Name
Albert Joseph Atkins
1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/10/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
T/205367
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
3rd/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT CEMETERY
LXIV. E. 8.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Radlett Town Memorial, Christchurch Memorial, Radlett, Not on the St Albans memorials
Pre War
Albert Joseph Atkins was born in St Albans, Herts in 1888 to Henry and Elizabeth Atkins and on the 1891 Census the family were living at Grange Street, St Albans where his father was working as a Carman. The remained in in Grange Street in 1901, where Albert, although only 13, was working as a Baker (bread maker).
He married Daisy Collins in Watford in 1910 but in 1911 he was living on his own at 4 Auriol Cottages, Station Road, Radlett and working as a Baker. His wife was not at home.
At the time of his death he had four children, Lilian Florence (born 1911), Gladys Daisy Sarah (born 1912), and twins Kenneth Thomas and Sydney Albert, born on New Years' Eve in 1916. Their address is given as Upper Station Road, Radlett on pension records.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in St Albans and served as a Private in the Royal West Surrey Regiment, 3/4th Battalion.
He died during the Battle of Broodseinde, near Ypres, Belgium on 4 October 1917, when the Battalion lost nearly half its strength, even though the battle was said to be the most successful Allied attack of the Third Battle of Ypres.
It was reported that he was killed by a shell, although the date reported was the 6th October.
Additional Information
His widow Daisy received a war gratuity of £3.00 and pay owing of £2 14s 11d. She was also awarded a pension of £1 8s 9d a week from 29 April 1918 for herself and her children.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Gareth Hughes
