David Griffith Roberts was born in Bagillt on 1st November, 1898 and was the eldest of six children to Robert Roberts and Catherine (Edwards).
Robert was born in Greenfield and Catherine in Ruthin and they were married at the Register Office, St Asaph on 2nd July, 1898. They lived at New Poplars, Bagillt for several years before moving to 58, Mount Pleasant, Flint by 1911. Robert was employed as a plumber and house painter.
They moved again shortly after to 38, Mumforth Street and David was now employed by grocer Mr I P Davies of Church Street.
David Griffith was a very religious young man whose ambition it was to become a Methodist Minister.
He enlisted in Flint in circa January, 1917 and was posted to France where he died on 17th September, 1918 after undergoing an operation for appendicitis.
He was buried in La Kreule Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck, Nord, France (Plot III, Row E, Grave 7).
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal and is remembered on two war memorials – Flint Town and Seion Chapel, Hill Street, Flint. He is also commemorated on the North Wales Heroes’ Memorial Arch, Bangor.
David’s sister, Mary Catherine, married Alfred Williams and they had a son named Alfred who was born on 3rd August, 1934 but died at Mancot Maternity Home the following day.
Mary Catherine died on 8th November, 1934 aged 26.
Obituary: We regret to record the death on Thursday at the Flint Cottage Hospital, of Mrs Mary Catherine Williams, wife of Mr Alfred Williams, 44, Mumforth Street, Flint. The deceased, who was 26 years of age, was the elder daughter of Mr and Mrs R Roberts, 42, Woodfield Avenue, Flint. She was a faithful member of the Seion Welsh Congregational Church, where she was an active church worker and had also acted as organist for some years, being an accomplished musician. The funeral took place on Saturday from 42, Woodfield Avenue, the Rev Aneurin Jones, Pastor of Seion Welsh Congregational Church, officiating.
Robert died on 11th November, 1939 and was buried in the Northop Road Cemetery with Mary Catherine and her son Alfred.
Obituary: We deeply regret to record to record the death at 42 Woodfield Avenue, Flint, on Saturday morning of Mr Robert Roberts. Although he had been in failing health for some time, he was out a few days before his death and on Saturday morning he arose and came downstairs as usual but later in the morning passed away in his chair. The late Mr Roberts, who was 64 years of age, was a native of Holywell, being a son of the late Mr and Mrs Samuel Roberts, of Springbank, Greenfield. In 1889 he commenced his apprenticeship as a plumber, painter and decorator with Messrs Thomas Lloyd and Son, High Street, Holywell, and at the time of his death he had been engaged in his trade for fifty years. He came to Flint thirty-three years ago in the employment of Mr Matthew Rogers, builder, of Earl Street, and after some years he entered the service of the old Holywell Company, Ltd, and later was employed by Messrs Melville, Dundas and Watson, Ltd. He was a faithful member of the Seion Welsh Congregational Church, where he was the precentor and deacon. He was very enthusiastic with regard to choral music and each Christmas he would organise a choir from Seion Church, which would tour the town and sing carols and Christmas hymns. He was appointed as one of the leaders of the united rehearsals in connection with the annual united singing festival of the Welsh Congregational Churches in the Holywell district. The Sunday School at Seion also claimed his interest and for many years he was Superintendant of the Junior Sunday School. Deceased was a very active temperance worker and a staunch Rechabite, being a member of the Flint branch and a steward of the Juvenile Section.
Robert and Catherine were caretakers of the Seion Chapel, where Robert played the organ, and once lived in the Chapel House, Feather Street.
David youngest brother, Caradoc, served in WW2 as Sergeant with the 12th Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was a rear gunner and died on 20th May, 1942 and was buried in Vlieland General Cemetery, Friesland, Netherlands in Grave 47.
Catherine died on 16th October, 1954 and was buried with her husband.
Obituary: The death occurred on Saturday at her home, 42, Woodfield Avenue, Flint, of Mrs Catherine Roberts at the age of 78. Mrs Roberts, whose husband died in 1939, had been in failing health for some years. She was a native of Ruthin, but had lived in Flint for about forty years. She was a valued member of the Seion Welsh Congregational Church and of the Sisterhood. She is survived by one son (Mr Gwilym Roberts) and one daughter (Mrs Dora Lambert).