King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 5th Battalion, Service no. 52580
Killed in action 12th September 1918, aged 20
Story
Born in Kippax on 26th September 1897, James was the son of Joseph Roberts and Martha Shackleton. In 1911 the large family were living on Well Lane, which enlisted many of the soldiers for the war from Kippax. James was a colliery surface worker. Just before the war, the Roberts family moved to 47 Strawberry Avenue, Garforth.
James participated in the Battle of Havrincourt. The Battle was concluded the same day, with a British victory, and the Battle was used to promote the belief that the Germans were losing their appetite for combat. One man Sergeant Laurence Calvert, MM, from James’s Battalion, rushed the enemy machine gun teams single-handed, bayonetted three and shot four men, then captured four officers and 80 men from a strongpoint, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. But despite the overwhelming victory, this was the battle in which James was killed.
James’s mother Martha received £3 5s 5d on the 12th March 1919 from the Army following her son’s death, and a further £3 on the 25th November 1919.
James is commemorated at the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, Panel 8, and is also listed on the Garforth War Memorial.
Kippax Roll of Honour 