Charles Roberts

Story:
Charles Roberts was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1888, the son of James Roberts and Emma Jane Roberts (née Lane).  He grew up in the family home at 13 Layton Lane, Shaftesbury albeit his mother had died in 1894 and his father in 1918.  By 1911 he was boarding at 30 Alma Street, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, working in the mines as a Timberman (Underground).   He enlisted and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 47976). He served in France and Flanders with the 213th Siege Battery and following his discharge on 16th January 1919 was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.  His address on the 1918 Absent Voters List had been given as 1 Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  He had moved to Poole, Dorset, by the 1921 Census living at 17 High Street working as a General Labourer for Poole Town Council. He was living with his parents-in-law having married their daughter Caroline Roberts (same surname) in 1919. He died in Leith Hospital, Leith, Scotland, in 1944 and was brought back to Dorset for burial at Portland on 3 Feb 1944.

Two of Charles' brothers also served in the war, James (b.1879) with the Dorsetshire Regiment and George (b.1887) with the South Wales Borderers and the Monmouthshire Regiment.