109325 Pte. Albert Edward Elford

Sanctuary Wood Cemetery

Ieper

Belgium

Born in Pontypridd, Wales, in December 1892, Albert was a farmer by trade when he signed up as part of the original intake of the 4th CMR, on November 27th, 1914.

At the time of his loss, on June 2nd, 1916. the 4th CMR was caught in its darkest day, when their section of the front line was pounded flat by an unprecedented 5 hour shelling onslaught that eventually turned into the 14 day 'Battle for Mount Sorrel.'

Albert was one of some 190 men of the 4th CMR to be killed that first morning, his loss occuring in the "vicinity of Sanctuary Wood". He was initially reported as "Missing believed killed" but this was later amended (after German POW lists and casualty clearing station information had been collated) to "now for Official Purposes presumed to have died."

Pte. Albert Elford is one of four men of the 4th CMR known to lie at rest in Sanctuary Wood Cemetery, near Ieper.

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Biography excerpt courtesy of David Kavanagh, headstone image courtesy of 4cmr.com