Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Cave, a granite quarry worker, born in the July quarter of 1856 in Stanton under Bardon, Leicestershire (son of Thomas Cave, 1808 and Ann Bott, 1813) and his wife Elizabeth Cave (nee Clapham, married on the 1st November 1886 in the Church of St. Michael & All Angels, Markfield, Leicestershire), born in the January quarter of 1854 in Markfield and baptised on the 18th June 1854 in the Church of St. Michael & All Angels, Markfield (daughter of William Clapham, 1827-1903 and Mary Ann Pickard, 1826-1858). Albert was born in the July quarter of 1894 in Markfield and baptised on the 8th October 1894 in the Church of St. Michael & All Angels, Markfield), his siblings were, Thomas William, born in the April quarter of 1888 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire and baptised on the 11th November 1888 in the Church of St. Michael & All Angels, Markfield, Walter, born in the October quarter of 1890 and Hilda Annie, born in the July quarter of 1898 and baptised on the 13th November 1898 in the Church of St. Michael & All Angels, Markfield, the latter two siblings were both born in Markfield, in March 1901 the family home was at Main Street, Markfield.
In April 1911 Albert was employed as a quarry driller and was residing in the family home at Thornton Road, Markfield, together with his father, a granite quarry worker, his mother and siblings, Thomas, a granite quarry worker, Walter a railway guard and Hilda, a schoolgirl.
The Brigade of Guards service records all exist, but were deposited in 2018 with the Ministry of Defence in Glasgow, the exception being the Scots Guards, whose service records are now in the possession of the Trustees of the Scots Guards Charitable Trust, and are free to access. The remainder of the Foot Guards records are available at the current cost of £30.00 per inquiry (2019). Therefore, the currently available information pertaining to Albert’s 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 Coalville. Date not known.
Joined. At Guards Depot, Caterham. Date not known.
Posted. To Grenadier Guards. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 18675.
Posted. To 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 16/3/15.
Killed in action. In the Field. 26/9/16.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Albert nominated his father, Thomas as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 26 Sep-16 – Line reorganised and consolidated during night of 25/26, King’s on the right, No.4 in centre, No.2 on left, No.3 forming strong point in front of left centre N.34.a.1.7. Order of Battle, King’s, 2, 3 from right to left, No.4, Sapping Platoon and two Machine Guns in support. Huns thoroughly demoralised. Relieved by 1st Battalion SCOTS GUARDS and returned to CARNOY arriving 3.00am the 27th.
Total casualties since 15th September.
Officers, killed 4, wounded 12, missing nil, total 16.
Other ranks, King’s Company, killed 16, wounded 103, missing 15, total 134.
Other ranks, No.2 Company, killed 20, wounded 90, missing 24, total 134.
Other ranks, No.3 Company, killed 25, wounded 107, missing 13, total 145.
Other ranks, No.4 Company, killed 19, wounded 131, missing 32, total 182.
Total killed, 84, wounded 443, missing 84, total 611.
On Friday October 13th, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 6, under the heading. – MARKFIELD CASUALTIES. – Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Cave have been officially notified that their son, Pte. Albert Cave, Grenadier Guards, was killed in action on Sept. 26. He joined up soon after the outbreak of war, and just previous to his death had been complimented for good work. Previous to the war he worked at the Cliffe Hill Quarries. He was also a member of the local cricket and football teams.
On the 17th April 1917, Albert’s mother Elizabeth, of Forest Road, Markfield, was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of three shillings, commensurate on the 24th April 1917, this was further increased on the 6th November 1918 to five shillings.
[recognitum XIX-X-MMXXIII]

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday 20th October, 1916

MARKFIELD CASUALTIES

The parents of Private Albert Cave, Grenadier Guards, have been notified that he was killed in action on September 26th. Prior to the outbreak of war, he worked at the Cliff Hill Quarries. He was a prominent local footballer and cricketer.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 17/10/2017