Albert William Elvin

Rank 
Private
Regiment 
Norfolk Regiment
Date of death 
5 June 1918
Age of death 
20
Address 
24 Prospect Road
Woodford Green
Woodford
IG8 7NA
Address source 
1911 Census
Local memorial 
Cemetery / Memorial 
France
Biography 

Born in 1898 at Woodford, son of George (Boiler Stoker at Claybury Asylum) and Alice Elvin. 1901: With his family at 12 Prospect Terrace Prospect Road, Woodford Green. 1911: A Bakers Boy living with his family at 24 Prospect Road.

He was a Greengrocer still living at 24 Prospect Road when he attested at Epping on 8th May 1916, and was mobilised on 24th October 1916 to Warley, serving with 25 Training Battalion. He then went from 9 Essex to 1 Norfolk and arrived in France on 10th May 1917.

Around 9th October 1917 he appears to have suffered “Shellshock”, among other injuries caused through being buried by a shell. He returned to the front on 27th October 1917, rejoining the Battalion on 28th November 1917. On that day he was deprived of 7 days pay by his CO for a reason not recorded.

On 4th June 1918 while in the front line around Thiennes-Tannay he was wounded in action, sustaining gunshot wounds to his left arm and leg. The letters (amp) after one entry suggest his arm was amputated. He Died from Wounds at 39 Stationary Hospital at Aire during the following day.

The Battalion War Diary for 4th June records the weather was fine and it was a quiet day. One observation balloon and one aircraft were brought down by enemy action. The Battalion was relieved by 15 Royal Warwickshire who arrived at 23.40, and they then marched to Billets at Pecqueur, with “B” Company at Boeseghem.

There is no indication of how Albert Elvin came to sustain his gunshot wounds.

Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian

Sources:

Ancestry.com