Current Information:

Age-20

Born-Twickenham

La Clytte Military Cemetery, Belgium

On 20th April, 1915, the 1st Honourable Artillery Company battalion of 7 Brigade, 3rd Division moved into the front line at St Eloi, just to the south of Ypres, where they remained until relieved on 24th April. Alan Vertue died from wounds on 22nd April but the battalion diary provides no further information concerning his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.