William Roberts (29 September 1900 – 30 April 2006), often known as Bill Roberts, was one of the final surviving British veterans of the First World War.

As a fourteen-year-old boy Roberts was present in Hartlepool during the Imperial German Navy's bombardment.

William Roberts (veteran)

After Roberts' father was killed in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, he joined the RFC. William, who worked as an aircraft fitter, claimed to have flown with T. E. Lawrence.

William Roberts (veteran)

After the war he became a local authority transport manager.

William Roberts (veteran)

Roberts lived in Jacksdale, Nottinghamshire, until his death in April 2006 at the age of 105.

External links

His obituary in The Times

The Telegraph – Obituary – Leading Aircraftman William Roberts

An interview with him, from 2005

1900 births

2006 deaths

British Army personnel of World War I

Royal Air Force personnel of World War I

English centenarians

Men centenarians

Recipients of the Legion of Honour

Royal Air Force airmen

Royal Flying Corps soldiers

People from Jacksdale

British Army soldiers