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ex Regiment and went straight to France on 6th May 1917.
He was only in France for five weeks when he received a
gunshot wound, breaking his right tibia. This was probably at
the battle of Messines. He was in the main hospital at Etaples
until mid July when it was decided to transfer him to England
to the Brook War Hospital at Woolwich as he had developed
gastroenteritis. He was there until 17th August 1917.
He returned to the Essex Regiment but remained in England.
In June of 1918 the gastroenteritis returned and he went to
hospital at Shoreham-by-Sea, for seven weeks. On leaving
hospital Samuel was transferred permanently to the Labour
Corps, Agricultural Company and there he stayed until he was
demobbed at Nottingham on 9th April 1919.
He returned to the Kings Cliffe area and eventually died there
in 1953.
ROBERTS Thomas Henry
Probably Private 1916 5th Battalion, Northamptonshire
Regiment
Born in 1892 in Kings Cliffe, Thomas was the son of Daniel and
Emma Roberts, who ran the Wheel Inn on West Street and the
brother of John and Daniel Roberts who also served in the war.
Thomas joined the Northamptonshire Regiment, which was
involved in many of the major battles of the first two years of
the war.
In November 1917 the British planned a major offensive on
the German held town of Cambrai. The initial attack on 20th
November was successful and the British took significant territory.
However on the 23rd the Germans made a counter-attack, which
was preceded by a massive bombardment. The 5th Battalion
Northants regiment recorded heavy losses at this battle and it
may well be that this is where Thomas Roberts suffered a major
leg wound. He had been injured and stretcher-bearers were
taking him to the field hospital when a shell burst near to them
causing a severe wound to his left thigh. Despite the severity of
the wound he refused to allow the leg to be amputated.
165
He was only in France for five weeks when he received a
gunshot wound, breaking his right tibia. This was probably at
the battle of Messines. He was in the main hospital at Etaples
until mid July when it was decided to transfer him to England
to the Brook War Hospital at Woolwich as he had developed
gastroenteritis. He was there until 17th August 1917.
He returned to the Essex Regiment but remained in England.
In June of 1918 the gastroenteritis returned and he went to
hospital at Shoreham-by-Sea, for seven weeks. On leaving
hospital Samuel was transferred permanently to the Labour
Corps, Agricultural Company and there he stayed until he was
demobbed at Nottingham on 9th April 1919.
He returned to the Kings Cliffe area and eventually died there
in 1953.
ROBERTS Thomas Henry
Probably Private 1916 5th Battalion, Northamptonshire
Regiment
Born in 1892 in Kings Cliffe, Thomas was the son of Daniel and
Emma Roberts, who ran the Wheel Inn on West Street and the
brother of John and Daniel Roberts who also served in the war.
Thomas joined the Northamptonshire Regiment, which was
involved in many of the major battles of the first two years of
the war.
In November 1917 the British planned a major offensive on
the German held town of Cambrai. The initial attack on 20th
November was successful and the British took significant territory.
However on the 23rd the Germans made a counter-attack, which
was preceded by a massive bombardment. The 5th Battalion
Northants regiment recorded heavy losses at this battle and it
may well be that this is where Thomas Roberts suffered a major
leg wound. He had been injured and stretcher-bearers were
taking him to the field hospital when a shell burst near to them
causing a severe wound to his left thigh. Despite the severity of
the wound he refused to allow the leg to be amputated.
165
