William Roberts was born in Rhyl, Flintshire, North Wales in 1870.

His parents were Edward and Mary Roberts and they lived at 4 Greenfield Street, Rhyl, Flintshire. William had two sisters, Emma Jane Roberts and Elizabeth Roberts and two brothers, Robert Roberts and Price Roberts.

In October 1894 he married Jessie.  The 1911 Census shows that the family lived at 38b Wellington Road, Rhyl, Flintshire.  William was now 41 years of age and Jessie 40 years.  They had 7 (seven) children – Emma Jane Roberts aged 16, a General Servant, William Roberts aged 14, a Newspaper Boy, Robert Douglas Roberts aged 12, Thomas Roberts aged 10, Mary Emily Roberts aged 6, Price Roberts aged 4 and Margaret Roberts aged 1 year.

On Saturday 3 April 1915, William aged 45 enlisted at the Recruitment Centre, Rhyl with 8th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.  On Sunday 10 September 1916, he embarked with the Battalion at Devonport for Iraq, arriving there on Sunday 10 October 1915.  In April 1917 he was engaged in Police Duties in Baghdad and on Monday 16 July 1917 admitted to 23rd General Hospital, Baghdad suffering from severe heatstroke.  He died a week later.

He is also remembered on The North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, North Wales and on a Remembrance Plaque at The Royal Alexandra Hospital, Marine Drive, Rhyl, Flintshire.