Name
Albert Edward Burch
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/05/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
155246
Royal Engineers
Z Special Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEAULENCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, LIGNY-THILLOY
Sp. Mem. A. 3.(*1)
France
Headstone Inscription
THY WILL BE DONE
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary’s Church Memorial Book, Hitchin
Pre War
There was much confusion over who this man was and what his connection to Hitchin might be, however on a pension card for Albert, his next of kin was named as his widow Ellen Maud Burch with a correspondence address given as Windermere, Walsworth, Hitchin, Herts(*2). This has enabled the following to be established.
The family were found in 1891 at Plymouth House, Field Farm (Boys House), Kingham, Oxfordshire. His father, Charles (52) was the Superintendent and teacher of drawing, a certified master and his, mother, Maria (39) was the Matron. Their children were listed as: Arthur (11), Charles (9) and Albert (7) – all listed as scholars, and then Lilian (4) and Mildred at 7 months. Also present were 3 boarders.
In 1901 they were living at Stratford House (Boys House) Kingham, Oxfordshire. Charles was now teaching science and art, while Maria was matron and nurse. The children now present were Lily (was Lilian), Mildred, now 10 and Donald (9). Three adults were boarding with them, Arthur Cave 24 and a John Williams (12) was listed as a patient.
By 1911 Charles was a retired schoolmaster and living at Bournecot, Hook Norton, Banbury, Oxfordshire. His wife is not present, she appears to be at 86 South Park Rd, Wimbledon at the house of Percival Scott (wife not present) and is listed as mother-in-law, also present was Mildred, listed as sister-in-law. With Charels were sons, Albert now a carpenter and joiner and Donald.
Albert Edward Birch born in Bisley, Surrey and baptised on 30 June 1884 was the son of Charles (a schoolmaster) and Maria Burch, of Oxford; husband of E. M. Humphreys (formerly Burch), of 16, Cressida Rd., Highgate, London.
He married Ellen Maud (b 2/1/1882) in the first quarter of 1916 in St Pancras, Lindon.
Officially Albert was recorded as born in Bisley, Surrey and enlisting in St. Pancras, Middx.
Wartime Service
It is difficult to establish what Albert did during the war, but in the reorganisation of 1917, the former Special Sections (flamethrower and Livens projectors) formed Z Special Company, which was placed under orders of 5th Special Battalion. Unfortunately, his service record, which might have given so much more information, has not yet been found.
Additional Information
His widow Ellen Maud Burch of Windermere, Walsworth, Hitchin, Herts. was allocated a grant of £3 on 9 July 1917 and later awarded a pension of 23s 4d a week from 28 October 1918., and later
She ordered his personal headstone inscription of “THY WILL BE DONE”, this was done after she married and became Mrs Humphreys. 16 Cressida Road, Highgate, N. 19. In fact she married Albert Humphreys in the third quarter of 1920.
*1 Albert is recorded as being buried in Beaulencourt British Cemetery, Ligny-Thilloy, France, however this is not the whole story. Albert’s headstone is listed as a special memorial and, in this case, means that his body is believed to be buried within the cemetery. This the case for 21 soldiers from the United Kingdom who are known or believed to be buried here.
*2 We have not found evidence a personal connection for Albert to Hitchin or Walsworth, It would seem that his wife moved to Walsworth sometime after they married and was certainly there in October 1918 and possible later, but by 1920 she had moved. Perhaps she did not know where to to commemorate his name but had the opportunity to add it to the Hitchin Town Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
