Menin Gate Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Albert Edward Durrant was born in 1879 at Scarborough, Yorkshire, the eldest of 9 children, 3 sons and 6 daughters of whom only 7 survived, gender of deceased unknown. His father Dennis Easter Durrant native of Sherringham, a coastal town in Norfolk, born 1857, was a blacksmith’s son who having migrated to Yorkshire found work as a general labourer. Dennis married at Scarborough in 1878 to Margaret O”Brien of Ampleforth, Yorkshire born in 1859. Newly married they settled at 54, Queen Street, Ormesby, near Middlesborough, Yorkshire, ten years later they had moved to Florence Street, Dennis was now employed as an iron worker.
As of 1891 when Albert was 12 years old there are no further details as to his whereabouts, however he at some point was employed by Carlton Iron Works. This absence leads me to believe he may have had a military career which would also explain why as an experienced soldier he was part of the first draft to depart on the outbreak of war attached to a battalion of the Regular Army.
Prior to the commencement of war Albert Edward Durrant, at the age of 32, married at Stockton, County Durham, in 1910, to May Middleton Harrison, aged 18 years, the daughter of widow Elizabeth Harrison who had remarried during 1903 to John Leighton. May gave birth in 1910, to a son, named Albert Jnr. In 1911 May and Albert Jnr were living with her step-father John (81) still employed at the iron works and mother Elizabeth Leighton (69) at Carlton Iron Works, Ferryhill, they also had taken in 4 boarders, James Gribbon, Peter McGee, Arthur McGee and James Duffy, all of whom originated from Ireland and worked at the blast furnace. Albert and May had a further 2 children, daughter Edith Mary Durrant born February 3rd 1913 and Henry in 1914.
On the outbreak of war as Private 15683 assigned to the 1st Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment of the Regular Army he departed with the British Expeditionary Force, March 18th 1915, bound for France and moved to Flanders (Belgium). April 23rd 1915 the Battalion formed part of the Geddes Detachment with the 5th King’s Own and joined the 2nd Buffs and 3rd Middlesex Regiments who were holding the line at Sint Jan. They along with the Canadian Division filled the gap left by the French Colonials who had been forced to flee during a gas attack the previous evening. Later in the day the Geddes Detachment was reinforced and seven battalion counter-attacked and stabilised the line.
By May 4th they were fighting on the Frezenberg Ridge. That evening the 1st York and Lancaster Battalion was in the front line trenches, “A’, “B” and “C” Company 3rd Monmouth’s joined then as reinforcements. The new front line had been poorly and hastily constructed and did not resist the heavy bombardments. Casualties were heavy and under the cover of darkness the wounded were evacuated to the dressing stations however the dead had to be buried where they fell. Over the next 2 days, May 5th and 6th the shelling continued but no attempt was made to attack by the Germans.
Private 15683 Albert Edward Durrant was killed in action May 5th 1915. His sacrifice is recorded as on of the 54,395 names inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres, Belgium, which commemorates servicemen from Great Britain and the Commonwealth who were killed on the Ypres salient 1915-August 7th 1917 whose bodies have never been found and have no known grave. He was 37 years old, recipient of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
All monies owed to Private Durrant were assigned to a Thomas Hodgson, guardian to his children. His widow May and Thomas Hodgson were married at Stockton during the 1st quarter 1918, they do not appear to have had any children of their own.
May Hodgson-Durrant nee Harrison died in 1966 registered district of Durham S.E, Albert and May’s son Henry Durrant died in 1945 aged 30 years, daughter Edith Mary Tote nee Durrant died in 2005, both registered at Hartlepool, County Durham, details of Albert Durrant unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Albert Edward Durrant is remembered at Stillington on S137.01 and S137.02
