Sapper Albert Edward Barley

Sapper Albert Edward Barley

126th Field Coy Royal Engineers

Sapper Albert Edward Barley was born in 1892 in Roxby Lincolnshire. He was the son of James and Sarah Ann Barley.  The 1911 census records the family as living in North Street Roxby, where Albert and his father, James, were documented as working as joiners. In 1916 at the age of 24 Albert was engaged to a Miss Kate Webb who was Head Teacher at the school in Roxby.

He enlisted into the Royal Engineers in late August 1916 and was attached to the 126th Field Company.  In 1917 the 126th Field Company were in action during the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line; the Arras Offensive; the Third Battles of Ypres and the Cambrai Operations.

In1918 they fought on The Somme then moved north and were in action during the Battles of the Lys, Battle of the Aisne, The Somme, and the Battles of the Hindenburg Line.  It was in 1918 during one of the battles that Albert Barley was taken as a prisoner of war, and subsequently is recorded as a patient in a German military hospital in Charleville. During his confinement in this hospital he died from dysentery on the 30th September 1918 and was interned in the Charleville Communial Cemetery.

In December1962 Albert’s remains and his headstone were moved from Charleville Communial Cemetery and relocated to Terlincthun British Cemetery.

Remembered with Honour
Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, Pas de Calais, France.