LevelItem
Finding NoWL/12/17
TitleResearch file number 410 relating to Gunner Albert Leighton (1895-1964)
Date2015
DescriptionWork completed by volunteer includes the following information:

Albert Leighton was born the 29 Jan 1895 in Brandesburton and baptised there on 28 Jul 1895. He was the fifth child of George and Mary Agnes Leighton and grew up in Brandesburton and Beverley. His father worked as a cow keeper and farm labourer.

Albert was a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery from Oct 1914 to Aug 1916 before becoming a signaller, again for RFA, from Aug 1916 to Feb 1919. He was a hard worker and a good soldier with a fair knowledge of telephony. Albert gained the Military Medal for repairing telephone wires under heavy shell fire in France on J28 Jun 1917. He was gassed at Chateau Wood and lost his voice for a fortnight but continued to serve. He demobilised from the Army on 20 Mar 1919 and immediately joined the police.

He served until 1945, he was a member of the Manchester Unity Odd Fellows Club at the Rising Sun Lodge, Beverley. In 1931 after several attempts at promotional courses he finally gained the rank of Sergeant. Whilst in the police he was stationed at South Cave, Driffield, Beverley and Hessle.
Albert married Bertha Thurlow on 14 Jul 1921 at All Saints Parish Church, Driffield, he died in the East Riding General Hospital, aged 69, and left his wife the sum of £930 on 11 Nov 1964. He is buried in the cemetery of Driffield's Independant Church.

Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers
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