Name
Alban Preedy
1 Aug 1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
Devonshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 1 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
St Saviour's Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Jesus College Cambridge WW1 (WMR 46513) Cambridge Cambridgeshire, Alban Lutton Parish Memorial, Lutton Lincolnshire, St Saviour (Christ the Saviour), Ealing, Middlesex, Saltash Memorial, Cornwall
Pre War
Alban was born on 1 August 1892 in Plymouth, Devon – although one source suggest Broadclyst, Devon, and baptised on 14 August 1892 in St Peter’s Church, Plymouth, Devon. His parents were Arthur and Beatrice Jane Preedy (née Gainsford), who married in in Hitchin in 1884. Arthur’s father, Charles Wolley was a widow and living in Highbury House, Hitchin in 1881, so was probably living there in 1884.
In 1891, before Alban’s birth his parents and family were living at 10 Wyndham Square, Plymouth, Devon, in the parish of St Andrew. Arthir was a Clerk in Holy Orders.
In 1901 the family were living at the Vicarage, Saltash, Devon. Present were both parents: Arthur (43) and Beatrice (43), Arthur was a Clergyman in the Church of England. Their children were: Mary B (13), Margaret (11), Alban (8), Dorothy Annette Preedy (7) and Bernard (6). A servant Ada Stoneman (33)m was present and also a visitor Alice M Newbery (25).
By 1911 the family were living at The Saltash Vicarage, Port View, Saltash. Present were both parents, Arthur a Clergyman in the Establish Church. The census recorded they had been married for 26 years with 6 children, all living. The only people now present were Arthur and Beatrice and a servant Althea Bessie May (23). Alban was a scholar and resident at Allhallows School, High St, Honiton.
It appears that he also went to Jesus College, Cambridge as his name appears on that memorial.
Arthur was the vicar at Saltash for over twenty years. He died before his wife who died in 1932.
The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser dated 3 September 1914 reported, under the heading “Recruiting in Cornwall – Many Men Join the Colours” that Alban was enlisting – “one of 10 recruits to join Kitchener’s Army at Saltash”. His brother Bernard had offered his services as a despatch rider.
Wartime Service
The same paper on 3 June 1915 reported, under the heading, “Sons of Cornish Clergy – How They Are Serving Their Country: “2nd Lieut, 3rd Devon Regt. Alban Preedy as serving.”
He in the 3rd Devonshires and was gazetted as Second Lieutenant “on probation” on 9 October 1914, then confirmed to the rank on 6 May 1915. He entered France on 18 August 1915.
He appears in the Officers Admissions and Discharge book for No. 2 General Hospital at Quai d’ Escale, Havre, as 23 years old and admitted with influenza. After 14-days he was discharged for sick leave on 27 July 1915.
At some point he must have been attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment – possibly at the time he gazetted to temporary Captain which was 6 April 1916.
He was in the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment which was part of the 23rd Brigade in the 8th Division of III Corps in the 4th Army. He was killed in action.
The part of the infamous Somme attack on the 1st July 1916 given to the 2nd Devons was at Ovillers Spur advancing along Mash Valley towards Pozieres. The Battalion came under heavy fire and many men perished on wire, which had not been cut despite a heavy preliminary barrage. Onlookers thought that the leading waves were lying in No Man's Land waiting to move forward. Later it was realised that the men were nearly all casualties. 431 of the Devons were casualties that day out of approximately 800 men.
He has no known grave and is remembered on Pier/Face 1C of the great Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France.
His death was reported in the Bath Chronical on 15 July 1916.
Additional Information
It seems that Albans connection with Hitchin was though his grandfather and his parents marriage. After his death £96 19s 9d pay owing was transferred on 26 August 1916 and then another 5s 7d on 1 July 1916.
His father was recorded on Alban’s medal card as the Rev Canon A Preedy, 3 Albert Terrace, Torpoint, Cornwall possibly on 27 February 1922
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
