Alfred Elwyn Roberts was born on the 4th June 1921 according to the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th September 1939. He was the 2nd youngest son of Alfred & Jane Roberts, who had married, after banns, in the Parish Church at Rhesycae on the 18th November 1907.
Alfred Roberts, 26, a bachelor and a Joiner was a resident of Rhesycae, his father, Edward Roberts was a Miner. Alfred’s bride was Jane Pierce, 19 and a spinster. Her father John Pierce was a Joiner. Their witnesses were Daniel Rogers, John Pierce, Jenny Varny and William Pierce.
We see the little family on the 1911 census, living at Voel y Crio, Halkyn, Holywell, Flintshire. Alfred Roberts, 29, was head of the household and a Joiner, he tells us that he had been born in the village of Voel y Crio*. Jane Roberts, his wife and age 22 years and had been born in Harmon, Anglesey, they were both Bilingual. Jane tells us that they had been married for 3 years and 2 children had been born and were still living. The children were Caradoc, 2 and John Owen Roberts, 6 months, both had been born in Voel y Crio.
*The 1911 census was the first census that the householder filled in and Alfred had been born in Halkyn, with Jane born in Flint, Flintshire, according to the 1891 and the 1901 censuses, I believe that Alfred, when he was filling out the form, thought that Jane had been born in Anglesey, but Jane’s father had been born in Anglesey, probably a family or clerical error.
The next time we see the family is 10 years later, on the 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th June 1921. Alfred Roberts, was now 40 years old exactly and he was a Joiner Contractor for Mr. AB. Lloyd, Flints. He had been born in Halkyn Parish. Jane Roberts was 33 years and 1 month old and had been born in Flint, Flintshire. Their family had grown considerably, Caradoc, now 12 years 7 months, John Owen, now 10 years 9 months, Edward, 8 years 4 months, Buddyg Ella, 7 years exactly, Evan, 4 years 7 months, Lillian, 1 year 11 months and Alfred Elwyn, 2 weeks old. The older children were in school, “Whole Time” and all had been born in Halkyn.
From the Flintshire County Herald, dated the 2nd June 1944, it appears that at one time, Alfred Elwyn was a chorister at the Parish Church and on leaving school, he worked at the Hillcrest Garage and later at Hafod Farm, and for a short time as a van driver for the L.M.S. Railway Company at Holywell Junction, while before joining up, he was a Lorry driver at Rhydymwyn.
The 1939 National Register is a source for the dates of birth for each person and what they were doing on the 29th September 1939, when this register was taken. The family were living at Dee View, Springfield, Pentre Halkyn. Head of the household was Alfred, whose date of birth was the 1st June 1881 and he was a Joiner. His wife, Jane, had been born on the 22nd May 1888 and as most women who did not have a job, was described as doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties.” Caradoc’s date of birth was the 12th November 1908, and he was single and a Joiner at Courtaulds. Edward had been born on the 16th March 1913, was single and employed at Courtaulds in the Fibro Process. Evan had been born on the 11th November 1916 and was a Metallurgical Assayer in the Lead Mines. Lilian*(sic) who had been born on the 9th July 1919 was, like her mother, doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties,” Lilian was single. Alfred E. had been born on the 4th June 1921, was single and a “Van Driving Workman” at a Dairy Farm. The youngest child and youngest son, Gwylfa, had been born on the 28th February 1925 and was single, “Seeking work and not previously employed.”
The newspaper mentioned above also gives us the timeline of when Alfred Elwyn was to have either enlisted or was conscripted. He had been in the R.A.F. for three years, of which he had spent 2 years in the Middle East. In a recent letter to his family, according to the newspaper report, he had sent home a detailed account of his visit to the Holy Land and he was feeling fine and very cheerful.
So we know he was in the Middle East doing important work with the 79 O.T.U. (Operational Training Unit).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_Operational_Training_Units
No. 79 Operational Training Unit RAF (79 OTU)
79 OTU was formed in February 1944 at RAF Nicosia to train general reconnaissance and strike crews.
https://www.rafweb.org/Organsation/OTU_4.htm
No 79 Operational Training Unit
This was formed at Nicosia in Cyprus on 1 February 1944 to train General Reconnaissance and strike crews. However, it was April before its equipment in the form of Blenheims and Beaufighters arrived. ASV training began in August with the arrival of a flight of suitably equipped Ansons and the unit disbanded on 30 July 1945.
https://www.rafweb.org/Organsation/OTU_1.htm
No 9 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit
This was formed at Aldergrove on 7 June 1942 within No 17 Group , to train long range fighter crews, equipped with Beaufighters, Beauforts and Oxfords. In September 1942 it moved to Crosby-on-Eden from where, at its peak it was producing crews for five Coastal Command units as well as two in North Africa. It disbanded on 11 August 1944, with the overseas commitment being taken over by No 79 OTU and its personnel being transferred to No 109 OTU.
Re: The Unaccounted Project – Final Stretch Updates by Jon Heyworth
Alfred Elwyn Roberts 1090352
Allan Delafield Graham 90348*
Were killed when Beaufighter Mk X NE 596 crashed at 07:25 hours 5 miles NW of Nicosia airfield.
*Squadron Leader Allan Delafield Graham was also killed in the flying accident:-
Allan Delafield Graham in the UK, London Gazettes World War II Military Notices, 1939-1945
Name: Allan Delafield Graham
Military Rank: Pilot Officer
Military Date: 24 Sep 1938
War: World War II
Military Unit: Auxiliary Air Force
Publication Date: 21 Feb 1939
Publication Place: London, England
Volume Number: 34600
Refence Number: 34600
Page number: 1207
Allan Delafield Graham’s father, Allan James Graham had died on the 27th June 1941, so he and his mother Norah Russell Graham (nee Delafield) would have suffered bereavement a few years before his own death. Allan Delafield Graham was 28 years old.
The Flintshire County Herald – 9th June 1944 tells us that his sisters Mrs. E. Griffiths and Miss L. Roberts, possibly Ella and Lilian, had received a letter from their brother dated the 24th May, four days before his death, telling them he was in the best of health and he had been posted to other quarters and had been awarded the African Star, he had also been promoted L.A.C.
In the Flintshire County Herald, dated the 10th November 1944 they reported that the village of Halkyn held a Remembrance Day Parade and Alfred Elwyn Roberts, along with the names of Sergt-Pilot J.M. D’Arcy; Able Seaman E.J. Thomas and Able Seaman Trevor V. Price were mentioned. The newspaper cutting is below. Private Ralph Blythen was not mentioned, as he died in 1943 and the news of his death probably hadn’t arrived in the village.
Then the Flintshire County Herald dated the 4th January 1946 reported the village of Halkyn had held a Memorial Service for the men of the village who gave their lives in the Second World War. The men are all named although there is a typo mistake with James Marcus D’Arcy’s surname, he is referred to as James Marcus Parry.
The family gravestone in Halkyn Churchyard tells us a little bit more about the family, Alfred Elwyn’s mother Jane had died on the 4th June 1943, on his birthday! Less than a year later, the family were to bear another bereavement with the loss of Alfred Elwyn.
The Halkyn memorial ensures that these men will never be forgotten for their sacrifices to ensure our freedom.
