25th London Regiment - B Company

Albert was born on the 24 September 1893 to Frederick William (Foreman Gilder Loading Glass Frames - 1901 Census) and Clara Augusta Louise (nee Cope). Address 143 Stanhope Street, St. Pancras. Family moved to 52 Albert St, Regents Park sometime after the 1901 Census.

He left school early and had various jobs including delivering racing bicycles ("released" following incidents of buckled wheels and tramlines!)

I have no detail of his war service, except that I have his BWM, Victory Medal, battalion badge and Silver War Badge (he was repatriated having contracted malaria).

He once told me that he had been promoted to Sergeant, but then speedily demoted, for insubordination! [Appears to have been re-instated as titled "Sergt" on the Discharge Certificate below].

Married in 1921 at Trinity Wesleyan Chapel, Wood Green, to Ada Violet (nee Culham). One daughter (my mother) born in 1926.

Following the War he worked for the India Office and then subsequently for Grindlays Bank.

Through these continuing India connections, he became friendly with Claude Auchinleck (I have a personally dedicated copy of John Connell's 1959 biography and other bits of correspondence).

He died 6 July 1978 at home in Ashford, Middlesex.

[Kindly provided by his grandson Allan Stephens]