GOVIER Albert

The birth of Albert Govier is registered in the September Quarter 1880 under the Bromsgrove Registration District.  The death of Albert Govier aged 35 is registered in the March Quarter 1916 under the Blofield (Norfolk) Registration District.

The medal index card for Albert Govier records him as Private Albert Smith, 6409, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.  As some point the surname Smith has been crossed through and Govier written.  On the reverse of the card is written: Officer states man changed his name by Statutory Declaration from 4/11/1902.  Albert went to France on 20th August 1915 and was awarded the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.  It would appear these were not claimed as the “O/C Recs requests auth to dispose of medals 19/9/21.”

Service Records for an Albert Smith who enlisted as Private 5336, South Staffordshire Regiment on 2nd May 1900, may relate to this casualty.  On his attestation paper he stated he was born in Redditch, he gave his age as 20 years 11 months and his residence as Smethwick where he worked in the metal industry.  Albert was 5 feet 8¾ inches tall with a sallow complexion, brown eyes and black hair.  Written across the front page of his attestation paper in red ink is “Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry 16-5-00.”

The following information has been researched by and is courtesy of Brian Hill:
Albert Govier was born in Redditch, the youngest of eight siblings. He enlisted in Lichfield and lived in Droitwich. His parents Jethro and Hariette Govier worked in the Redditch needle industry, living with Albert at William Street, Redditch. His employment in 1911 was ”cycles”. Albert married Gertrude Annie Priddey in 1914 at Droitwich. They had two children, Ethel Allen and Albert George, and the family lived at Brine Pits, Droitwich.

He seems to have enlisted into the South Staffordshire Regiment (Militia) under the name of Albert Smith in May 1900, a metal worker living at Smethwick and given the number 5336, but almost immediately he was transferred to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (D.C.L.I.) His new regimental number 5409 is consistent with his having joined the 1st or 2nd Battalion of the D.C.L.I. in 1900.

The 6th D.C.L.I. were in 43 Brigade, 14th (Light) Division, a New Army Division. This Division took part in the very unsuccessful second attack on Bellewarde Ridge on the 25th September 1915, which was planned as a diversion during the Loos battles.

Albert is buried in Dodderhill St. Augustine of Canterbury Churchyard, having died in Norwich from “Nephritis contracted while on Active Service”. His headstone bears the inscription;- Gone But Not Forgotten.