Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Robert Roberts, a lace maker, born 1841 in Nottingham and his wife Lucy Roberts (nee Turner, married on the 5th October 1862 in St. Mary’s Church, Nottingham), a hosiery trade worker, born 1843 in Nottingham. George was born in the 2nd quarter of 1874 in St. Paul’s, Nottingham, his siblings were, John, a lace maker, born 1865 and Eliza, born 1872, both his siblings were born in Nottingham, in April 1881 the family home was at 3, Meynell Court, St. Mary’s, Nottingham. In April 1891 George was employed as a fitter and was residing in the family home at Meynell Street, St. Mary’s, Nottingham, together with his father, a lace maker, his mother and sister Eliza, a lace clipper. In March 1901 George was absent from the family home at Olive Yard, 8, Barker Gate, Nottingham, residing there was his father, a navvy and his mother a lace worker. George married Sarah Hales in the 2nd quarter of 1903 in the Nottingham, district. George first enlisted into the 4th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Militia) on the 24th August 1892 in Nottingham. He gave his place of birth as St. Paul’s, Nottingham and his age as 18 years. He gave his trade or calling as fitter. He gave his home address as 8, Meynell Street, Nottingham. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4 inches in height, weighed 113 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour brown and he had blue eyes. It was noted that he had a scar on his chest and a cross tattoo on his left forearm. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit to serve in the Militia. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Sherwood Foresters Derbyshire Regiment for recruit training as a Private, service number 2407 on the 24/8/1892 – 26/10/1892. George enlisted from the Militia on a Short Service engagement to serve 7 years with the Colours and 5 years with the Reserve on the 6th October 1892 in Derby. He gave his place of birth as St. Paul’s, Nottingham and his age as 18 years and 5 months. He gave his trade or calling as fitter. He confirmed that he was currently serving with the 4th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Militia). He gave his father Robert of 8, Meynell Street, Nottingham as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4 inches in height, weighed 117 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had blue eyes. It was noted that he had a scar of a burn on his chest and cross tattoo on his left forearm. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit to serve in the Army. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) for recruit training as a Private, service number 3807 on the 6/10/1892. Posted to the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) on the 21/11/1892. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) on the 3/9/1894. Issued 1st Good Conduct Clasp on the 6/10/1894. Granted 2nd Good Conduct Clasp on the 6/10/1898. Elected to come under Regulations governing issue of Housing Allowance in accordance with provisions of Para 5, Army Order 65 of 1898 on the 1/12/1899. Posted to the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) on the 20/2/00. Appointed Lance Corporal and posted to the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) on the 14/1/01. Awarded the 2nd Class Army Certificate of Education on the 18/3/01. Posted to the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) on the 1/3/02. Posted to the Depot of the Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) on the 3/9/02. Demobilised on the 3/9/02. Transferred to the “B” Reserve on the 12/2/03. Discharged from the “B” Reserve on the 5/10/04. Re-enlisted into Section “D” on the 15/12/04. Discharged at the termination of his Section “D” re-engagement on the 14/12/08. His record of service records: Home Service, 6/10/1892 – 2/9/1894, 1 year 332 days. East Indies, 3/9/1894 – 24/10/1899, 5 years 52 days. Malta, 25/10/1899 – 28/2/02, 2 years 127 days. South Africa, 1/3/02 – 2/9/02, 186 days. Home Service, 3/9/02 – 5/10/04, 2 years 33 days. Total service 12 years and 129 days. George was awarded the India Medal of 1895, clasp “Punjab Frontier 1897 -98,” and “Tirah 1897 – 98.” Also entitled to South Africa medal. Upon re-enlistement to Section “D” he gave his wife Sarah and daughter Ivy May of 8, Olive Yard, Barker Gate, Nottingham as his next of kin. George re-enlisted into the Army Reserve as a Special Reservist to serve a one year engagement with Leicestershire Regiment on the 3rd September 1914 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. He gave his place of birth as St. Paul’s, Nottingham and his age as 40 years and 5 months. He gave his trade or calling as fitter and stated that he was married. He confirmed that he had previously served for 12 years and 129 days with the 2nd Battalion Derbyshire Regiment. He gave his wife Nellie (Sarah) Roberts, and his daughters Ivy May and Agnes Caroline, all of of 58, Cobden Street, Loughborough, as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6 inches in height and weighed 136 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 36 inches. His complexion was described as fresh and his eyes were blue. It was noted that he had tattoos on both arms. His physical development was recorded as good. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for service with the Special Reserve. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment for recruit training as a Private, service number 12294 on the 3/9/14. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 7/9/14. Appointed Lance Corporal, unpaid on the 8/9/14. Appointed Acting Corporal on the 6/1/15. Reverted to Private on the 26/2/15. Embarked from Southampton to join the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment serving with the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 19/3/15. Died in the 19th Brigade Field Ambulance from wounds received in action on the 20/5/15. On the 20th December 1915 George’s widow and two children were awarded a weekly pension of 21 shillings to commence on the 13th December 1915. On the 18th February 1916 George’s widow was recorded as residing at Orchard Cottage, Grove Avenue, Chilwell, Beeston, Nottinghamshire, then on the 22nd September 1919 at High Street, Old Chilwell, Beeston, Nottinghamshire. George was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory Medals. George’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary record: 20 May-15 - At 10.00am shelling of V2 commenced aided by trench mortars, Bomb Guns and Machine Guns. Enemy bombarding our lines from 6.30 to 7.30pm and from 10.00 to 11.20pm.
On Friday August 6th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “ROLL OF HONOUR” – CASUALTIES AMONG TERRITORIALS. The following casualties in the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment are reported from the Base under date July 18th:-
KILLED.
Private H. Hornsey.
DIED OF WOUNDS.
Private G. E. Brodie. Private W. Maisey. Private E. Pallett. Private G. Roberts.
WOUNDED.
Private W. Abbott. Private W. Bailey. Private C. Buckland. Private J. Coles. Private H. Cooper. Corporal A. A. Dilkes. Private A. Ert. Private E. Findlay. Corporal W. Fox. Private D. Hurley. Private G. A. Mann. Private A. Marlow. Private W. A. Mason. Private W. Rivett. Private A. Skelson. Private H. Stevenson. Private W. Taylor. Private C. Wilmot.
WOUNDED AND MISSING.
Lance Corporal J. W. Hemmings. Private P. Keightley. Private H. Lester. Private P. Lock.