Samuel Roberts

Story:
Samuel Roberts was born in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 8 Oct 1884 and baptised at the Birdbush Independent Chapel, Ludwell, on 9 Nov 1884 the son of William Roberts and Priscilla Roberts (nee Ingram).  He spent his early life in and around Donhead St. Mary until by 1910 he had moved to Swindon, Wiltshire, working as an RSPCA Inspector.  He married Lucy Helen Short in the Registry Office, Sevenoaks, Kent, on 19 Mar 1910.  Regrettably his wife petitioned for divorce on the grounds of desertion and adultery though the case was eventually set aside on 29 Nov 1920.  It is thought that Samuel had enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 16311).  He later transferred to the Royal Fusiliers (Service No. GS/141738) and later still to the Labour Corps (Service No. 485561).  He had served in France and Flanders from 21 May 1915 where he had sustained gunshot wounds to the right leg. He was eventually discharged on 26 Feb 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  There is no information as to his whereabouts beyond this time other than his final address following discharge was YMCA, Plymouth, Devon, and his medals were dispatched to 6 Edmond Street, Exeter, Devon, in 1923.