A Great War ‘trench raid’ M.C. group of seven awarded to Captain A. B. H. Roberts, Yorkshire Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse neatly engraved, ‘Lieut. A. B. H. Roberts, 9th Battn. A.P.W.O. Yorkshire Regt. 1st January 1916’, in case of issue; 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., York. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, unnamed; Coronation 1911, unnamed; together with a mounted set of four miniature dress medals: Military Cross; 1914-15 Star trio, M.I.D. oakleaf; with a loose miniature Coronation Medal 1911, generally extremely fine (12)
£900-1200

M.C. London Gazette 15 March 1916. ‘Temporary Second Lieutenant, 9th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own (Yorkshire Regiment’ ‘For conspicuous gallantry. He was one of a party which successfully raided the enemy trenches, and showed great coolness and judgement in directing his men. Two nights previously he had done good work reconnoitring the enemy’s position. He also helped two wounded officers to get back to our lines.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 30 May 1918.

Arthur Beverley Hepworth Roberts was born in Sandal Magna, Yorkshire in 1894, the son of Arthur Hepworth and Mary Alice Roberts of Stoneleigh Lodge, Sandal Magna.

In the Great War he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Yorkshire Regiment. He served in that theatre, 25 August 1915-13 July 1916; 3 February-1 November 1917 and 16 September-11 November 1918; and in the Italian theatre of war, 2 November 1917-15 September 1918.

Serving with the 9th Battalion at the Rue de Bois, 31 December 1915-1 January 1916, his gallantry and leadership gained him the award of the Military Cross. The 9th Battalion formed part of the 69th Infantry Brigade, 23rd Division of the First Army. On 31 December 1915/1 January 1916, a raid on enemy trenches was carried out by a detachment of the 9th Battalion. The raid on entering the enemy’s line, divided into two parties, left and right, and proceeded to clear the German trenches by bomb and bayonet. The raid, deemed a success, resulted in about 20 of the enemy killed at a cost of seven of the raiding party wounded. Roberts was mentioned in the official report of the action, as having - ‘Remained at the point of entry and directed the parties in and out again with great coolness’.

By the end of the war Roberts had attained the rank of Captain, had been wounded and mentioned in despatches. He applied for his medals in 1921 when living at Woodthorpe Hall, Wakefield, Yorkshire.

With the start of the Second World War, Captain Roberts was appointed a Lieutenant on the General List (London Gazette 29 July 1941). He married Sheila Platts in Wakefield in 1942 but died on 9 August 1944. Captain Roberts was buried in Wakefield Cemetery.

With copied research including a number of official papers relating to the trench raid.