Name
Albert (Bertie) Blewitt
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/05/1915
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14276
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 10 and 11.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Christ Church Memorial, Watford, Benskin's Brewery Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of William Walter and Annie Rebecca (nee WOOLDRIDGE) BLEWITT.
His parents married 23 September 1888 at St Edmund’s, Dudley, Staffs. William died 31 January 1903 near Rotherham, Yorks, and was buried 8 February 1903 at Dudley. Ann remarried 1907 in the Dudley district to Alfred Thomas ROBINSON. She died 1960 aged 89; Alfred died 1954 aged 79; both in the Rowley Regis, Staffs, district.
Albert was born 1897 in Dudley, and resided in Brierley Hill, Staffs.
On the 1901 Census, aged 4 he lived in Dudley, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, at school aged 14, he lived in Watford, with his maternal grandparents.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 17 March 1915, and was either killed or died of wounds received in action.
The Battle of Festubert had commenced 16 May 1915, in which the whole Battalion was involved. ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies on vacating the trenches to the assault were met by heavy shrapnel, machine gun and rifle fire. ‘A’ and ‘D’ Companies formed up in support, moving up into new line as places were vacated by ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Albert’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
