Pte
Albert Basford
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1892 |
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Place of birth: Derby, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 21 Liversage Street, Derby, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Jewellers Assistent |
Army information
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Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 242339 |
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Units: — Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), 2nd/5th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 26/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Kansas House, Langemark, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 25 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XI Row: C Grave: 5 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Albert Basford, a former apprentice jeweller, was born in December 1892 in Derby, Derbyshire, England, the son of James Basford and Emma Allcock. He enlisted and was assigned the rank of Private in the 2/5th Sherwood Foresters Battalion, part of the 178th Brigade within the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division.
On September 26th, 1917, the 59th Division took part in the Battle of Polygon Wood. The 178th Brigade was positioned in front of Schuler Farm and Kansas House, with the 177th Brigade on their right. Their goal was to capture these areas and extend the line eastward beyond Deuce House near ’s Gravenstafel. The 2/6th and 2/7th Sherwood Foresters led the attack, followed by the 2/5th and 2/8th Battalions advancing to the final objective. The assault began at 5:50 a.m. and progressed successfully. All blockhouses were captured. Between 5:30 p.m. and 6:50 p.m., Otto Farm was briefly endangered due to the retreat of some troops, but it was recaptured by 11 p.m. with help from reinforcements.
Albert, aged 24, was killed in action during the attack and was buried near the first blockhouses. Private Albert Basford now rests at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XI, Row C, Grave 5.
On September 26th, 1917, the 59th Division took part in the Battle of Polygon Wood. The 178th Brigade was positioned in front of Schuler Farm and Kansas House, with the 177th Brigade on their right. Their goal was to capture these areas and extend the line eastward beyond Deuce House near ’s Gravenstafel. The 2/6th and 2/7th Sherwood Foresters led the attack, followed by the 2/5th and 2/8th Battalions advancing to the final objective. The assault began at 5:50 a.m. and progressed successfully. All blockhouses were captured. Between 5:30 p.m. and 6:50 p.m., Otto Farm was briefly endangered due to the retreat of some troops, but it was recaptured by 11 p.m. with help from reinforcements.
Albert, aged 24, was killed in action during the attack and was buried near the first blockhouses. Private Albert Basford now rests at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XI, Row C, Grave 5.
Sources 6
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2/5 Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment). (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/3025/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 372). https://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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Headquarters. (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/3024/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 97. Sources used |
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Soldiers’ Effects Records (National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333). https://www.nam.ac.uk Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461863 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=6e1786a6-dc43-4de4-b2fe-08f697912be8 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/230524 |