Main CPGW Record
Surname: ROBERTS
Forename(s): Tom Geldard
Place of Birth: Barnoldswick, Yorkshire
Service No: 42430
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Northumberland Fusiliers
Battalion / Unit: 20th (Service) Battalion. (1st Tyneside Scottish)
Division: 34th Division
Age: 26
Date of Death: 1917-10-16
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Panel 19 to 23.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: BARNOLDSWICK, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Tom Geldard Roberts was the son of William Geldard and Annie Roberts, née Dacre. William was born at Barnoldswick and Annie at Haile, Cumberland.
1901 Barnoldswick, Yorkshire Census: 28, Essex Street - Tom Roberts, aged 9 years, born Barnoldswick, son of William G. and Annie Roberts.
1911 Barnoldswick, Yorkshire Census: 28, Essex Street - Thomas Roberts, aged 19 years, born Barnoldswick, son of William Geldard and Annie Roberts.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Tom G. Roberts, 42430, North'd Fus. K. in A.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Tom Geldard Roberts, 42430, 8th North'd Fus.; 27th North'd Fus.; 20th North'd Fus. K. in A.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Tom Geldard Roberts, 42430, 20th (S) Bn North'd Fus. Date and Place of Death: 16.10.17. France or Belgium. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Mother Sole Legatee - Annie. £10 7s. 3d.
Tom is commemorated in the Rolls of Honour at the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh.
A short biography of Tom is included in: ‘Barnoldswick – A small Town’s part in conflicts 1800 to 2014’ by Peter Ian Thompson (2014).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
ROBERTS, T.G., aged 26 years, N.F., son of Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Roberts, Roseberry Terrace, [Barnoldswick], killed in action Oct. 16, 1917.
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Private Tom Geldard ROBERTS
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Northumberland Fusiliers
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 34th Division
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View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
16 November 1917
ROBERTS – October l6th 1917, killed in action on the Western Front, Private Thomas Geldard Roberts, Northumberland Fusiliers, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Roberts, 1, Roseberry Terrace, Barnoldswick, aged 26 years.
16 November 1917
BARNOLDSWICK – RETURNED TO FRANCE FIVE WEEKS
Private Thomas Geldard Roberts, Northumberland Fusiliers, news of whose death came to hand on Sunday, was killed in action on October 16th. He was 26 years of age, single, and the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. G. Roberts, 1, Roseberry Terrace, Barnoldswick. Formerly a twister and loomer in the employ of Messrs. Bailey and Roberts Ltd., Barnsey Shed, he joined up in June 1915, and went to France in the October following. He spent five months on sick leave in England during the summer and had only returned to the Front five weeks when he met his death. Two of his brothers are in the Navy, one in East Africa and the other in training at Devonport.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
16 November 1917
ROBERTS – Oct. 16th, killed in action, Pte. Thos. Geldard Roberts, Northumberland Fusiliers, second son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Roberts, of 1, Roseberry Terrace, Barnoldswick, aged 26.
16 November 1917
BARNOLDSWICK
RETURNED TO FRANCE FIVE WEEKS
Pte. Thomas Geldard Roberts, Northumberland Fusiliers, news of whose death came to hand on Sunday, was killed in action on Oct. 10th. He was 26 years of age, single, and the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. G. Roberts, 1, Roseberry Terrace, Barnoldswick. Formerly a twister and loomer in the employ of Messrs. Bailey and Roberts, Ltd., Barnsey Shed, he joined up in June, 1915, and went to France in the October following. He spent five months on sick leave in England during the past summer, and had only returned to the front five weeks when he met his death. Two of his brothers are in the navy, one in East Africa, and the other in training at Devonport.
12 April 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Barnoldswick Soldier’s Experience in the Great Battle
In a letter to his parents (Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Suthers) dated March 30th, Machine Gunner Harcourt Suthers writes:– “Just a few lines, hoping they find you well, as this leaves me fine after some hard fighting. I shall never forget it. My company has done splendidly. We held out hours after the infantry had retired. You see I have been spared to keep my word and pay some of the score off for poor Tom Roberts and Sharples. We had three hand-to-hand fights in one day. My revolver was nearly red-hot after one of them. The King came round this morning and thanked us for our work. I guess this is the last throw for Jerry. We are out now for a few days. Don’t expect many letters, as we cannot write when these doings are on.”
18 October 1918
ROBERTS – In ever loving memory of Pte. Tom Geldard Roberts, N.F., who was killed in action at Passchendaele, Belgium, Oct 16th, 1917.
Could we have raised his dying head,
Or heard his last farewell,
The grief would not have been so hard
For us who loved him well.
He bravely answered duty’s call,
His life he gave for one and all;
But the unknown grave is the bitterest blow
None but an aching heart can know.
– From his loving Father, Mother, Brothers and Sisters. 1, Park Avenue, Barnoldswick.
In ever loving memory of Pte. Tom Geldard Roberts, killed in action near Ypres, Belgium, Oct. 16th, 1917, in his 26th year.
He sleeps beside his comrades
In a hallowed grave unknown;
But his name is written in letters of gold
On the hearts he left at home.
His cheerful smile and happy face
Are pleasant to recall,
He had a kindly word for each
And died beloved by all.
– From Uncle Joe, Aunt Fanny, Winnie, Norman and Harold. Willow Bank, Barnoldswick.
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