Thomas (Tom) Roberts was born in Bagillt in 1894 and baptised in St Mary’s Parish Church, Bagillt, and was the third of four children to Edward Roberts and Annie (Johnson). He was a brother to Private William John Roberts who also died in the war and has been written about elsewhere.
Edward was born in Bagillt in circa 1860 but nothing could be found about Annie.
By 1901 Edward was a widower and he and his three sons, William John, Tom, and Benjamin were living at 52, Victoria Road, Rhyl. Edward was a farm labourer and it is not known for certain what became of him after that date.
In the 1911 census Tom and William John were listed as visitors at the home of widow Mrs Bridget Welch and her three sons at 19, Feathers Street, Flint. Her youngest, Edward, also died in the war and his story appears elsewhere on this site. Tom and William were employed as labourers at the British Glansztoff Works in the town.
On 7th March, 1915 Thomas married Mrs Welch’s daughter Mary at St Mary’s Parish Church, Flint and he gave his occupation as commission agent. They had no children.
Tom enlisted in Shotton but it is not known exactly when. At the end of January, 1916 he was granted leave and was able to visit his wife and family.
He was killed in action in France on 25th March, 1918 and was buried in Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt, France (Plot IV, Row G, Grave 25). One source states he had served for almost four years taking it back to the start of the war, but his occupation on his marriage certificate of 1915 suggests he was still a civilian at that time.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal and is remembered on two war memorials – Flint Town and St Mary’s Parish Church, Flint. He is commemorated on the North Wales Heroes’ Memorial Arch, Bangor and remembered on his wife’s and in laws headstone in Northop Road Cemetery (Grave 3, Line 9, North Side).
Mary died on 20th January, 1937 at her home in 19, Feathers Street, aged 51. She had been an invalid for four years. She was buried with her parents and three of her siblings.