In the southern Cemetery, Dunedin, sits the stone commemorating the Roberts Brothers, not too far from a similar one for the O'Briens. When laid, they were in separate but contiguous cemeteries; the O'Briens being in the Catholic Cemetery and the Roberts' in the Presbyterian.
James Roberts enlisted at the end of 1914 and, from what little can be discerned from his records, was seen to be wounded on Gallipoli, and then seen no more. He was officially regarded as wounded and missing until a Board of Enquiry back in Egypt concluded that he was most likely to be dead.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Private James Galloway Roberts, wounded, is 29 years of age, and is the youngest son of the late Mr J. T. Roberts, Mornington. He was educated at the High Street School. -Otago Witness, 7/7/1915.
DEATHS
FOR KING AND COUNTRY.
Private James Galloway Roberts, 2nd Reinforcements, Otago, beloved youngest son of Elizabeth and the late J. S. Roberts, Avoca street, Mornington, Dunedin aged 29 years. -Evening Star, 6/2/1916.
In Memoriam
ROBERTS. — In loving memory of Private James Galloway Roberts (2nd Reinforcetaents), who was wounded and believed to be killed at Dardanelles, the 8th May. 1915; beloved youngest son of Elizabeth and the late J. S. Roberts, Avoca street, Mornington; in his 30th year. -Evening Star, 8/5/1917.
James' younger brother Alfred enlisted in May, 1917, and embarked for the war almost three months later. His death took place on the day that the Otago Regiment ended the German Spring Offensive in their part of the line, after a last, furious attempt to break through their line. The Otagos' Official History describes it as follows:
At 5 o'clock on the morning of April 5th the enemy commenced an artillery bombardment which must rank as one of the heaviest and most sustained the Regiment ever experienced. It extended along the whole Divisional front; and from guns of all calibres shells were poured down over the forward, support and rear positions as far back as Bus-Ies-Artois and Bertrancourt, almost without interruption from early morning until the late afternoon. It furiously searched every known and likely forward position, and in the back areas batteries and villages and roadways were pounded by guns of the heaviest calibres. Its extraordinary depth and intensity indicated an attempt by the enemy to renew the progress which had been so abruptly stayed a few days previously. It was not long before these attacks developed. At 8.15 a.m. reports were received from the 3rd Brigade that the enemy was attacking from the right of the Serre Road to the left boundary south of the Quarries. The attack was beaten off; but when renewed at 10 a.m. the enemy succeeded in capturing a short length of trench east of La Signy Farm, and the Farm itself, the small garrison of three sections of Rifle Brigade troops who comprised this advanced post being overwhelmed. At no other point did the enemy make any progress, and he suffered very severely from our artillery and machine gun fire, his casualties being estimated at 500 killed. Prisoners captured on the front of the left Brigade stated that their ultimate objective was Colincamps, also that many PAGE 286new batteries had been brought up for the attack. At 2 p.m. an attack was made against the right of the Divisional sector, but similarly failed, the only party of Germans who reached our line being taken prisoners. Under cover of this sustained bombardment attacks were launched by the enemy during the day along the whole Army front; but nowhere did he achieve more than very local successes. This may be said to have signalled the termination of the great German drive in the Battle of St. Quentin.
Alfred was buried in a local miltary cemetery. The Roberts' mother, Elizabeth, died in 1925.
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