Photograph of Corporal Albert Webb with his comrades, January 1915

Description

Corporal Albert John Webb who is standing in the back row second from the left, was born in King Street, Blaenavon on the 8 May 1884. In 1890 the family moved to Pontnewydd, Pontypool. In 1902 Albert served with the Territorial Army and in 1910 he won a barrel of beer in a rifle shooting competition. Albert was a collier before joining the 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment on 1 April 1908 at the age of 24. Albert was sent to fight in the Western Front as part of the British Expeditionary Force. His experiences along with Sergeant W. (Blackwood) Jones and Private E. A. Watts' were documented in January 1975 by the local free press. The three described how a copy of the 'free press' was stuck on the top of a rifle and used as a flag of truce in the trenches on Christmas Day. When firing ceased and the British and German troops fraternised in 'no man's land' "there they were on top of their trench, waving for us to come and asking for cigarettes so Sergeant Jones and another of the boys got up and went over with cigarettes and a few tins of jam to give the poor beggars. They were the 7th Bavarian Regiment and looked as though they had just come from Pirpentwys [Colliery]. But their officers would not let them come over to us, so we had to chuck the fags and stuff to them. After that we had a pleasant time for a few hours while the Germans were out burying their dead, as they had had a dose of shrapnel the night before. But I am sorry to say some of them are not sports. As they shot [our mate] after he had taken them cigarettes a bit further down the line, and it made us a bit savage. But I think they are afraid of us as all aggression is on our side, and it will not be long before they say goodbye to Belgium." Corporal Albert John Webb was discharged on 26 November 1915 on the ground of him being medically unfit for further military service. Albert married Lily Atkins on 21 August 1911 and they set up home in 25, Lower Bridge Street, Pontypool. Tesco has now been built on the site of Lower Bridge Street. Following his discharge from the army he became a steward at a Gent's Club above Lloyd's bank in Pontypool. Albert and Lily moved to 22, Lower Bridge Street, Pontypool where they raised four children. Albert died on 28 February 1958 aged 73.

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