Name
Alan Francis Vertue
7 Aug 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/04/1915
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
797
Honourable Artillery Company
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LA CLYTTE MILITARY CEMETERY
I. E. 13.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Thy Will Be Done
UK & Other Memorials
Bengeo School Memorial – Location t.b.c., War Memorial Chapel Rugby School, St Mary Magdalene WW1 Roll of Honour, Stock Exchange Roll of Honour, St Mary Magdalene WW1 Memorial Plaque
Pre War
Alan Francis Vertue was born on 7th August 1894, at Strawberry Hill, Twickeham, Middlesex. He was baptised on 2nd September 1894 at Twickenham, Middx. His parents Alfred and Mina Grace ( nee Booth) were living at 33, Strawberry Hill Road, Twickenham, Alan had one Brother Naunton George and one sister Winifred Margaret Grace.
In 1901 they were all living at 23, Gloucester Terrace, Paddington, London, his father was a Stockbroker. Alan attended Rugby School, and he joined the O.T.C. there. According to his attestation papers he joined the Territorial Force of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) on 13th November 1913, Private 797, whilst in the employment of Hughes & Tilley as a clerk to stock jobbers, he remained at home until 16th September 1914. His residence at that time was listed as Cedar Grove, Richmond, Surrey
Wartime Service
His Territorial unit was mobilised and he was posted to 1st Battalion, he was promoted to Lance Corporal and went to France on 17th Sept 1914.
Alan had been promoted to acting Corporal on 18th March 1915. From 24th March the battalion was stationed at St Eloi in the Ypres salient, they spent four days in the trenches followed by 4 days off, alternating with the Wiltshire regiment. During this time casualties mounted steadily caused by shellfire, snipers and accidents.
Alan was seriously wounded (GSW Right Leg) on 21 April 1915 and died the next day (22nd)whilst at No.7 Field Ambulance.
Additional Information
His headstone inscription reads "Thy Will Be Done" and was ordered by his mother, Mrs Vertue, c/o Vertue Lubbock & Co, 20 Bishopsgate E.C.2. His elder Brother Naunton George was gazetted as Lieutenant 3rd East Kents after graduating from RMA Woolwich, being promoted to Captain, being Mentioned in Dispatches 21 Jul 1917, Transferred to Nigeria Regiment as Major. Emigrating to Australia in the late twenties he died in Jun 1947
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Ann Hacke, Terry & Glenis Collins
