ROBERTS, James Herbert

James Roberts was the son of John and Jane Roberts of 17 Moor Street, Brierley Hill. He volunteered on the 3rd September 1914 for the Worcesters and was sent to the 3rd Battalion on the Western Front. Three brothers also volunteered and fought in the Great War. After the Retreat from Mons and the Battle of the Marne in September they continued with defensive battles against German advances in Artois and at Ypres. With the ranks diminished new recruits were sent over and Private Roberts started his front line service on the 12th January 1915. By the Spring of 1915 Sir John French, the Commander of the British forces, considered that the British troops were ready for their first attack of the war and this was launched at Neuve Chapelle on the 10th March. To assist the main attack a diversionary attack with the Worcesters was made at Spanbroek Mill on the end of the nearby Messines Ridge. Both attacks were costly and gained no ground. James Roberts suffered ‘nine wounds’ in the attack, according to the County Advertiser. He took some time to recover and enjoyed a brief leave before returning to the front line. He missed the major attack on the Bellewaerde Ridge in the second battle of Ypres in June 1915 but by September he was back with the Worcesters in trenches between the Menin Road and Sanctuary Wood. There were no major attacks but the tangle of trenches and craters was always under the threat of enemy shell-fire. Private James Roberts was seriously wounded at some point and taken to a Casualty Clearing Station near Poperinghe. He died of wounds on the 27th September and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery (I D 29) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill, and Brierley Hill church Memorials. Personal information has been supplied by Victoria Horton, grand-daughter of one of James Roberts’ brothers.