BIRDSELL ROBERTS

RANK: 2nd Lieutenant.

REGIMENT: "D" Company attached 9th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)

BORN: Bramley near Leeds.

ENLISTED: Leeds.

GAVE HIS LIFE: 09/10/1917.

AGED: 24.

CEMETERY: Tyne Cot Memorial.

PANEL: 42 to 47 and 162

LEEDS MODERN: 1906-1909.

Birdsell left Leeds Boys Modern to work in the tar distillers and chemical manufacturing trade, and when war was declared in August 1914 attempted to enlist into the Army being rejected due to poor eyesight.


Birdsell tried again in early 1915 and was again unsuccessfull, as a result he joined the United Public Schools 19th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, being acepted later that year.


Birdsell was trained and sent to France in November 1915, and was shortly redcommended for his commision.


On the 7th July 1916 Birdsell was gazetted to the 9th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, and served with them until he lost his life on the 9th October 1917.


It was reported at the time that Birdsell was buried near a church close to where he fell, however his grave was lost and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial Belgium.

The CWGC shows the following details:

"Son of the late George Birch Roberts and Ellen Roberts."