Roby was born in Kettering on 4th September 1889. He was the son of John Alfred & Annie Gotch of Kettering, Northamptonshire. He studied law at New College Oxford University and was a member of the University Officer Training Corps as a Private from 20th October 1908. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 21st June 1910 and to Corporal on 14th October 1910 until 30th May 1911 when he left.

Roby was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion Sherwood Foresters on 30th July 1911. He joined 1/8th Battalion at Kemmel on 24th April 1915 and was promoted to Lieutenant on 16th July 1915 and Temporary Captain on 5th July 1915. Then Captain on 1st June 1916. He was killed in action on 1st July 1916 when sheltering in a shell hole at Gommecourt, whilst helping a runner to lay telephone wire near to German barbed wire.

And was awarded the British War Medal, 1914-15 Star and the Victory Medal.
Roby has no known grave. But is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Some, France and is also commemorated in High pavement Memorial Window, Nottingham.