Lieutenant, 11th Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, attached 6th Battalion.
Died 23rd July 1916, age 24.
Buried in Faubourg-d’Amiens Cemetery, France.
Former student of french and teaching.
Fred, born on 24th August 1891, was the son of Edward and Sarah Jane Roberts. After leaving Manchester Central Secondary School he came to Manchester University in 1910 and obtained a B.A. in French in 1913, and an M.A. and Teaching Diploma in 1914. After his studies he went to Stand Grammar School in Whitefield as a French master.
Fred joined the University Officer Training Corps in October 1914 and left when he was gazetted in February 1915. He was promoted a year later and was also recommended for a captaincy. On 23rd July 1916 Fred was killed by a shell during a heavy enemy artillery bombardment. The regimental colonel in a letter to Fred’s aunt wrote: “He had only been a short time with us, but sufficiently long to enable us to form a very high estimate of his character as a soldier. He was absolutely fearless; always a willing volunteer for any duty, however dangerous. I feel I am losing one of my best officers, and the ranks deplore his untimely but gallant end, for he was a friend of all.” His headstone reads “M.A. Manchester University. The magnitude of his sacrifice known only unto God”. Effects worth £174 6s 3d were left to a spinster called Ellen Roberts.