confirmed
Born: 12 March 1891
Died: 20 March 1948
A blacksmith striker who enlisted in the AIF on 23 August 1915. He embarked for Egypt on 20 December 1915.
He was allotted on 14 February 1916 to the 3rd Battalion which arrived at Marseilles, France on 28 March and immediately moved to Steenbecque in northern France.
He was awarded the Military Medal. The recommendation for the award was as follows:
"At Bullecourt, France on 6th May 1917 during an enemy attack L/Cpl Roberts with (1147) Private (Norman) Murray advanced into No Mans Land with a Lewis Gun and occupied a position and brought fire to bear on the advancing enemy. L/Cpl Roberts was subjected to rifle and machine gun fire throughout and our own artillery barrage was falling around him. Together these two men kept the gun in action until the enemy retired and inflicted many casualties on the Germans."
Between October 1917 and June 1918 he was with the 1st Training Battalion in England first on training courses then on the permanent staff. He rejoined the 3rd Battalion at Strazeele in northern France on 10 June. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The recommendation for the award was as follows:
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Hargicourt (France) on 18th Sept, 1918. During the advance to objective his platoon commander became a casualty. He assumed command and led his men forward with great gallantry and skill. At one stage of the attack his platoon was temporarily held up by machine gun fire from two enemy guns. He worked ahead and effectively silenced both guns, killing and wounding the crews and captured the guns, thus enabling the advance to continue to the successful capture of the objective.
During the consolidation and to the close of the operation, his excellent leadership, utter disregard of danger and his devotion to duty inspired his comrades."
He embarked for Australia on 6 July 1919 and arrived on 26 August then was discharged from the AIF on 20 October 1919. [JSB]
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- Main sources
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- ROBERTS John Livingstone : Service Number - 3290 : Place of Birth - Sydney NSW : Place of Enlistment - Holdsworthy (Holsworthy) NSW : Next of Kin - (Mother) ROBERTS Elizabeth (webpage)
- First World War Embarkation Roll: John Livingstone Roberts (webpage)
- Honours and Awards (Recommendation - MM): John Livingstone Roberts (webpage)
- Honours and Awards (MM): John Livingstone Roberts (webpage)
- Honours and Awards (Recommendation - DCM): John Livingstone Roberts (webpage)
- Honours and Awards (DCM): John Livingstone Roberts (webpage)
- AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS DECORATED FOR GALLANTRY. (webpage)
- John Livingstone Roberts (photograph)