WORLD WAR I
Bingham War Memorial
Service Record
240041[SF] |
Lieutenant Russell Starbuck Roberts | 8th Notts & Derbys (Sherwood Foresters) (Territorial Force), Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment |
born 1892 |
| Service records | Enlisted at Bingham, 20/10/1909 in the 8th Bn. Sherwood Foresters
(Territorial Force), aged 17yrs 9 mths. Address: Grantham Rd Height 5’6”; Girth 36¼” (expansion 2¾”); Occupation: Fishmonger’s assistant working for Mr. Horsepool Religion: Wesleyan Attestation paper endorsed (later) 2nd Lieut 8th N&D. Married 9/4/15 Address of next of kin (wife Ethel): 41 Holm Flatt St., Parkgate, Rotherham Embodied in 1/5th Yorks and Lancs 5/8/14, posted to 2/5th 11.11.16 re-engaged for period of the war from 28/9/15. Casualty Form: 28.9.15 re-engaged for 4 years. 5/2/16 “Having reported sick whilst on short leave to England and been admitted to hospital, is struck off the strength of the battalion from 1/11/15” Embarked Folkestone 15/8/16, arrived Boulogne same day. Joined battalion in the field 6/9/16 21/11/16 wound left thigh; at Wimereaux. Treated at 8th Stationary Hospital. Transferred to Etaples, 19/12/16. Etaples the main centre in France for the final training of British troops before they went up to the front. Wounded soldiers went there for retraining. Re-joined unit 9.1.16 in the field. Appointed L/cpl 1/5/17 Attached to Ripon Depot 3/8/18 Discharged 16/12/19 Trade on discharge: Steel smelter |
Service record wrongly transcribed in FMP as birthplace Birmingham! It seems likely he served on the Home front whilst with the Sherwood Foresters (territorials). These dates are before the Yorks/Lancs went to France so may indicate that Russell went to France initially with the Foresters – there are several references to them in the Wimereaux area. |
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| Forces war records web site | 2/4th 2/5th Battalion Territorial Force 21.09.1914 The 2/4th Formed at Sheffield and the 2/5th formed at Rotherham on 03.10.1914. (Service record has Russell joining 2/4th on 5/8/14). Mar 1915 Both battalions moved to Bulwell, Nottingham to join the 187th Brigade of the 62nd Division. April 1915 Moved to Strensall, then Beverley, Gateshead, Larkhill, and Bungay. Jan 1917 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including; During 1917 The Operations on the Ancre, The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The Arras offensive, The actions on the Hindenburg Line, The Cambrai Operations. During 1918 The Battle of Bapaume, The First Battle of Arras 1918, The Battles of the Marne 1918, The Scarpe, The Battle of the Drocourt-Queant Line, The Battle of Havrincourt, The Battle of the Canal du Nord, The Battle of the Selle, The capture of Solesmes, The Battle of the Sambre. 11.11.1918 Ended the war in France, Sous-le-Bois near Maubeuge |
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| Medal card | Entered France 13th April 1915 The medal card does not mention his service with the Foresters. Awarded 1914-15 Star. Various receipts in service record collection appear to suggest he was also awarded British and Victory medals. |
The date of entry to France is at odds with the Forces-war-records information. | |
| Officer Records at National Archives | 18/1/91 born Bingham Father: Railway clerk Education: Bingham Board School Married Occupation: steel smelter Permanent address 41 Holm Flat St., Parkgate, Rotherham Current address: Signal section 1/5 Yorks & Lancs First enlisted 20/10/09 L/cpl No. 240041, time expired 20/10/14 18/10/18 To No. 2 Officer Cadet Bn. at Cambridge from 1/5th Yorks & Lances Regt. Confidential report for 240041 Cpl Roberts 1/5 Yorks & Lancs recorded: 18/10/18 joined unit aged 26 yrs 11 mths References supplied by: 1): Rev Hayes, Rector Parkgate 2) Mr Hankin, Bingham Board school 17/3/19 Appointed Temp commission as 2/Lt in Notts & Derby Regt. 1/9/21 relinquished commission (This may be an administrative procedure) Service Record: 1909 to 13/4/15 Home 13/4/15 Overseas 1/10/15 Home 15/8/16 Overseas 2/8/18 to 1919 Home Mentioned twice in despatches Mar 1918 Education – fairly good Ability to train a platoon – fair Ability to command a platoon – good “Would have been recommended for a commission if he had completed the course” when demobilised under GUNP 23 (?) – went back to job in Iron and Steel manufacture - 18/1/19 |
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| Roll of Honour AVL |
RoH: wounded twice on the Western Front. No AVL address |
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| London Gazette | 17th March 1919. Lists appointment of Russell Starbuck Roberts as cadet promoted to temporary 2nd Lieutenant, Notts and Derby Regiment. His protection certificate was issued 2 days later and noted his specialist military qualification as “Officer Cadet”. | ||
Family history etc
| Lieutenant Russell Starbuck Roberts | |||
| 1892 FREEBMD | Born Bingham JAN – MAR | ||
| Census 1901 | Lived at East End, Bingham, Bingham with: Father: Nathan Roberts, b.1854 Clifton, Beds Mother: Lucy, b. 1864 Somercotes, Derbys. Siblings: Laura B, b. 1889 b. Harby, Leics Wallace, b. 1890 Harby, Leics Roland, b. 1894 Bingham (died OCT -DEC 1905) Lilian, b. 1897 Bingham Oliver, b. 1899 Bingham |
Railway Timekeeper |
Brother Wallace served with The Sherwood Foresters Click on name for details |
| Census 1911 | Russell, aged 19, was boarding in Parkgate near Rotherham, Yorks with: Frederick Shillington. |
Grocery business assistant Grocer |
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| Census 1911 [family] |
Family lived on Grantham Road, Bingham with: |
GN Railway labourer |
Brother Oliver served with Yorkshire Reg Click on name for details |
| 1915 FREEBMD | Married Ethel Powell at Rotherham MAR – JUN | ||
| 1939 Register | 39 Warren Vale Road, Swinton, W Yorkshire: Russell S Roberts, b. 18 Jan 1892, married Ethel Roberts, b. 6 Oct 1888, married Joseph Armley, b. 18 Feb 1863, widowed |
Steel Smelter Unpaid domestic duties Pipe Fitters Labourer (retired) |
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| 1940 | Russell Starbuck Roberts, age 48, of 39 Warren Vale Road,
Wath-upon-Dearne died 6 April 1940 at the Open Hearth Dept, Parkgate Iron
and Steel Company Ltd. Administration to Ethel Roberts, widow, effects
£874 17s. 6d. Death certificate address: 39 Warren Vale Road, Wath upon Dearne. |
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