Browse Items (24 total)
- Collection: Roberts, Roly
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Recent news
Roly writes to his mother about the recent bombing in Croydon. He describes meeting friends and visiting the theatre and working on his motorbike.
Regret to inform
Informing Roly’s mother that he had been killed in a flying accident. An offer is made to send him home and to provide return travel warrants to his funeral.
Corporal Roly Roberts
Half portrait of Roly in uniform.
Roly Roberts
A half portrait of Roly in civilian clothes.
Sergeant R F Roberts' headstone
Headstone of Reginald Frederick Roberts in Croydon Cemetery. Inscribed '566679 SERGEANT R. F. ROBERTS PILOT ROYAL AIR FORCE 31ST AUGUST 1940 AGED 23 AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM'.
Roly's burial
The grave of Sergeant Reginald Frederick Roberts.
From the King
A letter written by the King expressing sympathy for Roly's death.
Roberts v Roberts
A letter concerning Roly's parents divorce in which Mr Roberts places no blame on his wife. He provides details of their children and the places where the family lived and the date of their separation.
Letter from Roly Roberts to his mother
Roly describes his aircraft acting as stooge to draw fire on an operation, leave having been cancelled, an invitation to a dance at Lincoln Assembly Rooms and the arrival of his motorbike, albeit having been damaged in transit.
Thanks for the socks
Roly writes to his mother thanking her for the socks and describes how he has visited friends, playing tennis and attended a dance. He looks forward to his next leave and has started saving his ration tickets.
Busy times
Roly writes to his mother that he has visited his friend Johnnie who has permission to live in a flat with his wife. He mentions his recent leave and is now at the bottom of the list for further time off.
Settling in
Roly writes to his mother that he is sorry she was not able to drive and he hopes to arrange things when he gets a new car. He describes that he is settling in and getting to know others in his squadron but was disappointed that he had been unable to…
Another move
Writing to his mother Roly describes his recent move and how his 'gang' has been posted to different stations. Roly describes roller skating and going to a dance and being driven to his new station by a WAAF.
Another address
Roly tells his mother how much he enjoyed his short visit home and that he will likely be moved again in a week. He describes the difficulty in leaving the camp for a night out but that there is a good mess.
Back in the country
Roly writes to his mother that he is enjoying his training even though he starts at 6am but there is no night flying.
Write soon ma
Roly hopes to receive a letter soon and reports on the wet weather and a flying accident in which one crew member was killed.
Flying on Sunday
Tells his mother that he has to work on Sunday, updating on his health and that he will be taking photographs that afternoon and expressing regret on the news that Croydon Town Hall was in ruins.
Dearest ma
![ERobertsRFJacksonTW[Date]-02.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/2733/50541/ERobertsRFJacksonTW[Date]-02.jpg "ERobertsRFJacksonTW[Date]-02.pdf")
Roly asks where his weekly letter from his mother is and describes receiving some hand knitted socks from Beryl. He asks 'pop' to look for insurance for a motorbike ridden by a pilot and reports a visit to the theatre, a dance and playing tennis.
Everything going to schedule
![ERobertsRFJacksonTW[Date]-01.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/2733/50539/ERobertsRFJacksonTW[Date]-01.jpg "ERobertsRFJacksonTW[Date]-01.pdf")
Writing to his mother Roly describes that he is happy and that the change in weather has not interfered with flying and that he is looking for a local tennis court.
From the sergeant's mess
Writing to 'pops' Roly explains his difficulties in getting insurance for his new motorbike because he is a pilot. He describes the awarding of a Victoria Cross and the Distinguished Service Order to members of his squadron and his aircraft acting as…
Letter from Records Office to Mrs Roberts
Writing to Roly's mother confirming the death of her son in a flying accident.
Reginald Frederick Robert's service record
Roly's service record from 26 September 1933 to 31 August 1940.
Best man
![E[Author]MJacksonTW40906.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/2733/50530/E[Author]MJacksonTW40906.jpg "E[Author]MJacksonTW40906.pdf")
A letter to Roly's mother in which Mark describes how Ro was due to be his best man. He says that Roly achieved his greatest ambition to become a pilot and that he admired Mrs Jackson for letting her son live the life he wanted.
Sergeant Reginald Frederick (Roly) Roberts
Describes enlisting in the aircraft apprentice scheme, recruitment and training. He flew 23 operations, one as wireless operator/air gunner, 12 as navigator/bomb aimer and ten as pilot. Pilots were Squadron Leader Allen, Sergeant Stretton, Pilot…