Lord Roberts Funeral

In a previous post Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops I looked at the work of the Memorial workshops set up in honour of Lord Roberts and the miniature tank week organized in 1918.


This report from the Kildare Observer 0n 11th November 1914, announces the death of Lord Roberts after catching a chill at St. Omer.


We deeply regret to announce the death of field Marshal Lord Roberts, which took place on Saturday evening at the front. Only on Thursday of last week Lord Roberts proceeded to France to see the Indian troops at present fighting at the front, of which he was Colonel-in-Chief. He contracted a chill and succumbed, after a short illness, to an attack of pneumonia. Lord Roberts was quite fit and well when he left England with Lady Aileen Roberts (his daughter) and Major Lewin, his son-in- law, on Wednesday of last week. The party had rough weather when crossing to France, but Lord Roberts showed no sign of distress upon landing. In fact, so well was he that he accomplished everything in France that he went to do.


On Thursday and Friday he visited by motor car the British bases and camps, discussing affairs with the leading officers, and his Lordship's chief purpose, the inspection of the Indian troops, was also fulfilled.


It was not until dinner on Friday night that he complained of feeling a slight chill, and being subject to more or less trilling chest troubles, he followed his usual course and went to bed early. Usually these attacks were amenable to home treatment, but as his temperature increased rather then dropped a medical man was summoned, his diagnosis put a serious opinion that Lord Roberts was in an extremely critical condition.


His Lordship complained occupations, his highest obligation were faithfully discharged in a room specially set apart for players for the household, while Sunday morning invariably found him at church. If he had visitors they would be seen in his nephew. He would always walk to church rather than give Sunday work to his chauffeur or coachman. Every institution in Ascot having for its object the good of the inhabitants had his warm support.


Although the present war had put an additional strain on Lord Roberts, it did not excite him beyond what might be expected of an old soldier. He, of all men knew it would come sooner or later, and though it came perhaps sooner than he expected it did not find him unprepared.


The Press Bureau on Wednesday morning issued a lengthy account of the funeral service of Lord Roberts at the General Headquarters in France:- It was an impressive scene as the remains of the ex- chief of the British army were conveyed with Military Honours from the house where he died, through the town in which are at present stationed General Headquarters, to the Town Hall, where the funeral service was performed. The route was lined with British and French troops.


To the wail of "Flowers of the Forest" from pipers the long cortege moved up the street in the following order:- British Cavalry, French Cavalry, Territorials, Indian Detachments, Regimental Officers, the Maire and other French Officials, Indian Officers, Officer of the French mission with the British Army Officers of the General Headquarters staff, and the French General Officer's Personal staff, and the Commander-in-Chief. The gun carriage, escorted by eight General Officers acting as Pall Bearers: representatives of Earl Roberts family; The Prince of Wales, representing the King; Sir John French, representing the King of the Belgians; Prince Arthur of Connaught; Colonel V. Huquet, representing the French President; French Cavalry, and Royal Horse Artillery.


The service was held in the Vestibule of the Maine, which had been converted into a temporary chapel, furnished with an altar and beautifully decorated with flowers. The whole of the Officers attending were accommodated within, and the Prince of Wales and Prince Arthur stood at one end of the Bier. The service was conducted by Rev. F.J. Anderson of "Now the Labourer's task is over" and "O God, our help in ages past".



At the conclusion of the service the "Last Post", blow by British Buglers, rang out across the square, and brought to those present the realisation that they had followed their old chief for the last time.


The interment took place at St. Paul's, London on Thursday, the King being present.


For an in depth account of his funeral: http://www.garenewing.co.uk/angloafghanwar/articles/roberts_funeral.php

Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops

Field Marshal Lord Roberts, who had won the Victoria Cross in 1857, had long campaigned for more to be done for ex-servicemen, especially those who had been disabled. He took a keen interest in the Workshops and became one of the Trustees. Following his death in 1914 while visiting troops in France it was decided, as a memorial to him, to expand the workshops and to name them after him.
By 1920 there were eleven Workshops around the country producing a wide variety of goods including basket ware, toys, beds and bedding and all types of furniture.

As a fund raising scheme Miniature Tanks were produced to collect money, Mrs. Erskine a successful Eastbourne fund raiser started the scheme rolling in Eastbourne.

This editorial appeared on 11th September 1918 in the Eastbourne Gazette

Miniature Tank Week

"In another column will be noticed an appeal by Mrs. Erskine for support in connection with a special “Week.” She is arranging to commence on September 30. The object is a most worthy one, viz, to assist the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops Fund, which provides practical training for men who have been disabled in the service of their country. It will be remembered that last summer the tireless Mrs. Erskine organised a fete which proved extraordinarily successful. Such a project cannot be repeated this year, and Mrs. Erskine, stimulated by the result of Eastbourne Tank Week, has decided to make weeks collection with the aid of miniature tanks. There is a scheme in progress for the establishment of a workshop at Brighton for the training of disabled and limbless men belonging to our own county regiment and the regiments to two neighbouring counties, and it is to this object that the collections will be devoted. The least Sussex people can do is to provide for their own countrymen who have paid all but the full price for England and Eastbourne must cheerfully bear a share of the burden. We must see that those who have suffered the supreme agony of war-disablement are made care-free and a happy as possible. A means to this end the Lord Roberts Memorial Worksops Fund, which will give the broken soldier the opportunity to learn and work at a trade suitable to his disability, and thus, with the aid of his pension, make him self-supporting and free from the stigma of charity. Such a scheme cannot but be very near the hearts of Eastbourne people and Mrs. Erskine must inevitably achieve success in her Miniature Tank Week."

A week later Mrs Erskine wrote to the Gazette (18th September 1918) and they published her letter.

The Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops.

Sir, - The Tanks have come. I hope Eastbourne will remember that, though I have not got a flag day in aid of the above, I am waiting for people to take a “tank money box” and collect during the week, September 30 to October 5. Messers. Chadwick Ltd. Have generously lent me 38 Grove road as my office. Two disabled men will be there from the Brighton workshops for that week to answer all questions. The reason why it is so costly to equip the workshops with the machinery is that it has to be specially designed to fit the requirements of one-armed and one-legged men. Patronise the entertainments got up during the week. Show the disabled men your enthusiasm and zeal. They are looking for it.

The Sussex, Kent and Hants men are to be provided for at this big workshop in Brighton. Look at the plan of it, which will be on view in my “Shop.” The sooner the money comes in the quicker it can be built. Your money is a thank offering to these men: make it worthy. I wish I could stir you all to give generously. Their generous giving meant life itself and failing life, a broken body; for you and me. The only ask now to be enabled to earn a living for themselves and those they love. I pray you give it. Let us also say, as they did: “We are at your disposal to death.”

Yours truly, M. Erskine.
Local Hon. Secretary, Treasurer and Organising Secretary.