Name
Albert William Payne
1 Feb 1900
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/05/1918
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
TR/10/158165
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
51st Grad. Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HARPENDEN (ST. NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD
O. O. 38.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Rest In Peace
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial
Pre War
Albert William was born on 1 Feb 1900 in Harpenden to William Payne, a bricklayer’s labourer, and Maud Emma (nee Archer). Albert was the eldest son and had 2 younger brothers and 4 sisters.
On 1901 census the family were living at Ellisville, Cromwell Road, Harpenden. On the 1911 Census the family were living in Station Road near the Great Northern Railway Station. Albert had attended the Wesleyan Sunday School. He worked as a gardener for Mr Fouldes of Douglas Road, and later for the Almagam Rubber Company.
Wartime Service
On attaining military age in February 1918 he enlisted as private 158165 in the Queens Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment and allocated to 51 (Graduated) Battalion gaining prefixes to his serial number.
While undergoing this military training he contracted meningitis from which he died in hospital in Cambridge of Meningitis on 28 May 1918, aged 18 years. He was buried in St Nicholas Churchyard, his grave being marked as a war grave.
Additional Information
His father, William Payne, Station Rd., Harpenden, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "Rest In Peace". Not eligible for War Gratuity but arrears of £5 5s 10d paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
