Pte 31631 Albert MacDonald

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 28th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Albert was born in Liverpool in April 1898 as Albert Knowles. He was the foster son of Louisa MacDonald. 

The 1901 Census shows Albert Knowles as the  two year old adopted son of Louisa MacDonald a widow living at 166 Tunnel Road, Edge Hill, Liverpool. Louisa is head of the household, she is 44 years of age born in Whitehaven, Cumberland in 1857. As well as Albert, Louisa has four daughters a nephew, a visitor and a boarder living at the property. Her daughters are listed as; Alice born in Whitehaven in 1879 and is a waitress, her three other daughters were born in Liverpool, Maggie aged 18 is a greengrocer's assitant, Annie aged 16 is a dressmakers apprentice and Ella aged 14. Her nephew is Joseph Dunningaged 17 born in Ulverston and employed as an iron moulder's apprentice. The  visitor is shown as Rose Gamble aged 5 and the boarder is recorded as Frederick Glover.      

The 1911 Census finds him listed as a boarder, aged 13 and living at 42 Longfellow Street, off Lodge Lane, Liverpool. Louisa is still head of the household though her age and date of birth have altered to having been born in Whitehaven in 1855 with her age listed as 56. Her son James is present and is listed as a general labourer (docks) born in Frizington, in 1878. Daughter Ella is now 25 years of age and a domestic servant. Also listed in the household is another boarder Harriet Cowman, a widow listedas a 50 year old music teacher born in Liverpool. 

He enlisted in Liverpool joining  the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 31631 Albert MacDonald. He was reported wounded in the local press on 12th December 1916. 

Albert was killed in action on the 28^th April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive. Details are contained in the battalion diary:

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. According to the battalion War Diary, on the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank.

Albert has no known grave and is commemorated as Albert MacDonald on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium. 

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

The family anguish is evident as Albert was originally posted as Wounded and Missing. Enquiries were made with the International Red Cross on 02nd August 1918 and again on 20th November 1918.

Soldiers Effects and Pension register shows they were issued to Louisa MacDonald, his foster mother and sole legatte on 23rd December 1919. Louisa was then living at 15 Pennington Cottages, High Street, Wavertree. A war gratuity had been previously issued on 13th September 1919.

Albert is commemorated in the book, "Clan Donald Roll of Honour 1914-1918".  

The dedication reads, 

"At the Call of Duty from the Four Corners of the Earth Came the Children of the Clan to Battle for the Right.

In many graves in many lands their gallant bodies sleep. Their spirits rest with God.

To their loved ones, bereaved of them, this Roll proclaims the price the Clan hath paid.  

A token it is also, bringing pride to lighten grief for lives so well laid down.

For this we know:  They yet shall live again."

We currently have no further information on Albert MacDonald, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.