LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI
Private Albert W Wickens
1 Bn London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) posted to 11 Bn
Taken, Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS
Pte
Albert W Wickens
Royal Fusiliers
Ypres
Nov [sic] 11 1917
Once again the War Memorial may be in error.
The Parish magazine of November 1917 reports reports that Albert Wickens
was killed in action on 11 October 1917. Bearing in mind the time it would
take both to promulgate a casualty and effect publication of the magazine,
October seems the more probable date. (1) [CWGC October]
Additionally the magazine notice states that he was serving in the Essex
Regiment and not the Royal Fusiliers. Further it states that at the time
of his death he was attached to the Royal Engineers. Unfortunately the
fact that no unit attribution is given precludes consultation of the
relevant war diaries. [CWGC 1>11 Bn RF]
Notes on sources
1. Parish magazine of St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead: November 1917.
Further research
Private
WICKENS, A
Service Number 225311
Died 11/10/1917
1st Bn. London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
posted to 11th Bn.
Royal Fusiliers
Husband of Mrs. E. Wickens, of "Norbury View," Highlands Rd.,
Leatherhead, Surrey.
Buried at MINTY
FARM CEMETERY
Location: West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Cemetery/memorial reference: I. E. 27.
Albert enlisted at Guildford, Surrey. He served with the
Essex Regiment with service numbers 6828 and 375839. He joined the 1st
Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) as a Private with
service number 225311. He was posted to the 11th Battalion with whom he
was serving when he was Killed in Action on 11 October 1917.
Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 20 October 1917
LEATHERHEAD CASUALTIES.
On October 11th. Albert W. Wickens, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Wickens.
Middle-road, Leatherhead, was returning from the firing line, when he
was killed by shell. Pte. Wickens, who was forty years of age, was very
wel]-known locally.
About a twelve-month ago after
being rejected several times, he joined the Essex Regiment, but the time
of his death was attached the Royal Engineers.
Mr. and Mrs Wickens have two
other sons serving with the Colours. 2nd A.M. Wm. Wickens, the Royal
Flying Corps, having been in France since August, 1914, and Walter J.
Wickens having been in the Motor Transport for two years.
Leatherhead Parish Magazine
November 1918
FOR KING AND COUNTRY.
The following have given their lives for the Cause :—
...
Oct. 11. Pte. Albert W. Wickens, Essex Regt., attached R.E., killed in
action.
We desire to express our deepest sympathy with the relatives of the above
gallant soldiers.
The list which at present has
been compiled from the names that have been recorded in our Columns during
the past year....
His life
Albert Walter Wickens was born on 1878 in Byfleet, Surrey
His father was Charles Wickens, born 1852, Newbury, Berkshire, a son of
James Wilkins [sic]
His mother was Emma Elizabeth Wickens née Prior, born about 1852,
Magdalen Laver, Essex, a daughter of Samuel Prior.
Their marriage was at Christchurch, Epsom on 10 June 1875.
Albert's siblings were Arthur G b 1873, William b 1883, Rose Ann b 1884,
Clara b 1888, Walter James b 1890, Elizabeth b 1894, and Fanny b 1896.
He married Emma Harfield, a widow, on 18 October 1916 at Leatherhead
Parish Church:
Albert Walter Wickens - 38 - Bachelor - Labourer - Ivy
Cottage, Middle Road, Leatherhead: Father - Charles Wickens, Gardening
Emma Harfield - 36 - Widow - Domestic Servant - Norbury View, Highlands
Road, Leatherhead: Father - William Studley, deceased, Carpenter
Emma was born 26 March 1879, in Southampton, a daughter of
William and Harriet Edith Studley. He was a Carpenter.
Emma's first marriage had been to Arthur Thomas Harfield,
registered in Southampton in Q3 1899. He died in 1908. There do not
appear to have been any children of that marriage, nor of her marriage
to Albert.
Albert lived at:
1881 Census: Butchers Brick Yard, Ewell, Surrey
1891 Census: 1 Ivy Cottages, Fairfield, Leatherhead, Surrey
1901 Census: Ivy Cottages, Fairfield, Leatherhead: Butcher's Assistant
1911 Census: Middle Road, Leatherhead: Butcher, Unemployed
CWGC record (widow): Norbury View, Highlands Road, Leatherhead
After the war
According to the Electoral Registers Albert's parents
lived on in Leatherhead at 4 Ivy Cottages/14 Middle Road until about
1933.
The death of his mother, Emma E Wickens, at the age of 82,
was registered in January 1934 at Epsom.
His father's death at the age of 84 was registered in
January 1937, Surrey South eastern District.
Intriguingly, on 8 December 1923 Albert's widow Mrs E Wickens travelled
First Class aboard the Orient Line's Osterley to Sydney,
Australia, listed as a Companion, aged 44, intending Permanent Residence
in Australia. Her UK address was 32 Highlands Road, Leatherhead
Surrey. [Norbury View is 32 Highlands Road]
That was the same address as the adjacent entry for Mr HW
Hodge, age 30, a Civil Engineer.
The December 1915 issue of the Leatherhead Parish Magazine
lists 'Hodge, Lieut. H. W., R.G.A. returned wounded to England'.
On 21 August 1924 Emma Wickens arrived at Southampton
aboard the Aberdeen and Commonwealth Line's Demosthenes from
Brisbane, Australia. Again she was travelling as a Companion. Her
intended UK address was 34 Highlands Road, Leatherhead. H. W. Hodge was
not listed as a passenger.
Emma was listed in the Electoral Registers with
Alfred & Emma Gowen and James Brown at 41 Church Street,
Leatherhead, from 1932 to 1938.
In the 1939 England & Wales Register she was at 2
Long-Cottages, Church St, Leatherhead, with her sister Mary
Studley. Emma continued to live there until her death at the age
of 75, registered in April 1954, Surrey Mid eastern District.
Albert Wickens is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of
Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
Ladies War Shrine, Leatherhead
Parish Church
Church Lads Brigade Memorial
Tryptich, All Saints Leatherhead
Surrey
in the Great War
the website editor would like to add
further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family
last updated 11 Aug 20: 28 Dec 20