Name
Albert Ernest Short
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/11/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
5547
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 12 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial,
St. Peter’s Church Memorial, Mill End,
St. Peter's C & E Primary School Memorial, Mill End,
Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Albert was born on 22 April 1892 in Harefield, Middlesex. He was christened on 29 May 1892 at West Hyde. In 1901 Albert lived with his parents, William (b. Chalfont, Buckinghamshire) and Alice (b. Lydbrook, Gloucestershire) and six siblings in Church Lane, Rickmansworth.
His father, William, was a labourer in a brewery and his older brothers, Edward and Harvey, were a domestic gardener and an agricultural labourer. In 1911 the family was still living in Church Lane at 1 Pretoria Cottages. William was still labouring in a brewery and Albert worked as a contractor’s labourer.
Two of his brothers, Norman and Percy, were also killed in the war.
Recorded as enlisting in Hertford.
Wartime Service
During 1916 the 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment formed part of 118th Brigade and 39th Division.
The Division was heavily engaged in the battles of the Somme and in October attacked the German positions overlooking the river Ancre.
On 13th November, the Hertfordshires marched to the Schwaben Redoubt and mounted a successful attack just before dawn. 7 officers were wounded, 25 other ranks killed or missing and 115 other ranks were wounded. Private Albert Short was killed.
Additional Information
The army paid his father, William , £7 6s 5d, including a war gratuity of £4.
Brother of Private Norman Short who was killed in action on 18 Mar 1916 and of Private Percy Short who was killed in action on 18 Apr 1918 and all commemorated on this memorial.
A more complete biography for the Short brothers can be found at www.hertsatwar.co.uk/archive/hertfordshire-men-women-individuals-stories/short-brothers-their-story.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Green U3A, Brian Thomson, Jonty Wild, Gary Short
