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220815
Pte. Thomas Roberts
British Army 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry
from:North Newton
(d.26th Aug 1914)
Thomas Roberts was born in 1894 in St Helens, Lancashire to John and Eliza Banfield Roberts, nee Pearce.
In 1901 at the age of 5 he was living in Bull Street, Creech St Michael with his parents John and Eliza with his brothers Medford, George Henry, Thomas and William and sisters Annie and Edith who was a baby.
John Roberts, his father was a general labourer on the railway and was from Tiverton in Devon. Eliza was from North Newton in Somerset.
In 1911 Thomas was living in Churchill Cottage, North Newton and was at 15 years old a farm labourer. By that time they were joined by 4 more siblings, Wilfred, Margaret, Melvyn and Amy.
Thomas joined the Somerset Light Infantry and was with the 1st Battalion.
Sadly, Thomas was the first of our village soldiers to die on just the 24th August 1914, just 20 days after the beginning of the war. His Medal card tells that he was assumed dead on the 26th August 1914.
Thomas was awarded the 14 Star, the British Medal and the Victory Medal. He was also awarded the Clasp, which was awarded to men who were under fire during the first four months of the war.