ROBERTS, Arthur

Arthur Roberts was the son of James and Sarah Ann Roberts of The Leasowes, Clent. He was educated at the Clent Schools and Old Swinford Hospital, Stourbridge, and enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was posted to the 72nd Field Ambulance Unit in the 24th Division. In 1916 this unit was engaged in the Battle of the Somme at Delville Wood and Guillemont and in early 1917 moved to Artois. It was involved in the battle of Vimy Ridge and in the battle of Messines from the 7th June. Private Arthur Roberts was killed on the 17th June and is buried in Dickiebusch New Military Cemetery Extension (III B 42). He was 20 years of age and is commemorated on the Blackheath, Clent, Halesowen and Old Swinford Hospital Memorials. He was one of three brothers commemorated on the Clent Memorial. Henry Roberts in the Royal Marines was wounded in the Gallipoli campaign and died of wounds in Malta. Major Roberts, who had lived in the United States, volunteered for the Royal Fusiliers and was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.