The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private A E Coutts


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Private Albert Edward COUTTS, G/16630, 1st Battalion,  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, death assumed as on or after 26th October 1917, age 26.

4th October 1891, born Horley, Surrey, son of Alexander Edward Alnod Coutts and Frances Coutts, of Rosebery Cottage, Church Road, Horley, Surrey.

31st January 1892, St Bartholomew, Horley, baptism of Albert Edward Coutts, son of Alexander Edward, (carpenter), & Frances Coutts.

1st June 1915, (on enlistment papers), (8th July 1915, according to wife), Registry Office, Stratford Broadway, West Ham, married Elsie Kate Spashett, The Bungalow, Slades Green, Kent. 

Child - Albert Francis Burnett Coutts, born 7th March 1916, Anerley.

Enlisted Bromley, Kent, age 25 years & 7 months, height 5ft 3¾ inches, 105lbs, suppression of sternum, Service at Home.  Resided 30 Samos Road, Anerley S E. Formerly clothiers assistant.

Home, 2nd June 1916 to 10th February 1917; BEF 11th February 1917 to 26th October 1917.

2nd June 1916, enlisted; 3rd June 1916, to Army Reserve; 19th July 1916, mobilized; 21st July 1916, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 11th February 1917, posted BEF; 11th February 1917, embarked / disembarked; 5th March 1917, to Battalion; 20th April 1917, 9 Casualty Clearing Station, P.U.O.(pyrexia of unknown origin); 28th April 1917, 5 General Hospital,  P.U.O.(pyrexia of unknown origin); 3rd May 1917 to 2 Convalescent Depot; 14th May 1917, to 11 2 Convalescent Depot;

20th May 1917, letter from wife, Mrs E K Coutts, Rosebery Cottage, Church Road, Horley, Surrey to The Officer of Records - "I am writing to you on behalf of my husband Pte A Coutts 16630 of the 1st Batt of the RWK. When he was passed for the army he was passed for Home Service only owing to his ill health & having a deformed chest. After being in training for a short time he was sent to France and there went before a medical board & was then passed for light duty at the Base not being fit enough for the firing line. The consequence is not being a fit man & having to rough it he has been very ill in hospital at Ruen. I am not surprised at that as he has always been in trouble with an asthmatic cough. Now I want to ask you if there is any way of his coming home. Surely there is something he could do better at home. I would be willing to give my own service in place of his although I am a woman I am young and stronger & in far better health for face hardships than he ever was. Now I will kindly ask you to do the best you can for me hoping for a favourable reply from you."

8th June 1917, at Infantry Base Depot; 2nd July 1917, joined Battalion, "A" Company; 13th July 1917, Aveley, admitted hospital; 1st August 1917, rejoined Battalion; 10th September 1917, In the Field, not being shaved on 9.30am Parade, 5 days confined to Barracks; 26th October 1917, reported missing.

30th June 1918, date when Separation Allowance of 19/6 a week will cease.

 1st July 1918, pension awarded  of 20/5 a week for widow and one child.

1919, widow living at 46 Theobold Road, Croydon, Surrey.

1922,  widow living at Charlesfield Road, Horley, Surrey and is remarried.

Commemorated at  Tyne Cot Memorial, Panel 106 to 108, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.


This page was last updated on 09-Mar-2018.

Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason