Pte 26366 Albert Whittle

• Age: 20
• From: Astley, Lancashire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 15th September 1916
• Commemorated at: Bernafay Wood Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: M.46

Albert Whittle was born in the third quarter of 1895 in Astley, Lancashire. His mother's maiden name is recorded as Harris.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 10 Ditchfield Street, Leigh.  His mother, whose name is not recorded on the census other than as Mrs Whittle, is a widow aged 40, born 1861 in Dukinfield, Cheshire  with no occupation listed. She is living with her five children, Joseph aged 14, born 1887 occupation cotton reeler who also born in Dukinfield, Martha aged 9, born 1892, John H aged 7, born 1894, Albert aged 5, and Beatrice aged 1, born 1900.

He enlisted in Leigh and he was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 26366 when he was killed in action on the 15^th September, 1916 aged 20 during the Somme offensive.

He now rests at Bernafay Wood British Cemetery, France.

The cemetery was begun by a dressing station in August 1916 and used as a front-line cemetery until the following April. It contained at the Armistice 284 burials but was then increased when graves were brought in from Bernafay Wood North Cemetery and from the battlefields immediately east of the wood.  Bernafay Wood British Cemetery now contains 945 burials and commemorations of the First World War, 417 of which are unidentified.

He is commemorated on the following 

Westleigh War Memorial

Priestner’s Pit Memorial

Leigh War Memorial.

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