Alfred Frank Roberts was born circa 1913 (Flintshire (Mold) HOL/50/89) the son of John Joseph & Margaret Roberts (nee Foulkes), who had married at Bagillt Parish Church on the 22nd of November 1911
We see Alfred Frank Roberts for the first time on his Baptism in Holywell, on the 15th of January 1913, s/o John Joseph & Margaret Roberts, 3, Lower Brongnallt, Collier.
It appears that John Joseph had enlisted or was conscripted in WW1, he was in the Royal Engineers, his Regimental No. was 74436 and on the 11th of February 1917, he was admitted to the 31st Ambulance Train (Sick Convoy) on its way from Bray to Rouen, he was discharged the next day, his complaint was O.D.H. Sadly, I do not know what that means. He was discharged from the Army on the 4th of June 1919 and his residence then was in Rhyl.
So, by the 1921 census, John Joseph was back at home, but if he was well, I don’t know, but we see the family living at 9, Victoria Row, Walwen, Holywell. John Joseph Roberts was now 31 years and 8 months old, he was a Coal Miner at Bettisfield Colliery Coy Ltd., Bagillt, but was “Out of Work.” His wife, Margaret Roberts was 31 years and 6 months old and was doing “Home Duties.” Their children were Sarah Roberts, 9 years, and 10 months old, Alfred Robers 8 years and 7 months old and John Joseph Victor Roberts, 1 years and 8 months old. They had all been born in Bagillt, Flintshire.
As there are no published Census returns published after the 1921 census so I have no information on Alfred Frank’s life, until he is seen marrying Margaret Elizabeth Ashbrook in a Civil Ceremony at Holywell in 1936 (Flintshire (Mold) HOL/60/35).
It is on the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939 that they both appear living at 13, Union Street, Connah’s Quay. This source gives us the dates of birth. Alfred F. Roberts had been born on the 22nd of November 1912 and was an Electrician’s Labourer. Margaret E. Roberts had been born on the 31st of October 1914 and was doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties.” Hubert F. Roberts* had been born on the 24th of February 1938.
*Young Hubert Frank’s birth certificate: – (Flintshire (Mold)FLNT/67/74)
On the same 1939 National Register, his parents are seen living at 10 Glanydon Estate, Holywell U.D., Flintshire, Wales. John Joseph Roberts had been born on the 21st of October 1889 and he was a Fibro Silk Spinner and his wife, Marguerite(sic) had been born on the 23rd of October 1889 and was also doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties.)
War was declared on the 3rd September 1939, and the 1939 National Register shows Alfred Frank still at home, so I do not know when he enlisted or joined the R.A.F, as I cannot find any Records for him, but the WW2 Talk Forum, when I asked for help to what Squadron Alfred Frank might have been in and these are their replies, for which I give my thanks for their help.
I believe that Alfred Frank Roberts died in Aberdeen. (According to the JONES Family Tree on Ancestry.co.uk (Sion Jones)
I needed to find out why Alfred Frank had died, so I asked WW2 Talk on the 1st of June 2018 :- http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/roberts-alfred-frank.73547/
Hi everyone, I have a problem as although the CWGC have given the detail below, I do not know what Squadron Alfred Frank was in and Find my Past have only the 1 record of the CWGC for him, no other details, so I cannot track his service career or what might have happened to him. Any help would be much appreciated.
RAFCommands
RAF postings were to a Formation but not all Formations are Squadrons.
Especially for non-aircrew Other Ranks then they could be on the strength of a Squadron but in most cases, they would be posted to a Base/HQ/Station etc and used as a common resource for co-located Squadron needs.
As he is commemorated on the CWGC (and hence passed away over 25 years ago) you can apply to the RAF Disclosures without need to supply a death certificate to get a copy of his full-service records.
His death in Aberdeen was due to TB.
Ross
Many thanks to Tim and Ross from WW2talk for their unfailing help.
I found on https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/record-results?search_type=People&surname=roberts&forename=alfred%20frank&forename_so=exact&from_year=1944&to_year=1944&surname_so=exact&record_type=stat_deaths Alfred Frank’s possible death certificate: –
Surname Forename Age at death Mother’s Maiden Name Year Ref RD Name Image View
ROBERTS, ALFRED FRANK 31 1944 168/1 276 Aberdeen Northern District —– This would have to be purchased to confirm/deny.
Chester Chronicle 11th March 1944 Page 3 Col. 3
Death of LAC A.F. ROBERTS – The Death occurred on Thursday (last week) in an Aberdeen Hospital of L.A.C. Alfred Frank ROBERTS. He was the son-in-law of Mrs. J. ASHBROOK, 7, Union-street, Connah’s Quay, and aged 31. The funeral took place on Tuesday at Golftyn Cemetery, the Rev. H.D. ALLEN, officiating. The mourners were Mrs. ROBERTS, (Widow), Mr. & Mrs. J.G. ROBERTS, (father and mother), Mrs. JONES, (sister), Mrs. ELLIS, Miss A. ROBERTS, Mrs. L. ROBERTS, Mrs. FOULKES, Mrs. CARTWRIGHT, Mrs. GRIFFITHS, (aunts), Mrs. FOULKES (cousin), Mrs. ASHBROOK, (mother-in-law). Mr. & Mrs. H. ASHBROOK, Mrs. DALTON, Mr. & Mrs. W. ASHBROOK, Mr. & Mrs. ROUND, Mr. & Mrs. C. ASHBROOK, Mr. HALLMARK and Master N. HALLMARK, Miss M. ASHBROOK, Mr. & Mrs. R. POVEY and Master CARTWRIGHT.
Any information to add to Alfred Frank’s story would be gratefully received.
I believe from the 1939 National Register that Margaret Elizabeth remarried to a John Roberts on the 13th December 1949, (Flintshire (Mold) HOL/72/93) the Certificate would have to be purchased to confirm/deny.
Alfred Frank was well loved as his name was put forward to be remembered on the War Memorial.
SOME DAY, SOME TIME WE’LL MEET AGAIN
