Name
(Albert) Gordon Welling
19 Oct 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/11/1914
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
10023
East Lancashire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 5 and 6.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
St John the Baptist Church Memorial, Aldbury, Aldbury Peace Memorial Institute Memorial, Aldbury Not on the Tring memorials
Pre War
Albert Gordon Welling was born in Aldbury, Berkhamsted on 19 Oct 1893, son of George Welling a Domestic Gardener and Christina Welling (nee Hay). One of their three children. His parents were married in May 1889, in Aldbury Herts.
He was Baptised Albert Gordon Welling on 3rd December 1893, in the Parish of Aldbury, Herts.
On the 1901 Census, Albert aged 7, is living with his parents, sisters Naomi (11) and Ivy (9), at the rear of The Trooper Inn, Aldbury, Herts. His mother Christina died in 1907, aged 49.
Gordon (or George as he was named in some records) enlisted in mid-1909, in the East Lancashire Regiment and issued with the service No’s. 9931, on enlistment, in February 1910, 10196 and finally 10023.
On the 1911 Census, recorded as Gordon aged 17, was listed as a Drummer in the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, stationed at, Inkerman Barracks, Knaphill, Woking, Surrey.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Gordon, who was probably still serving as a Regular Soldier when the Great War commenced in August 1914. The 1st Battalion were part of 11 Brigade 4 Division who were originally preparing to defend East Anglia coast when they were deployed to France, landing at le Havre on 22 Aug 1914 ( Gordon included) and arrived with the British Expeditionary Force just in time to take part in the Battle of le Cateau (26th August 1914) and the continuing retreat to the Battles of Marne (7-10 Sep), Aisne (12-15 Sep) and Armentieres (13 Oct-2 Nov).
Gordon was reported killed in action on 3rd November 1914, aged 21. His remains were not recovered; he is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the missing in Belgium. Panel 5 & 6.
Additional Information
His effects of £11-00s-14d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £5, was shared equally between his sisters Naomi and Ivy. The effects register records him as George Welling, Alias Gorden.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
