Albert James Kitchen
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Albert James Kitchen was born in 1892 in India and was the son of Alfred James a soldier and general labourer and Alice Kitchen of 19 Smith Street New Balderton and was born in Muzaffarpur, India while his father Alfred was in the Army, his father was in the National Reserve and had served for 34 years in the 17th Lancers, the “Death or Glory Boys” including 28 years and 6 months in India and the N.W. Province and Oudh Volunteeres and National Reserve and rejoined in 1914. His parents appear to have married in India and had the following children, Augustine b1890, Albert James b1892 and Frederick b1901 all were born in India. In the 1911 census the family are living at 19 Smith Street, Balderton and are shown as Alfred Joseph Kitchen 50 yrs a general labourer, he is living with his wife Alice 40 yrs and their children Augustine 20 yrs a plaster labourer, Albert 19 yrs a plaster labourer and Frederick 10 yrs a scholar. They state they have been married for 20 yrs and have had 3 children.
Private Albert James Kitchen enlisted in Newark on 29th October 1914 , he gave his age as 22 yrs and 7 months, he was living at 19 Smith Street, Balderton, he worked as a plasterer at Cafferata's Ltd, Balderton. He served with 'C' Coy 2/8th battalion Sherwood Foresters and went with them to Ireland during the Irish Rebellion. He was killed in action on 26th April 1916 during whilst taking part in an attack on 25 Northumberland Road, Dublin, his body was returned to his family and buried in St Giles Churchyard, Balderton . He was one of the 31 men of the Sherwood Foresters who died during the Irish Rebellion 1916.
On Saturday 3rd June 1916 the triple military funeral took place at St Giles, Balderton when the three members of the 2/8th battalion, Sherwood Foresters , Pte's George William Barks, Albert James Kitchen and Albert Edward Wood were laid side by side in the churchyard which was full of family friends workmates and comrades . His brother Pte. Augustine Kitchen, served with 1st Garrison Battalion, Notts & Derbys in Egypt, having enlisted at the outbreak of war. Article published in Newark Advertiser on 7th June 1916 :- Son of Alfred James Kitchen, 19 Smith Street, New Balderton. Joined the 2/8th Sherwood Foresters on Sept. 29th, 1914, previous to which he was employed by Messrs. Cafferata & Co. Killed in Dublin on April 27th. His father is himself in the National Reserve and served for 34 years in the 17th Lancers, the “Death or Glory Boys” and the N.W. Province and Oudh Volunteeres and National Reserve and rejoined in 1914.
