Albert Hirst

ALBERT HIRST

39859, Air Mechanic 2nd Class Albert Hirst 63rd Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps.

Born on 19th June 1893, son of Frank and Ellen Hirst. Albert was educated at St Johns Church of England School then Christ Church School, he was an active member of the Sunday school. He also took a great interest in the Scout Movement, and was a bell ringer of some promise. By 1911, the family had moved to 191 Newton Street, and Albert was working as a clerk to a wine and spirit merchant, though prior to enlistment, he was employed by Mt H. Turner of Brookside Mills.

Albert attested in Macclesfield soon after the outbreak of war in the 2/7thBattalion Territorials, and after nearly 2 years he rose to the rank of Corporal., and after training with them he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps early in 1916. His theatre of war was Mesopotamia, where it was reported that he died Thursday 6 September at the 133rd Basra General Hospital, of the effects of the heat, presumably sun stroke, he was aged 24 years.

Medals: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Air Mechanic 2nd Class Albert Hirst is buried in the Basra War Cemetery, Iraq
C.W.G.C. Ref: – III. K. 6.

Also refer to

• Macclesfield Troops pre WWI
• Photos from Barnswood archive Macclesfield WW1
• ‘Big Hats, Shorts and Dyb Dyb Dyb’ – a history of Macclesfield and Congleton Scouts by Norman Gosling
• WWI List of Addresses Trevor Druce Macclesfield Reflects
• Photos of 3rd Macclesfield Troop pre WW1
• ‘Great war history of 3rd Macclesfield’ by Sue Henderson