Albert Bann To tell a story is the only way we have left to remember and the only way to pass it on…. And it is important to pass it on

This is the story of my and Oscar’s Great Great Grandfather and his involvement in the 1 st World War ‘The Great War’

Albert Bann was born on the 19 th November 1886 in Salford, near the centre of Manchester…

His family eventually moved to Ashton Under Lyne in Lancashire where he became a butcher and married his wife Lily Roberts

Albert had three daughters Annie, Lilian and Hilda ( but no dog, I’m not sure where that came from )

In 1914 Germany invaded Belgium and declared war on France, two days later Great Britain declared war on Germany. Although Britain had a large army they needed more men!

Albert Bann signed up to fight in November 1914 He joined The King’s Royal Rifle Corps 8 th Battalion and fought with the 18 th Battalion Some of his Regiment

He was a rifle bomber part of an elite group of soldiers who would attack enemy machine guns

Albert was sent to Belgium with his Battalion. He fought in some of the worst fighting of the War at Ypres, near Hill 60.

Whilst in Belgium, Albert sent some postcards home to his daughter Annie. To My Daughter Annie Let your teacher see this card my dear Daddy

My Dear Daughter This is the flag I am fighting for and it is very nice. Just be a good girl and then I shall soon be home Dada

…and this card to his wife Lily Cheer Oh (Goodbye) Albert

Albert was issued with a New Testament bible which he would have kept in his top pocket, there was a small space inside to write, so he kept a diary Aug 26 th Received congratulations from The King for our work in the line The 41 st Brigade KRR

At the front of the bible there was a message from Lord Roberts I ask you to put your trust in god. He will watch over you and strengthen you. You will find in this little Book guidance when you are in health, comfort when you are in sickness and strength where you are in adversity

In the Spring of 1918 the German army advanced on the Armies of Britain and their allies, in what was called the ‘Big Push’ Albert was once again in the firing line at the front

On August 23 rd 1918 Albert and two other soldiers in his battalion were killed in action at Ypres

The other two soldiers Lance Corporal William Small & Rifleman Charles Manners were buried side by side near the battlefield, but Albert’s body was never found to be buried

His name is inscribed on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing in Belgium along with 35,000 other soldiers who have no graves

Albert Bann

This is the letter Sent to Albert’s family with his medals Star Which would have been conferred upon Private A Bann had he lived in memory of his services with the British Forces during The Great War I am forwarding the Decoration I am commanded by the King to assure you of His Majesty’s high appreciation of the services rendered.

In September this year my family received an from a lady trying to trace the family of Rifleman Albert Bann who died 23 rd August 1918

The lady’s name is Pamela and her father Gilbert Draper found Albert’s bible on the battlefield 96 years ago, when Gilbert was just 17 years old Gilbert Draper

The bible meant a great deal to Gilbert so he brought it home with him. He tried to find the relatives of Albert to give it back to them. Even going to the address written in the front of the book

Lily and the three girls had now moved to Fleetwood, Lancashire and no longer lived at that address. Gilbert found Albert’s name on the war memorial in Ashton Under Lyne and realised that he hadn’t come home from the war

Gilbert died 50 years ago. His daughter Pamela decided she too would try and find Albert’s Family, but it was only recently on the anniversary of the outbreak of World War I that she searched the internet for his name….

…. She found this remembrance message from my dad

Last month Pamela finished the journey her father always wanted to make and took the bible the rest of the way home…

A few weeks ago over 9,000 Belgium people lit torches to mark the battlefields in their country In their own words ‘With endless gratitude, you gave us freedom, we honour you with light’