GRACE UNITED CHURCH
James Gershom Roberts
Roberts, James Gershom 1071
Regiment Number: 1071
Rank: Lieutenant
Date of Death: 10/08/1918
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry 78th Bn.
Cemetery: HILLSIDE CEMETERY, LE QUESNEL
Grave Reference: I. C. 1.
Service number may not be accurate - no service record as he was a dentist
James attended both Brampton public schools and high schools. He attended the University of Toronto in dentistry with Honourable Matriculations. He then attended the Royal College of Dental Surgeons from 191 – 15 obtaining his D.D.S and L.D.S. During this time he also earned his lacrosse colours, was part of the College Athletics executive; on the College hockey team and attended C.O.T.C.
When a civilian chose to enlist in World War One, they went to the local recruiting office and was asked a collection of questions that were then entered onto a document called, Attestation Papers.
What is your Name
​
In What Town, Township or Parish and Country were you born
​
What is the name of your next of kin?
​
What is the address of your next of kin?
​
What is your date of birth?
​
What is your Trade or Calling?
​
Are you married?
​
Do you now belong to the Active Militia?
James Gershom Robert
​
605 Spadina Ave. Toronto
​
​
J. G. Roberts - Father
​
Brampton, Ont
​
18 April 1892
​
Dentist
​
No
​
C.O.T.C.
​A soldier’s Attestation Papers were filled in on the day they walked in to join the military. They show family information at the time of enlistment and were signed by the soldier. These have been digitized by Library and Archives Canada.
In the spring of 1915 he joined No 4. General Hospital C.A.M.C. and was later promoted to Sergeant. When with this unit in Salonica he was recommended for his commission. He was invalided to England in September 1916, and on his recovery was appointed Captain in the Canadian Army Dental Corps and did duty first at Westenhanger and then at Basingstoke on the return of No. 4 Hospital. He then transferred to the Infantry, reverting to the rank of Lieutenant. In April 1918 he joined the 78th Battalion in France. On the third day of the battle of Amiens he was severely wounded when leading his men at Hallu. The officer of the supporting platoon, with three others from many volunteers, procured a stretcher. As he was being carried out under heavy fire a shell struck nearby, and he succumbed to the shock.
The slideshow displayed above includes all of the documents that I have found related to this soldier’s death. Click on the arrows on either side of the picture to move to the next picture or wait as it will change on its own. This slideshow may include a copy of his page in the Canadian Book of Remembrance; a page from the Brampton Book of Remembrance; from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission you may find a picture of this soldier’s CWGC Headstone, CWGC Certificate, CWGC War Graves Registry, CWGC Circumstance of Causality, and photos of the cemetery where he is commemorated.
The Canada War Graves Registers – Burial Return (Concentration of Graves) shows that “Lieutenant J.G. Roberts 78th Bn. Canadian Inf.” had been buried on the battlefield which was now Hillside Cemetery on January 6, 1921. He is located in Plot 1, Row C, Grave 1. He was found with his tags, which were returned to his next of kin.
The Imperial War Graves Commission Comprehensive report of Headstone Inscriptions shows that stone #24 was of the 1202/1A design as shown here. Schedule B shows that there was no request by the family for any personal inscription to be included on the stone, so there is no additional text.
James Gershom Roberts is also remembered on his family gravestone in Brampton, Ontario.
