No.10642, Rifleman, Albert Sidney BACKLER
Aged 21
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Albert Sidney BACKLER was born in Haverhill (Risbridge Q4-1894 4A:716), son of Warry and Hannah BACKLER (née DIGGENS).
His father Warry was born in Haverhill in 1859 and worked as a weaver, as his father Charles and grandfather John had done, all living in the Chauntry Croft area. His mother Hannah was from Little Wratting, daughter of Fred and Mary Jane DIGGENS 1901 census... Aged 6, he was at 10 Primrose Hill, Haverhill with his father Warry BACKLER [42] shearer in clothing factory; his mother Hannah[42] born Little Wratting; sisters Hannah [24] (coat baster), Alma [18] (hair weaver), Emma [15] (trousers machinist), Edith E [8] and Florence [1]; brothers Frederick C.[12], Edward E. [10] and William T.(actually William F) [4]. All were born in Haverhill except his mother. Warry and the three eldest children were working at Gurteens, whilst mother Hannah looked after the younger ones at home 1911 census...Aged 16, a shoe maker/repairer, he was still at 10 Primrose Hill, Haverhill with his parents; brothers Ernest Edward and Frank William, (both ironmonger's assistants) and sisters Ella Edith (milliner) and Florence (school). The pension card for the two brothers, Albert and Frank, gives no further information. CWGC have his brother Edward Ernest at "Rosedene", Victoria Road, Wargraves, Berks. His brother Frank William died in Haverhill serving in the Suffolk Regiment, in February 1915. Both are remembered on the Old Independent Church memorial plaque. see here |
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He enlisted in Hornsey and served firstly in Egypt, arriving there on 1st September 1915, this was likely to have been with the 2nd/7th Middlesex Regiment. When he was transferred to the London Regiment or arrived in France is not known.
On 9th September they were in LEUZE WOOD, D Coy in Reserve. They suffered heavy casualties, LEUZE WoOOD in particular being heavily bombarded. They were relieved on 10th by a composite battalion from 16th Brigade and marched to CITADEL CAMP (62d.NE.F.b.) about 8 miles. Leuze Wood (Lousy Wood) was important as it overlooked the approaches to Guillemont and Combles. Citadel Camp was where the traffic island is now at the NE corner of Albert-Picardy Airport, at Méaulte. CWGC figures show 75 killed on 10th, only 16 with identified graves. The South West Suffolk Echo carried the following on 4th November 1916:- Mr and Mrs W. Backler, of 10 Primrose Hill, have to mourn the passing away of another son. Recently, intimation was received that Rifleman A.S. Backler of the London Regiment, London Brigade (late Middlesex Regiment) was posted as missing after an engagement between September 6th and 10th. Another son, Bomb. EE Backler made enquiries as to the fate of his brother, as a result he received the following letter from the Major:- “I very much regret to inform you that your brother was killed in action on September 9th during an attack on the German trenches. He is buried in Leuze Wood. Please accept my sympathy in your loss.” Official notification of the sad news has since been received stating that death occurred in the field on September 10th, the cause being “killed in action; previously reported missing.” " As he is here reported as buried in Leuze Wood, and is named on the Thiepval memorial, it must be that his grave was lost in later actions
and on the memorial in the Old Independent Church, Haverhill click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
