No. 51200, Private, Albert William HARRISON
Aged 17
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Born Albert William HARRISON in Hockwold [Thetford Q2-1899 4B:374], the 1st son of William G and Wena Florence HARRISON (née ROLPH).
1901 census... Albert, aged 2, was living in Hockwold Street, Hockwold cum Wilton with his father William G HARRISON [25] a groom, born Hockwold and his mother Florence [23] born Lakenheath. 1911 census...Aged 12, Albert was at the Bell Inn,Hockwold with his parents; sister Eveline Maud [9];brother Walter George [7]; sister Edna Violet [6]; brother Frederic Russell [3] and brother Reginald Victor [1]. All the children were born in Hockwold. |
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This late in the war it is surprising how young Albert was, unless of course he had lied about his age on enlistment,
but since his Army records have not been found, we will never know What we do have however is a comprehensive report of that day's action. Click here to go the report on Steven Fuller's excellent site of the Bedfordshire Regiment Briefly summarised:- At 11 a.m. on 27th August 1918, 4th Bedfords assembled in RED CUT to attack THILLOY and LIGNY THILLOY. The barrage started at 11 a.m. and lifted forward at 11.3 moving back at the rate of 100 yards every 3 minutes. Shells fell into the assembly positions which were thought to come from their own guns firing short . On leaving the sunken road heavy M.G. fire was encountered from the front and the left and especially from the right flank. The left of the centre company was met again by very heavy M.G. fire from the right and was unable to make much progress and the right company was unable to advance at all owing to the same reason. The enemy had a perfect defensive position which commanded the approach from in front and on the right flank. The failure of the attack may have been due to the fact that the right flank was exposed as the Division on the right did not advance. It is possible that the first attack would have been held up in any case from M.G. fire from THILLOY. On the 27th August 1918 the 4th Bedfordshires lost 33 men, killed, of whom 11 have no known grave. |
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