Born on the 28th July 1888 Albert was the son of William Albert Sturch and Mary Ann Sturch. The census of 1891 shows that the family lived on the corner of Stratford Road and Watery Lane with William working as a Bricklayers Labourer.  The sheet also shows that Albert was born in Normanton, a village a few miles east of Wakefield in Yorkshire, and this hints at the mobile nature of his parents. On The 13th June 1892 his mother enrolled Albert in the Shipston Infants School. The family are noted as living in Stratford Road.  Three years later, on the 29th July 1895, Albert moved up to the Boys School. Again his mother is noted as the parent.

The 1901 census shows the twelve-year-old Albert living with his Grandparents Henry and Mary Ann Sturch. Henry was a well-known fiddler who played for Morris and Folk dancers over a wide area.  The Sturch family’s association with fiddle playing for Morris and Folk dancers continued right up until at least the 1970’s.  In 1901 Albert’s parents are shown living in Black Cliff Cottage in Temple Grafton and William is listed as working as a Railway Porter, presumably on the line between Stratford-upon-Avon and Bidford-on-Avon. Back in Shipston Albert achieved School Standard I and left school on the 1st August 1902.

On the 7th March 1912 Albert was a passenger on the S.S. Corsican when it sailed from Liverpool to Halifax, Canada. He is noted as being single and his occupation is recorded as Labourer.  At the outbreak of war Albert returned to England to enlist. At that time his residence was recorded as Winoma, Canada. Records indicate that Albert had previously served with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. As there are no medal records for his O&BLI service number it is presumed that he did not go overseas with this unit.

Albert arrived in France on the 15th December 1915, and arrived with the 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment on the 19th December along with 95 other men, many of who were returning after being wounded. When Albert arrived the Battalion were in the front line at Ploegsteert Wood, south east of Ypres.  Albert’s first day in the front line coincided with the day that the Germans released phosgene gas for the first time as part of an attack.

After spending the first half of 1916 in the region of the Belgian-French border, the Wiltshires moved south to take part in the Big Push of 1916, the attack on the Somme.  The 1st Wiltshires were held in reserve and not used on the first day of the Battle. They moved into the front line, opposite the Leipzig Salient, on the 3rd July.  On the 5th July the War Diary reports:

For half min before the start time, there was an intense artillery bombardment assisted by Stokes Mortars, punctually at 7p.m. our 1st wave advanced to the attack under heavy rifle and machine gun fire. D Coy on the left under Capt R L Knubley reached their objective without heavy casualties, but D Coy on the left were badly cut up by machine gunfire and though they reached their objective were insufficient in numbers to withstand the heavy German Counter attack which followed immediately, and were compelled to withdraw temporarily. The second wave of each Coy consisting of 1 platoon had followed on the first wave at an interval of about 30-40 yards. C Coy on the right were followed by the carrying party of 1 platoon of B Coy. After the trench had been cleared of Germans, all dugouts were bombed immediately and then took in hand the consolidation of the position gained. Barricades were erected in all the communication trenches leading to the German 3rd line and bombing parties posted. In the case of 1 Communications Trench the Germans had erected a strong barricade prior to the attack. Two blocks were also built on the left of the captured trench, the second about thirty yards behind the first as a precautionary measure in case retirement became necessary. The men in this attack were magnificent, all showing the greatest coolness and initiative.  Approx Casualties Killed 20. Missing 22. Wounded 158. Missing believed killed 2.

As with many of the attacks where men are reported missing, Albert’s death is officially recorded as the following day. The Stratford Herald of the 1st September 1916 reported:

Mr Charles Sturch of Watery Lane, Shipston has just received news of the death of his nephew Pte Albert Sturch (fiddler) who was killed by a bayonet charge in the fighting on the Somme on July 6th. He joined the army on the outbreak of war. He had been in the thickest of the fighting and had been previously wounded 4 times. He was once invalided home suffering from shell shock after being buried by a shell near Ypres. On that occasion he wandered about between the opposing lines for 6 days before he ran into one of our patrols and was brought in with his reason for the time completely gone.  He had only rejoined his Regiment after being discharged from hospital 2 or 3 days before he met his death.  Pte Sturch was a native of Shipston and a grandson of the late Mr Harry Sturch, a fiddler, with a very wide reputation. He was in the regimental string band during his previous service in the army.

As with so many men on the Somme, Albert’s body was not recovered. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial and remembered on both the Town and both County School Memorials.

Mike Wells