Name
Albert Edward Wedgerfield
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
112397
Army Service Corps
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Pre War
Albert Edward Wedgerfield was born 16 January 1889 at Berkhamsted, Herts, the younger of two sons born to Charles and Sarah Wedgerfield. He was baptised on 12 February 1889 at Great Berkhamsted.
At the time of the 1891 Census the family lived at High Street, Berkhamsted, where his father worked as a general labourer. His father died in 1894 and by the 1901 Census his mother had remarried to George Brient, a ploughman and they were living at Westwick Row, near Leverstock Green. At that time Albert was a scholar and his older brother Charles was working as a plough boy. He also had two new half siblings, George and Percy, born in 1896 and 1900.
By the time of the 1911 Census Albert had left the family home and was a boarder at the home of William and Annie Botwright and their two sons at 26 Breakspear Road, Abbots Langley. Albert was employed as a paper packer by a paper manufacturer, probably John Dickinson & Co Ltd.
Albert went to Canada in May 1913, on the Tunisian, to Quebec, Canada en route to Toronto. His occupation was given as mill hand and farming and it suggests he was intending to remain and work there, however, he was also listed as a passenger on the Empress of Britain ship which left Quebec, Canada and arrived in Liverpool on 6 November 1913.
Wartime Service
Albert enlisted on 5 May 1915 and was recorded for the first time in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in June 1915, serving with the Army Service Corps (ASC). His Medal Index card indicates that he served in France on 26 September 1915.
According to the 'National Roll of the Great War' he was engaged in important transport duties in various sectors and was present at the engagements at Ypres, Albert, Bethune, Arras and the Somme, being twice wounded and invalided home to hospital. His home address was given as The Gables, Loates Lane, Watford.
In December 1917 the Parish Magazine noted that Albert was reported sick or wounded, and his Medal Roll Index confirmed that he was discharged on 11 June 1918 as 'No longer physically fit for War Service” He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 384715 (issued to service personnel who had been honourably discharged due to wounds or sickness from military service in World War 1).
Albert Wedgerfield survived the War and lived at Hudson Cottages, Bedmond, Kings Langley, Herts. He was working as a postman and living at Watford, Herts on the 1939 Register.
Additional Information
Formerly service number 42397.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
