Name
Albert Victor Fox
11 Jul 1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/09/1918
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Rifle Brigade
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 16 B and 16 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial, Central Methodist Church Memorial, Letchworth
Pre War
Victor Albert Fox was born on 11 Jul 1888 (baptised 25 Jul 1888) in Bradford, Yorkshire to Stevenson Fox, printer, and Sabina Amelia (nee Gledhill).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, George (born 1878), Edith (born 1879), Margaret (born 1880) Thomas Percy (born 1885) and Albert V were living at 36. Cross Whitehouse Row, Hunslet, Leeds.
Albert’s Mother died in 1897.
On the 1901 Census father Stephenson, Thomas P (solicitor’s clerk), Albert V and Theodosia Scott (aunt, born 1845) were living at 8, Elam Street, Lambeth. He arrived in Letchworth in Apr 1909 – Manager at Letchworth Model Diaries.
Albert’s father died in 1910.
On the 1911 Census Albert (retail dairy farmer), Thomas (bank clerk) were living with Theodosia Scott at 141, Baldock Road, Letchworth.
Albert married Ethel Chapman in 1911 in Hitchin, there would be 3 children –Stephenson (bon 6 Jan 1912), Margaret (born 1913) and Charles Warnford (born 1915, died 1919). His widow later lived at 45, Beatty Avenue, Perth, West Australia.
Wartime Service
Albert enlisted in to the Bedfordshire Yeomanry (ser num 652) on 1st Mar 1911 in Biggleswade, Beds. As No Service records were found for Albert he probably gained his commission on 2nd Lieutenant in the 11th (Service) Battalion, Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) and went to France with them on 10 Jun 1915 as part of 59 Brigade, 20th (Light) Division. In 1916 the Division took part in the The Battle of Mount Sorrel, (2 - 13 Jun 1916) a local operation in Flanders which the Division recaptured the height with the Canadians Troops. At some time he was attached to 11 (Service) Battalion in the same Brigade. They were the moved to the Somme to take part in the Battle of Delville Wood (15 July – 3 Sep 1916) and The Battle of Guillemont (3 – 6 Sep 1916). He was posted as Missing on 3rd Sep 1916, his death being to be that day.
His Wife was informed of his death by Lt R S Purdy by letter, who was himself killed two days after Albert. He reported that Albert had been buried. In another letter was sent to Albert’s brother at The Rectory, Kirkby Thore, Penrith on October 23rd by Serjeant H P Walton it was suggested that he had been killed in one of the German trenches.
Additional Information
War gratuity of £10 10s and arrears of £44 11s 10d , together with probate of £432 17s 8d as paid to his executors.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Janet Capstick, Jonty Wild
