 26th September 1917
• Commemorated at: Oosttaverne Wood Cem Whytschaete
  Panel Ref: II.C.2

William Edward Roberts was born in 1894 at Liverpool and was baptised 25th March 1894 at St Augustine's Church, Everton. He was the son of Walter Roberts and his wife Ellen Clover (nee Lovelady) of 4 Ashfield, Wavertree, Liverpool. They had married in 1890 at St Augustine's Church, Everton.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 97, Bamber Street, Liverpool. His father, Walter, is aged 38, his occupation shown as a building contractor’s clerk, his mother Ellen Clover is aged 42, but has no occupation listed. They have five children in the household at the time of the Census; Daisy aged 10, Violet aged 8, William Edward aged 7, Lily aged 5, and Alfred born 1901.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 136 Jubilee Drive, Liverpool.  His father Walter aged 48, born in Liverpool in 1863 occupation buildingers contractor's clerk, his mother, Ellen Clover, is aged 52, born 1859 also in Liverpool as were their children. They have been married for twenty years and have had five children, all of whom are in the household; Daisy aged 20, born 1891 no occupation, Violet aged 18, born 1893 a shop assistant for a ladies outfitters, William Edward aged 17, born 1894 a junior clerk for a seed crusher and oil cake maker (J. Bibby and Sons Ltd), Lily aged 15, born 1896 is an assistant for a dressmaker and Alfred aged 10 born 1901 is at school.

William enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool originally joining the 18th Battalion of The The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 16271. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He was wounded in July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme and upon his return to the front he was serving in the 19th Battalion when he was killed in action on the 26th September, 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres. 

19^th Battalion War Diary for 26^th September 1917

Classes etc continued, good progress being made. Lt Col G. Rollo D.S.O. having returned from 89^th Inf. Brigade resumed command. The brigade Concert party “The Optimists” showed to the battalion in the evening. At night the usual working parties were provided. On the returning of one of the parties 2 O.R. were killed by a shell and 2 O.R. severely wounded by the same. The wounded men died from their wounds after being admitted to hospital.  

William Edward was one of the two other ranks referred to in the diary as being killed by a shell. He was 23 years of age and now rests at Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery, Belgium, where the inscription on his headstone reads:

“THE DAY THOU GAVEST LORD IS ENDED”  

The "Oosttaverne Line" was a German work running northward from the river Lys to the Comines Canal, passing just east of Oosttaverne. It was captured on 7 June 1917, the first day of the Battle of Messines, the village and the wood being taken by the 19th (Western) and 11th Divisions. Two cemeteries, No.1 and No.2, were then made by the IX Corps Burial Officer on the present site and used until September 1917. They are contained in Plot I, II, and III of the present cemetery, which was completed after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields (including many from Hill 60). 

During the Second World War, the British Expeditionary Force was involved in the later stages of the defence of Belgium following the German invasion in May 1940, and suffered many casualties in covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk.

The cemetery contains 1,119 First World War burials, 783 of which are unidentified. Scattered among these graves are 117 from the Second World War, five of them unidentified.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Poston the 04th October 1917:

ROBERTS - September 27, killed in action in his 24th year, Private William Edward Roberts K.L.R., the dearly loved and loving son of Walter and Ellen C. Roberts, 4 Ashfield, Wavertree. (Formerly with Messrs. J. Bibby and Sons Ltd.)

Also in the Liverpool Daily Post under the heading:

"Fallen Heroes":

RECENT CASUALTIES. 

News has been received of the death in action of Private William Edward Roberts, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Roberts, of 4, Ashfield, Wavertree, killed instantaneously on the 26th ult. At the outbreak of war he was on the office of Messrs. J. Bibby and Sons, Ltd, and was one of the original Pals who took their first drill on the Exchange Flags. Severely wounded on the Somme in July, 1916, he returned to the front in January last, and took part in the subsequent heavy fighting. A promising athlete, he was a member of the Liverpool Gymnasium "champion eight" of 1913-1914, and by his cheery optimism and genial character had endeared himself to a very large circle. His commanding officer writes:- "Both officers and men feel his loss very much. Besides being one of our best Lewis gunners, he was a very brave soldier, always cheerful and helpful to all even under the most adverse circumstances."

Soldiers effects were sent to his father Walter and his pension to his mother Ellen Clover.

William Edward is also commemorated on the following memorials:

J Bibby and Sons Ltd

St Thomas'C. of E. Church, Wavertree

Liverpool Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 44 Right 

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