Albert's Story.
Albert Dodd died on 2nd April 1917, at Fort Pitt Military Hospital, Chatham in Kent. He was 27 years old. He left a widow Grace, whom he had married a year earlier.
What do we know about Albert?
He was born in the summer of 1889, the eldest son of Frederick Dodd (1865–1945) and Mary Bratherton (1869–1951). He was brother to Harry, Clarice, Doris, Nellie, Fred, Ida, Kenneth and Bernard. He grew up in Sandbach, living at Newfield Street, Victoria Street, and 39 Green Street. His father was a house painter, and Albert followed his father into that profession.
On 12th December 1915, aged 26, he enlisted into the 13th Cheshire Regiment. From his records, we know that he was 5' 92 in height, and weighed just over nine stone. Albert was attached to the Reserves.
On 22nd April 1916, at St Mary's Church, Albert married 23-year-old Grace Painter (1892 - 1969), a shop assistant who lived at 56 Elworth Street, Sandbach. His sister Clarice was one of their witnesses.
He was sent to France on 19th July 1916, first to Rouen with the 1st Bataliotn, joining the 13th Battalion a week later. On 1st August, he was wounded in action, and by the 8th August had been admitted to hospital suffering from shell-shock. He rejoined his regiment was was subsequently re-admitted for shell-shock and mastoid problems. Eventually, he was sent back to England on 16th March 1917, with inflammation of the middle ear. He was admitted to Fort Pitt Military Hospital, at Chatham, on 17th March, where he had two operations on his jaw.
Fort Pitt Military Hospital, 1914
A ward in Fort Pitt Military Hospital, 1915
Albert died on 2nd April 1917, aged 27. His body was returned to Sandbach, and on 8th April, he was buried in St Mary's Churchyard. He is remembered on the War Memorial at Wheelock.
His widow Grace was granted a weekly pension of 13/9d. She remained living with her parents on Elworth Street until the autumn of 1921, when she married Alfred Richardson (1898–1981), a farm horseman. They lived at The Post Office, Brereton, Cheshire, until her death in October 1969. She and Alfred had two children, Charles Victor and Doreen.
Researched by Shena Lewington (September 2025)
What do we know about Albert?
He was born in the summer of 1889, the eldest son of Frederick Dodd (1865–1945) and Mary Bratherton (1869–1951). He was brother to Harry, Clarice, Doris, Nellie, Fred, Ida, Kenneth and Bernard. He grew up in Sandbach, living at Newfield Street, Victoria Street, and 39 Green Street. His father was a house painter, and Albert followed his father into that profession.
On 12th December 1915, aged 26, he enlisted into the 13th Cheshire Regiment. From his records, we know that he was 5' 92 in height, and weighed just over nine stone. Albert was attached to the Reserves.
On 22nd April 1916, at St Mary's Church, Albert married 23-year-old Grace Painter (1892 - 1969), a shop assistant who lived at 56 Elworth Street, Sandbach. His sister Clarice was one of their witnesses.
He was sent to France on 19th July 1916, first to Rouen with the 1st Bataliotn, joining the 13th Battalion a week later. On 1st August, he was wounded in action, and by the 8th August had been admitted to hospital suffering from shell-shock. He rejoined his regiment was was subsequently re-admitted for shell-shock and mastoid problems. Eventually, he was sent back to England on 16th March 1917, with inflammation of the middle ear. He was admitted to Fort Pitt Military Hospital, at Chatham, on 17th March, where he had two operations on his jaw.
Fort Pitt Military Hospital, 1914
A ward in Fort Pitt Military Hospital, 1915
Albert died on 2nd April 1917, aged 27. His body was returned to Sandbach, and on 8th April, he was buried in St Mary's Churchyard. He is remembered on the War Memorial at Wheelock.
His widow Grace was granted a weekly pension of 13/9d. She remained living with her parents on Elworth Street until the autumn of 1921, when she married Alfred Richardson (1898–1981), a farm horseman. They lived at The Post Office, Brereton, Cheshire, until her death in October 1969. She and Alfred had two children, Charles Victor and Doreen.
Researched by Shena Lewington (September 2025)