James Roberts

Story:
James Roberts was born in Enmore Green, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21st April 1879 and baptised at St. John's Church, Enmore Green, on 1st June 1879, the son of James Roberts and Emma Jane Roberts (née Lane).  He lived most of his life in the Shaftesbury area.   He married Agnes Ellen Pickford at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 25th December 1903.   They went on to have eight children. James enlisted with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Territorial Force) as a Private on 6th May 1908 and attended regular annual training camps (Service No. 495).    He was embodied on 4th August 1914 and served solely in the UK with the rank of Pioneer (Service No. 4529).  He was discharged on 5th May 1916 having completed the terms of his engagement.  He was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal on 1st August 1915 but no other medal records have been found.  At the time of his discharge he was living at 12 Bleke Street, Shaftesbury, and was still there by the time of the 1921 Census working for Messrs Stratton, Son & Mead, Grocers, of Shaftesbury.  His wife died in 1937.   By the 1939 Register he had moved to 7 Mustons Lane, Shaftesbury and was employed as a Grocer's Yardman.  James died in 1960 in the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry area.  His name is found on the Roll of Honour prepared by his former employers, Stratton, Son & Mead of Shaftesbury. Two of James' brothers served in the war: Charles (b.1888) with the Royal Garrison Artillery and George (b.1887) with the south Wales Borderers and the Monmouthshire Regiment.