Driver 11126 Albert Archer

Photograph courtesy of Albert Archer's grandson Trevor Pitt. A further photograph can be found at the bottom of the page.

Died of Wounds on Sunday, 21st October 1917, age 24.
Buried in Grave X. E. 7. at Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Westvleteren, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Royal Field Artillery, 152nd Brigade, "B" Battery.

Husband of Hannah Archer, of 30, Horton St., Whitehall Rd., Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, 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. Peter's, Greets Green Memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/619772/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Albert Archer registered December Quarter 1892 at Dudley. He was actually born on 8th November 1892, at 15 Churchyard Road, Tipton.

1901 Census
95 Church Lane, Tipton, Staffs.
Isaac Archer (44, Horse Driver in Colliery, born Darlaston), his wife Ellen (40, born Tipton), and their 8 children: Emma (20, bornTipton), Isaac (17, Loader in Coal Mine, born Tipton), David (15, Loader's Helper in Coal Mine, born Tipton), William (13, Grocer's Assistant, born Tipton), Albert (8,born Tipton), Annie (6,born Tipton), Abigail (4, born Tipton), and Fredick (1, born Tipton).

1911 Census
335 Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
Isaac Archer (55, Miner, born Darlaston), his wife Ellen (48, born Tipton), and their 9 children: Emma (30, bornTipton), David (26, Miner, born Tipton), Albert (18, Iron Roller, born Tipton), Ann (17, Packer, born Tipton), Abigail (14, Packer, born Tipton), Fred (12, School, born Tipton), May (10, School, born Tipton), Harry (6, School, born Tipton), and William (1, born Tipton).

Marriage of Albert Archer and Hannah Brookes registered September Quarter 1913 at Dudley, their marriage was at St. Martin's Church, Tipton. Albert and Hannah had 2 daughters, Ellen and Rose.

Personal Data

After Albert's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £9/1/0d (9 pounds and 1 shilling); this was paid to his widow, Hannah, in December 1917 and February 1918. His War Gratuity was £12/0/0d (12 pounds exactly), this was also paid to Hannah in November 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Albert had enlisted in March 1915.

Albert is still proudly remembered by his family, his grandson Trevor and granddaughter Margaret have visited Albert's grave in Dozinghem.

Action resulting in his death

At the time of his death, Albert was serving with 'B' Battery of 152 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. It is possible that he had previously served with 125 Brigade, but if so we do not know the date of transfer. 152 Brigade were one of the Artillery units attached to 34th Division, and had served on the Somme in 1916, at Arras in 1917 ,with a short period back on the Somme in late Summer 1917, before arriving in the Ypres Salient in October 1917.

On the 13/14th October, 152 Brigade were to take over from 295 Brigade RFA on the Wijdendrift Road - Wijdendrift is about 1 mile north-west of Langemarck on the road to Bixschoote. On the 18th October, 152 Brigade was ordered to move just a short distance north to the Brombeck (editor: a stream, by October 1917 a quagmire). Whilst 'B' Battery was moving forward on the next day, 3 of the guns were hit by German artillery fire which was the cause of the wounds leading to Albert Archer's death on 21st October. The following extract from the War Diary gives this location as "Captain's Farm" - this is on Groenstraat about 1000 yards north of the junction with the Pilkem-Langemarck road.

War Diary October 19th 1917
Weather Fine.
5.00am A & B/152 moved to new position on the BROMBECK. 9 guns got into position by noon. The remaining 3 guns of B/152 were caught on the road in the neighbourhood of Captain’s Farm by Bosch 5.9s (editor: artillery guns) causing a great number of casualties to men and horses.
Casualties
Wounded: Lieut. A.B. Cowley, 2/Lieut. F.C. Wilcox, Dvr. Archer + Wilkins, Bdr. Weaver.
Sent to hospital suffering from gas: Capt. S. Farr.

Albert was taken to one of the 4th, 47th or 61st Casualty Clearing Stations which were all located about 3 miles north of Ypres. He succumbed to his wounds on 21st October and is buried in the adjacent Dozinghem Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery.

Newspaper Cuttings

Birmingham Daily Post 29th November 1917
RANK AND FILE: MIDLANDS MEN.
The following casualties amongst warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men are reported under various dates:
DIED OF WOUNDS.
R.G.A., Archer,11126, Dvr., A., (Tipton).

Memorial Card photograph courtesy of Albert Archer's grandson Trevor Pitt.