Albert Lane
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Albert was the eldest surviving son of John William and Alice Lane (née Searson). His father John William Lane was born in Denton, Leicestershire, in 1861 and his mother Alice Searson in Harlaxton in about 1863. They were married in 1884 and had six children, three of whom died in infancy or childhood: William b. 1886 d. 1887, Albert b. 1888, Annie b. 1890 and Arthur b. 1892 who both died in 1896 (reg. J/A/S), Aubrey b. 1895 and Alice b. 1897. All the children were born in Harlaxton. John William, a boiler maker's labourer, and Alice lived in Harlaxton after their marriage. In 1901 they were living at The Drift (or Drift Road) with their three surviving children, Albert (12), Aubrey (5) and Alice (3). They were still at the same address in 1911 but only Aubrey, a yardboy on a farm, and Alice were still living with their parents. Albert, a gardener, was working on the Coolhurst Estate in Horsham, Sussex, and living with another unmarried gardener in the Bothy, The Gardens. Alice snr. died in January 1923 and in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, her husband was living with their married daughter Alice (m. 1924 John H Christian), her husband and their three children in West Kesteven, Lincolnshire. John William Lane died in May 1944. Both Alice and John were buried in the churchyard of St Mary & St Peter, Harlaxton.
2nd Bn Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Albert Lane enlisted in Nottingham in September 1914 and on completion of basic training was drafted with the Battalion in March 1915 to serve with the BEF Mediterranean. He was killed in action on 25 April 1915 while serving in the Gallipoli campaign. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey (Panel 38 to 42 or 328). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of the Helles Memorial (extract): 'The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. On 6 August, further landings were made at Suvla, just north of Anzac, and the climax of the campaign came in early August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all three fronts. However, the difficult terrain and stiff Turkish resistance soon led to the stalemate of trench warfare. From the end of August, no further serious action was fought and the lines remained unchanged. The peninsula was successfully evacuated in December and early January 1916. The Helles Memorial serves the dual function of Commonwealth battle memorial for the whole Gallipoli campaign and place of commemoration for many of those Commonwealth servicemen who died there and have no known grave.' (www.cwgc.org)
WMR 59407: Harlaxton WW1 Roll of Service. Names include: Lane Albert, Lane Aubrey. The memorial is in Harlaxton Village Hall, Church Street, Harlaxton NG32 1HB. The village hall, also known as the memorial hall, is a WW1 Memorial (WMR93958). Grantham Journal, 12 June 1915: ‘Harlaxton Man Killed. Private Albert Lane. Mr and Mrs W Lane of The Drift, Harlaxton, have received the sad news that their son, Pte. Albert Lane, of the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action on the Gallipoli Peninsula, on May 14th (sic). Pte. Lane joined the 5th Battalion Royal Fusiliers on September 1st 1914, and was thus one of the earliest to answer his King and country’s call. He joined the Battalion at Hounslow, and was drafted to Dover, transferring to the 3rd Battalion. From thence, he formed part of a draft for the 2nd Battalion, and proceeded to Stockingford, Warwickshire, where he completed his training. On March 15th, he proceeded with his regiment to Malta, Egypt, and formed part of the Expeditionary Force to the Dardanelles, where he met a hero’s death, and Harlaxton, though mourning his loss, is proud that yet another of her sons has nobly done his duty. Much sympathy is felt for his parents, who are natives of the village.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: named his parents John William and Alice Lane of The Drift, Harlaxton. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother was his sole legatee. (CWGC 290501) Albert's younger brother Aubrey enlisted in Lincoln in 1915 and served in the 1st Bn Bedfordshire Regiment, 43870 Private (formerly 241449 Lincolnshire Regiment and 46388 Gloucestershire Regiment). He died of wounds at a Base Hospital in France on 26 October 1918 and is buried in Grevillers British Cemetery, France (grave ref. XVII.B.12). Grantham Journal, 9 November 1918: ‘Pte A Lane, Harlaxton. The death has occurred in France of Pte, Aubrey Lane, youngest and only surviving son of Mr and Mrs William Lane, The Drift, Harlaxton. The sad news was conveyed in a letter from the Sister-in-Charge of a base hospital, dated October 26th, saying he had been brought in a couple of days previously badly wounded in the hip and arm. She did not think he suffered greatly, and passed away in his sleep. A few weeks ago he was home on leave, well and cheerful. He joined the Lincolns in 1915, and was sent to Ireland the following year, being eventually transferred to the Bedfords, with whom he went to France. After returning from leave he was sent into the Gloucestershire Regiment, Of a genial, quiet disposition, Pte Lane was liked and respected by everyone, and the sympathy of all will be felt for his parents.’ (www.britishnnewspaperarchive.co.uk) WW1 Pension Ledgers (Aubrey): named his parents John William and Alice Lane of The Drift, Harlaxton. Registers of Soldiers' Effects (Aubrey): his father was his sole legatee. Medal Rolls Index Cards (Aubrey): British War Medal and Victory Medal.
