The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Roberts, Col. Charles Fyshe
Roberts, Col. Charles Fyshe, C.M.G., Under-Secretary Defence, New South Wales, son of the late Capt. Charles Roberts, of the 59th Regiment, was born in 1837, and educated at Carshalton Military School and the Royal Academy, Woolwich. He entered the Royal Artillery in 1855, became captain in 1862 and major in 1863. He served in the Crimean campaign in 1855-6, during which he was twice wounded, and received a medal with clasp, the Turkish medal, and the Sardinian order of Military Valour, and and was personally commended for his conduct on June 18th, 1855, by Lord Raglan. 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. He was aide-de-camp to Sir John Young when Governor of New South Wales from 1866 to 1867. Colonel Roberts retired from the Royal Artillery in 1871, and was secretary to the Agent-General for New South Wales from 1872 to 1874. He was appointed Colonel in command of the New South Wales artillery in 1876, and second in command of the forces, being created C.M.G. in June 1885. Colonel Roberts married in 1866 Alice, daughter of the late William Bradley, of Goulburn, N.S.W. In 1890 he 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, Col. Roberts was appointed the first Under-Secretary.