Name
Albert Edward Dawes
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
235202
Royal Welsh Fusiliers
16th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 22.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, Hertford, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Yeomanry Memorial, St Albans Cathedral
Pre War
Albert Edward was born 1895 (baptised 20 May 1895) in Wheathampstead to James Dawes. A Malt Kiln labourer, and Sarah (nee Allen).
On the 1901 Census Albert was living with his parents at Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead with elder brother John, a postman, (born 1881) and elder sisters Emily Maud (born 1887), Annie Elizabeth (born 1889), Alice (born 1891), and Ethel Mary (born 1894). On the 1911 Census Albert was working as a tourist clerk still living with his parents at Brewhouse Hill with sisters Alice, a dressmaker and Ethel, a drapery assistant. Albert's father died in 1916.
Wartime Service
Albert attested on 20 Nov 1915 as Private 2886 in 3/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry. He volunteered for overseas Service on the same day and was transferred to Hertfordshire Regiment on 26 Dec 1916, the same day he sailed from Folkestone to Calais.
Albert arrived at Infantry Base Depot and was attached to 3rd Entrenching Battalion on 10 Jan 1917. He received a new Service Number 235202 on attachment to 4th Reserve and was transferred to 16th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 2 Jul 1917 and joined them in the field on 16 Jul 1917. The Royal Welsh Fusiliers took part in the opening day of the Battle of 3rd Ypres at Pilkem.
The general advance was successful and initial objectives were taken. Albert was declared missing during the period 31 Jul – 4 Aug 1917 and later his death, killed in action, presumed as 31 Jul 1917. His remains were not recovered and he is rembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £7 10s and arrears of £6 7s 8d was paid to his mother. His mother had written to both Records Office and the Red Cross as she had last heard from Albert on 24 Jul 1917. Following the presumption of his death she had supplied his Birth Certificate to Records Office and later in Apr 1918 had requested its return (this was not found at Records Office). Brother Walter James (born 1884), recorded on 1891 Census, served in 126 Siege Battery, RGA as Gunner 73921 and survived.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
