ROBERTS, Richard
| Service Numbers: | 773, NX128667 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 August 1914, Kensington, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 18 Infantry Battalion AMF |
| Born: | West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia, 19 April 1893 |
| Home Town: | Glebe, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway employee |
| Died: | Natural causes, Gosford, New South Wales, Australia, 6 September 1965, aged 72 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Maitland Heddon Greta Honor Board |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 773, Kensington, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 773, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 773, 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 773, 3rd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 27 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 773, 3rd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 23 Jan 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 773, 3rd Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 19 Oct 1942: | Enlisted Lieutenant, NX128667, 18 Infantry Battalion AMF | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct 1943: | Discharged Lieutenant, NX128667, 18 Infantry Battalion AMF |
Help us honour Richard Roberts's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
The Newcastle Sun on 4 November 1918 reported the impending return of a local Anzac on ‘1914 Leave’.
“Private Richard Roberts, second youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Roberts senior, of Heddon Greta, who is one of the first batch of Anzacs returning on furlough. Private Roberts enlisted in Narrabri West on the declaration of war against Germany. He volunteered with the rifle club of that district, sailed with the first contingent, and landed in Egypt in December 1914.
He received slight wounds in an encounter with the Turks shortly after arrival. He took part in the landing at Gallipolli where he was severely wounded but returned and was one of the last to leave the peninsula at the evacuation. On recovering from his wounds, he left Egypt for France.
Blown up and temporarily buried in the battle of Pozieres, he was invalided back to the base hospital, suffering from shell shock. On resuming duty, Private Roberts fell a victim of trench fever, and was at one stage given up for dead. He has taken part in most of the big engagements since March 1917, and all things considered has come through the ordeal remarkably well.
A man of even temperament and unassuming disposition, a devoted son and brother, he has won for himself the esteem of a wide circle of friends. Private Roberts is 26 years of age and prior to enlistment occupied the position of night station master at Narrabri West on the Government railways.”
Richard Roberts arrived home in the steamer ‘Devon’ on 23 November 1918 at Melbourne before entraining to Sydney. He married Wilhelmina Irene Hardcastle at Armidale in September 1920 – they were to have three children, two sons and a daughter. In 1928 he purchased a home in Etna Street, Gosford for his family and would live there for the rest of his life until his death in 1965. His wife survived him by six years.
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