| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | PR06009 |
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | 1 wallet: 3 cm. |
| Object type | Diary, Letter, Document |
| Maker |
Roberts, Francis William |
| Place made | Australia, France |
| Date made | 1901-1905; 1916-1921 |
| Access | Open |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
| Copying Provisions | Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required. |
Roberts, Francis William (Private, b.1888 - d.1918)
Description
Collection relating to the First World War service of 6874 Private Francis Williams Roberts, 21 Battalion.
Collection consists of two original handwritten diaries, one from his school days the other from his war service in France; as well as a 1918 letter written to his mother from France, plus other documents. The school diary commences on his thirteenth birthday in July 1901. It is quite regularly written for the remainder of 1901; very sparsely for 1902; then re-commences at the beginning of 1905 and continues until the end of the year. It contains many newspaper clippings, and topics inlcude things such as school and family life, cricket and photography.
The other diary commences in November 1917 and ends on 30 August 1918, the day before his death. It talks about his arrival in England, transfer to France, sightseeing in Paris, and fighting with 21 Battalion around Peronne and Mont St Quentin.
The letter to his mother is dated February 1918 and talks about accommodation, food, conditions, the local French people, letters and parcels from home. He writes: 'I'm in splendid health and my luck is sticking to me like glue...'. Pte Roberts was killed in action at Mont St Quentin on 1 September 1918.