Name
Albert Irons
22 January 1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/10/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
46845
Royal Engineers
78th Field Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CEMENT HOUSE CEMETERY
V.E.15
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
THY WILL BE DONE
UK & Other Memorials
St Katherine’s Church Memorial, Ickleford, We are not aware of any memorial in Cadwell
Pre War
Albert Irons was born in Cadwell, nr Ickleford in 22 January 1888, the son of William and Emma Irons, and baptised on 1 April 1888 at St Katherine's Church, Ickleford. He was one of three children, although one had died by 1911.
On the 1891 Census the family were living nr Cadwell Farm, Holwell, Herts where his father was working as an Agricultural Labourer. They remained there in 1901 at which time both Albert and his father were working as a Hay and Straw Tiers.
By the 1911 Census the family had moved to Chambers Lane, Ickleford and Albert was working as a carpenter.
Wartime Service
Albert volunteered in Hitchin in September 1914 and served in France from 15 July 1915 with the Royal Engineers.
During his service in France he was engaged on important duties in connection with the operations and was frequently in the forward areas, notably at Loos, the Somme and Arras.
He was killed in action at Passchendaele Ridge on 11 October 1917 aged 29 and is buried at Cement House Cemetery, Belgium. (N.B. he was initially buried where he fell - see newspaper report below- but was exhumed at the end of the war and reburied in the cemetery).
The Hertfordshire Express reported on 27 October 1917:
"With deep regret we record the death in action of Lance-Corporal Albert Irons, Royal Engineers, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Irons, 3 Chamber's-Lane, Ickleford, which took place on October 11.
The following letter has been received from Major J. Cubbon, R. E. : - "Lance-Corporal Irons was a very fine soldier absolutely fearless, and will be a great loss to the Company. I sympathise with you in the great loss you have sustained, but you should be proud to know that he died bravely doing his duty. His end was quite painless. I am not allowed to give you any particulars as to where or how Lance-Corporal Irons was killed. His comrades interred him on the spot where he fell."
Lance-Corporal Irons joined up on September 17, 1914, and went to France in July, 1915. Prior to joining the Army, he was employed by Messrs. Jeffs, Letchworth, having previously served his apprenticeship with Mr. James Knight, builder and undertaker, Nightingale-road, Hitchin. He was a member of the Loyal Albert Lodge of Oddfellows and the Blue Cross Cricket Club, and for several years was associated with the Holwell Cricket Club. Lance-Corporal Irons was single, and aged 29 years. He was greatly esteemed by all who knew him, and the sympathy of all is extended to the bereaved parents in their loss."
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £14 and pay owing of £3 9s 5d. She also received a pension of 8 shillings a week.
His father, Mr W Irons, 3 Chambers Lane, Ickleford, Hitchin, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "THY WILL BE DONE".
His body was originally found at map ref. where body found: 28.F.3.a.8.7. identified by a cross on the grave.
N.B. a photo of Albert's grave can be found on www.findagrave.com.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer
