Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Elliott, a gardener, born on the 30th May 1859 in Dingley, Northamptonshire and baptised on the 3rd July 1859 in All Saint’s Church, Dingley (son of William Elliott, 1834-1907 and Ann Glover, 1834-1920) and his wife Emma Elliott (nee Moss, married on the 21st June 1888 in the Church of St. Giles, Desborough, Northamptonshire), born on the 25th June 1865 in Brampton Ash, Northamptonshire and baptised on the 23rd July 1865 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Brampton Ash (daughter of Frederick Moss, 1824-1892 and Sarah Cockerill, 1829-1909). Albert Frederick was born in the October quarter of 1894 in Great Bowden, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 23rd December 1894 in the Church of St. Peter & Paul, Great Bowden, his siblings were, William, born on the 22nd July 1889 in Great Bowden and baptised on the 8th September 1889 in the Church of St. Peter & St. Paul, Great Bowden, Ellen, born on the 18th January 1891 in Great Oxendon, Northamptonshire and baptised as Helen on the 24th February 1891 in St. Helen’s Church, Great Oxendon and Constance Mary, born on the 9th July 1893 in East Farndon, Northamptonshire and baptised on the 11th September 1893 in the Church of St. John the Baptist, East Farndon, in March 1901 the family home was at 8, Leicester Lane, Great Bowden.
In April 1911 Albert was employed as a corset factory errand boy and was residing in the family home at 25, East Street, Great Bowden, together with his father, a jobbing gardener, his mother and siblings, William, a jobbing gardener, Ellen, a corset factory machinist, Constance, a corset factory trimmer and Sydney George, born in the July quarter of 1905 in Great Bowden.
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 Market Harborough into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At place and date not known.
Posted. To Worcestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 25396.
Posted. To 4th Bn. Worcestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in Egypt 6/12/15.
Landed. At Gallipoli. 25/4/15.
Landed. In Egypt. 14/1/16.
Sailed. From Alexandria. 15/3/16.
Landed. At Marseilles. 20/3/16.
Killed in action. 4/6/16.
Buried in Auchonvillers Military cemetery, Somme, France. Headstone inscription. “Peace perfect peace with our loved one far away.”
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Albert nominated his mother, Emma as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 3 Jun-16 – FIRING LINE. WHITE CITY – Erection of overhead cover carried on in all trenches. A raid was carried out by the 86th Brigade on that part of the German trenches called THE HAWTHORNE REDOUBT. Artillery bombarded the enemy’s trenches from 12 Midnight to 12.30am, then lifted to 2nd Line. Raiding party discharged Bangalore Torpedoes thus cutting the wire. At 12.45am the party entered the German trenches and found them empty, they did not penetrate into the 2nd Line. A few boards were brough back which gave the information that the 119th Reserve Regiment were holding the trenches in front of us. At 12.15am the German artillery replied to our bombardment, and very heavily shelled the WHITE CITY. Two huts were hit. Casualties 11 killed, 2nd Lieutenant NEW and 27 Other Ranks wounded. Raiding party returned at 1.00am. Artillery ceased firing 1.30am. Quite an exciting night.
The War Diary records: 4 Jun-16 – FIRING LINE. WHITE CITY – At 6.00am the eleven bodies were got out from the debris, and taken down for burial to AUCHONVILLERS cemetery. 1 Officer and 9 men returned from leave.
On Friday 23rd, June 1916, The Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury published the following article on page 2, under the heading. – MARKET HARBOROUGH. – Priv. Albert Frederick Elliott, of the Leicester’s, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Elliott, has been killed in action. He was only 21 years of age.
On the 12th December 1916, Albert’s mother Emma, of 25, East Street, Market Harborough, was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of five shillings, commensurate on the 19th December 1916 to the 15th December 1917.
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