MORLEY, Albert

Albert Morley was born and bred in Wollaston and was apprenticed to his father, a parchment maker. He married Mary Stinton in 1909 and they lived at 14 Cobden Street, Wollaston. He enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment and joined the 2nd Battalion in the 8th Division. This unit had been fully involved in the battle of the Somme during 1916 and in the advance to the Hindenburg Line in March 1917. It then moved to Flanders to be in the front line for the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres. In this attack on 31st July the Middlesex were in the vanguard and attacked over the Bellewaerde Ridge south of Ypres. Although some ground was gained, losses were heavy. They were withdrawn for reinforcements and returned on 16th August to attack the even stronger German defences at Westhoek. German pill boxes were hard to capture and counter attacks were frequent. Losses were again heavy and among the killed in action was Private Albert Morley. He was 32 years of age and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot, Stourbridge and Wollaston church Memorials.