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261319 Sgt. Alban Mather British Army 6th Btn. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders from:Preston Alban Mather was born on the 1st April 1904 (although service records record this as 1906) in Preston, Lancashire. He was a labourer and stood a little over 5'4", weighing in at 126 lbs. He married Ada on the 3rd April 1937 and had four children: Marlene, Rose, Barbara, and Jean Alice. He lived at 72 Sussex Street in Preston. He enlisted into Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on the 23rd April 1928 in Preston. On the 11th November 1928, he was posted to the 1st Battalion. He was then posted to the 2nd Battalion in China on the 11th September 1929. Four years later, on the 12th December 1933, he moved with the Battalion to India, arriving on the 13th November. After serving on the Western Front in India for two years, he returned to the Depot where he was transferred to the Army Reserve on the 18th December 1935. On the 5th of September 1939, Alban re-enlisted and was posted to the Argyll Depot in Sterling on the 7th. On the 9th he was posted to 2nd West Yorkshire Regiment at Aldershot. He was posted to 'A' Company, 6th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, on the 26th November 1939. He then was attached to the 102nd Army Field Company, RE on the 8th March 1940. The Battalion were stationed at Bordon and left by train at 10:55hrs on the 10th of January 1940 for Southampton. They arrived at 13:30hrs and immediately embarked on the SS Duke of York, sailing at 15:30hrs.The ship lay off Portsmouth until dark. The ship arrived in Cherbourg in convoy at 08:15hrs. Alban served in France and Belgium with the 6th Battalion, who acted to control refugees. They took part in the withdrawal until instructed to help strengthen the defences along the Bassee Canal held by the 2nd Division. The Battalion were divided between the Brigades of the Division, with 'A' Company being attached to 5th Brigade and covering the immediate area of La Bassee with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Dorsetshire Regiment, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, and Worcestershire Regiment. Alban didn't return to the UK until about 21st June 1940. Please type your message:      We recommend you copy the text about this item and keep a copy on your own computer before pressing submit. Your Name:             Email Address:       @ **Please type the first part our your email in the first box (eg. john.smith) the @ sign is added automaticallly, please type the second part in the second box (eg. gmail.com). Do not enter your full email in each box or add an @ sign or random spaces.** Please type in the code shown here:    If you are unable to read the code please click here. If you have received an error message for incorrect code, please click to refresh the code before resending. This should overcome the error message.