Last week, the Beacon mentioned 91-year-old veteran Ron Roberts from Monmouth, who attended the British Legion's Lights Out service on 4th August. Ron attended the service wearing his own medals from a career in the Airforce, as well as those of his half brother William Roberts, who was one of the first Monmothians to be killed in the First World War, aged 18. Mr Roberts has since been in touch with further information about the tragic death, which was recorded in a 1936 book by Captain LR Lumley MP, entitled 'History of the Eleventh Hussars (The Prince Albert's Own) 1908-1934'. The book describes how, in the early hours of 24th August 1914, orders came in for a patrol to investigate who held a bridge over the Mons–Condé Canal in Belgium. Their tactics were desperate and resulted in the death of Mr William Roberts. The book states: "The mission was urgent and the Brigadier wanted the information by 3am. "The night was pitch dark and Captain Arkwright decided that the quickest and surest means of gaining the information was to ride straight up to the bridge and draw the fire of the enemy, if it were held by them, and then trust to the darkness to help the patrol escape. "All was quiet, only the patrol leader knowing the danger that might lie ahead. The leading man halted at the bridge and Captain Arkwright was just riding up to him, and was near enough to observe that the bridge was blown up, when a terrific fire broke out on all sides. "The patrol turned and galloped back. The man riding second, Private WC Roberts, was shot dead." William Roberts' death was the first suffered by the Regiment. He has no known grave. William Roberts' 'A Company' in their Eleventh Hussars uniform. It is unknown which face is that of Mr Roberts.