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Cpl Albert Henry Crick
British Army 7th Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment
from:Walsall
(d.17th July 1917)
Bertie Crick, my Grandad, was Corporal 9362 in the 7th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. Bertie was born in Wolverhampton on Sunday 13th April 1890, to John Henry Crick and Bertha Elizabeth Crick (nee Harrison), at 58 Russel Street. His father moved to Wolverhampton from Northampton, as a baker and confectioner. Bertie grew up to become a caster in a local foundry. He is listed living at 111 Green Lane, Walsall but moved to 66 Orlando Street when he met and Married Edith Sarah Kettledon-Meek a Laundress, my grandmother, on Friday 26th December 1913, at St. Michael’s Parish Church, Caldmore, Walsall. He lived at 32 Orlando Street after the marriage to Edith. She was born 3rd June 1893 in Wednesbury.
Bertie enlisted in Kitchener’s New Army at Walsall at the outbreak of war, 1914 and was drafted to Gallipoli on Saturday 11th September 1915, he later served in Egypt following the withdrawal of British Forces from the Gallipoli peninsular in December 1915. How he survived we can only guess 49,642 allied lives were lost here and 66,00 Turks. He was drafted to France where he was appointed Corporal on Saturday 24th February 1917. Aged 27 years.
On Sunday 15th July Bertie’s battalion moved from Camp O near Poperinghe into the trenches about a mile North of Ypres, relieving the 4/5th Battalion, Black Watch. This action predated the Third Battle of Passchendaele 31st October. The sector was described in the Regimental History as ‘one of the worst sector’s on the whole Western Front.’ The Battalion suffered losses from snipers and as such, regular patrols were sent out to find them and kill them. Casualties were also taken to enemy artillery. He was wounded whilst in the trenches most probably by shellfire or sniper fire. Bertie succumbed to his injuries the same day, aged 27 year’s on the 17th July 1917. Passchendaele ridge was taken on 10th November by British and Canadian forces and the Third Battle of Ypres campaign was brought to a close on 20th November 1917.
Lest We Forget. He is buried at St Jan La Brique No2 Cemetery.
