Albert and Alfred James Medlock were brothers. Before the outbreak of war both lived in Cockayne Hatley, Bedfordshire where they followed the family tradition and worked as farm labour. In 1915 the brothers enlisted at Ampthill and trained at the Bedfordshire Training Depot.

Private 22099 Albert Medlock was drafted to the 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Private 23539 Alfred J. Medlock joined the 4th Battalion. Both were posted to fight with the British Expeditionary Force.

Albert (29) was wounded and cleared back to England. On October 14, 1916 he died at the Royal Victoria Military Hospital at Netley, and is buried in the North-West corner of St. Peters Churchyard in Wrestlingworth.

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Albert (29) was wounded and cleared back to England. On October 14, 1916 he died at the Royal Victoria Military Hospital at Netley, and is buried in the North-West corner of St. Peters Churchyard in Wrestlingworth.

Six months on his younger brother Alfred (25) was killed in action (April 20, 1917) at Arras.

It is hard to imagine parents Mr & Mrs  Jonah Medlock receiving one fateful War Office telegram, let alone two. Albert and Alfred left two sisters, Clara (1886-1923) and Rosina (1888-1956).

Source:

The Bedfordshire Standard. The original broadsheet is part of the Bedfordshire & Luton Archive.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
RBL Roll of Honour
Ancestry.com

Www.bedfordshireregiment.co.uk

Text and images copyright S.Hartley (2015-)

Care is taken to ensure accuracy – please accept my apologies if the content contains any errors.

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