This man is a candidate for addition to Keighley's Supplementary Volume under the proposal to add further names in 2024, the centenary of the original roll of honour.
Click here to go to the Main page
Supported by the National Lottery's Heritage Fund, our project intends to submit about 120 names for peer review to add them to the book which is kept at Keighley Library. The unveiling of the book with it's new names is planned for November 2024, 100 years after the unveiling of the original war memorial.
Private, 15th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) Service Number 28333.
Private Albert Moore, Keighley News May 1917.
Early life:
Albert was born in Keighley in 1890 and his birth was registered in Keighley in the last quarter of the year.
His parents were Julius Moore 17, Poplar Terrace and Margaret Moore née Hutchinson of 67, Cliffe Street, who had married at St. Andrew's Church, Keighley in July of that year.
In the 1891 census Albert was just six months of age and living at 8, Ethel Street in the North West Ward of Keighley. Julius was 23 and employed as an iron fitter. Margaret was 22.
By the 1901 census Albert was ten and living at 90, Long Lee with his parents and siblings Beatrice, age eight; George, age three and Ada, age two. Julius was employed as a mechanic's labourer.
By the time of the 1911 census Albert was 20 and living at 32, Rawling Street, Ingrow in Keighley with his parents and seven siblings Beatrice, age 18; George, age 13; Ada, age 11; Vincent, age 10; Eli, age 7; Mary, age 6 and Violet, age 2. Julius was a wringing machine fitter and Albert was a labourer for the textile machinery manufacturers Hall and Stells Ltd., of Park Works on Dalton Lane.
In 1912 Albert's parents and siblings emigrated to Canada. His father Julius went on to served in the Great War with 46th Battalion Canadian Infantry. He was wounded in the right foot and eventually invalided out of the Canadian Army on 19th February 1918 as he was unfit to serve.
In the second quarter of 1913, Albert married Alice Sugden. They had two children, George William was born on 7th March 1914 and Doris was born on 3rd June 1916.
War service:
Overseas, he was serving with the 15th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (the First Battalion, Leeds Pals). His Soldier's Effects record suggests he enlisted around May 1916.
Albert was killed in action on 3rd May 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Bay 4 of the Arras memorial at Faubourg D'Amiens cemetery, France.
WO-95/2361/3 War diary for the 15th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (First Leeds Pals)
29th/30th April 1917:
Took over trenches in GAVRELLE (right sector) from ANSON BATTALION, and 11th WORCESTER REGIMENT.
16th WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT on our left, and 11th ROYAL SCOTS on our right, 18th WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT in support. Details and Transport at St. CATHERINE'S.
1st May 1917:
In front line trenches. 2nd Lieutenant G. E. Fortune, and 3 other ranks left for course at XIII CORPS SCHOOL. 2nd Lieutenant J. A. HULLAH wounded.
2nd May 1917:
Company Commanders recalled from line to attend conference at Battalion Headquarters during day. Battalion Headquarters at B.30.c.4.6. Orders received for attack to be delivered at 3.45 am next day. 2nd Lieutenant H. R. WICKE wounded.
3rd May 1917.
At 2 am Battle Headquarters were situate at C.25.c.47, and Companies were reported in position. The frontage the Battalion was to attack over was from I.1.a.9.9. to C.25.a.6.6., a distance of approximately 750 yards.
The disposition of the Battalion was as follows:-
"D" Company Right Front Battalion
"B" Company Left front Battalion.
"A" Company Right Support Battalion.
"C" Company Left Support Battalion.
The strength of the Battalion including officers and NCO's was 547.
Each Company went over in two waves of single lines.
Two Companies of 18th West York. Regt. were on our left and the 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers on our right.
At 2 am the enemy seemed very nervous, as he heavily bombarded GAVRELLE, and it's environments.
The bombardment died down about 2.45 am. All was quiet just prior to zero, which was 3.45 am.
At 3.45 am our barrage commenced and the Battalion went forward to the attack, and from information received afterwards, reached the first objective without serious losses.
Heavy artillery and machine guns on both sides remained very active, and at 5.30 am no definitive information had been received. About this time wounded men were beginning to dribble in, and from their accounts it was obvious that our attack had failed in reaching its second objective, and also in holding the first.
The Commanding Officer being still unable to get definite news, decided to take the whole situation in hand. He closed Battle Headquarters, sent all papers back, and runners, signallers, and all Headquarters Staff were instructed to man the front line parapet. This was done, and heavy rifle fire was directed on the groups of enemy who could be seen retiring seemingly from trench to trench over the top. All stragglers were collected and organised and about 7.30 am, 80 men were available on the front line. There was no touch with Battalions on either left or right, so trenches were blocked, and bombing parties stationed on each flank.
The line from Battle Headquarters was run out to the front line trench, and touch was got with the Artillery and Brigade.
At this period it was quite evident what had happened. The Battalion had got forward all right, and driven back the enemy, but having no supports had lost all driving power, and the enemy realising this had turned on them, and commenced organising to counter attack.
The enemy could be seen approximately 400 strong coming in extended order from direction of C.21 central, and in close order from C.27.a.8.8.
The Commanding Officer at once got in touch with the Artillery, and their barrage succeeded in breaking up the attack.
AT 8 am in reply to the Commanding Officer's request for immediate assistance, a platoon of the 12th KING'S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY under Lieutenant Walker arrived, and took up a position on our left flank.
At 10.40 am, two Companies of the DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY arrived to reinforce, and one Company was put on the extreme left, and one in support on the Sunken Road from C.25.c.8.2. to C.25.c.4.8.
At 10.45 am touch was established with the 6th KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS on the right, but touch on the left had not been got.
The afternoon was fairly quiet, and advantage of this was taken by further organising of the scattered forces present in the trenches, and the appointment of the remaining few Officers to certain portions of the trenches. All material from the trenches was salved and put on dumps.
About 8 pm the enemy again opened a heavy bombardment, but the night was fairly quiet. As the day advanced it was realised that we had lost heavily, and only three officers came back.
2nd Lieutenant C.C.Davies slightly wounded, Captain R. Hunter broken arm, 2nd Lieutenant D. S. Wells, arm broken & shrapnel wound.
The following officers were reported killed:
Captain R. M. S. Blease "B" Company
Captain G. S. King "A" Company
Lieutenant D. Robinson "C" Company
2nd Lieutenant W. H. Jackson "D" Company.
The following officers were reported missing:
2nd Lieutenants: R. S. Tate "A" Company (DoW); F. W. Scholes "B" Company (K); J. S. Thomas "D" Company(K) A. S. Parkin "D" Company (K); J.L.Jennison "A" Company (K); J. W. Lisle "C" Company A.T. Peek "D" Company (K); A. H. Riley "A" Company (DoW).
The following were the reported casualties in other ranks:
Killed, 15; Wounded, 122; Missing, 262.
Keighley News 19th May 1917, page 5:
Notification has been received of the death in action of Private Albert Moore, of the West Riding Regiment, whose home is in Farra Street, Oxenhope. Private Moore leaves a widow and two children.
Post war:
At some point Alice and Albert were living at Farra Street in Lowertown, Oxenhope.
In the 1921 census, Alice aged 29, George aged seven, and Doris aged five, were living with Alice's parents Joseph and Margaret Sugden at 3, Albert Street in Cross Roads. She was working as a drawer in the textile mill of Merralls and Son at Lees Mill, Haworth.
She received a dependent's pension for herself and their two children of 22 shillings and 11 pence per week beginning on 31st December 1917.
She would almost certainly have received Albert's medals, Great War memorial plaque and scroll and any of his personal effects. As sole legatee in his will she received £1 11s 8d of his remaining back pay on 15th November 1917, plus a war gratuity of £3 10 shillings on 24th October 1919.
Remembrance:
Albert is named on the Oxenhope Great War Memorial which is inside St. Mary the Virgin Church in Oxenhope.
Information sources:
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
WO-95/2361/3 war diary entry (page 59 of 114)
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
View original image on Fold3.com (may require an additional subscription).
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
1921 Census Of England & Wales
