Private 3830 Albert Cleary

Albert Cleary was born in Farnworth, near Bolton in 1894, the eldest son of John and Elizabeth Cleary.

Albert Cleary's Medal Trio

 The census taken in 1911 shows him living with his parents at 8 Chappelfield Road, Ardwick, Manchester, Albert was the second eldest of 9 children all of them boys except for his elder sister Isabella and his 7 year old Mary Lizzie.

Alberts occupation on the census return is given as a rubber works labourer.

Albert along with countless thousands of other young men answered the call to do his duty, he attested into the 3/8 Battalion, Manchester Regiment on 21/04/1915 at Ardwick aged just 21.

Thankfully Albert's service papers survive (many thousands were lost during the relentless bombing of World War 2), they give a meaningful insight into Alberts millitary service.

They show that he embarked from England bound for the Dardanelles (Gallipoli) and was taken on the battalion strength on 31/09/1915, in October he was shown on the nominal roll in hospital in Malta, re-joining his unit on 05/01/1916 in Shallufah.

The papers show that he transferred into the 127th Brigade, Machine Gun Corps on 14/03/1916 and was subsequently discharged from the Manchesters on 10/08/1916.

After serving some time in the Dardanelles on the 01/03/1917 he embarked at Alexandria for the voyage west to the European theatre arriving in Marseilles on 09/03/1917.

11 months later on 22/04/1918 he was wounded in action at Gommencourt - he suffered a shell & gun shot wounds to the head, legs and right arm, admitted to the 1st Canadian General Hospital he went through various field hospitals before arriving at the 1st Scottish General Hospital in Aberdeen.

The Rear Of Albert's 14/15 Star (note the surname spelling)

His medical notes make for some stark reading;"

"23/05/1918 - Admitted from sick convoy to 1st Scottish General Hospital. 2 wounds in left ceretal region - in upper wound pulsation of the brain can be seen. Wounds are fully clean. Open wound is almost healed. Patient cannot move arm but can raise leg a little. Speech is indistinct and hesitating, doesn't complain of impaired eyesight".

"Pupils at first equal and small but soon after examination today, left pupil suddenly dilated. under anaesthetic, flap raised and brain exposed by sinus force, no pus found.
Tutar puncture showed pustulent fluid fluid under tentia?"

"12/08/1918 - condition did not improve - still unconscious and restless, gradually got worse and died at 1.10pm".

Following his death Albert was brought back to Manchester - he was laid to rest in Phillips Park Cemetery.

Memorial plaque - this is a small privately acquired plaque not the official Govt. issued one.