Name
Albert Thomas Wells
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/10/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/20729
East Surrey Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY
VIII. D. 136.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial, St Peter’s Church Memorial, Bushey Heath
Pre War
Born in Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire in December 1896, Albert Thomas Wells was the son of Thomas and Lizzie (nee Toms) Wells. Thomas and Lizzie were married in Bushey on 17 June 1876.
At the 1901 census, the family was living at ‘Southgate Cottage’, near The Three Crowns on Bushey Heath. Thomas and Lizzie were 47 and 42 years old respectively and Thomas was employed as a Cowman. Albert was four years old and had three older siblings. They were named George, Edward and Lilly and were 16, 15 and 11 years old respectively. George was employed as a gardener. Birthplaces were given as Hemel Hempstead for Lizzie and Bushey for all other family members.
Albert's brother, George Charles Wells, married Blanche Udell in 1909 at St Peter’s Church in Bushey. Thomas died, aged 56, in June 1910. Lily Maud Wells married Joseph Pangborn on 19 October 1910 at Holy Innocents Church in Hornsey, Haringey.
At the 1911 census, Lizzie and Albert were still living at Southgate Cottage. Lizzie was running a coffee shop business from home and Albert was assisting in running the business. His birthplace was now given as Bushey Heath. The census record stated that Lizzie and Thomas had had nine children, four of whom had died in childhood.
Wartime Service
Albert enlisted in Watford and served on the western front as Private 20729 in the 8th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. He died on 11 October 1916 of wounds received in action.
His pension card named his widowed mother, Lizzie, as his dependant living at Southgate Cottage in Bushey Heath. She was awarded a pension of four shillings per week with effect from 3 October 1917. Lizzie died in 1937 in the registration district of Watford.
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
