Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

Charles Fyshe Roberts, (20 August 1837 – 9 September 1914) was Under-Secretary of Defence in colonial

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Early life

Roberts was the son of Captain Charles Roberts, of the 59th Regiment, was born in

Ickwell Ickwell is a small, rural village in the Central Bedfordshire district of the county of Bedfordshire, England about south-east of the county town of Bedford. The 2011 census shows its population as 298. Ickwell is part of the civil parish of No ...

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated Beds) is a ceremonial county in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council wa ...

, England, and educated

Bedford School :''Bedford School is not to be confused with Bedford Girls' School, Bedford High School, Bedford Modern School, Old Bedford School in Bedford, Texas or Bedford Academy in Bedford, Nova Scotia.'' Bedford School is a public school (English indep ...

, between 1845 and 1854, at Carshalton Military School, and at the

Royal Military Academy, Woolwich The Royal Military Academy (RMA) at Woolwich, in south-east London, was a British Army military academy for the training of commissioned officers of the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. It later also trained officers of the Royal Corps of Sig ...

. He entered the

Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

in 1855, became captain in 1862 and major in 1863. He served in the

Crimean War The Crimean War, , was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Piedmont-Sardinia. Geopolitical causes of the war included the de ...

in 1855–56, during which he was twice wounded, and received a medal with clasp, the Turkish medal, and the Sardinian

Medal of Military Valor The Medal of Military Valor (Italian language: ''Medaglia al valor militare'') is an Italian medal, originally established as a Sardinian award. It is awarded to military personnel, units above the level of company, and civilians for excepti ...

, and was personally commended for his conduct on 18 June 1855 by

Lord Raglan Baron Raglan, of Raglan in the County of Monmouth, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 20 October 1852 for the military commander Lord FitzRoy Somerset, chiefly remembered as commander of the British troops ...

. He was in command of the artillery with the field force in Sikkim, in 1861, for which he was thanked in general orders, and by the Governor-General of India in Council, and was made captain and subsequently brevet-major.

Career in Australia

Roberts was aide-de-camp to Sir John Young, when Young was Governor of New South Wales, from 1866 to 1867. Colonel Roberts retired from the

in 1871, and was secretary to the Agent-General for New South Wales in London from 1872 to 1874, after which he returned to New South Wales. In 1866 Roberts had married Alice, daughter of the late William Bradley, of

Goulburn, New South Wales Goulburn ( ) is a regional city in the Southern Tablelands of the Australian state of New South Wales, approximately south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Canberra. It was proclaimed as Australia's first inland city through letters patent ...

and on the family's return to Sydney, he bought ''South Hill'', a property near

Goulburn Goulburn ( ) is a regional city in the Southern Tablelands of the Australian state of New South Wales, approximately south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Canberra. It was proclaimed as Australia's first inland city through letters pate ...

. In January 1876, a daughter, Beatrice was born there. The property was sold in November 1876. In the same year Roberts was appointed colonel in command of the New South Wales artillery, and second in command of the forces. When Colonel

John Soame Richardson Major General John Soame Richardson, (16 March 1836 – 9 June 1896) was a British Army officer and Commander of the Forces in colonial New South Wales. Richardson was born in Heydon, Norfolk, England, and entered the British Army in 1854. The ...

led the Sudan Contingent in March 1885, Roberts assumed command of all New South Wales military forces. In June 1885 he was created

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, George III, King George III. ...

. From 1887 to 1888 Roberts argued with Richardson over his treatment, when command of the artillery was changed to come under the general staff. In 1890 Roberts visited England, and was commissioned by the New South Wales Government to inquire into all military matters likely to be suggestive of improvements in the colonial forces. In 1892, when it was decided to establish a separate department of defence under the Colonial Secretary, Colonel Roberts was appointed the first Under-Secretary.

Death

Roberts died in

Double Bay Double Bay is a harbourside eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia 4 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district. It is the administrative centre of the local government area of the Municipality of ...

, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 9 September 1914. Roberts was an honorary aide-de-camp to the King, his military funeral was held on 11 September 1914 and he was buried in

South Head Cemetery The South Head General Cemetery is a heritage-listed cemetery located at 793 Old South Head Road, Vaucluse, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1845 to 1950. It is also known as Old South Head Cemetery and the South Head Cemetery. The ...

. He was survived by his wife, a son and four daughters.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Charles Fyshe 1837 births 1914 deaths Military personnel from Bedfordshire Royal Artillery officers British military personnel of the Crimean War People educated at Bedford School Graduates of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich People from Central Bedfordshire District English emigrants to colonial Australia Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George