Pte 51921 Albert Myers Redfern

• Age: 39
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Huts Cem, Dickebusch
  Panel Ref: I.B.6

Albert Myers Redfern was born on January 30th 1878 in Liverpool and was the son of Jane Myers and Francis Redfern who married in Holy Trinity, Liverpool in August 1866. Albert was baptised in March 1878 at St Saviours, Everton, those records show the family living at 38 Fowler Street and that Francis was a warehouseman by trade.

The 1881 Census records the family living at the same address. Francis was 36 years old and had been born in Wormhill, Derbyshire, Jane was 37 and was born in Gosforth, Cumberland. The couple had five children – Edith aged 14, William Henry 12, George 10, Jane 5 and Albert was 3 years old.

By 1891 the family live at 11 Northumberland Terrace, Everton.

Albert’s brother William is now working as a shop assistant and the other children are all living at home including Frederick aged 9 and Harriet aged 5 who had been born since the last census. William sadly died at the age of 27 in 1896. Albert’s siblings Edith married in 1893 and George in 1895 and were living with their own families by the next census.

By 1901 Francis and Jane are living with three of their children, Jane, Frederick and Harriet, at 43 Mould Street, Scotland Road.

Francis is now a team owner – a carter who works for himself. Albert is working as a carter on the docks and has moved out of his parents home and is now living as a boarder in the home of William and Emma Hesketh, a couple in their 40s who have three children. Their address is 9 St Anthony’s Place, Scotland Road.

Albert is still living with the Hesketh family now at 95 Sandy Lane, Walton. He’s working as a general labourer. His parents are still living at 43 Mould Street with their three unmarried children. The census records that they’ve been married for 44 years and that Jane has borne 8 children, 2 of which have died. Albert’s father died in 1912.

Albert enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 51921 when he died of wounds on the 31st July 1917 aged 39 on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as the Battle of Passchendaele.

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17th Battalion on the left, and the 20th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21st and 90th Brigades were still pinned down and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.

During the action and their time in the line the 17th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds, and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3rd -4th August.

He now rests at Huts Cemetery, Dikebusch, Belgium, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“EVER REMEMBERED”

This cemetery takes its name from a line of huts strung along the road from Dickebusch (now Dikkebus) to Brandhoek, which were used by field ambulances during the 1917 Allied offensive on this front. Plots I to X and XII to XIV were filled between July and November 1917. Plots XV and XI followed. Nearly two-thirds of the burials are of gunners as many artillery positions existed nearby.

The cemetery was closed in April 1918 when the German advance (the Battle of the Lys) brought the front line very close. The advance was finally halted on the eastern side of the village, following fierce fighting at Dickebusch Lake, on 8 May.

There are now 1,094 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Reported died of wounds in the Liverpool Daily Post 7th Sept 1917

Liverpool R. - Redfern, 51921, A.M.;

Albert is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

St John the Evangelist Church, Walton, Liverpool

Emmanuel C of E Church, Fazakerley, Liverpool.

A year after his death the Liverpool Echo carried the following notice:

Redfern – In loving memory of Private Albert Myers Redfern K.L.R. killed in France July 31st 1917 dearly beloved fourth son of the late Francis Redfern, team owner of this city, and of Jane Redfern, 2 Haddon Avenue, Orrell Park, Liverpool. (Deeply regretted by all who knew him)

Albert named Emma Hesketh as his sole legatee on Soldiers Effects, his Pension went to his mother Jane, 2 Haddon Avenue, Orrell Park.

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