Gunner Albert Edward Marriott

Albert was born in St Giles, London on 24 October 1889 but was not baptised until he was 4 years old, on 3 September 1893. His family were living nearby at 4 Longs Court, St Martin in the Fields. The 1891 Census records that his father James was a Packer in a Sewing Cotton Warehouse, while his mother Florence was employed as a launderess. The couple had four children, Frederick 8, James 6, William 4 and Albert who was aged 1.

1901 saw the family move locally to 190 Shaftesbury Avenue, St. Giles, and the family had grown to include Florence 8 and Ada 4.

By 1911, the family had to moved south to 58 Cornwall Road, Lambeth. James had been promoted to Foreman at the Sewing Cotton Warehouse. The elder boys had left home, and a younger brother George aged 9 had joined the family. They household also included Florence’s sister and elderly mother. Albert was employed as a Clerk with the Daily Mail Newspaper.

Albert married Amy Edith Tranter Fisher at the Parish Church, Tooting on 19 September 1914. The address given was Kenlor Road, Tooting, so Albert’s family had moved again.

According to Albert’s Service Records, he had served with the 6th (City of London) Territorials from 1908 to 1912, so he was an old soldier by the outbreak of the 1st World War. He attested at Chelsea Town Hall on 6 November 1915, and his records state that he was 5ft 8ins in height, weighing in at 138 lbs.

He joined the Royal Garrison Artillery, 127th Siege Battery and was stationed at home until 8 August 1916, when the battalion were sent to Salonika. During World War I, British troops were part of a multi-national Allied force engaged in the Salonika campaign. This campaign took place between 1915 and 1918 in the Balkans, specifically in the region around Salonika (now known as Thessaloniki) in northern Greece. The goal was to aid Serbia against the combined attack of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria. They fought against Bulgarian Army and German, Austro-Hungarian and Turkish units. Living conditions for soldiers on both sides were harsh. Winter and summer brought extremes of climate and disease, especially malaria,which caused many more casualties than fighting.

On 21 December 1918, Albert was admitted to hospital in Salonika with malaria, but a week later was described as seriously ill with pneumonia. His condition worsened with a fresh attack of influenza and bronchitis and on 24 January he was returned to England on the hospital ship Dunlace Castle. He eventually died at a military hospital on Endell Street, London on 13 February 1919.

Albert was buried by his family at Streatham Cemetery, London, and is commemorated locally on the Mitcham War Memorial.

His widow Amy, who was living at Boundary Road, Colliers Wood at the time, received his last pay of £25.13.3 plus the War Gratuity of £19.00. She was also awarded a pension of 13 shillings and ninepence a week. Alberts personal effects were returned to her, which included a pocketbook, two New Testaments, two watches, mittens, cigarettes, scissors and various bathing accessories.