Albert Henry Andrews

Memorial: Thornbury - St Mary's Church

Regiment: Royal Navy

Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal

Rank and number: Petty Officer 2nd Class 160634

Parents: George and Jane Andrews

Marital status: Single

Home address: Buckover, Falfield, Glos

Pre-war occupation: Traction Engine Driver

Date of birth: 28/12/1875

Place of birth: Clapham, London

Date of death: 25/01/1917

Buried/Commemorated at: Plymouth Naval Memorial (Ref. 20.), Devon

Age: 42

Further information:

Bronze Tablet and Wooden Memorial Board

Albert Henry Andrews was born in Clapham, London. In 1901 Albert’s parents were running a public house in Tetbury, having previously operated a beer house at Breadstone, near Berkeley and The Royal Oak Inn at Cromhall. Albert’s father, George, formerly a wheelwright and engine driver, gave his occupation as innkeeper. At some point before the war the family moved to Buckover and by the time of the 1911 census, Albert was living there with his cousin, Kate Ball. He was employed as a traction engine driver

It was reported that Albert was serving on HMS Albion in 1915. The Albion saw action in the Dardanelles Campaign, supporting the landings at Gallipoli. She remained in the Mediterranean until 1916, and then returned to Britain for service as a guard ship for the remainder of the war

Albert was a Petty Officer on HMS Laurentic at the time of death. The ship was struck by two mines whilst sailing in storm force winds and snow off Lough Swilly on the Irish coast. It sank within an hour of being hit and only 121 of those aboard survived. Many died from exposure in the lifeboats. Albert’s body was never recovered

Albert’s cousin, George Jones of HMS Victory, is also commemorated on the Thornbury Memorial

The Plymouth Memorial is situated centrally on The Hoe which looks directly towards Plymouth Sound. After the First World War, an appropriate way had to be found of commemorating those members of the Royal Navy who had no known grave, the majority of deaths having occurred at sea where no permanent memorial could be provided. An Admiralty committee recommended that the three manning ports in Great Britain, at Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth, should each have an identical memorial of unmistakable naval form, an obelisk, which would serve as a leading mark for shipping

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

Thornbury Roots website: Thornbury and District Museums Research Group. Forces War Records and CWGC