Albert Victor Rouse

A Private with 2nd Bn. Albert died on 22nd of October 1916 at the age of 25. 

Albert was born at Lowestoft in 1891, a son of James Caleb and Emma Louise Rouse. He was baptised at Saint John's Church, Lowestoft, on 6 December 1891, and his family lived at 16 Reeve Street. By 1901 they were living at 101 Seago Street and, in 1911, Albert worked as a theatre ticket checker.

Around 1912 Albert married Edith. In 1913 they lived at 61 Oxford Road and Albert worked as a cinematographic operator. Later Edith lived at Belvedere Terrace, Wenhaston: she remarried and returned to Lowestoft.

Albert enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. Initially he served with the East Surrey Regiment, service number 19995, before being transferred to The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). He was posted to the 2nd Battalion in France. 

On 21 October 1916 the 2nd Battalion took over trenches west of the Messines Road, near Romarin. The Battalion War Diary for 22 October mentions no casualties and so we do not know exactly what happened to Albert. 

Albert's son Donald was a Far East Prisoner of War during World War Two. 

Albert's brother-in-law, George Knights, was killed in action in 1914 whilst serving with the Norfolk Regiment.