Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
Stanley James Roberts was born on the 20th of August 1887 in Dorking, Surrey to labourer Matthew James Roberts and charwoman Mary Ann Roberts nee Sherlock.
Stanley Roberts was born on the 20th of August 1887 in Dorking, Surrey and was baptised on the 1st of May 1888 at St Martin’s church in Dorking, Surrey. At the time of the baptism the family lived at Archway Place in Dorking and Matthew Roberts was working as a labourer.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at 9 Archway Place in Dorking. Matthew Roberts was working as a general labourer and Mary was looking after their children: Stanley Roberts, Charles and Gertrude. The household further comprised of Matthew’s daughter Bertha Roberts and mother in law the widowed Hannah Sherlock.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 9 Archway Place, Dorking. The widowed Mary was working as a charwoman and of her children: Stanley Roberts was working as a general errand boy and Charles and Gertrude were scholars. The household further comprised of Mary’s grandson Thomas Frank Roberts and her mother Hannah Sherlock. Stanley James’ father Matthew Roberts was dead.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at 9 Archway Place in Dorking. The family comprised of Mary, her children: carman (laundry) Stanley Roberts and general domestic servant Gertrude Roberts and Mary’s grandson Thomas Roberts. Thomas considered Mary Ann to be his mother. The household further comprised of boarders: groom (gentleman’s stable) Albert Elms, tunnel borer (timber yard) William Elms and three visitors: carman (laundry) William Couch, Mrs Jenkins and her daughter Gertrude Jenkins. Mary Roberts stated that she had given birth to three children. The accommodation had five rooms.
Stanley James Roberts married Lily Bicknell, by Licence, on the 15th of December 1913 at St Martin’s Church in Dorking. At the time of the marriage Stanley lived in Archway Place in Dorking and was working as a motor conductor and Lily Bicknell lived at 77 Orchard Road in Dorking.
Stanley Roberts enlisted in Acton into the 7th Battalion, the Suffolk Regiment. Later he was became part of the 2nd Battalion, the Suffolk Regiment. He was a Corporal with the regimental number 22423.
He was killed in action on or since 13th of November 1916 at the Battle of the Ancre, Somme during the attack on a German trench called Serre. At the end of the Battle, the 2nd Battalion suffered great losses: 17 officers and men were killed, 94 wounded and 261 missing.
Stanley Roberts is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in Somme, France on Pier and Face 1C and 2A.
He was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
Stanley’s wife Lily Roberts received £3, 16s and 1d on the 23rd of March 1918 and a further £4, 10s on the 13th of October 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.
Lily Roberts lived at 48 Lower Wood Street in Woolwich, London.
Roberts Family History
Stanley James’ father Matthew James Roberts was born about 1857 in Winfrith Newburgh, Dorset to labourer John Roberts, born about 1816 in Winfrith, Dorset and Mary Roberts, born about 1815 in Winfrith, Dorset. Matthew was baptised on the 17th of August 1857 at Winfrith Newburgh, Dorset. At the time of the baptism the family lived in Winfrith.
At the time of the 1871 Census, the family lived at Sandy Hells, Corfe Castle in Dorset. John Roberts was working as an agricultural labourer and Mary was looking after their five children including Matthew.
Stanley’s mother Mary Ann Sherlock was born in the 3rd quarter of 1855 in Westcott, Surrey to bricklayer’s labourer Henry Sherlock and Hannah Sherlock, born about 1822 in Abinger, Surrey. Mary Ann was baptised on the 9th of March 1856 at Holy Trinity church in Westcott, Surrey. At the time of the baptism the family lived in Westcott and Henry Sherlock was working as a bricklayer’s labourer.
At the time of the 1861 Census, the widowed Hannah Sherlock and her children Henry and Mary Ann lived at Westcott Heath in Dorking. Hannah was working as a laundress.
At the time of the 1871 Census, the family lived at Westcott Common in Dorking. Hannah Sherlock was working as a laundress; and of her children, Henry was a grocer’s assistant and Mary Ann an out of work domestic servant. The household further comprised of lodgers: Mary Scutt and pensioner James Thornton.
At the time of the 1881 Census, the family lived at 10 Parker Road, Croydon, Surrey. Grocer’s assistant Henry Sherlock was now head of the family. The household further comprised of Henry’s wife Amelia Marion Sherlock and their children Evelyn Amelia, Albert Henry and Stanley George; Henry’s mother Hannah Sherlock and Henry’s sister Mary Ann Sherlock.
Matthew Roberts and Mary Sherlock married on the 10th of April 1887 in Dorking, Surrey. At the time of the marriage Matthew and Mary lived in Dorking.
Stanley Roberts had two siblings: Charles Ramoth/Raymoth Roberts born on the 26th of April 1889 in Dorking, Surrey and Gertrude Eliza Roberts born on the 5th of March 1891 in Dorking, Surrey.
Stanley also had one half-sister. Bertha Roberts was born about 1877 in Westcott, Surrey to Matthew Roberts.
Bicknell Family History
Lily Bicknell was born in the 2nd quarter of 1891 in Dorking, Surrey to saddler and harness maker Harry Bicknell, born about 1854 in Bognor, Sussex and Annie Bicknell, born about 1851 in Dorking, Surrey.
At the time of the 1911 Census, Lily was housemaid of timber merchant Philip George Dodd at Trenython, Harrow Road West, Dorking. The household further comprised of Mr Dodd’s wife Florence Dodd; their son, clerk Gerard Grays Dodd and a cook. The house had twelve rooms.
| Born | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Lived | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Son of | James and Mary Roberts of 9 Archway Terrace, Dorking | |
| Husband of | Lily Roberts of 48, Lower Wood Street, Woolwich, London | |
| Enlisted | Acton | |
| Regiment | 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment | |
| Number | 22423 | |
| Date of Death | 13th November 1916 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 29 | |
| Memorial | Thiepval Memorial, France |
