Percival Frederick Roberts
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Percival Frederick Roberts was born 15th July 1901 in Malta and was the son of William Rees Roberts, a Regimental Sergeant Major, and Alma Edith Roberts née King. His father William Rees was born in 1875 in Aldershot and his mother Alma Edith King was born in 1875 in Warwick. They were married in 1898 in Gravesend and went on to have two children, their other child died in infancy. In the 1911 census the family is living at Warley Military Barracks, Great Waley, Essex. They are listed separately. His father William Rees Roberts is shown as 36 yrs married a Sergeant Drummer with the 3rd battalion Essex Regiment, he is shown with the rest of his battalion in the barracks. His mother Alma Edith Roberts is shown as living in the married quarters in the barracks; she is shown as Alma Edith Roberts 36 yrs and is living with her son Percival Frederick Roberts. She states she has been married for 13 yrs and has had two children one of whom has died. William and Alma had a third child, a son, Clifford Rees Brindley, who was born on 6 September 1913. At the time of Percival's death in 1918 the family home was on Holborn Avenue, Sneinton, although the later CWGC record gives their address as 27 Sneinton Hermitage, Sneinton, Nottingham. Their home was still at 27 Sneinton Hermitage when William died on 16 January 1935. However, his widow was living at 28 Hill Crest Grove, Hucknall Road, Nottingham, at the time of her death on 16 December 1943. Both are buried in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery. Their surviving son, Clifford, married Lavinia May Amelia Giddings in 1941 (A/M/J Nottingham); he died in 1970 (Mar Bournemouth Hants) aged 56.
Percival Frederick Roberts, 8 Training Depot Station, Royal Air Force, was killed in a flying accident on 26th July 1918. The RAF casualty card states: “Engine failure and stalled at 200 ft turning into wind, dived and caught fire.” His service record adds: “Following Aeroplane accident. Died from shock before reaching hospital at Fargoe.” Percival was buried in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery (St Paul's 9856) on 2 August 1918 following a service at St Philip's Church. His father was on active service in France and could not attend his son's funeral.
CWGC: Son of William Rees Roberts (RSM Royal Canadian Regt.) and Alma Edith Roberts, of 27, Sneinton Hermitage, Nottingham. William R Roberts, 47784 RSM Canadian Regiment Nova Scotia Regiment, served in the war and was awarded the Canadian 'Meritorious Service Medal'. Inscription on headstone: 'To the dear memory of Percival Frederick Roberts RAF, the beloved son of William Rees and Alma E Roberts, who died July 26th 1918, aged 17 years. Nearer my God to thee.' Article published 'Nottingham Evening Post,' 2nd August 1918 :- “KILLED WHILE FLYING. “NOTTINGHAM LAD BURIED WITH MILITARY HONOURS. “Killed in a flying accident, Air Mechanic Percy Fredk. Roberts, 17, of the Royal Air Force, son of Regimental-Sergeant-Major Roberts and Mrs. Roberts, Holborn-avenue, Sneinton, was buried with full military honours at the Nottingham Church Cemetery this afternoon. [2nd August 1918] “Following a service at, St. Philip's Church, the funeral procession, headed by a party from the Training Reserve, who furnished the firing and bearing parties, and the bugler and a company of Boy Scouts, with which movement deceased was connected, wended its way up Mansfield-road, the coffin, draped with the Union Jack, and carrying the dead youth's belt, being borne on a gun-carriage provided by the Army Service Corps. There came next representatives from the R.A.F. with wreaths, one of them a harp with a broken string. “Numerous other floral tributes were conveyed in an open carriage, and the family mourners included the mother, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts (grandparents), and Mr. and Mrs. Lacey (uncle and aunt). The father, on active service in France, was unable to be present.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Probate: Roberts William Rees of 27 Sneinton Hermitage Nottingham died 16 January 1935 Probate Nottingham 21 February to Alma Edith Roberts widow. Effects £682 3s. 4d. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’. 17 December 1943: ‘Roberts. Alma of 23 Hill Crest-grove, beloved wife of William Rees Roberts, mother of Clifford (India), formerly of Sneinton. Funeral Rock Cemetery, 11.30am, Saturday, from 9 Compton-road, Sherwood.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Roberts Alma Edith of 28 Hill Crest-grove Hucknall-road Nottingham widow died 15 December 1948 at The City Hospital Nottingham Administration (with Will) (limited) Nottingham 20 October to Lavinia May Amelia Roberts (wife of Clifford Rees Brindley Roberts) attorney of the said Clifford Rees Brindley Roberts. Effects £2824 7s. 10d.
