Hugh John Roberts, Royal Anglesey Royal Engineers

The 2nd Siege Company was composed mostly of men from Holyhead, many of these being craftsmen and workers, such as fitters, boilermakers, carpenters and other skilled trades employed at the workshops of the Locomotive and Marine Departments of the London & North Western Railway Company, Ltd.

Hugh John Roberts was born at Holyhead, the son of Griffith and Catherine Roberts, 13 Llainfain, Holyhead. In 1911 (aged 18) he was living at Cae Fabli Farm, Llaingoch, Holyhead and was employed by William Williams, a Dairy Farmer, as a Farm Labourer. In the same year the family lived at 13 Llainfain, Holyhead. His father, Griffith (46), was employed as a Labourer and was born at Holyhead. His mother, Catherine Roberts (nee Hughes) (44) was also born at Holyhead. Living at the address were his two sisters, Jane (14) and Mary C Roberts (8). His father died later that year. In 1901 the family lived at 22 Llainfain, Holyhead, when his father was employed as a Railway Goods Porter.

He enlisted at Holyhead on 1 September 1914, aged 21 years and 10 Months and was previously employed as a Porter. His religion was given as Baptist. He arrived in France with his unit on 13 December 1914. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 1 June 1915, Acting 2nd Corporal on 1 November 1915 and was further promoted to Acting Corporal on 1 January 1916. He attended 142 Field Ambulance from 21 September 1915 suffering from Shell Shock before rejoining his unit on 9 November 1915. He went on leave from 27 December 1916 until 6 January 1917.

His Service Record includes a report from a Court of Inquiry into the wounding of eight NCO's and men. It describes that on 11 March 1917 a working party was returning to camp after undertaking road repairs at Courcelette. The men were marching along the Pozieres to Bapaume Road. At about 4.20 pm, when the fourth section of men were passing the Sucrerie (Sugar Refinery), an explosion occurred which resulted in eight men being injured. Corporal Roberts was the most seriously injured and he was subsequently taken to 45th Casualty Clearing Station, where he died of his wounds the next day. Witnesses to the court described how they saw a broken box of Mills Grenades by the side of the road. The Court of Inquiry determined that the injuries were caused by an exploding Mills Grenade, which could have been disturbed by the previously passing sections of troops, causing its safety pin to become dislodged.

Awarded the Victory medal and British War Medal.

Buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. Grave location VI.D.12.