Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Lance-Corporal F. J. Roberts, 3rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry, partly for his gallantry in charge of a Lewis Gun crew during the Battle of Cambrai on 27 September 1918; for this action Captain G. F. Kerr was awarded the Victoria Cross

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (138953 L. Cpl. F. J. Roberts. 3/Can: Inf:); British War and Victory Medals (138953 L.Cpl. F. J. Roberts. 3-Can. Inf.) good very fine (3) £800-£1,000

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919; citation published 11 March 1920:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On 31 August 1918, as company runner, he carried messages from Battalion Headquarters to the attacking company through extremely heavy fire, and never failed to deliver a message.
On 27 September, as Lance-Corporal in charged of a Lewis-gun crew, he cleared up an enemy machine-gun nest when his company was held up.’

Frank Jack Roberts was born in Toronto, Ontario, on 1 February 1896, and attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Toronto on 24 August 1915. He served with the 3rd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 18 June 1916, and was wounded by gun shot to the left thigh on 5 September 1916. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallantry in 1918, latterly at the Battle of Cambrai on 27 September 1918; by the end of the day the battalion had 28 heavy and field guns to its credit and Captain G. F. Kerr, by his conspicuous bravery and initiative in rushing a series of enemy machine-gun posts, capturing four machine-guns, and taking 31 of the enemy prisoner, was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Roberts was discharged at Toronto on 24 April 1919.

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