Pte
Albert Norman Read
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 29/05/1893 |
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Place of birth: Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 122 Gertrude Road, Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Shoe finisher - Shoeshine |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: T/207026 |
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Enlistment place: Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 11th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 01/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Opaque Wood, Hollebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 24 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 13H |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Albert Norman Read, a former shoe finisher, was born on the 29th of May 1893 in Norwich, Norfolk, England. He married Lucy Rebecca Lambert in October 1915. On April 9th, 1916, they had a daughter named Phyllis May. Albert‘s sister, Ada, married William Lambert, the brother of his wife. Albert enlisted at Norwich, Norfolk, England. He served as a private in the 11th Battalion The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), part of the 123rd Brigade, of the 41st Division.
On July 31st, 1917, the 11th Battalion The Queen's took part in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge. At 3:50 a.m. on that day the 41st Division attacked along the Ypres-Comines Canal. The 122nd Brigade attacked south of the canal near Hollebeke, the 123rd Brigade attacked on the north side. The 11th Battalion The Queen’s were able to capture the first and second objective despite the resistance and bad ground conditions. Before reaching the final objective, they were stopped by a line of concrete bunkers. These German defences hindered the capture of the final objective. Two parties tried to take out these bunkers but failed. The battalion was held up on the second objective and consolidated the line. This line was located about 150 metres in front of the Kasteelhoekstraat near Opaque Wood, southeast of Battle Wood. They held this position until the night between the 1st and 2nd of August, when they were relieved by the 10th Battalion The Queen’s.
Albert, aged 24, was killed in action on August 1st, 1917. Private Read has no known grave and is remembered on panel 13H of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
On July 31st, 1917, the 11th Battalion The Queen's took part in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge. At 3:50 a.m. on that day the 41st Division attacked along the Ypres-Comines Canal. The 122nd Brigade attacked south of the canal near Hollebeke, the 123rd Brigade attacked on the north side. The 11th Battalion The Queen’s were able to capture the first and second objective despite the resistance and bad ground conditions. Before reaching the final objective, they were stopped by a line of concrete bunkers. These German defences hindered the capture of the final objective. Two parties tried to take out these bunkers but failed. The battalion was held up on the second objective and consolidated the line. This line was located about 150 metres in front of the Kasteelhoekstraat near Opaque Wood, southeast of Battle Wood. They held this position until the night between the 1st and 2nd of August, when they were relieved by the 10th Battalion The Queen’s.
Albert, aged 24, was killed in action on August 1st, 1917. Private Read has no known grave and is remembered on panel 13H of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Sources 4
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11 Battalion Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/2638/5). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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123 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters. (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/2637/1). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (London: Arms & Armour Press, 1995) 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/1625571 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=e6e10672-9744-4a29-92dc-601c250927b5 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/3671160 |