Albert was born on 25th October 1899, in Sway, Hampshire to parents James and Alma - the 9th of 11 children. The family lived at Pleasant Cottage, Manchester Road, Sway during the 1901 and 1911 censuses (see photo).
Previously working as a gardener, he began his Navy training at HMS IMPREGNABLE as a Boy 2nd Class from 24th July 1916 to 27th October 1916, noted as being 5’4” tall with brown hair and grey eyes. He transferred to HMS GANGES or further training from 28th October 1916 and was posted to his first and only ship, HMS VANGUARD on 6th May 1917. Albert was probably unaware that his older brother James had been killed on the 3rd May 1917 serving with the AIF and killed at the Second Battle of Bullecourt.
Albert died aged just 17.
Both siblings are remembered on the Sway village War Memorial
(#5 - 164/843)
Sources;
1901 & 1911 England Census - Ancestry.com
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 758
CWGC Register
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: 007 (1914 - 1919)
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 ADM 242/7; Scan Number: 0754
Albert’s Image courtesy of The Orcadian Booklet
Images - Wendy Sadler