Military History

Albert is listed as dying of wounds on 16th September 1918. The 13th Battalion war diary entries for the 15th & 16th September are transcribed below.

Near Velu-Lebucquiere  - 15 Sep 1918: The Battalion remained in Brigade support as before. On the night 15/16^th the 10^th R. Fus were relieved by the 1/1^st Herts and withdrew to support. Prior to the relief the 10^th R. Fus handed over part of their line to the Battalion on their right (13^th R. Fus) and extended their line to the left taking over part of the front of the 62^nd Division.

Orders were received that the Battalion would be relieved. A subsequent order postponed our relief until the following day.

Velu Chateau  - 16 Sep 1918: On the afternoon of the 16^th the Battalion were relieved in Brigade support by the 4^th Middlesex and withdrew to Brigade in reserve for the Division in the Velu-Lebucquiere area. The relief was carried out by Companies and on relief Companies moved independently to the new area. Relief was completed by 6.30pm and by 9.30pm all Companies were in position around Velu Chateau.

At 9.30pm this area was shelled with H.V. shells one of which secured a direct hit on a shelter occupied by the officers of A Company. 2/Lt Nicholson being killed outright while 2/Lt Walton was severely wounded and died next morning. The shelling was repeated at intervals but no further casualties occurred.