Albert Edward Lumb (1888-1917)

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This page is part of a project by David Verguson to research the lives of those who appear on war memorials and rolls of honour in the Lindley area.

Biography

Albert Lumb was born in Longwood, in April 1888, the son of Mary Ann (nee Beaumont) and William Lumb, a foreman in a cotton mill who eventually rise to being a manager.

William and Mary already had a four-year-old daughter, Annie, and a son, Herbert, aged two, when Albert was born. Another daughter, Marion, was born in 1890. By 1901 the family were living in a four-roomed house on Bull Green Road. Annie was an Elementary School Teacher while Herbert worked as a cotton piecer. Albert was still at Goitfield Council School. Next door lived the Tom and Sarah Holland and their son Herbert who later joined the Duke of Wellington's and died in Belgium in August 1917.

Albert must have done well at school: by 1911 he was working as clerk. By then the family were living at 9 Rock Street, Longwood, a five-roomed house. There is, however, a mystery; Annie Lumb completed the census form in the name of her brother, Herbert, who is described as the head of the household. Mary Ann Lumb lives with her two sons and two daughters but there is no sign of her husband, William. She does not describe herself as "widowed", nor has it been possible to locate William elsewhere or confirm his death. William is not included in the details given on the Register of Soldiers' Effects.

Mrs Lumb was living at 93 Prospect Street in Longwood by the time Albert voluntarily enlisted in the 1st Battalion, the Yorkshire Dragoons, a Territorial battalion, on 14 August 1915. He was given the number 3726. In 1917 Albert was transferred to the Yorkshire Regiment serving in the 13th Battalion, and his number changed to 235584. The Dragoons were in France by mid-1915 and the 13th Yorks from 6 June 1916, as part of the 40th Division.

Albert was reported missing during the capture of Bourlon Wood, in the battle of Cambrai in November 1917. He has no known grave but is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing.

Locally, Albert is remembered on Longwood War Memorial, the memorial at Salendine Nook Baptist Church and in the graveyard there.

Albert's brother. Herbert, enlisted at the end of 1915 probably under the Derby Scheme, in the 3/5th Battalion, the West Yorkshire Regiment, giving his occupation as clerk. He was not mobilized until early March 1916 and did not land in France until 7 January 1917.

Reported missing on 22 November, the day before his brother probably died, Herbert was later found to be a Prisoner of War. He returned to England and left the army in May 1919 and seems to have been in a good state of health despite his captivity.

Evidence suggest Mary Annie died in mid-1919 and that Herbert may have married in 1923.

Huddersfield's Roll of Honour: 1914-1922

The following extract is from Huddersfield's Roll of Honour: 1914-1922 (2014) by J. Margaret Stansfield:

LUMB, ALBERT EDWARD. Private. No 235584. 13th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly No 3726 Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons. Born Longwood 19.4.1888. Son of Mary Ann Lumb, 93 Prospect Road, Longwood. Educated Goitfield Council School. Employed as a clerk. Single. Enlisted in the Dragoons on 14.8.1915. Transferred to the Yorkshire Regiment in 1917. Reported missing at Bourlon Wood during the Battle of Cambrai on 23.11.1917, aged 29 years. Has no known grave. Commemorated CAMBRAI MEMORIAL TO THE MISSING.
ROH:- Salendine Nook Baptist Church; Longwood War Memorial; commemorated in Salendine Nook Baptist Chapel yard, 126E.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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