Ernest's Story.
Birkenhead News 28 August 1915New Ferry Soldier.
Dies of Wounds Which Caused Dumbness.
Private Ernest Roberts, 1st Cheshire Regiment, of 19, Hind Street, Birkenhead, died in hospital in London on 16th August. He was badly wounded by shrapnel in the head, which deprived him of the use of his speech. His parents went to London twice to see him, but he was unable to speak to them. Deceased joined the Army five years ago, and was called up on the 4th August, 1914, from Messrs. Cammell Laird’s where he worked in the boiler shop. He was transferred to France on the 11th June, and had been in all the fierce fighting until the time he met with his fatal injury. Private Roberts was an unlucky soldier, for prior to being wounded as stated he had been “gassed,” wounded by a bullet in the wrist, and suffered from frost-bitten feet.
He was born in New Ferry and went to school at St John’s, New Ferry. He was well-known and well-liked locally, and as an athlete gained no small fame, playing football for Cammell Laird’s F.C.
His body was brought home to Birkenhead, and he was buried with full military honours, the funeral taking place at Flaybrick Hill on Saturday last. Deceased leaves a wife but no children.