L/Cpl 22676 Albert Dunstan

• Age: 29
• From: Rotherham, Yorks
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 20th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Albert Dunstan was born in Rotherham on 01st October 1887 the son of Arthur Dunstan and his wife Ellen Ann (nee Ward). His parents married in the June quarter of 1884.  He was baptised at Rotherham Minster on 23rd November 1887.

The 1891 Census records Albert's age as 4 and he is living with his parents and younger sister at West Bar in Sheffield. His father is 30 years of age, a tailor, having been born in Chapeltown, Yorkshire in 1861, whilst his mother shown as Ellen Ann is 24 born in Stannington, Yorkshire. His sister Gertrude is aged 1 having been born in Rotherham like Albert.

By 1901 the family have moved back to Rotherham and are living at Back Street, Treeton. Both parents are present and his father is now a domestic gardener. Albert is also living with five siblings; Charlotte aged 16 and Gertrude aged 11 were born in Rotherham whilst Mabel aged 9, Ethel aged 6 and James W. aged 2 were born in Sheffield.

The 1911 Census shows Albert is a gardener boarding with the Hughes family at Star Crossing, Cilcain, near Mold. He is aged 22 born Rotherham. His family are living at Bridgehouse, Meltham. His parents are both present and declare that they have been married for 26 years and have had seven children, two of whom sadly died. Four siblings are in the household; Charlotte 25, Mabel 19, Ethel 15 and James William Arthur aged 12.

Albert enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 22676.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th 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 arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He had reached the rank of Lance Corporal when he was killed in action on the 20th October 1916 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

SDGW states he was born Rotherham, residence Huddersfield, enlisted Liverpool

This is backed up by the Huddersfield Daily Examiner 1st Dec 1916

KILLED

King's Liverpool Regiment - Lance-Corporal A. Dunstan (22676)

Albert is commemorated on the following Memorials:

St Bartholomew’s Church, Meltham

Christ Church, Helme.

His father died in the September quarter of 1942 aged 82.

His mother died in the December quarter of 1944, aged 77

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