WATERFALL Albert

Notes:

Private 24661 Albert Waterfall 15th Battalion "Nottingham" [Bantam] Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) died of wounds at No 10 Casualty Station on Wednesday 1st August 1917 aged 20. He is buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. During the First World War, the village of Lijssenthoek was situated on the main communication line between the Allied military bases in the rear and the Ypres battlefields. Close to the Front, but out of the extreme range of most German field artillery, it became a natural place to establish casualty clearing stations.The 15th (Bantam) Battalion, made up initially of men who although fit were below the normal minimum service height of 5' 3", moved to France with the 35th (Bantam) Division in 1916.

The Battalion fought with great distinction and heavy casualties throughout the 1916 battles on the Somme. However at the end of 1916, the problems of finding 'bantam' reinforcements in sufficient numbers became too difficult; the 15th Foresters was redesignated a normal 'service' battalion and fought as such until the end of the War.
Born and resident in Belper Albert enlisted in Derby in March 1915 and was the youngest son of William and Mary Ellen Waterfall, of 172, Over Lane, Openwoodgate, Belper.Prior to enlisting he had been employed at Denby Colliery.He was the brother of Alfred Waterfall, his other brother Percy served in France with a Lewis Gun Section and survived.
Private 26945 Alfred Waterfall 1st Garrison Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) Died of enteric fever at Port Suez Egypt on Sunday 26th August 1917 aged 29. Alfred is buried in the Suez War Memorial Cemetery Egypt. The 1st Garrison Battalion was formed in Lichfield in July 1915. In October 1915 it began transferring to Egypt, via Malta and Gallipoli.Suez was an important hospital centre during the First World War with two Indian general hospitals, two stationary hospitals and casualty clearing stations based there at various times.

Born and resident in Belper Alfred enlisted in Derby and was the son of Mr William Waterfall and Mary Ellen Waterfall of 172, Over Lane, Belper and the husband of Sarah Waterfall, of 157, Nottingham Rd., Belper, they had two young children a boy and a girl.Prior to enlisting Alfred was employed at the White Lea Pit near Ripley where his father was also employed.He was the brother of Albert Waterfall, his other brother Percy served in France with a Lewis Gun Section and survived.