Major John Arthur Roberts TD** OJL Royal Army Medical Corps
John Arthur Roberts
The Man John Arthur Roberts was born on Saturday 12th May 1917 at 588 Stockport Road, Longsight, Manchester son of Arthur, a ‘proficient’ Sawyer and Sapper in the Royal Engineers during World War I and Gertrude Mary nee Harker. He had three siblings, Margaret Elizabeth born 5 Jan 1920, Gertrude Elsie 1921 and William 3rd June 1922.
John became interested and active in the First Aid world as in March 1932 aged 15, he was awarded a Royal Life Saving Society Medal, qualifying as a proficient life saver and in 1936, 37 and 38 appears to have won the Sir Charles Behrens Challenge Cup, presumably a trophy awarded by the former Lord Mayor of Manchester to the Red Cross. He was also awarded a medallion for Proficiency in Anti Gas Training.
At about the same time 1937 aged 20 John enlisted into the regular Army, Royal Army Medical Corps with service number 7587811. He is not shown on the 1939 Register, but his family are still living at 588 Stockport Road. At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 he was posted to home duties possibly attached to the Moorside Road Hospital in Manchester as in the third quarter of 1942 aged 25, he married Hilda Florence Aldhouse, she also a member of the Red Cross and working as a Hospital Service Nursing Member at the same hospital and a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment.
By 1943 John had been promoted to Sergeant and on 23rd August they had their only son John Martin (1943-2021) who was born in the Nurses’ Home at Denison House, Victoria Park, Manchester.
John served in the war at home and was awarded his Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45. Following the war in 1946 he transferred to the Territorial Army RAMC and was promoted to Warrant Officer Class II. On 9th March 1952, aged 35 he was Commissioned into the RAMC as Lieutenant with a new service number 421995.
John became interested and active in the First Aid world as in March 1932 aged 15, he was awarded a Royal Life Saving Society Medal, qualifying as a proficient life saver and in 1936, 37 and 38 appears to have won the Sir Charles Behrens Challenge Cup, presumably a trophy awarded by the former Lord Mayor of Manchester to the Red Cross. He was also awarded a medallion for Proficiency in Anti Gas Training.
At about the same time 1937 aged 20 John enlisted into the regular Army, Royal Army Medical Corps with service number 7587811. He is not shown on the 1939 Register, but his family are still living at 588 Stockport Road. At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 he was posted to home duties possibly attached to the Moorside Road Hospital in Manchester as in the third quarter of 1942 aged 25, he married Hilda Florence Aldhouse, she also a member of the Red Cross and working as a Hospital Service Nursing Member at the same hospital and a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment.
By 1943 John had been promoted to Sergeant and on 23rd August they had their only son John Martin (1943-2021) who was born in the Nurses’ Home at Denison House, Victoria Park, Manchester.
John served in the war at home and was awarded his Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45. Following the war in 1946 he transferred to the Territorial Army RAMC and was promoted to Warrant Officer Class II. On 9th March 1952, aged 35 he was Commissioned into the RAMC as Lieutenant with a new service number 421995.
Defence Mdal. War Medal 1939-45. Efficiency Decoration 'Territorial' and clasp. Efficiency Decoration 'T&AVR'. Officer of the Military & Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem.
He served for the next 27 years in the reserves, being promoted to Captain (Non-Medical Section) on 1st June 1958 with seniority backdated to 30th September 1957 and in the London Gazette of 19th September 1958, awarded his Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’, most of his qualifying 12 years being served as an officer.
John was awarded the first clasp to his Efficiency Decoration in the London Gazette of 13th November 1964 and on 1st April 1967 transferred to the newly created Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve. He was promoted to Brevet Major on 1st January 1970 and on 27th October awarded the second clasp to his Efficiency Decoration.
On 11th January 1977 he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial & Army Volunteer Reserve’ and the second clasp to his earlier award dated 1970 cancelled, as he qualified from 1964-76 (12 years) for the newly instituted award. On 13th November 1979 aged 62 he retired from the TA.
John was also awarded the Officer of the Military & Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, it is unknown if this was in his military career or civilian life. The award however is not recognized by the UK Government.
In later life John and Hilda lived at 5 Bramely Avenue, Levenshulme, Manchester. John died in September 1998 aged 81 in Manchester and Hilda five years later, on 15th September 2003.
John was awarded the first clasp to his Efficiency Decoration in the London Gazette of 13th November 1964 and on 1st April 1967 transferred to the newly created Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve. He was promoted to Brevet Major on 1st January 1970 and on 27th October awarded the second clasp to his Efficiency Decoration.
On 11th January 1977 he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial & Army Volunteer Reserve’ and the second clasp to his earlier award dated 1970 cancelled, as he qualified from 1964-76 (12 years) for the newly instituted award. On 13th November 1979 aged 62 he retired from the TA.
John was also awarded the Officer of the Military & Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, it is unknown if this was in his military career or civilian life. The award however is not recognized by the UK Government.
In later life John and Hilda lived at 5 Bramely Avenue, Levenshulme, Manchester. John died in September 1998 aged 81 in Manchester and Hilda five years later, on 15th September 2003.
The Story The unusual group of medals awarded to John Arthur Roberts were acquired from E-Bay on 31st August 2024 and of interest for several reasons, the scarce double Efficiency Decoration combination of ‘Territorial’ and the later ‘T&AVR’ version, the former with a clasp, a photograph of John and two separate lots, these having been split by the vendor on E-Bay, relating to him and his wife’s service in the Red Cross. Also, the unusual award of the Officer of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem.
Before bidding, checks were completed with the London Gazette and Ancestry, confirming the dates of award of the decorations and clasps were correct and matching his wife’s details. Having won the main group bids were successfully placed on the subsequent lots to keep the entire archive together.
Ancestry, London Gazette, Newspaper Archives and wills enabled a brief biography to be pieced together as well as some interesting details on the Order of St Lazarus.
Before bidding, checks were completed with the London Gazette and Ancestry, confirming the dates of award of the decorations and clasps were correct and matching his wife’s details. Having won the main group bids were successfully placed on the subsequent lots to keep the entire archive together.
Ancestry, London Gazette, Newspaper Archives and wills enabled a brief biography to be pieced together as well as some interesting details on the Order of St Lazarus.
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British Red Cross and Royal Life Saving Socity awards presented to John Arthur Roberts.
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British Red Cross awards presented to Hilda Roberts nee Aldhouse.
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Miscellaneous medallions and badges belonging to the Roberts
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Decoration 'Territorial': 1958 Clasp: 1964
- Efficiency Decoration 'T&AVR': 1977
- Officer of the Military & Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem: Unnamed as awarded.
This page last updated 17 Oct 24
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