Albert Victor Argyle
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Albert Victor Argyle, known as Victor, was born 1894 at Stillington, a village near Stockton, County Durham, one of 13 children of whom only 9 survived, he was the 3rd born son of 6 and had 3 sisters. His father Harry Argyle native of New Shildon, County Durham was born in 1866, the son of Charles Argyle of Leicester and Hannah of Shildon, publicans of the Caledonian Inn, Darlington. Harry married Annie Ivin born 1866 at Edgware Road, London, Middlesex. They settled at 17, Lowson Street, Stillington by 1891 with their 3 children, a house they shared with John Plant and his wife Jane, Harry Argyle was employed at Carlton Iron Works as an iron worker moving to number 19, Lowson Street by 1901 and there they remained. The Carlton Iron Works was a source of income for the male members of the family, by 1911 Harry Jnr (21) was employed as a locomotive fireman, Victor (19) as a coke oven labourer.
On the outbreak of war Albert Victor enlisted at Hartlepool, September 4th 1914 assigned as Private 22860 to the Hussars of the Line, a general Hussars unit which he joined at Scarborough and transferred to the 12th Battalion Reserve Regiment. He was discharged October 19th 1914 under King’s Regulations 392 (iii)(c), ‘not being likely to become an efficient soldier’ and ‘recruit within 3 months of enlistment considered unfit for service’. A contributing factor may have been the fact the first finger of his right hand had been amputated from the first joint.
Determined to serve his country he presented himself at the recruitment office at Leeds where he was assigned as Private 24270 Prince of Wales’s Own West Yorkshire Regiment, 10th Battalion, 50th Brigade, 17th Northern Division. The Division transferred to Winchester once fully trained and was selected for Home Defence duties, however this decision was reversed and they departed to France, landing at Boulogne, July 14th 1915, concentrating near St. Omer, however Private Argyle did not join them until after January 1916.
His Regiment in the spring of 1916 saw action at the Bluff near Ypres in Belgium on the Comines canal before moving south to the Somme. They participated during the opening attacks at the Battle of Albert July1st 1916 where the Division captured Fricourt.
During the attack Private 24270 Albert Victor Argyle, West Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action and is commemorated at Fricourt New Military Cemetery, Somme France, memorial D. 2. The cemetery is in fact only four mass burial areas made by the 17th Division the following day after the capture of the village and are almost in their entirety of men from the 17th Division. Private Argyle was 22 years old and single.
Victor's mother Annie as his sole beneficiary received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Annie Argyle nee Ivin, died 2 years later in 1930 aged 64 years registered at Stockton on Tees, Harry in 1940 aged 73 years registered at Middlesborough, Yorkshire.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Albert Victor Argyle is remembered at Stillington on S137.01 and S137.02
