| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Albert Etherton was born in Rye, Sussex on 23 Jun 1890. He was baptised at a local church on 12 Jul 1890. He was one of five children born to James Etherton and his wife Emily both from the Rye area
On 27 Jul 1909 Albert joined the regular army as a private of the 1st Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment and in so doing established a link with the town. He was recorded in the 1911 census at the Salamanca Barracks, Aldershot but would also have served time at Beverley’s Victoria Barracks.
Albert arrived in France with the 1st on 27 Jan 1915 and would have been involved in actions at Hooge in Belgium in that year. The 1st were then assigned to the Somme and were in action on the first day of the battle on 1 Jul 1916. The objective that day was Crucifix Trench in front of Round Wood, the 1st on the left hand side of the assault which began at 03.30 am, the attack being lead by the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI). The British attackers were subjected to heavy German rifle and machine gun fire and took heavy casualties though for a while some objectives were secured before an eventual withdrawal was ordered on 3 July. Total losses for the 1st Battalion, according to the War Diary, were 35 killed, 239 wounded and 167 missing. Albert was one of those seriously wounded and consequently lost his left arm. He was invalided back to the UK and on 12 Dec 1916 was discharged from the army. He was awarded the Silver Badge given to those soldiers unable to continue to serve. He was also awarded the War and Victory Medals as well as the 1914-15 Star.
Whilst on leave on 27 Nov 1915 Albert married at St Mary’s Church in Beverley. His new wife was Norah Bowser of 33 Mill Lane, born 1891 she was the daughter of a butler. They had one child, Barbara born 1919. Albert went to work for Beverley Corporation and in the 1939 Register was recorded as a local authority foreman in the Cleansing Department. The family home was 7 Fisher Square in Beverley. Albert died in Hull in 1972 aged 82, Norah died in 1981.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |