: Albert was born in Hardwicke, Glos in 1893, the son of George Child and Maria Elizabeth (nee Forth). His siblings were: George (1880), Sarah (1881), Tom (1884), Arthur (1888), William (1891), Ernest (1896), Emily (1899), Edward (1902), Alice (1907)
His father George was a blacksmith, and the family moved from Hardwicke to Nailsworth sometime between the birth of Albert in 1893 and Ernest in 1896. By the time of the 1911 census Albert had already enlisted in the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. He was in barracks at Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight as a 19 year old private.
His parents were in Shortwood. Albert's regiment was stationed in Cairo at the outbreak of war, but returned to England in October before being mobilised for war and landing in France on 6th November 1914. On 10th March 1915 they were involved in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, the first large scale organised attack undertaken by the British army during the war.
The plan was to attack the German defences at Neuve Chapelle and then capture the Aubers Ridge beyond. The initial attack was successful, but soon became disorganised and ground to a halt. A German counter-attack was defeated on 13th March.
: Albert was killed in action on 13th March 1915 aged 21. He is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France, and also remembered on the Woodchester Wayside Cross and the Shortwood Chapel plaque in Christ Church.
