Category Archives: Battlefield Areas

Albert Edward Elliott

Army, Commemorated name/s, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Somme

Albert Edward Elliott
Private 16171
2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

 

Elliott AE photo

Albert Edward Elliott is commemorated on a shield with the words ‘Albert Killed in France April 24th 1918’.  The CWGC gives the date of death as 27th April 1918; there are no family details recorded. A second shield gives the name of Nellie, died November 12th 1920.  Nellie was in fact his wife, her maiden name was Pickett.  The couple married in the second quarter of 1915. The Burial Register confirmed that her name was Elliott.   The Berkshire Family History Society classification is given as 29F33. The Reading Cemetery grave number is 16753. 

Albert Elliott has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, panel 56 & 57.

In the days leading up to his death there had been heavy fighting in the area of Albert.  This was because of the German Spring offensive and the push by them towards Amiens.

 An ‘In Memoriam’ published on 26th April 1919, gives an address of 44, Brunswick Street and the name of Harry and Penn his brother and sister.  The picture of Albert Elliott gives his home address as 8, Letcombe Street, Reading.  This was the address of his wife.  A poignant verse accompanies the ‘In Memoriam’.

Oh not lost, but gone before us
Let him never be forgot
Pointing up to that far Heaven
Where we hope to meet at last.


We know from the grave inscription that it was not long before Nellie herself died.
The 1911 census indicates that Albert Elliott was living with his sister Harriet and husband Charles and their young family at 103 Liverpool Road, Reading. Frederick, his 16 year old brother, was also living with the family. Albert was working as a labourer at Huntley and Palmers Biscuit Factory. The author believes that Albert Elliott was born about 1892 making him about 26 years at the time of his death.

Hubert Arthur Edwards

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Primitive Methodists' Memorial, Somme

Hubert Arthur Edwards
Private 26049
“A” Company 1st Batt. Royal Berkshire Regt.

 Division 7

Edwards HA photo

Reported missing and later reported killed in action 14th November 1916.  Age 38.  The Battle of Ancre: the fourth phase of the Battle of the Somme had begun the day before.  Action had taken place around St. Pierre Divion, Beaumont Hamel, Beaucourt and the Butte de Warlencourt on November 13-14.

 Hubert Edwards was married to Lily Eva Edwards and the family home was 96, London Street, Reading.  He was the son of E. and M.  Edwards 100, Spring Rd., Kempston, Bedford.

He is commemorated on family grave on a small stone shield.  The lead lettering has nearly all come away from the memorial.  Hubert has no known grave and his name can be found on the Thiepval memorial Pier and Face 11D

Joseph Duce

Army, Arras, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments

Joseph Duce
Private G/9219 6th Battalion
The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)

 Division 67
Extension

Joseph Duce was the son of  Clara Duce, of 197, High Street, Watford, Hertfordshire, and the late David Duce.   According to the 1911 census the family had a Fish Restaurant in Watford.  Joseph died on 12th May 1917, aged 37.  He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, Bay 2.

 The Battle of Bullecourt is described in detail in “The Blood Tub” by Jonathan Walker.  The Battle of Arras began on 9th April 1917 along a twelve mile front.  Starting with the success of the taking of Vimy ridge by the Canadians the battle became more and more bloody as the British and Australians tried to break through the Hindenburg line renewing the attack with more vigour on 3rd May.  Losses were heavy and “the only remedy seemed to be to put more and more brigades into the ‘Blood tub’”. (page 163)

Walker describes the attack of  the 12th May 1917 in his chapter “Fight for the Crucifix”. In the forefront was the 2nd Queens.  This battalion had been decimated during 1st Ypres and was now made up mostly of men of “Kitchener’s Army”.  It is therefore likely that Joseph Duce was serving in this Battalion at the time of the attack and his death.   The attack was timed to begin at 3.40am on 12 May.  The men were very tired because even when out of line they were required to bring supplies forward.  They got off to a good start, with the 1st South Staffordshires on their left and the Australians on the right, advancing quickly under the German barrage.

The Queen’s reached their objectives but battle got bogged down on along the line either side of them.  True to form the battle became drawn out over the following days and although the German counter-attacks failed there were many casualties, killed, missing and wounded.  Amongst them was Joseph Duce whose body was never identified.