Thomas William Roberts

Story:
Thomas (Tom) William Roberts was born in 1884 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, (registered as Tom, and baptised as Thomas William at St. John's Church, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, on 27th July 1884. He was the son of Henry Roberts, a gardener, and Maria (Mary) Ann Roberts (née Brickell). The family lived at Long Cross, Enmore Green. By 1901 Tom had moved to Aberfan in Wales to work in the coal mines. In 1905 his father Henry died and in 1907 his mother remarried. Maria's new husband was Charles Parsons, whose first wife, Betsie Parsons (née Foot), had also died in 1905. By the 1911 Census, Tom had moved to Tredegar, Wales, to live with his brother Henry, and his family. Tom was single and described as a Coal Hewer. He enlisted in Tredegar as a Private in the 10th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers (Service No. 20956). He served in France & Flanders from 3 Dec 1915 and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He died of wounds on 10th November 1917 and was buried at Merville Communal Cemetery Extension, Merville, near Bethune, Nord, France (grave id. 111.B.17).

In St. John's churchyard in Enmore Green a commemoration was inscribed on the headstone of his mother Maria (who also died in 1917) and her second husband Charles Parsons. It reads:
PRIVATE T. ROBERTS. DIED IN FRANCE NOV.10TH 1917. GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.

He is also remembered on the War Memorials at Motcombe and Enmore Green, Shaftesbury.