Name
Albert James Yendell
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/09/1919
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
253298
Royal Field Artillery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ABBOTS LANGLEY (ST. LAWRENCE) CHURCHYARD
441. (N.E. Plot).
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Abbots Langley Village Memorial
Wartime Service
Biography
Albert Yendell’s Pensions Record stated that joined up on 12th February 1918 at Bedford, and was posted for duty at Woolwich. However he was listed in the Leavesden Asylum Roll of Honour which was published in the Hertfordshire Advertiser on 17th October 1914, and he was recorded for the first time in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in November 1914 serving with the Leicestershire’s. After that he was not recorded again in the monthly Roll of Honour published in the Parish Magazine. So maybe Albert enlisted early in the War and for some reason was discharged, and re-enlisted in February 1918 ?
Albert was born in Camden in 1882. He was one of three sons and one daughter born to William and Rosalie Yendell. William was an ex-Trooper, who in 1871 was living at the Hyde Park Barracks , but later worked as a China Warehouseman. Albert worked as a General Porter at Brook Hospital at the time of the 1901 Census. On 6th September 1902 he married Annie, and was living at 1A Asylum Road, Abbots Langley, and worked as an Asylum Attendant at Leavesden Asylum. The couple had three daughters between1903 and 1908, and Albert continued working at the Asylum until he enlisted – either early in the War or in February 1918.
On 6th April 1918 Albert was posted to the Signalling Section of the 56th Reserve Battalion, based at Woolwich, and then on 13th July 1918 he was posted to the 19th Reserve Battery, also based at Woolwich. It appears that he didn’t make it to France before the War ended in November 1918, but he remained in the Army at No 1 Royal Field Artillery Cadet School, awaiting de-mobilisation, and in the meantime qualified as a Signaller. He undertook a Medical Examination on 12th January 1919 at St John’s Wood, and on 11th February was discharged having been diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, which the Medical Board Report stated “was not attributed to the War, and not caused by it”.
He was sent home and later underwent another Medical Examination, which was published on 24th September 1919. He was declared Medical Category B1, and it was reported that the origin of his disability was from before he enlisted, and that the disability was not due to service in the present War. It went on to record that the disability had been aggravated by influenza, and that his present condition was extremely emaciated and that he was unable to get out of bed without assistance, and was coughing with expectoration. The Report recommended that Albert be discharged immediately as permanently unfit and 100% disabled. Albert died four days later and in February 1920 his wife, Annie, who was still living at 1A Asylum Road, was awarded a War Pension.
His death was recorded in November 1919 in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine –
“Albert James Yendall (sic) died on September 28th of disease contracted during the War, and is counted by the Military Authorities, as having died in the discharge of his duties. He suffered dreadfully from his terrible illness, which he bore with wonderful patience. He leaves a widow and three children, with whom we all sympathise, to mourn his loss”.
Albert’s brother, Thomas, also an Asylum Attendant, also served in and survived the War.
Albert Yendell was buried in the Churchyard at St Lawrence Church, Abbots Langley and was commemorated on the Abbots Langley War Memorial.
Additional Information
Albert is also commemorated on the family grave in Abbots Langley (Saint Lawrance) churchyard. The inscription reads:
“ALBERT JAMES YENDELL DIED. SEPT 30TH(*1) 1918 AGED 18 YEARS.
“PEACE PERFECT PEACE””
*1 this conflicts with his official date of death.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
