F. Russell Roberts
F. Russell Roberts | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frederick Villeneuve Russell Roberts 1 January 1873 |
| Died | 1956 |
| Occupation | Wildlife photographer |
| Spouse |
Ellen Webber (m. 1909) |
Captain Frederick Villeneuve Russell Roberts (1 January 1873 – 1956) was an English soldier, big game hunter and wildlife photographer who served as secretary of the animal welfare organization Our Dumb Friends' League.
Life
Roberts was born on 1 January 1873 and attended Rugby School.[1][2] He was the second son of Edward Russell Roberts.[2] He served as Captain of 10th Royal Fusiliers during World War I.[3][4] Roberts married Ellen Webber in 1909. Their son was born in 1913.[5]
In January 1916 he received severe wounds in the German trenches to his legs and lungs. He is described as having crawled in pain a mile and half to an Ambulance Field Hospital.[6] In February 1916, Roberts sustained wounds from an exploding bomb. He was saved by Private Mauffinades who carried him back to the British trenches.[7][8] His injuries were so severe that he lost a leg.[9] In 1917, Roberts was Adjutant of the St. Dunstan's Hostel for Soldiers and Sailors Blinded in the War.[10]
Roberts was appointed secretary of Our Dumb Friends' League on the on 4 January 1922 for a probation period on a salary of £500 a year.[11] His position was made permanent in April 1923 and his annual salary was raised to £600.[11] Roberts resided in Rickmansworth.[6]
He was an ardent fisherman and trained his dog to retrieve fish that he had caught.[12]
Big game photography
Roberts was a big game hunter and photographer who wrote articles for Country Life and Wild Life.[13][14] He attended a big-game shooting expedition at the French Senegambia in January 1910.[15] He was described as one of the pioneers of big game photography.[9]
Selected publications
- "Sport on the Senegambian Rivers". Country Life. 33 (841): 229–231. 1913.
- "The Black Rhinoceros" (PDF). Wild Life. 5 (3): 59–65. 1914.
References
- ^ Beachcroft, S. P. (1962). Clifton College Register, 1862 to 1962. J. W. Arrowsmith. p. 28.
- ^ a b Michell, A. T. (1901). Rugby School Register. A. J. Lawrence. p. 150.
- ^ "Muffins Saves His Captain's Life". The Daily Mirror. February 29, 1916. p. 12. (subscription required)
- ^ "Captain Frederick Russell-Roberts The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)". The National Archives. 2025. Archived from the original on February 26, 2025.
- ^ "Births, Marriages and Deaths". The Middlesex & Buckinghamshire Advertiser. July 26, 1913. p. 4. (subscription required)
- ^ a b "Rickmansworth: Captain F. Russell Roberts Wounded". The Hertfordshire Mercury. January 29, 1916. p. 8. (subscription required)
- ^ "Story of British Bravory". East Anglian Daily Times. February 28, 1916. p. 8. (subscription required)
- ^ "The Night Bombers: Thrilling Story of British Bravery". Birmingham Gazette. February 28, 1916. p. 6. (subscription required)
- ^ a b "Mr. F. Russell Roberts, M.C." The Tatler. March 25, 1925. p. 12. (subscription required)
- ^ "Captain and Mrs. Russell Roberts". The Tatler. August 8, 1917. p. 42. (subscription required)
- ^ a b "Dumb Friends League". The Daily News. February 5, 1925. p. 9. (subscription required)
- ^ "Fish Retriever". LIFE. 1949-11-21.
- ^ "African Big Game". The London Illustrated News. August 1, 1914. p. 29. (subscription required)
- ^ "Nature's Camoflauge". Country Life. November 2, 1918. p. 377. (subscription required)
- ^ "F. Russell Roberts". Country Life. January 29, 1910. p. 10. (subscription required)