Now I like the way that a story pops back up and in the process opens up new information and you end up becoming friends with someone you didn’t know.*
So having written about young Albert Derry who was captured during the last big offensive by the German army in 1918 I was very pleased when Helen got in touch.
“I wanted to thank you for the information about Albert Derry being a PoW in 1918, published on Salford facebook page.
Albert is my nana's brother and despite many, many hours of family research I had no idea about Albert's history, except birth and death; so to have this information is wonderful. I've no idea how you've uncovered it, but thank you anyway!"
Well I uncovered it as part of the research for my book on Manchester and the Great War and it was a Red Cross postcard which informed his parents of his status as a POW.
The document with many others comes from the collection of David Harrop and without his vast array of Great War memorabilia the book could never have been written.
The story of Albert is one of those that draws you in from the very beginning. He was born in 1893 and was serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers when he was take prisoner and that simple Red Cross Card must have been a welcome missing of information.
I had discovered the names of his parents and that he had siblings but now the story has gone that bit further, more so because Helen lent me this picture of her grandmother who was Albert’s sister.
There is still a lot more to find out but it is another of those examples where social media brings people together and reveals a little more of our common past.
Location; The Great War;
Pictures; the Red Cross POW card, 1918, courtesy of David Harrop, and Albert’s sister from the collection of Helen Flanagan
*News of a Salford soldier from a German POW camp .............. May 1918 https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/news-of-salford-soldier-from-german-pow.html
**A new book on Manchester and the Great War, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/A%20new%20book%20on%20Manchester%20and%20the%20Great%20War
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| Red Cross Pow card, May 1918 |
“I wanted to thank you for the information about Albert Derry being a PoW in 1918, published on Salford facebook page.
Albert is my nana's brother and despite many, many hours of family research I had no idea about Albert's history, except birth and death; so to have this information is wonderful. I've no idea how you've uncovered it, but thank you anyway!"
 |
| Albert's sister, Helen's grandmother, date unknown |
The document with many others comes from the collection of David Harrop and without his vast array of Great War memorabilia the book could never have been written.
The story of Albert is one of those that draws you in from the very beginning. He was born in 1893 and was serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers when he was take prisoner and that simple Red Cross Card must have been a welcome missing of information.
 |
| Notification of pay January 1918 |
There is still a lot more to find out but it is another of those examples where social media brings people together and reveals a little more of our common past.
Location; The Great War;
Pictures; the Red Cross POW card, 1918, courtesy of David Harrop, and Albert’s sister from the collection of Helen Flanagan
*News of a Salford soldier from a German POW camp .............. May 1918 https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/news-of-salford-soldier-from-german-pow.html
**A new book on Manchester and the Great War, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/A%20new%20book%20on%20Manchester%20and%20the%20Great%20War
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