Gunner Albert Ernest John Skilling
| Date of Birth | 19 January 1893 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 24 |
| Date of Death | 1 December 1917 |
| Service Number | 67263 |
| Military Service | Royal Garrison Artillery |
| Merton Address | 10 Chapel Road |
| Local Memorial | Mitcham War Memorial |
Additional Information
Albert Ernest John Skilling was born on 19th January 1893 to parents John an Agricultural Labourer and Mary Ann Ware. His parents had married on 3rd April 1892 and Albert was their first child. He was baptized on 5th March that same year at St. Peter and St. Paul in Mitcham. His sister Elsie was born two years later.
Albert’s mother died towards the end of 1896. His father remarried in 1899, and married Rose Ann Ware his sister-in-law.
In the census of 1901 Albert aged 8 is living with his grandparents John and Martha Skilling at Blue Houses in Mitcham. His father John and stepmother Rose and siblings Elsie 6, and one-month old William were living at 10 Chapel Road.
By 1911 the family are still at 10 Chapel Road. Albert’s father John is working as an Agricultural labourer at Mizen Brothers, Albert aged 18 is working as a market gardener and Elsie a Punnet maker. William was 10 and Mary aged 5. Albert had another sibling born in 1912 called Percy.
Albert aged just 19 married Annie Eliza Weight on 20th October 1912 his occupation was listed as a milkman and his address was 10 Chapel Road. Albert and Annie had two children: Gertrude born in 1913 and Hilda in 1916.
Albert enlisted with the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner on 13th November 1915 in Dover aged 22 and 298 days. He was given the service number 67263. At this time, he was living at 74 Milton Road, Margate working as a Milkman. He was described as being 5ft 9in tall with a chest measurement of 36 inches.
Albert was first posted abroad on 18th December 1915 just a month after joining up. Records also show that Albert embarked with the British Expeditionary Forces to Alexandria on 8th April 1916. He disembarked at Marseilles on 15th April 1916 with the 125th Heavy Battery.
Albert was injured and admitted to hospital on 6th October 1916. He was invalided to England on 7th October 1916 on the hospital ship St. Patrick. He rejoined his unit in the field on 27th April 1917. During 1917 Albert was injured on at least three occasions and returned to his unit each time he recovered.
Albert was killed in Action from on 1st December 1917 from Artillery fire whilst his unit was in the St.Julien area of Ypres Salient.
His name appears on Mitcham War Memorial and Albert is buried in St. Julien Dressing Station Cemetery west-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
His widow Annie received a pension of 25 shillings and 5p per week for herself and the two children with effect from 24th June 1918. At this time, she was living at 18 Chapel Road.
By 1921 Albert’s widow Annie was living with her two children and parents Charles and Annie at 2 Chanders Villas in Margate. Annie remarried and became Annie Blackman after marrying Charles on 9th June 1928. In 1939 she was back in Mitcham living at 16 Chapel Road.