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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Harold Roberts

In memory of:

Private Harold Roberts

October 26, 1917
Belgium

Military Service


Service Number:

472605

Age:

21

Force:

Army

Unit:

Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment)

Division:

46th Battalion.

Citation(s):

Military Medal, R.C. 1236 Byng 21-5-18 London Gazette 31072 dated 9 July 1917. "On VIMY RIDGE between the dates April 9th and 11th, acted as runner carrying messages through very heavy fire to all parts of the 46th line, guided parties and did consistently fine work. (A.F.W. 3121.14-4-17)

Honours and Awards:

Military Medal

Additional Information


Born:

May 28, 1896
Claverdon, Warwickshire, England

Enlistment:

November 5, 1915
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Son of George and Elizabeth Roberts of Claverdon, Warwickshire, England. He was baptised on the 12th July 1896 and was in school until 1910. Pte Roberts was the 14th of 15 children. He stated he was employed as a farmer, living in Ruddell, Saskatchewan and was single.

Commemorated on Page 317 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

Panel 18 - 26 - 28

Location:


The Menin Gate Memorial is situated at the eastern side of the town of Ypres (now Ieper) in the Province of West Flanders, on the road to Menin and Courtrai. It bears the names of 55,000 men who were lost without trace during the defence of the Ypres Salient in the First World War. Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and erected by the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission, it consists of a Hall of Memory", 36.6 metres long by 20.1 metres wide. In the centre are broad staircases leading to the ramparts which overlook the moat, and to pillared loggias which run the whole length of the structure. On the inner walls of the Hall, on the side of the staircases and on the walls of the loggias, panels of Portland stone bear the names of the dead, inscribed by regiment and corps. Carved in stone above the central arch are the words:


TO THE ARMIES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO STOOD HERE FROM 1914 TO 1918 AND TO THOSE OF THEIR DEAD WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE.

Over the two staircases leading from the main Hall is the inscription:

HERE ARE RECORDED NAMES OF OFFICERS AND MEN WHO FELL IN YPRES SALIENT BUT TO WHOM THE FORTUNE OF WAR DENIED THE KNOWN AND HONOURED BURIAL GIVEN TO THEIR COMRADES IN DEATH.

The dead are remembered to this day in a simple ceremony that takes place every evening at 8:00 p.m. All traffic through the gateway in either direction is halted, and two buglers (on special occasions four) move to the centre of the Hall and sound the Last Post. Two silver trumpets for use in the ceremony are a gift to the Ypres Last Post Committee by an officer of the Royal Canadian Artillery, who served with the 10th Battery, of St. Catharines, Ontario, in Ypres in April 1915."

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Memorial– Inscription on the Menin Gate … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Photo of Harold Roberts– Pte Harry Roberts, Military Medal, 46th Battalion, Saskatchewan Regiment.
  • Letter
  • Letter (Back)
  • Letter 2
  • Letter 2 (Back)

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To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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