Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Hurst, a hosiery trade worker, born 1848 in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire and his wife Harriet Hurst (nee Hurst, married in the 3rd quarter of 1869 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), a hosiery trade binder, born1851 in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire. Albert, a schoolboy, was born in the 1st quarter of 1885 in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Emily, a hosiery trade worker, born 1872, Charles, a shoe trade finisher, born 1875, Tom, a shoe trade riveter, born 1876, Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born 1881, Agnes, born 1887 and Ethel, born 1889, all his siblings were born in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Willow Cottages, Long Street, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Albert was employed as an iron foundry moulder and was residing in the family home at 81, Moat Road, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire, together with his father, a Griswold stocking frame knitter, his mother, a Griswold stocking frame knitter and his siblings, Tom, a shoe trade finisher, Elizabeth, a Griswold stocking frame knitter, Agnes a Griswold stocking frame knitter and Ethel. In April 1911 Albert was absent from the family home at Moat Street, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a hosiery trade worker, his mother and siblings, Tom, a shoe trade finisher and Ethel, a hosiery trade machinist. Albert was employed as a boot repairer and was residing as a boarder at 174, Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, County Durham, this being the home of his brother in law George Hurst, a boot repair shop owner, born 1879 in Oadby, Leicestershire and his wife, Elizabeth Hurst, Albert’s sister and their son George, born 1906 in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire. One sister’s grandson was Alan Wollatt, the Leicester City Footballer. Little is known of Albert’s life other than he was a professional soldier in 1914, and that he was twice wounded at Ypres, Belgium.
On Saturday November 21st 1914 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTER SOLDIERS WOUNDED OR PRISONERS.” – Private A. Daft, 1st Royal Warwick Regiment, whose parents reside at 118, Woodland Road, reported missing at Lagny, afterwards rejoined at Base Depot, France, with injured knee. He saw service with the Expeditionary Force (N.W.F.), India, 1908. Private A. S. Parker, of the 1st Leicesters, whose home is at 27, New Park Street, was wounded in the knee at the battle of the Aisne. Lance Corporal A. Johnson, of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, whose home is at 13, Gravel Street, Leicester, is unofficially reported missing. The information has reached his friends from a comrade, Lance Corporal Gutteridge, of 1, New Road, Church Gate, who is at Manchester Hospital wounded. Private H. F. Thornton, Royal Scots Fusiliers, is reported to have been wounded in the knee and foot at Ypres. He is now lying at the General Hospital, Rouen, France. His home is at 85, Grasmere Street, Leicester. Private Butler, of the 3rd Coldstream Guards, has returned to his regiment after being in England a month suffering from pleurisy. He was summonsed from Barlestone Sports on August 2nd, and proceded immediately to the front. He is a native of Shepshed, and after leaving the Army spent nearly six years in the police force,being stationed consecutively at Hinckley (two years), Earl Shilton (two years), and Ibstock (nearly two years). Corporal G. Gurney, Leicestershire Regiment, a son of Mr. J. Gurney, of 9, Blue Boar Lane, has been wounded in action, and is now in hospital at Woolwich. Private T. R. Lowe, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, was wounded in the head and hand at Ypres on October 29th. He is now in the 3rd London General Hospital. In a letter dated November 15th, to his relatives Private S. Beck, of the 2nd Leicesters says:- “We arrived in France from India six weeks ago. We were in the trenches at Dixmude about 18 days before I was wounded. I have a very bad wound to the arm.” Pvt. R. H. Hunt, 15th (Queen’s) Lancers, whose mother resides at 37, Town Hall Lane, Leicester, is in the 8th General Hospital at Rouen, suffering from a wound in the chest. Pte. D. Charles, C Company, Royal Scots Fusiliers, whose home is at 91, Earl Howe Street, Leicester, was wounded at Ypres on October 21st, and is now in Dewsbury Infirmary. Sergeant A. Langdale, 2nd Leicester Regiment, whose home is 9, Willow Brook Road, Leicester, is now in the Manchester Military Hospital, suffering from a wound in the leg. Pte. J. T. Porter, of the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, whose mother lives in Keythorpe Street, Leicester, has been in hospital at Rouen since October 20th, suffering from shrapnel wounds. Mrs. Taylor, 14, Harcourt Street, Leicester, has received a letter from her son, Pvt. J. W. Taylor, D Company, 2nd Leicestershire Regiment, saying that he has been wounded, but is “doing well” in the 12th General Hospital Convalescent Camp, Rouen, France. Pvt. John Green, 1st Northamptonshire Regt., whose home address is 103, Vulcan Road, Leicester, was wounded on September 18th at the battle of the Aisne. Private Thomas Lovett Stokes (7041), D Co., 1st Leicestershire Regiment, is a prisoner of war in Germany. Private F. A. Hardy, of the 2nd Leicesters, lies wounded in the thigh at Netley. His mother resides at 159, Jarrom Street. He is progressing satisfactorily. Private Albert Hurst, of the Northumberland Fusiliers, whose home is at Wigston, was wounded in the neck and back, at the battle of Ypres, and is now in hospital at Ampton Hall, Bury St. Edmunds.
The War Diary records: 23 Apr-17 – TRENCHES. Battalion successfully co-operated with 29th Division on right in capturing enemy trench N.E. of our position. Casualties 2 Officers killed, 1 Officer wounded, 30 O.R. killed, 55 O.R. wounded.