Gnr
Albert Edward Acton
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 13/03/1898 |
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Place of birth: Silvertown, Kent, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Gunner |
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Service number: 945449 |
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Units: — 58th Divisional Ammunition Column (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 14/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Dozinghem Casualty Clearing Station, Westvleteren, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
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Age: 19 |
Cemetery
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Dozinghem Military Cemetery Plot: VIII Row: B Grave: 12 |
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 | Wagon Line | ||
| #3 | Gun positions | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Albert Edward Acton was born in 1898 in Silvertown, a port and industrial area east of London. He was the youngest in a family of seven children. He attended school at West Silvertown School until the age of 14. Albert enlisted in the British Army and was assigned to the Royal Field Artillery. Silvertown is near Woolwich, a town with a military and maritime history, where the Royal Artillery Barracks are located.
Albert was assigned to the 58th Division Ammunition Column, which supplied ammunition to the batteries of the 58th (2/1st London) Division. In late August 1917, the division's artillery brigades were sent from Godewaarsvelde in France to Brake Camp near Vlamertinge, Ypres. On 6 September, they took over the positions of the artillery brigades of the 23rd Division. The batteries were placed north-east of Ypres, between the Ypres-Yser Canal and the hamlet of Wieltje, near La Belle Alliance, Hill Top Farm and Wilson Farm respectively. Near what is now New Irish Farm Cemetery. From there they shelled German positions between Keerselare and Winnipeg near St-Julien.
Albert transported ammunition between the 'wagon lines' near Vlamertinge and the batteries north-east of Ypres. On 14 September 1917, the 19-year-old succumbed to his wounds at Casualty Clearing Station Dozinghem, near Poperinge. Albert was buried in the nearby cemetery, Dozinghem Military Cemetery. Albert's father Thomas, an ammunition worker, had died in the "Silvertown Explosion" at an ammunition factory on 19 January the same year.
Albert was assigned to the 58th Division Ammunition Column, which supplied ammunition to the batteries of the 58th (2/1st London) Division. In late August 1917, the division's artillery brigades were sent from Godewaarsvelde in France to Brake Camp near Vlamertinge, Ypres. On 6 September, they took over the positions of the artillery brigades of the 23rd Division. The batteries were placed north-east of Ypres, between the Ypres-Yser Canal and the hamlet of Wieltje, near La Belle Alliance, Hill Top Farm and Wilson Farm respectively. Near what is now New Irish Farm Cemetery. From there they shelled German positions between Keerselare and Winnipeg near St-Julien.
Albert transported ammunition between the 'wagon lines' near Vlamertinge and the batteries north-east of Ypres. On 14 September 1917, the 19-year-old succumbed to his wounds at Casualty Clearing Station Dozinghem, near Poperinge. Albert was buried in the nearby cemetery, Dozinghem Military Cemetery. Albert's father Thomas, an ammunition worker, had died in the "Silvertown Explosion" at an ammunition factory on 19 January the same year.
Sources 6
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58th division Ammunition Column war diary (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO95/2995/6). https://www.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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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (the National Archives, Kew (TNA) RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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General Staff War Diary 58th Division (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO95/2987/01-03). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Local Heroes: Albert Edward Acton https://localheroes.org.uk/heroes/profiles/albert-acton/ Sources used |
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Soldiers Effect Records (National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accesion Number: 190102-333). 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/619706 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=id=2b2b27c4-5657-48aa-8bb5-b8dce04e2b53 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/630339 |