DARBY, Albert

Albert Darby was married to Nessie and lived at 93 Collis Street, Amblecote. He was employed as a glass-cutter at Messrs. Wilkes of Dudley. He enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment in April 1916 and was sent to the 2nd Battalion. They had been fighting on the Somme and in early 1917 moved to the Arras front for the Spring attacks on the Hindenburg Line. Albert Darby was wounded twice but returned to front line fighting. He had a short leave in the autumn and rejoined the Staffords who were preparing for the Battle of Cambrai. On the 20th November major gains were made with the help of tanks and the Staffords moved to the front line to meet the expected counter-attack. The conditions were very difficult and the German barrage in preparation for their attack was intensive. The attack came on the 30th and much of the ground gained was lost. Private Albert Darby was severely wounded and taken to a Casualty Clearing Station where he died of wounds on the 5th December. He was 24 years of age and is buried in the Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery and commemorated on the Amblecote Memorial. Memorial Notice ‘Fondly remembered by mother and dad, brothers and sisters’ December 1919 Upright and just in all his ways Honest and faithful all his days a loving son, a brother kind Faithful he lived, stainless he died May heavenly winds blow softly O’er his distant grave To us it is a hallowed spot To which our memory clings.