Pte
Norman Leslie Roberts

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortedatum:
18/02/1885
Geboorteplaats:
St. Austell, Cornwall, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Tinmijnwerker

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Strijdmacht:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
28926
Dienstneming plaats:
Camborne, Cornwall, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Eenheden:
 —  Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 7th Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
16/08/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Schreiboom, Langemark, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
32

Gedenkplaats

Tyne Cot Memorial
Paneel: 82A

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille — 01/05/1920
Victory Medal
Medaille — 01/05/1920

Points of interest 2

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats

Mijn verhaal

Norman Leslie Roberts was born in 1885, together with his twin brother, Jasper Blewett Roberts, in St Austell, Cornwall. He was the son of James Roberts and Grace Blewett. Norman’s mother died that same year and he was adopted. In 1908 Norman married his girlfriend, Elizabeth Jane Bassett. Together they had four daughters. They lived in Camborne, Cornwall, where he worked in a tin mine in Camborne, Cornwall. By the summer of 1917 Norman had joined the army and served with Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 7th Battalion, part of the 61st Brigade, of the 20th (Light) Division in Flanders.

On 16 August 1917 the 7th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry participated in the attack on the ruins of Langemark. They were to take the third and last objective, at the hamlet of Schreiboom, to the northeast of the village. The 7th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry advanced before them, capturing Langemark. At 7.20. a.m. Norman’s Battalion continued the attack, moving along the railway. They met opposition at two group of huts. While advancing considerable casualties were caused by machine-gun fire coming from the direction of Japan House, Blue House and the Langemark Cemetery. Notwithstanding the withering fire the Battalion was able to consolidate a line in front of ‘t Goed ter Vesten Farm and Chinese House. Two German counterattacks in the evening endangered the position of the Battalion, but both attacks were eventually broken up and the men were able to maintain their positions.

Private Norman Leslie Roberts was killed in action during the attack on Schreiboom, leaving behind a wife and four young daughters. The 32-year old has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Bestanden 1

Bronnen 6

"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 56-58.
Gebruikte bronnen
"The history of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 1914-1919", Wyrall E., Londen, Methuen & Co., 1932 , pg. 262-270.
Gebruikte bronnen
Ancestry
https://www.ancestry.com/
Verdere verwijzing
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/830929/roberts,-norman-leslie/
Gebruikte bronnen
The Long, Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Gebruikte bronnen
War Diary Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 7th Bn.
http://www.nmarchive.com/
Verdere verwijzing