Frank Crowther Roberts
Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding 1st Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment
- Register No.
- 1059 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel (register: Acting Lieutenant Colonel) all Lieutenant-Colonels →
- Unit
- Commanding 1st Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment all Worcestershire Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 22 March–2 April 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 2nd February 1900 on this day → all of 1900 →
- Born
- 2nd June 1891 at Highbury, Middlesex
- Died
- 12th January 1982 at Stanhope Bretby, Burton-on-Trent,
- Memorial / grave
- not known. Memorial on grave her at Chieveley Cemetery, Natal, South Africa and on the King's Royal Rifle Corps Memorial in Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire
Digest of citation
During the period 22nd March/ 2nd April 1918 West of Somme and at Pargny, France, Lieutenant Colonel Roberts show exceptional military skill in dealing in the many very difficult situations of the retirement and amazing endurance and energy in inspiring all ranks under his command. On one occasion the enemy attacked a village and had practically cleared it of our troops when Colonel Roberts got together an improvised party and led a counter-attack which temporarily drove the enemy out of the village, thus covering the retirement of troops on their flanks. The success of this action was entirely due to his personal valour and skill. On 15th December 1899, in South Africa, during the Battle of Colenso, Lieutenant Roberts and others tried to save the guns. The detachments of the 14th and 66th batteries, who had been serving the guns had all either been killed, wounded, or driven from their guns by enemy infantry fire, from close range. A Donga, which lay approximately 500 yards behind the lines, in which, some of the drivers and horses left alive were sheltering. The space between being devastated with shell and rifle fire. In the Donga, Captain CONGREVE of the Rifle Brigade, assisted and hooking up of a horses team into a limber, then went out and assisted in the limbering up of a gun. Being wounded, he took shelter but when he saw that Lieutenant Roberts was badly wounded and had fallen, he went out and brought the lieutenant in. Major Babtie, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, having done what he could for the wounded men, galloped across to Captain CONGREVE amid a hail of heavy rifle fire to help him. Captain CONGREVE was wounded through the leg, and foot, was grazed on the elbow and shoulder and his horse was also wounded in three places. Lieutenant Roberts, although wounded in three places, but he went to the captain's assistance
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
ROBERTS, Frank Crowther. (Reg No. 1059).
Lieutenant Colonel Commanding 1st Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment.
London Gazetted on 8th May 1918.
Born on 2nd June 1891 at Highbury, Middlesex.
Died on 12th January 1982 at Stanhope Bretby, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: During the period 22nd March/ 2nd April 1918 West of Somme and at Pargny, France, Lieutenant Colonel Roberts show exceptional military skill in dealing in the many very difficult situations of the retirement and amazing endurance and energy in inspiring all ranks under his command. On one occasion the enemy attacked a village and had practically cleared it of our troops when Colonel Roberts got together an improvised party and led a counter-attack which temporarily drove the enemy out of the village, thus covering the retirement of troops on their flanks. The success of this action was entirely due to his personal valour and skill.
Additional information: Major-General Robert also held up the Distinguished Service Order (DSO); the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and the Military Cross (MC).
ROBERTS, The Honourable Frederick Hugh Sherston. (reg No. 1060). Lieutenant. King's Royal Rifle Corps.
London Gazetted on 2nd February 1900.
Born on 8th January 1872 at Umballa, India.
Died of his wounds on 17th December 1899 at Chieveley, Natal, South Africa.
Memorial on grave her at Chieveley Cemetery, Natal, South Africa and on the King's Royal Rifle Corps Memorial in Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire.
Digest of Citation reads: On 15th December 1899, in South Africa, during the Battle of Colenso, Lieutenant Roberts and others tried to save the guns. The detachments of the 14th and 66th batteries, who had been serving the guns had all either been killed, wounded, or driven from their guns by enemy infantry fire, from close range. A Donga, which lay approximately 500 yards behind the lines, in which, some of the drivers and horses left alive were sheltering. The space between being devastated with shell and rifle fire. In the Donga, Captain CONGREVE of the Rifle Brigade, assisted and hooking up of a horses team into a limber, then went out and assisted in the limbering up of a gun. Being wounded, he took shelter but when he saw that Lieutenant Roberts was badly wounded and had fallen, he went out and brought the lieutenant in. Major Babtie, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, having done what he could for the wounded men, galloped across to Captain CONGREVE amid a hail of heavy rifle fire to help him. Captain CONGREVE was wounded through the leg, and foot, was grazed on the elbow and shoulder and his horse was also wounded in three places. Lieutenant Roberts, although wounded in three places, but he went to the captain's assistance.
Additional information:. Lieutenant Roberts was the son of the Right Honourable Earl Roberts VC.
Additional information
Major-General Robert also held up the Distinguished Service Order (DSO); the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and the Military Cross (MC). ROBERTS, The Honourable Frederick Hugh Sherston. (reg No. 1060). Lieutenant. King's Royal Rifle Corps. Lieutenant Roberts was the son of the Right Honourable Earl Roberts VC.
Staffordshire.
Born on 8th January 1872 at Umballa, India.
Died of his wounds on 17th December 1899 at Chieveley, Natal,
South Africa.
Register note: Awarded for an extended period
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known. Memorial on grave her at Chieveley Cemetery, Natal, South Africa and on the King's Royal Rifle Corps Memorial in Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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