Private Albert Edward REDFORD

(40757), North Staffs 8th, (C Coy)

Died 4th Nov. 1918, aged 26

Albert Edward was born in Birmingham in 1892; he was the eldest surviving of 9 children of William and Anne Redford. His father worked as a builder's labourer. In 1911 he is living with his parents and 6 siblings in Nottingham and like his father he was working as a builder's labourer.

He volunteered for service and attested on 16th July 1915 at Nottingham. He was posted to 17th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters the same day with No. 28094. Following training he was drafted to France, arriving on 6th March 1916. On 6th August 1916 he was admitted to 133rd Field Ambulance with a gunshot wound to his left elbow. He was sent on to 33rd Casualty Clearing Station and then to 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital at Boulogne. On 8th August 1916 he was sent back to England on the hospital ship "Cambria." On recovery he was transferred to the 8th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment and returned to France. On 1st January 1918 he was taken to hospital at Le Report with a gunshot wound to the thigh and one to the left forearm. He was again sent back to England and on to the Lord Derby War Hospital at Warrington, where he was admitted on 17th January 1918 and remained until 5th June 1918. He was returned to France, embarking at Folkestone on 3rd September 1918 and arriving at Calais the same day.

He was killed in action only 1 week before the armistice and was laid to rest along with 23 other soldiers, (including my grand-uncle), in a peaceful little churchyard in the small French town of Wargnies Le Grand.

There will be a small ceremony there at 11am on 4th November 2018, each soldier will be remembered with a poppy cross.

I believe the information I have given is correct, but if you find any errors, I am sorry, please correct them.

Jenny Cowling