William Lloyd Robert’s mother, Catherine, (formerly Catherall), had been previously married, first to Joseph Morris, they had married in 1887, a Civil marriage, in Chester. Catherine Morris is shown in the 1891 census as a 25 year old widow. She was living at Bennett’s Cottages, Hawarden and earned her living as a ‘charwoman’. Her children were Harry 4 and Joseph 3.
On the 20th August 1892 Catherine Morris, 26, a widow, who gave her address as Hawarden and her father as Joseph Catherall, a Collier, married John Roberts, 32, a bachelor, abode Brymbo, father Robert Roberts, both Labourers, in St. Deniol’s Church, Hawarden, (C106/02/E360) and by 1901 the family had grown and moved to the Nine Houses, Shotton. Head of the household was John Roberts, 40, a Labourer in the Iron Works, who had been born in Ruthin, Denbighshire and was bilingual. Catherine, his wife was 34 and spoke only English. Her sons by her first marriage were Harry Morris, 14 a Bricky and Labourer and Joseph Morris, 13, both born in Hawarden. John & Catherine’s sons were John T. Roberts, 8, William L. 7 and Robert Roberts, 3.
1911 shows the family still in the same area, at 69, Brook Road, Shotton, John Roberts, 50 and Catherine, 45 had been married 20 years. John’s stepson Joseph Morris, single and 23 years old was a labourer. Their sons John, single, 19 and William, 17 were Labourers, son Robert, 13 and new addition, a daughter, Catherine 7 had been born in Shotton. A Grandson, Harry Morris, 15 months old, who had been born in Connah’s Quay completed the family.
William Lloyd Roberts is mentioned in the book ” Soldiers Died in the Great War. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Volume 28″: – 9th Bn. in which we are told that he was Private Roberts, William Lloyd 12944 whose birth had been registered in Hawarden and who had enlisted in Shotton. He had been ‘Killed in Action’ in France & Flanders on the 25th September 1915.
There is an index card for William in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office at Hawarden. (WW1 Index Cards F 34 Shotton). It confirms the regimental details above and gives 69, Brook Road, Shotton as an address. It tells us that he served for 13 months before his death on the 25th September 1915*. The card was signed on the 18th January 1921 by Mrs. C. Roberts (possibly his Mother?).
On the Absent Voter’s list of 1918 his brother John Roberts, 12658, S/Sgt with the R.W.F. and whose address was 69, Brook Road, tells us he was also in the war.
Also William must have been standing before Noah Page, who also died and has his own page, when they enlisted as Noah’s Regtl. No. was 12945,
* http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/loos.htm
I have transcribed the War Dairy of the 9th Bn Royal Welsh Regiment 20th September – 30 September 1915, if you would like a copy, please contact the website or they can be seen on Ancestry.co.uk.
William Lloyd’s medal card also accessible on Ancestry, this records his medal details and also tells us that his first theatre of war was France and that he entered it on the 19th July 1915. Just over 2 months later he was killed along with thousands more on that fateful day.
Catherine’s 3 sons by John Roberts all were in the Great War, William, who’s story is above and John Thomas Roberts, whose Flintshire WW1 Index Card (Shotton l 219) tells us his address was 69, Brook Road, Shotton, Flintshire. His Regtl. No. was 12658 and he was in the 8th Bn R.W.F.. his period of service was 5 years and he was a Staff Sergeant, he signed his card on the 18th January 1921, the same day that his brother Robert Roberts, signed his, he had the same address, his Regtl. No. was 2492, 5th Bn R.W.F. his period of service was 4 years 7 months.
His brother John Roberts, was on the Absent Voter’s list of 1918 – 12658, S/Sgt with the R.W.F. and whose address was 69, Brook Road.
Many thanks to Brian Morris, who sent me the photograph below, found in a box he found at his mothers. It is of the three Roberts boys and Joseph Morris. The one on the left he assumes to be of Joseph Morris as he is very much like Brian’s father, and as a guess he thinks it’s Robert seated, William Lloyd standing right, and John standing centre.
William is also named on the Hawarden Memorial
