ROBERTS, Gerald Earnshaw
| Service Number: | 6881 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 April 1917, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Greenock, South Australia, 9 September 1892 |
| Home Town: | Greenock, Light, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Greenock Public School, Prince Alfred College |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Died of Wounds, France, 12 May 1918, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Longueau British Cemetery, Somme, France Plot I, Row D, Grave No. II |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Freeling Boer War, Boxer Rebellion and WW1 Memorial Panel, Freeling War Memorial, Greenock WW1 Honor Roll , Greenock War Memorial Cairn, Kapunda District Honour Board, Kent Town Prince Alfred College 'Nobly Striving, Nobly Fell' Roll of Honour, St Peters Heroes War Memorial, St Peters Spicer Memorial Church Stained Glass Window Honor Roll WW1 (1) |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Apr 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6881, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 6881, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 30 Oct 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 6881, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Melbourne | |
| 12 May 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 6881, 48th Infantry Battalion, "Peaceful Penetration - Low-Cost, High-Gain Tactics on the Western Front", --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 6881 awm_unit: 48 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-05-12 |
Gerald Earnshaw Roberts
Name: Gerald Earnshaw Roberts
Service Number: 6881
Place of Birth: Greenock
Date of Birth: 9 September 1892
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 25 April 1917
Age at Enlistment: 24 years 7 months
Next of Kin: Mother – Alice Roberts
Occupation: Farmer
Religion: Methodist
Rank: Private 48th Battalion
Gerald was the only son of Earnshaw and Alice Roberts [nee Latham] of
Walton near Seppeltsfield. He received his early education privately from
governesses and later attended Prince Alfred College. In 1911 he won a
scholarship to Roseworthy Agricultural College where he completed the three
year diploma course in two years.
Prior to enlisting Gerald worked on the family farm and became Vice President
and later Secretary of the Freeling Agricultural Bureau. He was also a keen
debater in the Freeling Model Parliament, an active member of the local rifle
and tennis clubs. Gerald had leadership positions in the Methodist Church and
old collegian activities of PAC and Roseworthy College.1
Having left Melbourne on HMAT A60 Aeneas, Private Roberts was sent to
France with the 48th Battalion on 1 April 1918, where he was wounded and
93
died of his wounds on 12 May. He was buried at Longeau Military Cemetery,
near Amiens. Gerald’s personal effects were sent to his mother on 27
February 1919. She received two photos of her son’s gravesite on 5 July,
followed by his Victory Medal, Memorial Scroll and Memorial plaque between
July 1921 and January 1922.
The Register Thursday 13 June 1918 carried the following death notice:
“Roberts : died of wounds about 12th May, Pte. Gerald Earnshaw Roberts, 48th
Battalion, late 20th
– 27th Battalion, beloved only son of Mrs. Roberts
Linthwaite, Fifth Avenue, St. Peters and the late Earnshaw Roberts, of Walton,
Greenock, aged 25 years.
Gerald is commemorated by Gerald Roberts road in the Barossa Valley.
1 Geoff Saegenschnitter Greenock Community Newsletter Winter 2014.
Submitted 20 October 2023 by christopher collins
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