Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Goodson Roberts, a domestic groom, born 1858 in Redmile, Leicestershire and his wife Emma Roberts, born 1864 in Freeby, Leicestershire. Thomas Goodson was born in the 1st quarter of 1894 in Redmile, his siblings were, Albert Edward, born in the 4th quarter of 1890, George William, a schoolboy, born 1885 and Charles Cecil, born 1899, all his siblings were born in Redmile, in March 1901 the family home was at Rectory Lane, Redmile. His brother Albert Edward also died.
The following information was provided by Thomas’s brother George on the 11th August 1920, and was witnessed and signed by G. H. Morgan, Wesleyan Minister, Dudley Road, Grantham on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Thomas Goodson Roberts of Woolsthorpe by Belvoir. Mother of soldier, dead. Full blood brothers of soldier, George William Roberts, of 60, Norton Street, Grantham. Charles Cecil Roberts of 60, Norton Street, Grantham. Thomas first entered the theatre of war in France on the 9th September 1914. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. His brother George William was the sole legatee of his estate. Thomas’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and most 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 records: 27 Jul-16 - The Battalion relieved the 9th Battalion SUFFOLK REGIMENT in the front line.
The War Diary records: 28 Jul-16 - 10.00 to 10.30 am. Front line worried by Minenwerfer. One fire bay (“D” Company) blown in. Retaliation called for from Artillery, result satisfactory. 7.30 pm. Bomb accident occurred in X.5. Bombers were cleaning bombs, when for some unknown reason, a bomb exploded in the hands of Private Nicholls, killing Sergeant Faulkner, Private’s Nicholls and Potter and wounding 6 others all belonging to “A” Company. Lieutenant GARDNER transferred to 18th Brigade. Casualties 3 killed (“A” Company), 1 killed (“C” Company), 6 wounded (“A” Company), 2 wounded (“C” Company).
The War Diary records: 29 Jul-16 - Quiet. Casualties 1 killed (“D” Company), 1 wounded (“C” Company).
On Friday August 18th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – REDMILE SOLDIER DIES OF WOUNDS. Mr. Roberts, of Redmile, has received a letter from a chaplain to the Leicestershire Regiment stating that his brother Pte. T. Gordon Roberts, died in hospital on July 29th at 8.15pm., he only being admitted the previous day with a most serious wound in his abdomen. He was unconscious when admitted, but later recovered and was able to speak. The doctors and nurses spared no pains in their efforts for him. He passed quietly away. He was as brave a patient as could be. The authorities laid him to rest the next day in the Military Cemetery, and the grave is to be marked with a cross bearing his name. Pte. Roberts was with the Leicester Regiment before the declaration of war.