John George Hill Roberts, 3, born Graythwaite, Lancashire, first appeared on the 1901 census living at Woodside, Stainton, Lincolnshire with his mother Sarah Grace, 23, his sister Grace M. 4. His father John W. Roberts was not there. They were in the household of his grandparents Thomas & Sarah Roberts, 2 sons and 3 daughters, 1 of whom was married, Margaret M. Gale, 26 and a Grandson Thomas W.M. Roberts.
By the 1911 census they had travelled somewhat, almost certainly for work, to North Wales, as 3 children were born there, but they were living at The Archway, Clipstone, Edwinstowe, Newark, Notts. (8 rooms). Head of the household was John W. Roberts, 40, a Forrester (Woods) and had been born in the Parish of Barling, Lincolnshire. Grace S., 34, tells us that she was born at Fiskerton, Lincs. Their children were Grace M. 15, born Lorwick, Northants, John G. H., 13, and Kathleen M. 7, born in Mostyn, Flintshire. John & Grace tell us that they had been married 16 years and 5 children had been born to them, but sadly 2 had died.*
*The 2 children that were born were :- Brother, Rodrick Albert 17th August 1902 at Tan y Coed Mostyn – died 5th January 1905 at Pentre Llinegr* Mostyn, and sister Edith Roberts, born and died the same year – 1900.
*Pentre Llinegr was a hamlet near Mostyn Quay, it was based around a Corn and Flax Mill and eventually disappeared into FFynnongroew. The main road from Penyffordd to Ffynnongroew is still called Llinegr Hill. Thanks to Mold Register Office.
John George Hill Roberts is mentioned in the John George Hill Roberts in the UK, De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, 1914-1919 : –
ROBERTS, John George Hill, Telegraphist , No.J. 40804, Royal Navy, only s/o John W. ROBERTS, of Clipstone Archway, Edwinstowe, Newark, by his wife Grace, dau .of the late Joshua SKIPPER(sic); b Graythwaite, Ulverstone, Co. Lancaster, 11 Fe. 1898; educ. Prestatyn, and Mansfield, Co. Nottingham; was an apprentice Carpenter; joined the Navy 14th May 1915; served on H.M.S. Alecto; was appointed to H.M. Submarine H10 and was lost at sea 19th Jan. 1918 when out on patrol in the North Sea.
HMS H10 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_H10
HMS H10 was a British H-class submarine built by the Canadian Vickers Co., Montreal. She was laid down on an unknown date and was commissioned in June 1915.
HMS H10 was lost in the North Sea on 19 January 1918. It had a complement of twenty-two crew members, a length of 171 feet (52 m), and a surfaced range of 1,600 nautical miles (3,000 km; 1,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).
Also from http://www.submarine-museum.co.uk/what-we-have/memorial-chapel/submarine-losses?start=7
HMS H10 – 19 January 1918 – Lost in North Sea (unknown cause)
H10 sailed from Harwich to patrol in the North Sea in January 1918. She did not return and it is believed that she struck a mine on 20th January.
John George Hill Roberts in the UK, British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death tells us his birth date was 11 Feb 1898 in Ulverstone, Lancs.
John George Hill Roberts in the UK, Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 tells us that Cause of Death:- Killed or died as a direct result of enemy action. His body was not recovered for burial. Relatives Notified and Address:- Father: John W, The Archway, Edwinstowe, Newark
John George Hill Roberts in the UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services, 1853-1928 tells us that his first service date was 16th May 1915 on “Ganges” – HMS Ganges was a training ship and later stone frigate of the Royal Navy. She was established as a boys’ training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore. The last ship he served on was “Alecto.”
Names of the “Fallen” were handed in to the Vicar to be added to the war memorial when it was built but as there was no Flintshire WW1 Index Card made out for him, it is a mystery how his name was put forward, unless there was some relative who made sure he was to be remembered. He did attend school in Prestatyn and he had 3 siblings born in the area, so it is good that his name was put forward. Any help would be gratefully received.
Many thanks to the Public Member SONYPARSONS on Ancestry.co.uk.
