Albert Wharton

Private Albert Wharton Worksop Guardian 9 April 1915Yet another Worksop man is to be placed on the Roll of Honour, Private Albert Wharton, forth son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Wharton of 146 Gateford Road, Worksop, who was attached to the Sherwood Foresters (Kitcheners Army). The deceased man, who was not quite 18 years of age, was killed at Neuve Chapelle , During the terrible fighting on March 15th. The sad news was conveyed to his parents by Private F West, of Sandhill Street, Worksop (also attached to the Sherwood Foresters), who was in the trenches at the side of Wharton when the unfortunate man was shot through the head. “I saw him killed”, he wrote, “and I buried him respectably as I could.” Official intelligence has been received. The poor man’s death is more sad inasmuch as he had only been in France for seven weeks. Mr and Mrs Wharton have two more sons at the front, vis., Corpl George Wilfred (of the Coldstream Guards) who has been there since the outbreak of war, and Tom (Kitchener’s Army) who has been in France for about a month, and is in readiness to take the places of his colleagues. By a peculiar and melancholy coincidence George was admitted to hospital on exactly the same day as his brother was killed owing to being “run down in health.” Comrades high tributePrivate West, in the course of a recent letter to Mr Wharton, the father of the deceased soldier, says “I have about recovered from my wound and I expect to be in the firing line again before long … I have missed Albert very much. He was with me all the time and will be very much missed. He was much liked by us all, and was a credit to you, his mother, and all related to or connected with him. He was a great favourite. He feared nothing. A good and willing lad, he was made of the right stuff that is required in the British Army just now. Full of fun, he was willing to do anything, never mind how dangerous. He was one of the best lads in the Battalion. We put him away as comfortably as we possibly could. I put over him a small wooden cross with his name and regiment on it. One of the officers read a short burial service over him. Poor fellow, he was killed himself three days later. Albert was hit on March 8th. He never spoke and did not for many seconds. Albert had just made a small fire and I was preparing to cook the breakfast, when the poor chap was hit. Your son Tom, left here (the Base Hospital at -------- ) just before I arrived. I shall look out for him and if I can Help him in any way you may rest assured I shall do so …. I hope to have the pleasure of telling you about it myself some day. Albert is buried near Neuve Chapelle.

Buried at Le Touret Memorial.Research by Colin Dannatt