Lives of the First World War

This Memorial is unusual in that it is attached to the school. There was a conflict between the C of E and the Primitive MethoIdists as to where the memorial should go. The school was a compromise. In the 1911 census Albert Tomlin was a 36 year old sand pit labourer, living with Henry and Edith Lamb at 16 Hyde's Cottages, Badshot Lea. The Lambs later adopted Albert, who was born in "Somerset, Burmuda, West Indies as a Britsh Resident". He had served 12 years with 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Queens. Also served on North West Frontier in India. He vounteered in the Queens in 1914 as G/329 and joined the 2nd Battallion. Wounded twice and posted to 29th Battalion as G/82868.. Then to 17th Coy, Labour Corps. as 162822. Details from Commonwealth War Graves Commision.

He landed in France on 11-11-1914 to fight at Ypres. After Albert was wounded twice he was probably not fit to fight. He was probably working behind the lines in Ypres with the 17th Labour Corps when he was killed on 26-9-1917. during the Battle of Passchendaele. He is buried in Railway Chateau Cemetery, probably close to where he fell. His army records show that his effects, including 2 unopened letters,a razor, mirror and first aid book, together with a disk, (identity?) were returned to the Lambs, who also recieved his medals