Name
Albert (Bert) Cecil Hyder
1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/02/1917
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
333
Royal Fusiliers *1
7th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DERNANCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
VI. A. 30
France
Headstone Inscription
IS MEMORY WILL LIVE FOR EVER HIS LOVING WIFE IDA
UK & Other Memorials
Ashwell Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Ashwell
Pre War
Albert Cecil Hyder (known as Bert) was born on 21 June 1885 in Ashwell, Hertfordshire, the son of Thomas & Clarissa Hyder (nee Bonfield). One of six children, he was baptised on 25 June 1885 in Ashwell and was educated at Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
On both the 1891 and 1901 censuses the family were living in Lime Kiln Hill, Ashwell. His father's occupation was given as brewer's traveller or brewer's collector.
He emigrated to Canada arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia on 17 March 1907 and on the 1911 Canadian Census he was listed as living in the High Bluff area of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba and working as a printer. He married Wilma Alberta Stella Halladay on 21 June 1911 in Manitoba, Canada and they had a daughter Esther May born on 27 July 1912. Sadly his wife died on 5 August 1913 aged 24 and his daughter Esther died shortly afterwards on 28 August 1913 aged 11 months and 9 days.
He returned to England and sailed from Montreal, Canada on the White Star ship SS Megantic, arriving in Liverpool on 16 November 1913. He gave his occupation as painter.
He married Ida Emma Hornby at the Register Office in Horsham, Sussex on 5 May 1915. and they had a child Doris Wilma born on 6 March 1916 and baptised on 2 April 1916 at Christchurch, Kensington, Liverpool. They were then living at 22 Smollet Street, Liverpool and he was working as a builder.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war he enlisted on 3 September 1914 and joined the City of London Rifles, (otherwise known as the Royal Fusiliers) serving with the 6th Battalion. He left from Folkestone on 29 March 1916 and joined the battalion in the field on 14 April.
Albert was wounded in action and died of his wounds at a casualty clearing station on 23 February 1917, aged 31. He had been promoted to the rank of sergeant the previous day. He is buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £14 and pay owing of £8 8s 10d. She also received a pension of £1 1s 3d per week. Her address was recorded on the pension card as 21 Sutherland Street, Pimlico, London. His mother also received a pension in respect of Albert and his brother Thomas who also served with the Royal Fusiliers and was killed in action on 13 May 1915. Her address was given as 7a Trinity Road, Wimbledon, Surrey (living with daughter Jessie), she later lived at Flint Cottage, Ashwell, and died in December 1938.
His brother Eric served with the Hertfordshire Regiment, later transferring to the Leicestershire Regiment, and survived the war.
*1 (City of London) Bn. London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson, www.ashwellmuseum.org.uk
