2nd Lieut Albert Charles Bigg

• Age: 25
• From: Seacombe, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Albert Charles was born on the 8th September 1891 in Seacombe, the son of Charles John Bigg and his wife Elizabeth (nee Holding) who married at St James's Church in Toxteth on 9th November 1890. Albert Charles was baptised at St Peter's Church in Liverpool on 27th September 1891. His father was a Mariner born in London whilst his mother was born in Liverpool. 

He was the first born of 8 children, his siblings were; George (died aged 1), Ethel,  Eva, Ettie, Henry, Jessie and Arthur.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 16 Lamson Street and his father is employed as a Dock Gateman. 

By 1911 the family are living at 67 Adelaide Street, Everton. Albert now 19 is shown as single and working as a Shipping Clerk.

Albert Charles enlisted in Liverpool joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16640. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

He received a Commission and was serving as 2nd Lieutenant when he was killed in action on 31/07/1917 during the opening day of the Battle of Passchendaele. He was 25 years of age. 

He does not appear by name in the Battalion War Diary until the day of his death, near Ypres, on 31st July 1917.

18^th Battalion

On this day, before Zero Hour, the 18^th Battalion was part of 21^st Brigade and was to form up for the attack from trenches from the area of Sanctuary Wood to Observatory Ridge but it was dark and continually falling rain gave very poor visibility. The departure of the 21^st Brigade was delayed by heavy shelling.

The 18^th King’s began to move forward in the rear of the 2^nd Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment who had been detailed as the left attacking battalion of the 21^st Brigade.

No’s 1 and 3 Companies of the King’s led the way followed by No’s 2 and 4. In Sanctuary Wood there was considerable confusion, as a result No.2 and No.4 Companies became separated from the others, and were moved over to the left flank towards positions known as Surbiton Villas and Clapham Junction in the direction of the 90^th Brigade.

No.1 and 3 Companies were soon in action with the enemy, and were for a time, held up against an enemy strong point. They pushed forward with their right on a trench known as Jar Row and their left on the tramway south of Stirling Castle. Advance along Jar Row was held up by the Germans who put up a fierce resistance and the party was forced to withdraw.

Another group of men from No.1 and No.3 Companies led by 2^nd Lieutenant Graham were being held up by another strongpoint which was south of Stirling Castle, which was eventually stormed and taken.  Not far away from this action,  an attempt, by other men of No.1 and No.3 companies, was made to penetrate a broad belt of uncut wire, but this was covered by Machine-guns which killed almost every man attempting to pass through the two gaps that were discovered.

The situation was similar with No.2 and 4 Companies, who had attacked along the wrong axis. Their advance was met with fierce opposition, and once all the experienced officer’s had been killed or wounded, all cohesion was lost, although some men did reach and cross the Menin Road at Clapham Junction.

By that time, the situation had become extremely confused, and the whereabouts of all four companies being unknown to Battalion Headquarters, urgent attempts were made to discover their locations. Eventually by mid- afternoon, it was established that the bulk of the companies, although all mixed together, were dug in the vicinity of Stirling Castle and by mid evening, the Battalion Headquarters moved forward to meet them.

During its time in the line the 18^th Battalion lost 7 officers and 76 men killed or died of wounds and 7 officers and 177 men wounded. They were relieved on the 2^nd August.

On that day, before Zero Hour, which was at 04.00am, the Battalion was to form up for the attack in Sanctuary Wood, but it was dark and continually falling rain gave very poor visibility. As a result, No.2 and No.4 Companies became separated from the others, and were moved over to the left flank towards positions known as Surbiton Villas and Clapham Junction.

No.1 and 3 Companies were soon in action with the enemy, and were for a time, help up against a strong point until the German defenders withdrew. Following this, an attempt was made to penetrate a broad belt of uncut wire, but this was covered by Machine-guns which killed every man attempting to pass through the two gaps that were discovered. The party was led by Captain R P Heywood MC, but once he had been wounded the advance came to a halt.

The situation was similar with No.2 when they were faced with fierce opposition, and once all the experienced officers had been killed or wounded, all cohesion was lost, although some men did reach and cross the Menin Road at Clapham Junction.

By that time the, the situation had become extremely confused, and the whereabouts of all four companies being unknown to Battalion Headquarters, urgent attempts were made to discover their locations. Eventually, by mid afternoon, it was established that the bulk of the companies, although all mixed together, were dug in, in the vicinity of Stirling Castle and by mid evening the Battalion Headquarters moved forward to meet them. Casualties at the time were assessed were fourteen officers and two hundred and fifty other ranks. It was subsequently established that seven officers and seventy six other ranks had been killed. Second Lieutenant Bigg was one of them. He was aged twenty five.

His body was not found and identified after the war and he is Commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing of the Salient, at Ypres.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Albert Charles was engaged to be married. His fiancee placed a poignant message in the Liverpool Echo on 10th August, 1917:

"Beloved Fiance of Ethel Porter (one of God's best). Deeply mourned by all at 65 Kelso Road, Fairfield".

Liverpool Echo 20th Aug 1917

BIGG - Mr and Mrs C. Bigg (and fiancee Ethel Porter) wish to thank all friends for letters and kind sympathy shown them in their recent sad bereavement. - 67 Adelaide Street, Everton.

Liverpool Echo 31st July 1918

BIGG - In fond remembrance of Sec-Lieut. ALBERT C. BIGG (Pals), who was killed in action July 31, 1917. (His duty nobly done). Sincerely mourned by his Parents, Sisters and young Brothers, also his fiancee Ethel Porter, 67 Adelaide Street.

Soldiers Effects to mother Mrs Elizabeth Bigg, a pension record exists but has no award

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