This is one of a series of posts about local men named on the Keighley Union Workhouse roll of honour.
Herbert Roberts was recorded in Keighley Union Workhouse in the 1891 and 1901 census. He was the brother of Daniel Joseph Roberts.
Private. 15th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery. Service number 83930.
Early life:
Herbert was born on the 10th of November 1892 in Keighley and his parents were John and Elizabeth Roberts. The family must have still been struggling shortly after he was born because he was an pauper in the Keighley Union Workhouse in 1901 with his brother Daniel Joseph Roberts. Their mother Elizabeth had been in the workhouse with Daniel in the 1891 census.
There is a death recorded of an Elizabeth Roberts aged 35 in the second quarter of 1900 which would account for her not being in the 1901 census. may have been the boys’ mother but her age at death is a couple of years off her age calculated from the 1891 census. We could not locate any records for their father John Roberts.
Daniel was still at the Workhouse in 1901 at the age of 11, along with his brother Herbert Roberts, aged 8. Both were recorded as paupers, which meant they had no way to pay for food or clothing and were entirely dependant on the Board of Guardians. Inmates were just people who had fallen on hard times, but as the lads were now likely to be orphans, they didn’t even have their mother’s support.
Three years later on August 25, 1904, Daniel aged 14 and Herbert aged 11 were on board the S.S. Bavarian headed for Quebec in Canada. They appear to be unaccompanied because they were part of the British Home Children Scheme and were headed for adoption in Canada. The ship was carrying 62 young children and early teens to Canada.
War service:
A Canadian Army service record exists for Herbert, which tells us he was born at Mount Forest, Ontario in Canada when he attested on 18th December 1914.
(Note: He may not have known have known birth address of Keighley, or he didn’t want to admit he’d ever been in the workhouse.)
His next of kin was his Uncle, William Kavanagh who could be contacted at Box 117, Forge Village, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Herbert was a driver by trade and would have been aged 22 at the time. His description was 5 feet 4 inches height with a 35 inch chest. He had a fair complexion, light blue eyes and light brown hair. His religious denomination was Catholic. He was declared fit for overseas service.
Herbert landed in France on 15th September 1915 with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was transferred to the 6th Battery Canadian Field Artillery, dated 22nd May 1916.
He was granted 10 days leave to England on 20th May 1917 and returned on 3rd June.
He was granted 10 days leave from the 6th Brigade CFA on 17th February 1918 and rejoined his unit on the 6th March.
Herbert was admitted to number 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with ‘traumatic orchitis.’ This was first disgnosed as gonorrhoea. He was transferred to number 4 CFA the same day and discharged back to his unit on 18th June 1918.
He was back in hospital between 8th and 21st of December 1918 (possibly with VD) He was at number 5 convalescent depot at Cayeux on 22nd of December. Herbert was then transferred to England for demobilisation and posted to Canadian Artillery Base Depot at Witley on 30th January 1919. On the 4th of February he was attached to the Canadian Artillery Reserve and then to Kirmel Park at Rhyl on the 28th of February for his eventual return to Canada on H.M.T. Royal George from Liverpool to Halifax in Canada on 28th March 1919.
His proposed residence after discharge was 725, Gladstone Avenue, Toronto. He was issued with a War Service Badge number 13389.
Later life:
His home address was 725, Gladstone Avenue, Toronto, Ontario.
Daniel’s next of kin was his brother Herbert Roberts of 57, Beaconsfield Avenue, Toronto and this has been struck out and replaced with 9, Armstrong Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, presumably after a house move. Herbert was also recorded as serving with the 15th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery.
Source information:
England and Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
1891 England Census.
1901 England Census.
UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960.
1911 Toronto census.
British Home Children
Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928.
Canadian Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920.
Keighley Union Workhouse roll of honour held at Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley.
