Story: Joseph Roberts was born in 1894, the son of Robert and Margaret Roberts, South Main Street, Wexford, Ireland. He married Annie Walsh in 1915 and they had one daughter, Margaret (contributor Anne Kirwan’s mother). They lived at 9 Bride Place in Wexford town. He joined the army at age 22, signing up to the South Lancashire Regiment in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, service number 31442. Joseph is mentioned on the family gravestone in St Ibar’s Cemetery, Crosstown, Wexford as having been killed in France. His body was not recovered but Anne Kirwan discovered his name on the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium. However on visiting the area she found that Joseph had been killed in action on Ravensberg Hill near Bailleul, near the French-Belgian border, on 14 April 1918. Joseph’s war record was never mentioned in the family, perhaps because in Ireland during and after the War of Independence, there was a sense of unease about family members who had served in the British Army. || Photograph of Joseph Roberts in uniform; Death Plaque || || Photograph || Joseph Roberts in uniform || Joseph Roberts || Joseph Roberts in the uniform of the South Lancashire Regiment. || || Death Plaque, Joseph Roberts || Joseph Roberts || Medal

This is a photograph of my grandfather at the age of about 5 years old. The photograph was among the possessions of his oldest brother, Trevor Richards, an Able Bodied Seaman in the Royal Naval Division, killed at the Battle of the Ancre, 13 November 1916.

Jack, as everyone knew him, was the second son of my great grandparents, Joshua and Ellen (Farrow) Beckingham, and born on 27th December 1892 at Easton Royal, Wiltshire. His service was different to that of his three brothers, who were infantrymen, as according to the WWI Church plaque at Milton Lilbourne, he served his time in the Royal Field Artillery. Jack was called up on 1st February 1915 and enlisted in the R F A at Pewsey, Wilts and was posted to No 3 Depot, 13th Reserve Battery as Driver (Regimental number) 86237. He was shown on his attestation papers as being 5 feet 4 ½ inches tall, although no other physical description was given. He was at the time a labourer living with his parents at New Mill, near Pewsey. He was based at Hilsea in England until 17th October 1915, during which time he was admitted to hospital at Cosham, Hants, near Portsmouth, with the measles! He was there from 14th to 27th April. The 6th May saw Jack posted to the 44th Reserve Battery and on 6th October he was transferred to 4A Reserve Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery. On the 18th October 1915 he was posted to 34th Battalion R F A with the British Expeditionary Force in France and remained there until 24th August 1918. Jack was then granted 15 days home leave but on 9th September 1918 he was back in France until 31st May 1919 when he returned to Woolwich, England, his papers showing that he brought the Battalion’s horses back with him. Jack received the 1914/15 Star, British and Victory Medals. When he was discharged from the Army on 14th August 1919 he had moved from home at New Mill to 20 Hathpool Street, Hall Park, Paddington, London. He married Florence Elizabeth Perry on 31st July 1920 and according to family knowledge, they remained in the Paddington area of London for the rest of their lives, and did not have any children. He died in Paddington, London on 19th November 1962. || Photograph of Jack and Flo Beckingham || || Jack and Flo Beckingham || Photograph || Home Front