Pte 52805 Albert Kirkham

• Age: 22
• From: Preston, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 15th November 1916
• Commemorated at: Warlincourt Halte Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: III.E.7

Albert was born in the March quarter of 1894 in Preston and was the son of Peter Prestwich Kirkham and his wife Mary (née Holden) who married in 1885 in a Preston area Register Office. The family was Wesleyan.

In 1901 the family lives at 53 Ellen Street, Preston. His father is 39, a cotton spinning overlooker, brothers Herbert, 14, and Edward, 13, also work in the cotton mill. Sydney is 9, Albert 7 and Robert 4. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 272 Plungington Road Preston. His father, Peter is aged 49, born 1862 in Catterall and is a Mule Overlooker in the cotton trade, whilst his mother, Mary, is aged 49, born 1862 in Preston as were all of their children. They had been married for 25 years and they had seven children of which one had died. Herbert aged 24 born 1887, Edward aged 23, born 1888 and Sydney aged 19, born in 1892 all work in the cotton industry. Albert aged 17, born 1894 works as a shop assistant in an ironmongers store, Robert aged 14, born 1897 is an apprentice in the cycle trade and Doris aged 8, born 1903 is of school age.

He enlisted in Southport and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance-Corporal No 52805 when he died of wounds on the 15th November, 1916, aged 22, during the Somme Offensive. Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, Albert enlisted in about March 1915.

He now rests at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, France, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“ONE OF THE BEST”

The site of the cemetery was chosen in May 1916. It was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, in February 1917 by the 1/1st South Midland, and from April to June 1917 by the 32nd. The whole of plots VII, VIII, IX and X were filled in April and May 1917, the months of the Battles of Arras. From June 1917, the cemetery was practically unused until the fighting of May and June 1918, when field ambulances buried in it. After the Armistice the cemetery was increased by graves brought in from other smaller cemeteries.

The cemetery now contains 1,266 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 29 German and two French war graves.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

He was reported killed in the Manchester Evening News  on 16th December 1916:

SOUTHPORT

Pte ALBERT KIRKHAM King's Liverpools, Kensington Road, killed. 

He is also commemorated on the Preston Roll of Honour.