Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Tom Betts a shoe trade rivetter, born 25th January 1859 in Sileby, Leicestershire and his wife Betsy Betts (nee Widdowson, married in the Parish Church, Sileby, Leicestershire on the 27th December 1888), born 1860 in Sileby. Albert was born 18th February 1891 in Sileby, and was baptised on the 26th April 1891 in Sileby, his siblings were William, born 1890, Kathleen, born 1896 and Aubrey, born 1899, all his siblings were born in Sileby, in March 1901 the family home was at Cemetery Road, Sileby.
Albert attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours.) on the 18th August 1914 in Loughborough. He gave his place of birth as Sileby, Loughborough, Leicestershire, his age as 23 years and 5 months and his trade or calling as shoe finisher. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Thos. Betts, his mother Betsy Betts, his brother William Betts and his sister Kathleen Betts all of 36, Cemetery Road, Sileby, Loughborough as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 9 inches in height, weighed 150 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was dark brown and he had brown, normal eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 17th August 1914 in Loughborough. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 10219 on the 20/8/14. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Aldershot on the 24/8/14. Incurred a Regimental entry for misconduct. Forfeits 3 days pay by K.R. for “Absence.” on the 23/7/15. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Admitted to the 48th Field Ambulance, suffering from trench feet, in the field on the 4/12/15. Transferred to the 37th D.R.S. in the field on the 9/12/15. Discharged from the 37th D.R.S. to his unit, in the field on the 16/12/15. Wounded in action, in the field between the 14 to 17/7/16. Killed in action, in the field, place not stated on the 14/7/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 18/8/14 – 28/7/15, 345 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 14/7/16, 352 days. Total service 1 year and 332 days. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Albert’s mother Betsy Betts on the 2nd May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Frederick Leigh Burrow, Vicar of Sileby, Sileby Vicarage, Loughborough on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Tom Betts of 36, Cemetery Road, Sileby. Mother of soldier, Betsy Betts of 36, Cemetery Road, Sileby. Full blood brothers of soldier, Aubrey Betts, age 21 of 36, Cemetery Road, Sileby. Claude H. Betts, age 17 of 36, Cemetery Road, Sileby. Full blood sisters of soldier, Kathleen Staniforth, age 23 of 4, King Street, Sileby.
The War Diary records: 14-17 July-16 - FRICOURT. The 110th Brigade attacked and captured BAZENTIN – LE – PETIT WOOD and village and held same. Appendix I. The action attached.
Narrative of action of the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment from 3.00am 14/7/16 to 8.00am 17/7/16.
The Battalion moved from FRICOURT WOOD via the southern and eastern edge of MAMETZ WOOD and reached the north east corner of this wood just before 3.00am. The Battalion was formed in four lines by 3.15am under a fairly heavy bombardment and lined up with the 7th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on its left about 100 yards in front of MAMETZ WOOD. At 3.25am 1st and 2nd lines advanced on German first line, and five minutes later the third and fourth lines advanced, and, crossing first line, assaulted and took the German second line. The first German line was very much knocked about and some 25 or 30 prisoners were taken in it. The right Company blocked German first line trench on right of the attack, and also the same in the German second line. While crossing “No man’s” land the barrage was not very severe but the two right Companies suffered a good many casualties from enemy machine guns in BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD, which had not then been cleared by 7th Division on our right. There were also two enemy machine guns in the south east corner of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. These were charged by the third and fourth lines and the detachments killed, and the guns taken. There were not a large number of Germans in second line when it was entered. The trenches had been so knocked about that it was difficult to consolidate them. At 4.00am first and second lines, leaving small parties to deal with any dugouts, advanced to German second line, which was also being consolidated by the third and fourth lines. At 4.20am three platoons remained in German second line, and the rest of the Battalion advanced to the “one hour” line, which was reached after suffering a good many casualties from enfilade fire from the direction of BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD. Soon after this the enemy, retiring in front of the 7th Division from BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD on our right, were enfiladed from the eastern edge of the wood by our Lewis guns, and suffered heavy losses. For some time the right Company had to form a defensive flank as many of the enemy were trying to get from BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. At 5.20am the Battalion advanced to the “two hour” line and remained there till 6.00am, waiting for the 7th Division to come up on our right. At 6.00am the Battalion was reinforced by several platoons of the 9th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT At 6.05am the line advanced against the village, and, the left of the 7th Division not being up, the whole village was assaulted and taken, and 3 officers and 200 prisoners. At 6.40am the ROYAL IRISH RIFLES entered the village and the eastern portion was handed over to them. At 7.15am the Battalion occupied and began consolidating the line from the northern end of the village, thence southwards to the north eastern point of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD, thence along northern edge of wood halfway to the railway. An attempt to get the real objective was heavily enfiladed from a point just outside the wood near the railway. About 50 prisoners were taken in a trench along northern edge of wood. At 8.30am the enemy made a counter attack against the northern portion of village. The 7th Division who were not very strong here fell back on cemetery. The Battalion conformed and held northern edge of wood and the prolongation of same through the village. At 9.15am the 7th Division were reinforced and retook eastern portion of village, and the Battalion resumed its previous line, joining up with the 7th Division north of the village. At 3.00pm the enemy made another counter attack against northern and north eastern edge of village. Many of them reached the road running from north end of village to railway and were at once stopped by our rifle and Lewis gun fire. The Battalion held and consolidated this position on the night of the 14th and also on the 15th there was no change. At 2.00am on the 16th a party of one officer and 50 men were sent out to try to consolidate the original objective along the road. They were preceded by a party of one officer and 40 men of the YORKSHIRE REGIMENT The latter party got to the road and held it for some time while our party was trying to consolidate, but were heavily bombed and enfiladed from enemy post just outside wood near railway, and was forced to retire. On the night of the 16th the Battalion was relieved by the 10th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY and the Battalion went into bivouac just south of FRICOURT WOOD, arriving there at 1.00am the 17th instant. The Battalion suffered the following casualties 7 officers killed and 20 wounded. 500 other ranks killed, wounded and missing.
The War Diary records: 16 July-16 - 6th Battalion right supported by 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT 7th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on left supported by 8th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.
The War Diary records: 17 July-16 - The Battalion marched from FRICOURT WOOD at 7.45pm and arrived at RIBEMONT at 12.30am 18th July 1916.
On Friday December 29th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL MEN IN THE CASUALTY LISTS.” – The following casualties amongst local men are officially reported. All are Private’s except where otherwise shown. The town shown against each soldier’s name is the home of his next-of-kin. From Sunday’s list:- KILLED. (Previously Reported Wounded). LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. Betts, 10219 A. E. (Sileby).
In January 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL ROLL OF HONOUR” – (A photograph accompanied the article). Private A. Betts, Leicester Regt. killed in action, aged 25. Parents reside 36 Cemetery Road, Sileby.