Private 41493 Albert Edward Naylor

Killed in Action on Sunday, 8th August 1918, age 18.
Buried in Grave IV. C. 13. at Vieille-Chapelle New Military Cemetery, Lacouture, Pas De Calais, France.

1st Bn., King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment). 12th Brigade of 4th Division.

Son of Amy Naylor, of 147, Dudley Road, Tividale, Tipton, and the late John Henry Naylor.
Born: Birmingham, Enlisted: Wolverhampton, Resident: Unknown.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the St. Augustine's Memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on Commonwealth War Graves site.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/280496/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Albert Edward Naylor registered December quarter 1899 in Kings Norton.

1901 Census
147 Dudley Road, Tividale, Dudley, Worcs.
John Henry Naylor (25, Carpenter, born Dudley), his wife Amy (23, born Smethwick), and their 2 children: Elsie May (2, born Smethwick), and Albert Edward (1, born Smethwick).

1911 Census
147 Dudley Road, Tividale, Dudley, Worcs.
John Henry Naylor (34, Carpenter, born Dudley), his wife Amy (33, born Smethwick), and their 4 surviving children of 5: Elsie May (12, School, born Smethwick), Albert Edward (11, School, born Smethwick), Amy (7, School, born Darlaston), and Wilfred Arthur (4, School, born Wednesbury).

Personal Data

Albert Naylor is included here because his address, Dudley Road, Tividale, is on the Tipton/Dudley border. Tipton is included on his entry on the CWGC, so he is included here. He is also commemorated on the Tividale Roll of Honour.

After Albert's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £5/2/1d (5 pounds, 2 shillings and 1 penny); this was paid to his father, John Henry, in April 1919. His War Gratuity was £3/0/0d (3 pounds exactly), this was paid to his mother, Amy, in December 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Albert had enlisted within the previous 12 months.

Action resulting in his death

During the months of July and August 1918, the 1st King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment were located near the town of Mont Bernachon, just north of the La Bassee canal, and about 4 miles north of Bethune.

On the night of the 3rd/4th August, they moved back into the front line with their reserves just behind in Pacaut Wood. During the next week, the 1st King’s Own pushed forward numerous patrols and attempted to improve their line.

The War Diary of the 1st King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment for the 8th August records:
“Night of 7/8th ‘D’ Company was relieved by ‘C’ Company on left front. Morning of 8th at ‘Stand To’, 2/Lieut D. DAVIES was wounded by sniper. At 3.30pm. ‘C’ Company and flank Units pushed forward to a line nearer river TURBEAUTE. Machine Gun fire during this operation caused some casualties.”

On that day 6 men of the 1st King’s Own lost their lives, one them was Albert Naylor. Albert was initially buried about a mile to the east of Mont Bernachon, along with a comrade Frank Priestly. In September 1919, both of the men were exhumed and re-buried in Vieille-Chapelle New Military Cemetery, Lacouture.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.