James Roberts has not been identified. The statistics for deaths of servicemen during the war named “James Roberts” recorded in the CWGC register and ‘Soldiers Died in the Great War’ volumes total 63 from the Army (of which 38 have no middle name or initial) and eight from the Royal Navy or Mercantile Marine, with a further 120 in the register with just the description “J. Roberts”, which will include other forenames beginning with “J”. We have not been able to find a Buckley connection for any of these.
Known about James Roberts
- Identified as James on the Memorial (many names just have initials)
- Not on the roll of honour for those who had joined up by Oct 1914 (there is a J. B. Roberts, 206 Mold Rd but he has a medal card noting that we was demob’d in May 1919)
- Not found in County of Flint index for those who died (but we know this has only 70 names vs. 114 on Memorial)
- Found on Bistre Church memorial among 67 “men of this parish” and along with John Roberts and Edward Roberts.
- Not found on any other town/village memorials
- Not found in Soldiers Died with searches for born in, lived in or enlisted in Buckley
- Not found in a search of Buckley monumental inscriptions
From the 1911 census of Buckley, four men were recorded of eligible age to serve in WW1 :
- James Roberts age 24 (born Buckley 1887) a Labourer married to Esther with a nine month son called John, living at Nant Mawr, Buckley.
- James Roberts age 25 (born Buckley 1886) a Coal Miner, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Roberts, living at 23 Ewloe Place Buckley.
- James Roberts age 28 (born Padeswood 1883) a Coal Miner boarding with Anne Bonser, living at Padeswood Road, Buckley.
- James Roberts age 36 (born Buckley 1875) a Brickmaker, the son of Robert Roberts (widower) living at Spon Green, Buckley.