On this day in 1915, Lt Harry Alban was killed in action
Harry Clayton Alban was born in Mandalay, Upper Burma on 28 June 1892. He was the son of Major William Gore Alban of the Indian Army. He was educated at Christ’s Hospital Horsham and after leaving school enlisted as a private in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, joining the 1st Battalion in India. He returned with his battalion to the UK on the outbreak of war.
In September 1914, he was granted a commission and joined the Leinster Regiment.
On 9 February 1915 the 1/Leinsters took over the front line from 2/DCLI at Dickebusch. The Leinsters were in the front line for just three days but lost in that period one officer and three men.
He was killed ‘instantly’ when going into a trench. His Captain wrote ‘He joined my company on board ship coming home from India and I need hardly say all the time I have known him he has been a very keen and zealous officer’.
His Lt-Col in a letter said ‘We had his body brought back to Headquarters at a place called Dickebusch, about six miles south west of Ypres and there properly interred in the Churchyard in consecrated ground. I may say, as regards your son, that he was doing extremely well, and was a brave and fearless lad. I am more than sorry that so promising a career has been suddenly cut short.’
Harry Alban is buried at Dickebush Old Cemetery.
