Albert Victor Webb
1898 - 1917
Private 13972
14th (Service) Battalion
Royal Hampshire
Regiment
Albert was born in Portsmouth in 1898. Being baptized on 27th May 1898 at the Mission Church of St.
Agnes. He was the ninth of the ten surviving children of Henry James Sign Webb
and his wife Sophia Eliza Locke. Henry, Sophia and their eldest children had
arrived in Portsmouth around 1890. The 1891 Census shows them living in
Waterloo Place. Henry is employed as a Provisions Merchant’s Porter. Sophia was
the first of her family to move to the town. The Webbs’ connection had begun
around 1871. Henry had lived at Hilsea for a short time whilst a teenager. His
father, Edmund, running the Coach and Horses along with a private bus service.
Like all of Edmund’s enterprises these ended in failure.
Two year old Albert appears on the 1901 Census at 18 Common Street,
Portsea. His father is now employed as a Groom in Livery Stables.
By 1911 the family have moved to 29 Kettering Terrace at Mile End.
Albert and his younger brother, Arthur, are described as scholars. Their father
is now a general labourer for the corporation. Albert’s sister, Elsie, had
married Ernest Wills the previous year. They are both living at this address.
In October 1911 their son, Ernest, would join the household. Ernest was not the
first of Henry and Sophia’s grandchildren. Albert was already uncle to a
growing younger generation.
Albert enlisted in Portsmouth. His service records appear to be
amongst those
destroyed during the Second World War. He was Killed in Action on
1st August 1917. It seems likely that
he fell at the Battle of Pilckem Ridge. A relative who visited the site
recently was told that if that is correct Albert probably died during a gas
attack. Although the official records do not support this. He does not have a
known grave.
Albert Webb was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
His name is one of the many that can be found on the memorial by Portsmouth
Guildhall. In recent years relatives have been able to visit the Menim Gate to
see where his name is carved on Panel 35. The Commonwealth War Graves
Commission give his parents’ address as 131 Hertford Street. This had become
the family home of Ernest and Elsie. At sometime Henry and Sophia joined them.
It is not known if Albert ever lived there. The Register of Soldiers' Effects
show Henry Webb as the sole legatee. He received Albert's War Gratuity of £13
plus his pay of £10 18s 10d.
In 1919 Albert’s sister, Elsie, had a second son. He was named
Albert George after Albert Webb and Ernest’s brother George. George Wills had
died at Gallipoli in 1915. Ernest and Elsie had a fourth son in 1923, Cyril
Harold Victor. Elsie continued to mourn for Albert until her own death in 1971
.
Parents
Henry James Sign Webb 1855 - 1935
Sophia Eliza Locke 1859 - 1932
Siblings
Elizabeth Emma Webb (Guinet) 1877 - 1920
Henry James Webb 1879-1961
Walter Charles Webb 1882 - 1956
Sophia Eliza Webb (Frostick) born 1884
Rosina Hannah Webb (Maloney) 1887 - 1961
Nellie Esther Webb (Underdown then Cottrell) 1890
Elsie Mabel Webb (Wills) 1892 - 1971
Ada Maud Webb (Cox) 1895 - 1971
Arthur Frederick Webb born 1901
Doris May Webb born & died 1904
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