Also Served: Alec Byron - Alec BYRON
35, Cross Street, Prescot Pte 2735, 5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment Alec was born in Prescot on 2nd October, 1898 and was baptised on 20th November. The 1911 census listed the Byron family at the above address, where 12 year old Scholar Alec, lived with his parents, George and Annie.
Alec joined the South Lancashire Regiment on 11th September 1914 in St Helens. He gave his occupation as Apprentice Mechanic.
After training, he went to France with his unit on 13th February 1915.
By early May 1915, they were heavily involved in the fighting around Ypres, losing 98 men killed in that month. On the 14th, they were at a place called Shell Trap Farm and while fighting the enemy, Private Byron was shot in the stomach, suffering heavy damage to his kidney and abdomen.
The Liverpool Daily Post of 31st May 1915 reported Alec as being wounded.
He was treated initially at No 12 Field Ambulance, then moved down the casualty chain to No 8 Casualty Clearing Station, No 13 General Hospital and eventually in the UK to Endell Street Military Hospital (Covent Garden) on 7th June. His right kidney was removed on 15th May. He remained in hospital until being discharged to duty on August 23rd, being posted to the regimental HQ.
An extract from Alec Byron's medical records
A plaque at the site of Endell Street Military Hospital
Alec was eventually discharged due to his wounds on 7th April 1916.
An extract from Alec Byron's records, showing his service at home and overseas, along with details of his wounding
Alec was entitled to the 1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Silver War Badge.
I have been unable to locate details of any marriage or death for Alec, but I did locate some information which may relate to him.
On 5th March 1932, 33 year old Alec Byron sailed from Liverpool aboard the ss 'Euripdes', bound for Sydney, Australia. His address was listed as 44, Walton Breck Road, Liverpool, and he travelled alone. He listed his occupation as 'Traveller'.
There is an entry showing that he sailed from Southampton to New York aboard the Queen Mary on 3rd June 1953. Aged 54 at the time, he was accompanied by wife Anne (57). Alec is listed as a 'merchant' and Anne as a 'housewife'. Their address was 66, Rudstone Road, Childwall. They stated that they had previously lived and were going to live in Australia.
Then on 6th July 1953, Alec Byron landed at Southampton aboard the Queen Elizabeth, inbound from New York. Listed as a 'Merchant', he gave his country of residence as Australia and his UK address as 'Australia House, London'. He was again accompanied by Anne.
These inbound and outbound sailings may have been for the Prescot-born Alec Byron, but I cannot say with absolute certainty if that is the case.
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