Signalman 2584305 Royal Corps of Signals
Died Friday 19th January 1945 (Age 24)
Commemorated at: Dunkirk Memorial, Dunkirk, Nord, France
Memorial Ref.: Column 30
Albert Derbyshire (born on 12th June 1920) was the son of Richard and Annie (nee Afterbury) Derbyshire. He came from a large family, being one of seventeen children. Albert’s sister Elsie (m. Bullock) has very kindly furnished us with the following information:
Before joining up Albert worked at the James Oakes Co Pyehill Colliery.
‘A’ Troop
In 1940 he was ‘reported as missing from a date unknown’. He had been with the B.E.F. since October. By this time Albert’s mother Annie was widowed and living in Edward Avenue, Jacksdale. A communication from the Army Records Office in January 1941 states that on 3rd June 1940, Albert was captured at St Omer, Dunkirk. He was wounded at the time of his capture and had been admitted to Stalag XXA, Poland on 21st July 1940 as a Prisoner of War (number 18781). In October 1941, he was transferred to Stalag XXB, Marzenberg, East Prussia. Albert was transferred from camp to camp, even working on a Polish farm at one time.
After enduring four and a half years as a Prisoner of War, Albert died on Friday 19th January 1945, aged only 24.
He is commemorated on The Dunkirk Memorial, Nord, France.
