Name
(Bertie) Albert Edward Tyler
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/04/1915
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14344
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Christchurch Memorial, Little Heath, Potters Bar, Little Heath & Bentley Heath Memorial, Potters Bar, All Souls Chapel Book of Remembrance, Potters Bar, Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, Not on the Lemsford memorial, Not on the North Mymms memorials
Pre War
Albert Edward Tyler was born in Lemsford, Hertfordshire in 1897, the son of Percy Samuel Tyler, domestic gardener, and Matilda Elizabeth (nee Harpin).
In the 1901 census Albert E. Tyler was 4 and living with his parents and Ethel Mary (born 1898)in Lemsford. His father was working as a domestic gardener.
By the 1911 Census the family of parents, Albert, Ethel, Percy Hubert (born 1903 and leslies (born 1908) were now living at Warren Wood Lodge, Kentish Lane, Hatfield. Albert at 14 was working as a garden boy and his father is still a gardener.
Wartime Service
Officially recorded as born in Hatfield and was living there when he enlisted in Hertford. No Service Record was found for Albert. He was enlisted at Hertford becoming Private 14322, Bedfordshire Regiment. The service number 14344 suggests he enlisted in early September 1914 and was posted to 1st Battalion landing in France on 24 Mar 1915. His battalion part of 15 Brigade 5th Division were deployed at Ypres at this time. Albert probably joined the Battalion in the line on 29 Mar 1915 in a draft of 119 men. Albert died during the Battle of Hill 60 (south of Ypres).
The battalion war diary states: “21 Apr 1915 – Reningelst. Bombardment & counter attacks continued during early morning & position critical at times. Casualties very heavy. Enemy’s machine guns partially enfiladed reverse of Hill 60, trench mortar bombarded it, & field guns were brought up to within about 30 yards & fired point blank at parapet, blowing it to pieces & mangling the defenders. Casualties of Bedfords 4 officers killed, 8 wounded. Other ranks over four hundred.”
Reports of Albert’s death vary: SDITGW suggests killed in action, his medal card gives died of wounds and Soldiers Effects record indicates ‘death presumed’. His remains were not recovered and He is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
The Bishops Hatfield Parish Magazine of October 1914, recorded: “List of Men Mobilised, Tyler, Albert, Woodside, 4th Bedfordshire Regiment.” then in 1915: “War items. It is with great sadness and some reluctance that Albert Tyler’s name is placed amongst the number of those who have given their lives for their country. His parents have finally renounced all hope as no news is attainable. Indeed there is but very little doubt that he fell in the first Hill 60 fight. All must feel deeply for his father and mother who so bravely kept up hope for many months, alas in vain.”
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £17 2s 1d was paid to his mother and father jointly.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mr P. S. Tyler of Rose Cottages, Potters Bar received an “In Memoriam and roll of Honour Album”.
This man's link to North Mymms has not yet been confirmed by HAW research but does appear on a local list of the fallen.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Martin Cope, Mike Allen, Jonty Wild, Paul Johnson, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
