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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

World War One

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PC Thomas Roberts - Battle of Coronel
PC Thomas Roberts - Battle of Coronel
Photo: DaveH
Views: 2,274
Item #: 25104
Thomas Robert. Picture taken prior to 1914 when he was a Constable in the Wigan County Borough Police. Thomas, as a marine reservist was called up at the outbreak of war and sailed to the South Atlantic on board HMS Good Hope. He died on 1st November 1914 aged 29, when HMS Good Hope (flag ship) and HMS Monmouth sank with all hands after coming under long rang fire from a German fleet off the coast of Chile. Possibly one of the first Wigan casualties of WW1.

Comment by: heritagelass on 9th April 2014 at 13:37

Two lovely photographs of a fine looking gentleman. How unfortunate that he was on his annual one month's training as a reservist on board the Good Hope. The 1911 Census shows a lodger with the family - Patrick McNulty, also a
policeman. Evidently he later became Inspector McNulty and can be seen on the police photo on Album taken at Bull Hey.
You will know that Thomas's name is inscribed on the Wigan County Borough Police memorial plaque displayed just inside the gates of Robin Park HQ.

Comment by: DaveH on 11th April 2014 at 15:10

Stanley Roberts gave me these two photographs of his father Thomas when I met him several years ago. Stanley also showed me a copy of a letter his father had written just before he was killed. Whilst most of this letter was personal, cold, wet and hungry, and having to buy food from passing fishing boats, was his description of daily life on board these old ships. Stanley also told me that from the date his father was reported as ‘killed In Action’ he was then no longer member of the Borough Police.
Because of this the Police Authority/Watch committee required his pregnant mother to leave the address in Shelmerdine Street.
Hard times.

Comment by: heritagelass on 11th April 2014 at 18:51

How very sad - that his pregnant widow should have to leave her home after the tragedy of losing her husband. Hard times indeed.

Comment by: Mrs Moira F Huthwaite on 15th March 2016 at 14:53

Thomas Roberts was my great uncle, brother to my grandmother Mary Alice Roberts. Before he married she was 'housekeeper' for him and PC McNulty - and also looked after a niece. My grandmother married in 1917 one Edward Platt and went on to have two daughters, Ethel and Margaret (Peggy), my mother. I never met Stanley Roberts. I believe his mother was already widowed when she married Thomas Roberts. I did not know that she was pregnant when he died - if the child was safely delivered does anyone know the name of that child? Any details about this family would be greatly appreciated.

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