Frank Crowther Roberts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Crowther Roberts
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| Nickname(s) | "Culley" |
| Born | 2 June 1891 Highbury, London, England |
| Died | 12 January 1982 (aged 90) Stanhope Bretby, Derbyshire, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army |
| Years of service | 1911–1939 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Unit | Worcestershire Regiment Royal Warwickshire Regiment |
| Commands held | 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division (1939) Poona Brigade (1938–39) 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (1937–38) 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment (1917–18) |
| Battles/wars | First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order Officer of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches (6) |
Major-General Frank Crowther Roberts (born June 2, 1891 – died January 12, 1982) was a brave officer in the British Army. He received the Victoria Cross (VC), which is the highest award for courage in battle given to British and Commonwealth soldiers. He also earned several other important awards for his service.
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Early Life and Joining the Army
Frank Crowther Roberts was born in Highbury, London, on June 2, 1891. His father was a vicar, a type of priest, named Rev. Frank Roberts.
Frank went to school at St Lawrence College, Ramsgate and then to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. This is a special college where people train to become army officers. After graduating, he became a second lieutenant in the Worcestershire Regiment in 1911. The next year, he was sent with his battalion (a large group of soldiers) to Alexandria, Egypt. He was still there when the First World War began in August 1914.
Heroism in the First World War
Soon after the war started, Frank Roberts was promoted to lieutenant. His battalion returned to the United Kingdom in October 1914. They then joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France in November 1914. This was on the Western Front, where much of the fighting happened.
Early Actions and Awards
Frank Roberts quickly showed his bravery. Less than two months after arriving in France, he led a daring raid on enemy trenches. For this, he was given the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). He became his battalion's adjutant, a key helper to the commander. He fought in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and was promoted to captain in August 1915.
Later, in October 1916, he became a brigade major for the 8th Division. During the Battle of Passchendaele in August 1917, he earned the Military Cross (MC). This award was for his excellent leadership and bravery. He showed great skill and kept control of tough situations. He also bravely scouted areas under heavy enemy fire, which helped his team a lot.
Leading the Battalion
In October 1917, at just 26 years old, Frank Roberts was given temporary command of the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. This made him one of the youngest battalion commanders in the British Army.
Winning the Victoria Cross
His most famous act of bravery happened between March 22 and April 2, 1918. This was during the German spring offensive in France. Lieutenant-Colonel Roberts showed amazing courage and skill.
During many days of fighting, he was incredibly brave. He showed great military skill in very difficult situations as his troops had to retreat. He also had amazing energy, always encouraging his soldiers.
Once, the enemy attacked a village and almost took it over. Roberts quickly gathered a small group of soldiers. He led a counter-attack that pushed the enemy out of the village for a short time. This action helped other British troops nearby to escape being trapped. His personal courage and skill were the main reasons for this success. For this incredible bravery, he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Roberts was wounded on March 27 and went back to England for treatment. He returned to his battalion in June and led them through the final battles of the war until the armistice of 11 November 1918. During the First World War, he was wounded three times and was mentioned in official reports six times for his good work.
Between the World Wars
After the First World War, Frank Roberts stayed in the army. He served briefly with the Egyptian Army in the Sudan. He then attended the Staff College, Camberley, a special school for army officers to learn advanced military planning. He also received another award, becoming an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
He served in Egypt again and with the British Army in Germany. In 1927, he moved to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a major. He served with them in India and the Middle East. He also worked with the Iraqi Army.
In 1932, he married Winifred Margaret Wragg. He continued to rise through the ranks, becoming a lieutenant-colonel in 1936. In 1937, he commanded the 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshires, in India. The next year, he led the Poona Brigade in the Indian Army.
Just before the Second World War began, in June 1939, he was promoted to major-general. He became the commander of the 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division. At 48 years old, he was one of the youngest divisional commanders in the British Army.
Second World War and Later Life
The 48th Division was a part-time army group that needed a lot of training and better equipment. They had to quickly get ready to join the British Expeditionary Force in France. However, in October 1939, Roberts handed over command of the division to another officer. He then retired from the army in December 1939, after 28 years of service.
Frank Roberts and his wife settled in Stanhope Bretby, Derbyshire. They did not have any children. He lived there until he passed away on January 12, 1982, at the age of 90. He was cremated, and his ashes were buried in his wife's family grave.
His Victoria Cross medal is on display at the Worcestershire Regimental Collection in the Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum in Worcester.
