Tracey A J F Pte 1940 15th London Regiment
Source : Croydon Roll Of Honour 1914-1918
Tracey A J F Pte 1940 15th London Regiment
TRACEY, ALBERT JAMES FREDERICK, Private, No. 1940, 15th Battn. (Prince of Wales’s Own Civil Service Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), 4th s. of Joseph Thomas Tracey, of 24, Belmont Road, South Norwood, S.E., formerly Sergt. 1st Border (34th) Regt., by his wife, Caroline, dau. of Richard Frederick Hill; b. Caterham, co. Surrey, 11 April, 1891; educ. Garrison School, Fort George, N.B.; South Norwood Council School, and Whitgift Middle School, Croydon; served as a registered Boy Clerk at the Board of Education, Whitehall, from 27 May, 1907, to 16 July, 1911, and as an assistant clerk, 17 July, 1911, to Aug. 1914. He joined the 23rd London Territorials in March, 1909; became Sergt. in Sept. 1912, but transferred to the Civil Service Rifles, April, 1914, giving up his stripes; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war; went to France, 17 March, 1915, and was killed in action at Festubert, 25 May following, while bombing a German trench; unm.
He was buried at Festubert. Capt. H. H. Kemble, of his Coy., wrote “Your son led the way along the parapet and used his bombs with such effect, that the trench was taken the next day. A report of his bravery has been forwarded to Head Quarters. He was always thorough and efficient, and always quiet and gentle “; and Sergt. F. C. Robertson said that when they found him next day he had used all his bombs. He had rushed right on using the bombs till the Germans turned the machine-gun on to him. No man could have done more. The trench was won.
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1