Name
Albert Arthur Kirchin (MM)
1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1916
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
15003
Leicestershire Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HEILLY STATION CEMETERY, MERICOURT-L'ABBE
IV. I 35.
France
Headstone Inscription
UNTIL THE DAY BREAK
UK & Other Memorials
Ashwell Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Ashwell, Ashwell Merchant Taylors School Roll of Honour (LOST)(*1)
Pre War
Albert Arthur Kirchin was born in Biggleswade, Beds in 1892, the son of Arthur and Harriett Kirchin (nee Topham) and baptised on 8 September 1892 in Biggleswade. He was one of six children and was educated at Merchant Taylors School, Ashwell.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Dove Cottages, Ashwell, where his father was working as a gardener domestic. By 1911 Albert had moved to Chesterford Park, Saffron Walden, Essex and was also working as a gardener domestic. His parents later lived at The Springs, Ashwell.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Guildford, Surrey on 4 September 1914 and joined the Leicestershire Regiment, serving with the 9th Battalion in France from 27 July 1915.
He was awarded the Military Medal on 2 June 1916 for gallantry and devotion to duty under fire, and was appointed Lance Corporal (unpaid) on 7 August 1916.
Albert received a gun shot wound to the abdomen on 25 September 1916 and was admitted to the 38th Casualty Clearing Station where he died of his wounds on 27 September 1916, aged 24. He is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-Le'Abbe, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £8 10s but no pay was owing. Pension cards exist with his father as dependant but give no indication if a pension was awarded.
*1 The memorial is currently ‘lost’ but as this man has a connection with the school, he is likely to be on the memorial.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson, www.ashwellmuseum.org.uk
