Albert was born on 20th June 1896, in Chedington, Devon to parents Thomas and Martha, the eldest of 5 children. On the 1901 census he was recorded living with his Mother, Grandmother and younger brother at South Gate, Beaminster. 10 years later the family, now grown to another 2 boys and a girl, lived in Trent, Dorset, Albert aged 14 and working as a farm boy
He joined the Navy on 22nd September 1914 for a 12 year enlistment, recorded as 5'5" tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a scar on his left knee, leaving his previous farm labouring occupation.
Albert trained as a Stoker 2nd Class at HMS PEMBROKE II until 11th June 1915 and posted to HMS VANGUARD on 12 June 1915, rising to Stoker 1st Class on 22nd September 1915. His time aboard Vanguard saw him experience the Battle of Jutland on the 31st May to 1st June 1916 of which the whole ship came out unscathed.
He was killed aged 21.
(#62 - 477/843)
Sources:
1901 & 1911 England Census - Ancestry
CWGC Register
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 913
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: Piece 009; Piece Description: Piece 009 (1914 - 1919)
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives Admiralty and predecessors: Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Service Registers and Registers of Deaths and Injuries. Registers of Reports of Deaths
WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; Pension Record Cards; Reference: 117/0562/LEW-LEW