Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Albert Squires, a bricklayer, born in the April quarter of 1857 in Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire (son of Charles Squires, 1829 and Sarah Lines (Lynes), 1832) and his wife Matilda Squires (nee Smith, married on the 27th January 1885 in Holy Trinity Church, Leicester), born in the July quarter of 1863 in Groby, Leicestershire and baptised on the 31st July 1864 in All Saint’s Church, Newtown Linford, Leicestershire (daughter of George Smith and Sarah Kinton). Albert Charles was born in the October quarter of 1893 in South Wigston, Leicestershire and baptised on the 24th December 1893 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave, Leicester, his siblings were, George Albert, a shoe trade clicker, born on the 12th November 1885 and baptised on the 17th January 1886 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave, Daisy Sarah, a boot trade fitter, born in the April quarter of 1887 and baptised on the 10th April 1887 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave, Myrtle Annie, born in the January quarter of 1889 and baptised on the 12th May 1889 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Parva and South Wigston, Leicestershire and Matilda Ethel, born in the July quarter of 1891, all his siblings were born in South Wigston, in March 1901 the family home was at 66, Clifford Street, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Albert was employed as a boot trade finisher and was residing in the family home at 66, Clifford Street, Wigston Magna, together with his father, a bricklayer, his mother and siblings, Myrtle, a shoe trade machinist, Ethel, a shoe trade machinist and Arthur, a schoolboy, born in the January quarter of 1902 in South Wigston.
Albert’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Territorial Force, date not known.
Joined. At Leicester, date not known.
Posted. To 4th Bn. Leicestershire regt. Pte., date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 2186.
Posted. To 1/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France on the 2/3/15.
Killed in action on the 13/10/15.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Albert nominated his father, Albert as his sole legatee.
On the 31st July 1916 Charles’s mother Matilda was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of five shillings, to commence on the 8th August 1916.
The War Diary records: 12 Oct-15 - At 9.00 am Battalion marched to SAILLY LABOURSE. Dinners and teas were cooked here. Rations for 134 men issued. At 5.15 pm Battalion marched to VERMELLES where stores were taken up. At 11.00 pm Battalion arrived in trenches.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00 pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50 pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00 pm artillery lifted and Battalion assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lieutenant Colonel R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brigadier General KEMP. All officers of the Battalion either killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - In the evening the Battalion was relieved by part of the 139th Brigade and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned.
The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Brigade 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Brigade 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.
On Thursday, November 25th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Private A. E. SQUIRE, 1/4th Leicester’s, who has been reported missing since Oct 13, was formerly captain of South Wigston A Rugby Football Club. His parents reside at 66, Clifford-street, South Wigston.
On Thursday, November 25th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. - LEICESTERS: DEAD OR MISSING. - (A photograph accompanied the article). – Pte. A. C. SQUIRE, 4th Leicester’s, missing since October 13. Formerly captain of South Wigston (R) F.C. “A” team, his home was at 66, Clifford-street, South Wigston.