Pte Albert Victor Pay

Albert Victor Pay was born on 22nd June 1897, the son of Charles Frederick Pay and his wife  Ann Jane (née Evans). His parents, both born in Liverpool, married on the 8th Oct 1893 at St Saviours, Toxteth. Charles was a 22 year old dyer, father George, whilst Ann was aged 24, father Thomas, both of 294 Crown St. They had nine children, five of whom  sadly died in infancy. Albert was the eldest surviving child: Edith (died), Irene (died), Albert, George, Gladys (died) William, Hilda (died), Charles (died), and Ada. 

The 1901 census finds the family at 3 Granville Road, (off Smithdown Road, opposite Toxteth Park Cemetery). His father is aged 29, a laundry proprietor, employer, his mother, Ann, is 32 years of age. Albert is 3 and George is 1. They have a boarder, William Braddick, 24, laundry proprietor, and a visitor, Elizabeth Cross, 13, from Birkenhead. 

The 1911 Census shows the family are still living at 28 Royston Street, West Derby. His father is now 39 years of age, and is a licensed victualler assistant, his mother is 42 years of age. They advised that they had been married for 17 years and have had 9 children, only 4 of whom have survived. All four of their children are declared in the household; Albert 13, George 11, William 8, are at school, and Ada is 3.

Albert left school the following year, in March 1912, when he was 14, to work.

He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 02nd September 1914, joining 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16837. He gave his occupation as clerk. His stated age of 19 years and 72 days was two years older than his actual age, probably to ensure that he could serve overseas. He was described as being 5’ 6 and a half inches tall, weighing 138 lbs, 37” chest, with a fresh complexion, brown hair and eyes, and a scar on his left leg.  He gave, as next of kin, his father at 297 Smithdown Lane. One page of his record shows his religion as C of E whilst another states Baptist/Congregationalist.

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.

Whilst training at Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain, on 07th October 1915, for returning 70 hours late from leave, he was confined to barracks for 10 days and forfeited 3 days’ pay in addition to forfeiting leave. This was the first of multiple disciplinary infractions listed on his record, none of which occurred overseas.

Albert shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915 (he was 18 years old).

On 27th April 1916 while playing organised football instead of drilling, “to exercise their minds and bodies”, Albert was accidentally injured and admitted to No.10 General Hospital, Rouen, with a fracture of the left clavicle (collarbone), injury stated to be “trivial”, i.e. not serious.  Despite the “trivial” nature of the injury, Albert remained in the U.K. for one year.  Perhaps the authorities learned he was under age and delayed his return.

11/5/1916 evacuated to U.K. on Hospital Ship “St. Andrew”

03/7/1916 posted 21st (Reserve) Bn K.L.R.

05/8/1916 at Formby absent overnight, four days C.B. and forfeited one days’ pay.

01/9/1916 transferred to 16098, A Coy, 67 Training Reserve (Formerly 21st (Reserve) Battalion K.L.R., initially located at Altcar, service numbers prefixed TR/3, part of the 16th Training Reserve Brigade).

24/9/1916 drunk and incapable on Liverpool Exchange Station, 7 days C.B.

His record notes, “number of cases of drunkenness”

14/11/1916 transferred 2nd Garrison Bn Manchester Reg (No.35276)

02/12/1916 absent 3 days without leave, 7 days C.B., forfeited 2 days’ pay

27/12/1916 absent 11 hours, 3 days C.B., forfeited 1 day’s pay

01/01/1917 at Walton Vale absent without leave overnight for New Year, 7 days C.B. and forfeited two days’ pay

13/01/1917 at Walton, for being absent from tattoo, deprived of five days’ pay.

26/01/1917 transferred to 5th (Home Service) Garrison Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. His record also notes 67th (?) (16098) but dates unknown.

22/3/1917 transferred 3rd Bn K.L.R.

09/4/1917 at Cosheston (Pembrokeshire) seven days C.B. and forfeited two days’ pay for overstaying draft leave 19 hours.

On 24/4/1917 returned to France (24th I.B.D. Etaples). After his return to the front, there are no further disciplinary infractions on his record.

25/4/1917 posted to 11th Bn K.L.R.

13/5/1917 posted to 13th K.L.R.

Granted leave 14-28 February 1918

13/4/1918 wounded in action

15/4/1918 to 22nd General Hospital, shell wound scalp

19/4/1918 to I.B.D.

25/4/1918 rejoined unit.

He was killed in action with the 13th Battalion K.L.R. on the 31st August 1918, aged 21. Details of the action in which Albert Victor was killed were recorded in the Battalion diary as follows:

August 30 – At night time the battalion moved up in preparation for an attack on Ecoust.

August 31 – the Battalion attacked and were successful in obtaining their objective as also did the 1st Gordon Highlanders on their Left.  The Battalion on the Right flank, however, did not get their objective and this necessitated a withdrawal temporarily and subsequently the Battalion re-took the objective though suffering heavy casualties.

Estimated Casualties:  9 Officers, 200 Other Ranks. 

Albert now rests at Queant Road Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"AT REST"

Buissy was reached by the Third Army on 2 September 1918, after the storming of the Drocourt-Queant line, and it was evacuated by the Germans on the following day. Queant Cemetery was made by the 2nd and 57th Casualty Clearing Stations in October and November 1918. It then consisted of 71 graves (now Plot I, Rows A and B), but was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when 2200 graves were brought in from the battlefields of 1917-1918 between Arras and Bapaume.

There are now 2,377 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 1,441 of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to 56 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 26 casualties buried in German cemeteries in the neighbourhood, whose graves could not be found on concentration. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 20th September 1918:

PAY - August 31, killed in action, aged 21 years, Sig. ALBERT VICTOR (our Vic), K.L.R. (late Pals), beloved eldest son of Charles and A. J. Pay. - Deeply mourned by all at home; also brother George (R.A.F.).  Our heroes gone. - New Chatsworth Hotel, 297 Smithdown Lane.

PAY - August 31, killed in action, aged 21 years, Sig. ALBERT VICTOR, K.L.R., our beloved nephew. - Deeply regretted by his uncle and aunt Tom and Ada, 2 Agnes Street, Edge Hill.

He earned his three medals.

His father received Albert’s Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £19, as well his Memorial Plaque and Scroll. The pension card in the name of his mother at 297 Smithdown Road, and later his father at 310 Aigburth Road, shows a pension was awarded, amount not specified.

In 1919 his siblings George, 20, William, 17, and Ada, 12, are living at home with their parents at 297 Smithdown Lane.  

His parents, with William and Ada, are still living in Smithdown Lane in 1929.

By 1939 his parents have moved to 8-10 Wavertree Road, then the Edge Hill pub, where his father is the licensee, with daughter Ada. His brother George is a dentist in Liverpool and William is working as a clerk in an aircraft factory in Coventry.

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