46704 Pte 18th (Service) Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
Albert Hill was born in January 1898 in Bridgwater, the son of plasterer Albert Hill and Eliza Perry. In 1901 they lived in number nine court in West Street. By 1911 they had moved out of the court and into 73 West Street. Albert, aged 13, was attending school as well as working as an errand boy for a grocer. By this time he had a four year old sister, Florence.
Sometime during the war he had enlisted at Sandwich in Kent. He served as 208439 in the Royal Engineers, before being transferred to the Lancashire Regiment. On 9 January 1918 the Bridgwater Mercury reported that he had been wounded. He was killed in action on 26 March 1918 during the massive German offensive in Picardy. He was 20 years old.
On 17 April the Bridgwater Mercury reported that Albert's parents had received the news of his death. His name is engraved on the Poziers Memorial for the missing of the fifth army of 1918, Ovillers-la-Boiselle, Somme, France. Panels 32-34. His name was added to the memorial 67 in the Wembdon Road Cemetery, which had been erected for his grandfather, who had died only a month before. The inscription reads: 67. In Loving Memory of Albert Hill who died Feb. 15th 1918 aged 73 years. Also of Elizabeth Ann his wife who died July 25th 1923 aged 80 years. Also of Albert grandson killed in action in France March 29th 1918 aged 19 years.
