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.
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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. 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment. Service Number: 242622
Private Albert Lund
Early life:
Albert was born on 2nd July 1886 and his birth was registered at Keighley in the third quarter of that year.
His parents were James and Sarah Ann Lund née Wilkinson. James and Sarah had been married in 1873 in Oakworth. He was employed as a twister (textile trade) and they were living at Haggas Fould(sic) in Keighley when Albert was born and he was baptised in Keighley on 30th September 1888 along with his younger brother Arthur who had been born in March that year.
In the 1891 census Albert was aged four and living with his father James a warp twister aged 42, mother Sarah aged 38, plus his siblings Willie aged 17 and a worker in a worsted piece room; Margaret aged 14, John E. aged 13 and Frank aged 11 who were all employed as a spinners and since the house was owned by John Haggas who also owned Ingrow Mill across the street, it's almost certain that's where they were all employed. What's also noticeable is that the youngest child Arthur is missing from the census, because he had died aged just under one year in 1889.
By the 1901 census Albert was 14 and living at 12, Haggas Street, Spring Bank, Ingrow, Keighley, with his parents and older brother William aged 17. They also had three younger children, Maurice aged seven, Mary E. aged 1 and Lillian aged 2 months. Father James was still a warp twister, William a woolcombing overlooker and Albert was a doffer at a worsted Mill, probably at Ingrow Mills.
Children leaving work at Ingrow Mill in 1908.
Albert married Annie Loftus at Keighley Parish Church on 21st March 1908. He was 21 and a labourer of 1, Shed Street in Keighley and Annie was 20 and a spinner of 156, Westgate in Keighley. It's notable that both Albert and his father James are labourers, suggesting something had happened to change their employment situation.
James and Annie's son Maurice was born on 17th August 1908 six months after they were married. He was followed by John, born 29th March 1910.
In the 1911 census Albert and Annie were living at 303 South Street, Keighley. Albert was a yarn finisher in mohair spinning (probably for Charles Hanson of Fleece Mills in Keighley,) the census states they'd been married for three years and had two sons, Maurice aged three and John aged one.
Their next child was Amy, born on 16th January 1912.
Albert and Annie Lund, probably taken 1915 or 1916.
War service:
Albert enlisted at Skipton in early 1915, the date was alluded to in the Keighley News, but also estimated to be April 1915 by the war gratuity, which is based on the amount paid to Annie, calculated by his length of service and rank, plus the date of death on 12th April 1918. (details below)
Their fourth child born was Edward, born on 17th March 1917. Assuming Edward had reached full term at birth, Albert had been allowed home on leave sometime around July 1916.
Keighley News 29th September 1917, page 3:
Private Albert Lund, West Riding Regiment, of 303, South Street, Keighley, has been admitted to a base hospital suffering from gas poisoning.
WO 95/2801/4 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment - war diary April 1918:
The Battle of the Lys (4th Ypres).
They were operating to the South of Bailleul at this time. Merris : parts of 27 S.E. 28 S.W. 36A N.E. 36 N.W. This map was published a little later but the relevant locations can be seen on it, just south of Bailleul.
Cross Roads S.27 cont.
12th. 8 a.m.
Breakfasts were served by two cookers at about 8 AM and situation appeared very quiet.
9.45 a.m.
At 9.45 a.m. orders were received to push out a patrol to Ac&c and A.2.d. (*orders map attached) to verify presence of enemy in strength near BLANC MAISON and to clear up the situation which was very obscure, & 15 O.R. including Cpls GIBSON & GREEN went off & reported various parties under officers were withdrawing. The Patrol arrived back near position of our bivouacs at about 11.45 a.m. & reported that the enemy could be seen about A.14.a. that we held the cemetery in A.7.b. but that our defences & outpost line were practically non existant.
S.27 cont.
12.15 p.m.
At about 12.15 pm orders were received to establish line of the BECQUE de la FLANCHE. (this was a stream)
B Coy remained in reserve & the other three Coys were sent off to establish above line. A on Right C to Centre, D left., eventually some time later A Coy established their right post just astride the Railway. (S25 cont. SHEET 28. about 300 yards West of BAILLEUL STATION & got in touch with troops on their right, and C Coy on left D Coy were in touch with 16th R.S. & these was a small part of 11th Suffolks under an officer between C and D. our 7th Battalion were also a little mixed up with D Coy. - Roughly the line of the BECQUE was established & dug in during the night.
During the early afternoon of the 12th Capt. K. Ogston was seriously wounded in the thigh by M.G. Bullet.
Throughout the afternoon of the 12th the line was continuously shelled and TM'd & Heavy M.G. fire put down on it. It was particularly intense on the left.
Private Albert Lund was killed during this period. Captain Kenneth Ogston died of his wounds later, he was also from Keighley.
Keighley News 11th May 1918, page 3:
Private Albert Lund, West Yorkshire*(sic) Regiment, of 303 South Street, Ingrow, who before enlistment about three years ago was employed by Mr Charles Hanson, Fleece Mills, Keighley, was killed in action on April 12. Two brothers are serving and two brothers-in-law have been killed. Private Lund leaves a widow and four children.
[*Actually the West Riding Regiment]
Post war:
Albert was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service, which would have been sent to Annie after the war, along with a Bronze memorial plaque and King's certificate inscribed with his name. These usually arrived in 1920 or 1921. She would also have received his personal effects, if there were any.
The soldier's effects record sheet gives details of Albert's outstanding Army pay, from which a payment was made to Annie of £6 6s 9d on 25th July 1918 and a possible further payment of £2 18s 0d on 7th October 1918.
Annie also received a war gratuity of £14, paid on 25th November 1919.
Annie was also given a War Widow's and Dependant's Pension. The award proposed was for 33s 9d per week which comprised 13s 9d for herself and 20s 0d. for the four children. The payments began on 4th November 1918. The amount was raised on 26th August 1920 to 56s 2d per week.
Each child's allowance was due to expire on their 16th birthday. At the time she was still living at 303 South Street, Ingrow.
In the 1921 census Annie was in hospital, but the children Morris aged 12, John aged 11, Amy aged 9 and Edward aged 4, were being looked after by their 63 year old grandmother Mary Loftus (written as Lofthouse.) at 303 South Street.
Annie remarried, to Arnold Bower who was from Sheffield.
Arnold died in 1938.
Annie was living at 38, Broomhill Grove in the 1939 Register with possibly two of her children, now grown up. She died in 1941 aged 51.
Remembrance:
Albert has no known final resting place and is named on the West Riding Regiment panels 82 to 85, at Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.
Here in Keighley he is also named on the stone Ingrow War Memorial which is in front of St. John's Church, but not on either of the framed and glazed memorials inside St. John's Church.
Please note: The Loftus name appears as Lofthouse in several records. It is actually Loftus.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
West Yorkshire, Non-Conformist Records, 1646-1985
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935
England & Wales Births 1837-2006
1911 England Census
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
British Armed Forces, First World War Widows' Pension Forms
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library
National Archives - Great War diaries.
1921 Census Of England & Wales
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
National Library of Scotland mapping service.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
1939 England and Wales Register
With special thanks to Eddie Kelly for information and the photograph.
