Uncle Albert
Private Albert William Blackburn Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Albert William Blackburn was born on 17th July 1907 in Norwich. Son of Albert Charles – a Milling Machine Hand Electrical Engineer, and Sarah Ann nee Hall. He was the oldest of three children, Florence Beatrice born in 1909 and Edward Ernest 1910. His religion was Wesleyan. By 1911 the family were living at 13 Guelph Road in Norwich and later moved to Coventry. By 1939 they were living at 66 St George’s Road in the city and Albert working as an Export Packer in the Motorcycle trade.
On 13th November 1924 aged 17 Albert enlisted into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment Territorial Army in Coventry with service number 5102495, serving as a Private and discharged four years later on 6th December 1928 upon termination of his engagement. Following the start of World War II in September 1939, Albert re-enlisted, into the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Coventry on 18th December 1939. He was aged 32, retained his previous service number 5102495 and his trade was Storeman. He was described as 5’.5” tall, weighing 130lbs with a fresh complexion, 35” chest, blue eyes and fair hair. During the last quarter of 1940 Albert married Annie Alice Yates in Coventry, moving to 39 Goring Road, Stoke in Coventry.
On 1st November 1940, Albert sailed aboard the SS Scythia from Liverpool to the Middle East, crossing the equator on 10th April 1941. A fluctuating series of battles for control of Libya and regions of Egypt followed, reaching a climax in the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942 when British Commonwealth forces under the command of Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery inflicted a decisive defeat on Rommel's Afrika Korps and forced its remnants into Tunisia. Albert who saw action during the early part of the campaign was awarded the Africa Star.
On 13th November 1924 aged 17 Albert enlisted into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment Territorial Army in Coventry with service number 5102495, serving as a Private and discharged four years later on 6th December 1928 upon termination of his engagement. Following the start of World War II in September 1939, Albert re-enlisted, into the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Coventry on 18th December 1939. He was aged 32, retained his previous service number 5102495 and his trade was Storeman. He was described as 5’.5” tall, weighing 130lbs with a fresh complexion, 35” chest, blue eyes and fair hair. During the last quarter of 1940 Albert married Annie Alice Yates in Coventry, moving to 39 Goring Road, Stoke in Coventry.
On 1st November 1940, Albert sailed aboard the SS Scythia from Liverpool to the Middle East, crossing the equator on 10th April 1941. A fluctuating series of battles for control of Libya and regions of Egypt followed, reaching a climax in the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942 when British Commonwealth forces under the command of Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery inflicted a decisive defeat on Rommel's Afrika Korps and forced its remnants into Tunisia. Albert who saw action during the early part of the campaign was awarded the Africa Star.
During the rest of the war Albert saw active service in the subsequent Italian and Invasion of Europe campaigns. He also attended various training courses including his Gas Chamber Test, Water Duties and Sanitary Course and Command Battle School and was authorised to wear five service chevrons and a long service and good conduct stripe on 18th December 1944. Following the war he was released from the Army on 7th October 1945 at the Military Dispersal Unit No 8 in Hereford being transferred to the Army Reserve on 16th January 1946. Albert was awarded in addition to the Africa Star, the 1939-45, Italy, France & Germany Stars and the Defence and War Medal 1939-45. Albert and Annie remained in Coventry for the rest of their lives and Annie died during the first quarter of 1982 aged 70, and Albert 16 years later on 17th June 1998 aged 91 and was cremated at Canley Crematorium in Coventry.
The Story The group of medals awarded to Albert William Blackburn were acquired form a former work colleague. They had been awarded to her Father’s Uncle and the family wanted them to be in a collection where Albert could be remembered. Initial details were taken from Ancestry.UK, and the family kindly provided some photographs and copies of paperwork thus enabling a brief biography to be put together. Another example of a man who served his country being remembered for posterity.
Click on picture to read about SS Scythia
Medal Details:
- 1949-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Africa Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Italy Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- France & Germany Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
This page last updated 3 Mar 19