Frances Roberts
Memorial Cross Mother
This Memorial Cross medal, often called a Silver Cross, was awarded to Frances Roberts, mother of James Gershom Roberts, who was killed during the Battle of Amiens on August 10, 1918. He was 27 years old.
James was a dentist in Brampton, and in 1916 he was appointed a Captain in the Canadian Army Dental Corps. In April 1918 James transferred to the infantry as Lieutenant. Less than four months later he died from battle wounds.
The Memorial Cross was created in 1919 and awarded to mothers and widows of Canadian Soldiers who died in active service during World War I. The tradition is continued by The Royal Canadian Legion who invite a Silver Cross Mother to lay a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Remembrance Day every year, on behalf of all mothers.
Expanded regulations now allow Canadian Forces members to designate up to three family members or loved ones as Memorial Cross recipients.