Blackmore. Remembrance 100. Twenty-one days. Twenty-one names. (15) James Roast

James Roast

War Memorial: Place and inscription Blackmore War Memorial: Pte. J. Roast Essex; Church Window: James Roast War Memorial Tablet inside All Saints Church, Doddinghurst Ongar & District War Memorial Hospital Roll of Honour (Blackmore & Doddinghurst) [ERO A10815]

Rank: Private

Regiment: Essex Regiment 13th Battalion. Service No: 23706 [CWGC]

Service Details: Born: Norton Mandeville, Lived: Kelvedon Common, Enlisted: Epping [Essex Regiment Museum] Medal card: Victory/British K/2/102 B9 p. 450 [Ancestry.com]

Personal and family information: Son of James and Sarah Ann Roast, of Blackmore House Cottages, Hook End.  [CWGC] Son of James & Sarah Ann Roast, Blackmore House Cottages, Kelvedon Common, Brentwood, Essex  [source: Essex Regiment Museum database] Birth registered Q4 1891 Ongar. [Ancestry.com] James Roast was baptised on 20th December 1891 at All Saints Church, Norton Mandeville. His parents were James, a groom, and Sarah Ann.  The family lived at Norton Mandeville [ERO 267/1/7]. 1881 Census. No Roast in Blackmore.  1891 Census. James and Sarah Ann living at Norton Mandeville 1901 Census. Blackmore House, Coachman House James Roast.  Head.  Married.  [Age] 42.  Gardener Domestic.  [Born] Writtle Sarah Ann Roast.  Wife.  Married.  [Age] 40.  [Born] Norton Mandeville Sidney R Roast.  Son.  [Age] 17.  Gardener Domestic.  [Born] Norton Mandeville Edith Roast.  Dau.  [Age] 12.  [Born] Norton Mandeville James Roast.  Son.  [Age] 9.  [Born] Norton Mandeville Thomas Roast.  Son.  [Age] 6.  [Born] Norton Mandeville Lily Roast.  Dau.  [Age] 4.  [Born] Norton Mandeville Arthur Roast.  Son.  [Age] 1.  [Born] Blackmore Kelly’s Directory 1908 lists a J Roast (father) as gardener to Captain Pigott. 1911 Census. Forest Hall, Ongar, Essex. James Roast (age 19) is a Groom domestic at the home of Stephen H King.

Date of Death: 28th April 1917

Age: 26

Where died: Wounded 7/1916. Killed in action. France. Buried: Not known [Essex Regiment Museum database]

Place of Burial or Commemoration: Arras Memorial, France. Bay 7  [CWGC]

List of Sources: Ancestry.com, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Essex Record Office, Essex Regiment Museum, Ron West: who has researched those commemorated on the Doddinghurst War Memorial.