St Tysilio Cenotaph, Menai Bridge: Corpl O J Roberts, 19th RWF, 21st April 1917, France
Corporal Owen Jones Roberts Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 19th Battalion, no 29399
Owen was born at Llanbedrgoch in 1891 when his name was registered as ‘Owen John Roberts’. His father was Robert Roberts, born Pentraeth and his mother was Tryphena (sometimes Tryfena) also born in Pentraeth. Owen was the middle child, with sisters Alice and Emily.
The family were at 61 Tegfan Terrace, Llandegfan for the 1901 Census; Robert was a Navvy; the two older children (age 11 and 9) were born in Llanbedrgoch and Emily (age 3) in Llandegfan.
By 1911 the family were at Tai Capel, Llangoed. Robert was working as a Labourer in the Limestone Quarry, Owen was also a quarryman (now age 19). Alice may have left home, but Robert Owen Roberts, a grandson (age 5) was with them. The house had two rooms.
Owen enlisted in Birkenhead. He had been in the Cheshire Regiment before service with the RWF.
From the Regimental History - Siegfried Sassoon, writing of April 1917: There must have been some hazy moonlight, for I can remember the figures of men propping themselves against the walls of the communication trench; seeing them in some sort of ghastly half-light I wondered whether they were dead or asleep, for the attitudes of some were like death, uncouth and distorted.
In the North Wales Chronicle of June 1917: News has been received that the following Anglesey men have died in action:- . . . and Corporal Owen Roberts, Rhos Uchaf, Llansadwrn.
Owen has no grave, but is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Memorials
Church of St Sadwrn, Llansadwrn: To the Glory of God and in Grateful Memory of the Men of this Parish who gave their lives for King and country in the Great War 1914 – 1918 . . . Owen Roberts, Rhosuchaf Yn Fwy Na Concwerwyr
St Tysilio Cenotaph, Menai Bridge: Corpl O J Roberts - 19th RWF - 21st April 1917 - France
Bangor Memorial Arch, under the Parish of: Llansadwrn - Roberts, O.
Regimental Records of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, Roll of Honour pg 377: 19th Battalion - Roberts, O. J., b. Llanbedrgoch, 29399, Cpl., k. in a. F., 21/4/17.
(Roberts O J, born Llanbedrgoch, Regimental no 29399, Rank: Corporal, killed in action, France, 21/4/17)
Welsh National Book of Remembrance pg 432: Royal Welsh Fusiliers - 19th Battalion - Cpl. Owen Jones Roberts – Llansadwrn
Commonwealth War Graves Commission: Owen Jones Roberts - Rank: Corporal - Service No: 29399 - Died: Saturday 21/04/1917 / Regiment: Royal Welsh Fusiliers 19th Bn. (No age given) - Memorial: Thiepval Memorial - No epitaph
The War Graves Project: as CWGC