Military History

Albert is listed as dying of wounds on 13 May 1917 whilst in the hands of the Germans as a Prisoner of War. He was originally reported as missing in action but nearly four months later, on 5 Sep 1917, it was found that he had died as a POW. However we cannot find his Red Cross records under the names of Adkins, Atkins or Atkinson.

The Statement of Casualties in the Battalion war diary shows that the only day when men were reported missing in May 1917 was the 3rd when 4 Officers and 112 Other ranks are recorded as missing in action. We have found an enquiry of the Red Cross on another website which was seeking information about Albert which gives the incident date as 3 May 1917 and we feel it is safe to assume that this was the day that he was captured.

On the day Albert went missing the 1st Battalion were in trenches at Fampoux when they were ordered to attack enemy lines at Fresnes-les-Montabon. The object was to sieze enemy positions in three phases at the Black then Blue then Red lines (click on trench map below). Unfortunately the attack was held up almost immediately and the battalion received heavy casualties but they did manage to take the first objective near the Chateau on the Black line. 11 Officers and 192 other ranks were either killed, wounded or missing.