Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Coley a shoe trade riveter, born 1866 in Earl Shilton, Leics., and his wife Sarah, born 1869 in Barwell, Leics. Albert was born in 1897 in Barwell, Leics., his siblings were, Florence Eliza, born 1888, Leonard William, born 1890, Emily, born 1892, Lizzie, born 1894, Ivy, born 1899 and Edie, born 1901, all his siblings were born in Barwell, Leics., also residing with the family was his widowed maternal grandfather, William Dale, a farm labourer, born 1831 in Barwell, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Queen Street, Barwell, Leics. In April 1911 Albert was employed as a shoe trade clicker and was residing in the family home at 6, Queen Street, Barwell, Leics., together with his father, now a boot maker, his mother and siblings, Florence, Leonard, Emily, Lizzie, Ivy, Edie and Bert, born 1907 in Barwell, Leics. The War Diary for today records. ELM TREE CORNER. 2.00am. Battalion HQ established forward for the attack at ELM TREE CORNER D.20A.05.60. 3.50am. Bombardment started. 5.50am. ZERO hour, the Battalion went over to capture all enemy positions on HILL 37 sheet 28.NE1, D.20A.45.80, A and B Companies in front line each two platoons in front line, 1 platoon in support, D Company in support. 2nd Lt. BOWIE killed, Captain O. H. FIELDEN wounded, 2nd Lt. F. D. FARLEY wounded. Platoons kept within 100 yards of barrage and in some cases closer, general tendency was to get too close to barrage. Hostile strong point caused little difficulty as leading waves were close under barrage. 6.50am. All objectives taken. Lt. Col. G. B. G. WOOD wounded, 2nd Lt. L. ROWBATHAN wounded. Bombardment of both sides continued during whole day. Battalion HQ established in Pill Box on HILL 37, D.20A.65.85. 4.00pm. Enemy counter attack beaten back, Captain W. H. OLIVER, Lt. C. H. L. WYNNE wounded. Lt. Col. G. GERMAN took command of the Battalion. Battalion HQ moved to Pill Box D.20A.7.8. Artillery very active on both sides during night of September 26th/27th.