HART, Albert

Albert Hart was the son of William and Hart of Mill Street, Halesowen. He worked as a bolt maker and enlisted in the Worcesters and joined the 4th Battalion. These men fought on Gallipoli in 1915, on the Somme in 1916, at Third Ypres in 1917 and were still in the Ypres area when the German Spring offensives started in 1918. The second offensive was on the River Lys and aimed once more at Ypres. The 4th were in reserve when the German attack began on the 9th April and were soon called up to defend the village of Neuve Eglise. The defence was almost desperate as the German commanders aimed to make their breakthrough in three days. The 12th was the decisive day and the British defence held out, although a retreat followed. Among the casualties on this day was Private Albert Hart who was 42 years of age and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert and Halesowen Memorials.