ROBERTS, Herbert Richard

Herbert Roberts was the son of Albert Roberts, a solicitor, and Jan, his wife. He enlisted in the Worcesters and probably joined the 1st Battalion on the Western Front. In March they suffered severely during the first German Spring offensive and were sent to the quiet Aisne front to recover. Herbert Roberts joined the Machine Gun Corps at this time and went for training to the 8th Division MG Training school. When the fourth German offensive took place on the upper Aisne the early morning assault supported by heavy artillery and gas was too strong for the British forces and heavy casualties were taken. The 600 soldiers in training were the only immediate reserve available and went into the rapidly changing front of battle at Gernicourt Wood. The German attack was eventually halted but the casualties over the week long battle were enormous. They included Private Herbert Roberts who was killed on the 27th May. He is commemorated on the Soissons, Dudley and St. John's, Kates Hill, Memorials.