Albert John Bryden

Albert Bryden was born on 20th  May 1893 in Springfield, Canterbury. He had one older brother and six younger siblings.  Albert was educated at New Brighton School where he received a school prize in Standard VI form (reported by The Press, 26 December 1905). After school he worked as a Chemists Assistant at W.R Cooke & Son Pharmacy on Cashel Street in Christchurch.

Information from Alberts Enlistment Papers show that he was 5ft6 tall and had blue eyes and light brown hair. He was placed in the 2nd  Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade A company in Wellington. On 9th  October 1915 his battalion departed for Suez, Egypt. Alberts battalion became part of the New Zealand Division in Moascar, Egypt. Destined for the Western Front, the Division reached Marseillesin April 1916 and entered the line in May south-east of Armentières. The
Division was committed to the gigantic offensive on the Somme which began on 1 July. The Division, under I Anzac Corps (Birdwood) and then II Anzac Corps (Godley), staged 11 major raids (against four German ones) in three months and countless patrols on its 8-mile front.

Albert was killed in The Battle of Fromelles, aged 23. The Battle took place on 19 th  July 1916. According to reports afterwards, preparations for the attack were rushed, the troops involved lacked experience in trench warfare and the power of the German defense was significantly underestimated, the attackers being outnumbered 2:1. The advance took place in daylight, against defenses overlooked by Aubers Ridge, on a narrow front which left German artillery on either side free to fire into the flanks of the attack. The Battle of Fromelles had inflicted some losses on the German defenders but gained no ground nor deflected many German
troops bound for the Somme.

Albert was buried in the Ration Farm Military Cemetery in Nord, France which includes a number of individual ANZAC graves from the Battle of Fromelles. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star medal which was actioned on 21st  September 1923.

A memoriam notice was placed in The Press ,19 July 1920, for Albert and his brother Walter by their parents and siblings. He is remembered on the New Brighton School Roll of Honour and the Halswell War Memorial.

Related Resources
Online cenotaph record for Albert John Bryden. Auckland War Memorial Museum
Albert Brydens military personnel file. Archives New Zealand (Archway)

References
Burwood School Prizes, Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12384, 26 December 1905, Page 4
The Recruiting Campaign, Press, Volume LI, Issue 15278, 14 May 1915, Page 7
Lance-Corporal A. J. Bryden Killed in Action, Star , Issue 11812, 25 September 1916, Page 5
Roll of Honour Casualty List, Timaru Herald, Volume CV, Issue 16066, 13 September 1916, Page 7
ROLL OF HONOUR. Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16890, 19 July 1920, Page 1
News that John Bryden had been informed of his sons death, Sun, Volume III, Issue 808, 12 September 1916, Page 4