Private 306554 Albert Greenfield

Killed in Action on Saturday, 31st August 1918, age 33.
Buried in Grave VI. D. 3. "Buried near this spot" at H.A.C. Cemetery, Ecoust-St. Mein, Pas De Calais, France.

1st/8th Bn., The King's (Liverpool Regiment). 171st Brigade of 57th Division.

Son of Charles and Mary Greenfield, of 18, Bridge Rd., Toll End, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Liverpool, Resident: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the St. Mark's Memorial.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/303918/

Genealogical Data

1891 Census
2 House 1 Court, Walker Street, Tipton, Staffs.
Charles Greenfield (30, General Labourer, born Tipton), his wife Mary (30, born Tipton), and their 4 children: Charles (7, Scholar, born Tipton), Albert (6, Scholar, born Tipton), Arthur (5, Scholar, born Tipton), and Thomas (3, born Tipton).

1901 Census
15 Walker Street, Tipton, Staffs.
Charles Greenfield (42, Labourer in Bridge Building Yard, born Tipton), his wife Mary (42, born Tipton), and their 7 children: Charles (17, Coal Miner, born Tipton), Albert (16, Rivet Heater in Bridge Building Yard, born Tipton), Arthur (14, Spring and Axle Maker, born Tipton), Thomas (13, Spring and Axle Maker, born Tipton), Maud (9, born Tipton), Ellen (5, born Tipton), and John (2, born Tipton).

1911 Census
18 Bridge Road, Toll End, Tipton, Staffs.
Charles Greenfield (49, General Labourer, born Tipton), his wife Mary (51, born Tipton), and 8 of their 9 children: Bert (26, Tube Screwer, born Tipton), Arthur (25, Tube Turner and Driller, born Tipton), Thomas (24, Tuber Screwer, born Tipton), Maud (19, born Tipton), Ellen (17, born Tipton), John (12, School, born Tipton), James (10, School, born Tipton), and Mary (8, School, born Tipton).

Personal Data

Albert was the last of 3 Greenfield brothers to be killed, the other two were Arthur in 1915 and Thomas in 1916. One other brother is also known to have been in the Army but survived, this was probably the eldest - Charles.

As Albert enlisted in Ellesmere Port with the 1/8th King's (Liverpool), it is reasonable to assume that he had moved to that area after 1911. The 1/8th King's were originally known as the Liverpool Irish, but the original composition will have changed by 1918 with the many new drafts they would have received.

Albert Greenfield is recorded on St Mark's Memorial as B. Greenfield (Bert).

After Albert's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £9/7/3d (9 pounds, 7 shillings and 3 pence); this was paid to his mother, Mary, in January 1919. His War Gratuity was £16/10/0d (16 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to his mother in December 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Albert had enlisted in approximately February 1915.

Action resulting in his death

After the German Spring Offensive stalled, the Allies commenced their offensive with the Battle of Amiens in 8th August. This moved north and in late September Haig wished to increase the pressure on the Germans with an assault on the Drocourt-Quéant line.

The first stage of this was the Battle of the Scarpe from 26th to 30th September, this was successful in that it breached the German defensive line and pointed the way for further advances. After a pause for artillery preparation, the attack on the Drocourt-Quéant was launched on the 2nd October, continuing into the 3rd October. This again was successful and the Drocourt-Quéant was breached and there was a general German retirement towards the Canal du Nord.

Even though there was a gap between the battles of the Scarpe and Drocourt-Quéant, the offensive action never ceased. Albert was killed on 31st August, and is buried at H.A.C. Cemetery, Ecoust-St. Mein, south east of Arras.

Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald 2nd June 1917
Those officially reported wounded are:
Pte. A. Greenfield, King's (Liverpool) Regt.