Albert Ville's account of his experience in the army · First World War Poetry Digital Archive

Title

Albert Ville's account of his experience in the army See all items with this value

Description

1916

To be apparently able bodied and walking about in civilian clothes caused people to stare unless you were wearing a badge of some sort to show that you were on duty in some work or another for your country. Recruiting sergeants walked about and sto

Identifier

5915.txt

GWA_4231_Albert_Ville_s_account_of_his_experience_in_the_army.txt

Creator

Ville, Albert Edward See all items with this value

Abstract

My grandfather Albert Edward Ville was born in Tottenham in August 1898 and toward the end of his life when he was living in Edgware he wrote a short autobiography. This is an extract relating his experience in the army during WWI. His discharge certificate shows that he enlisted at St Paul's Churchyard on 19th July 1916 and was initially a private in the 16th Battalion of the London Regiment (Private 698199) but was later moved to the 22nd Battalion of the London Regiment. He was called up in July 1917 and sent to France in December 1917. It is likely that he was soon in the front line as we still have several field services reports (postcards) that he wrote hurriedly to his parents in Compton Terrace, Highbury dated March 1918. After being badly wounded in August 1918 near Ypres, he was returned back to the UK to recuperate in Cardiff. He was discharged from the army on 7th January 1919 as he was ˜no longer fit for war service'. Two of Albert's brothers also served in the army during WWI (William and Lester Ville) and they too survived!

Editor's Comment:
Pte. 555020 Albert Edward Ville, 16th Bn. (Queen's Westminster Rifles) London Regiment, served overseas in the 22nd Bn. (The Queen's), service no. 698199, and 11th Bn. (Finsbury Rifles), London Regiment.