Robert John was born in 1900. He was recorded on the 1911 census living with his family in Mostyn Road Gronant. Head of the household was James Roberts a 39 year old Farm Labourer. James’s wife of 15 years was Mary Roberts aged 38. She had given birth to 9 children, 3 of whom had died. Their listed children were Eunice 14 who was ‘Assisting at home’. William Edward 12, Robert John 10, David Thomas 5, Hugh 2 and Dilys 1 month.

There is an index card for Robert in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden. The card is filed with the Gronant cards. This gives his regiment as the South Wales Borderers with the number 169120. This number differs from other sources.  The card tells us he had served for 2 months and had been in training at Kinmel Camp.  The card tells us he died in Gronant.  The card had been signed by K Roberts 18th September 1919. (This man signed all the Gronant cards and I believe it is unlikely that he was  related to this soldier).

UK soldiers who Died in The Great War 1914 -19 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk tells us that Robert was born in Gronant. This source gives us the regimental number 4/67894 in the South Wales Borderers (Grad) Bn. He enlisted in Wrexham and he ‘died’ – as opposed to being killed in action or died of wounds. This usually means an accident or illness. The death date on this source is the 20th November 1918.  He never served abroad and so had no medals.

Robert John’s Commonwealth War Grave Certificate (see link below), gives us yet another regimental number  (TR4/67849).

Poor lad!

He is also named on the Picton & Gronant Memorials