Thomas Edgar Roberts

Story:
Thomas Edgar Roberts was born at Billingsgate, London, on 18th June 1898 and baptised at Stourpaine, Dorset, on 19th August 1898, the son of Edgar Eli Roberts and Bertha Mary Roberts (née Richardson).  By 1911 he was living with his family at Blatchfords Farm, Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted on 7th June 1916 at Shaftesbury and served with the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 18974).  He served in France and Flanders and whilst there received a shell wound to his left thigh during a battle at Ypres, Flanders.  This had caused a fracture as well as outward wounds.  He was admitted to the 91st Field Ambulance on 27th March 1918 and after treatment was repatriated by ambulance train on 30th March 1918 to the 4th London General Hospital at Peckham, London, S.E.5.  He was assessed and finally discharged on 18th October 1918 having been judged no longer physically fit to serve due to having to wear a remedial boot to compensate for a shortening in his leg as a result of the wound.  He was awarded a 70% pension for two years which was finally ended with the payment of a gratuity.  He was also awarded the Silver War Badge No. B27415 as well as the King's Certificate No. 3932.  There are no other medal records though he would have qualified for the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows that he had returned to Blatchford's Farm and was assisting his father on the farm. Thomas married Dorothy Kate Drew at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Stour Provost, Dorset, on 16th February 1925.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at New House Farm, Margaret Marsh, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was described as a Dairy Farmer.  He died at Margaret Marsh in 1993 aged 95 years and was buried at the Parish Church on 23 Nov 1993.  Thomas's brother, Harold Martin Roberts, served in the war, but sadly died in 1918 while serving with the Royal Warwickshhire Regiment in France.