Name
Albert Edward Mole
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/12/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
26690
Grenadier Guards
1st Bn. Grenadier Guards
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Panel 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Ashwell Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Ashwell
Pre War
Albert Edward Mole was born in Ashwell, Herts in 1898, the second son of (Charles) Edward and Kate (Catherine) Mole (nee Farr), and one of six children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at High Street, Ashwell, where his father was working as a brewer's horsekeeper/groom. They remained living in the High Street in 1911 and 13 year old Albert was then listed as a scholar. He was educated at Merchant Taylor's School in Ashwell.
At the time of enlistment, he was employed by blacksmith William Pack in Ashwell.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hitchin on 20 October 1916 and joined the Grenadier Guards. Following his training at Caterham, he served with the 1st Battalion in France from February 1917.
Albert was killed in action on 3 December 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £4 10s and pay owing of £5 13s 2d. Pension cards exist with his mother as dependant, but the amount awarded is not shown.
An article in the Hertfordshire Express of 22 December 1917 confirmed that his parents had received an official communication from the War Office that Albert had been killed in action in France.
His brother Stanley served with the Royal Army Service Corps and survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson, www.ashwellmuseum.org.uk
