Born in Walthamstow during 1896, son of Frederick (Clerk in the Preserved Provisions Trade) and Elizabeth Lyth.
1901: With his family at 63 Cains Road, Walthamstow. 1911: With his family at 6 Oxford Road, Snakes Lane Woodford Green. When he came to enlist at St Paul’s Churchyard he was once again a resident of Walthamstow. He joined 26 Royal Fusiliers - “The Bankers Battalion” - which was formed on 17th July 1915 to take recruits from the banking industry; Albert was then an employee of the London & South Western Bank. After training at Marlow and locally at High Beach, he was sent to France with the Battalion on 4th may 1916.
On 15th September 1916, 26 & 32 Royal Fusiliers in their first action were supporting 10 Queens Royal West Surreys, and 21 Kings Royal Rifle Corps in the Battle of Flers Courcelette on the Somme. Their objective was to further advance and consolidate the British front line. Following a 36 hour bombardment of the German positions the leading waves set off at 06.20, closely following a creeping artillery barrage, and supported by three Tanks - their first deployment on the battlefield.
The Regimental history records 26 Royal Fusiliers advanced against little opposition, but on the left the men moved too quickly, passing through the creeping barrage. Captain Thomas Etchells calmly reorganised the line and they moved forward once again. Later in the morning the advance was checked, but Captain Etchells again seized the initiative, arranging for the Battalion to follow a tank towards Flers. The tank assisted troops in Flers by firing on the retreating Germans and provided support for the advancing Battalion. By late afternoon 26 Royal Fusiliers were positioned to the north and east of the village, but among the 255 other ranks killed wounded or missing was Albert Lyle. His remains were never recovered.
Another former member of the Scout Troop was killed during this battle. William Edward Mitchell was lost with 1 London who were attacking in the area of Bouleaux Wood.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Regimental History