On the 1891 census  4 year old Albert was living at 20, Gozzard Street, Bilston, Staffs with his family. His father was  Albert E,  27 a Corrugator (Sheet Iron).  His mother Harriet was 30. There was a brother Leonard who was 1 month old.   They had  all born in Bilston, Staffordshire.

By the 1901 census they were living at 5, Price Street, New Town, Bilston, and 3 more siblings had been added to the family. The listed children were Albert 14 who worked in the ironworks, Leonard was 10,  Wilfred  8, Bernard A.  4, and sister Elsie May  2.   Their  father Albert E. was now a Galvanising (Pickler).

On the 1911 census they had, like many others moved to Deeside to work in the Ironworks. They lived at  4, Kirby Grove, Shotton. Albert and Harriet had been married for 25 years.  Seven children had been born, but 2 had died.  The listed children were Albert 24, Leonard 20, Wilfred 18, Bernard 14 and Elisa was 12.  (Elisia was Elsie May on previous census).  Bernard was an Errand Boy, but the other males in the family were all Ironworkers.

UK soldiers who died in the Great War 1914 -19, accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental information above and adds that he enlisted at Connah’s Quay. Albert’s medal card also accessible on ‘ancestry’, records his medal details and also tells us that his first theatre of war was the Balkans and that he entered it on 8th August 1915.

There is an index card for Albert in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden. (Card Shotton F44). The address given was  No 4 Kirby Grove, Shotton. His regimental details were confirmed. He served from  August 1914  until he was Killed in Active Service in Gallipoli  on the 22nd September 1915. The card was  signed 29th January 1921 by Mrs. Wilmore.

He enlisted in August 1914 at Connah’s Quay and found himself in the Balkans at Gallipoli on the 8th August 1915 and 6 weeks later had been wounded and died of his wounds.   He  died 13 months after enlistment.   I am wondering if Albert was wounded a lot earlier and died later.

I have the  War Diary of the 8th Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers 8th August 1915 – 22nd August 1915, if you would like to see them, I can send them if you get in touch with the website, or they are on Ancestry.co.uk

Albert Willmore in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that the sole Legatee was his father Albert Edward who was paid £3. 14s 2d on the 24th January 1916 and his War Gratuity of £4 on the 24th July 1919.

Albert is also remembered on the Hawarden War Memorial.   Someone made sure he was remembered.