Born: 1896, Aston, Birmingham
Died: 16 october 1916
Buried: Warlencourt British Cemetery
Address: 28 Beech Grove, Undercliffe
Parents: Frank Alexander & Ada, nee Kiing
Spouse:
Siblings:
Occupation:
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: St Luke’s , Eccleshill
Children:
Regiment: South African Infantry
Archibald Nelson Huskisson
Archibald Nelson Huskisson,
known as Archie, was born in 1896
in Aston, Birmingham, the son of
Frederick Alexander Huskisson and
Ada, nee Key.
The couple had three children
Gladys Ada, Frederick alexander
and Archie.
By 1911 the family had moved and
were living at 28 Beech Grove,
Undercliffe.
Archie left the United Kingdom on
the ship Balmoral Castle departing
from Southampton on the 30th May
1914. He arrived in Algar Bay,
South Africa, having travelled third
class. He was only 17 years of age.
A Huskisson family of seven had
travelled in 1910 and it is possible
that they were relatives and that
Archie was going out to join them.
Archie enlisted in the 1st Regiment
of the South African Infantry as
Private 1525.
This Regiment was raised from the
West Cape and most of the recruits
already had military training and
were in general middle class, well
educated and well bred men.
The Regiment embarked between
the 28th of August and 17th of
October 1915 and were in England
by November.
On the 30th of December 1915 they
embarked for Eygpt and then
returned to France arriving in
Flanders by the 23rd of April 1916
in preparation for the Somme
offensive.
Their first major engagement was
on the 2nd of July and then the 1st
Regiment spent most of the
summer of 1916 in the Arras and
Vimy areas.
The South African Brigade moved
back to the front line at High Wood
on the 9th of October.
Three days later an attack was
made near Butte de Warlencourt.
There was severe fighting that was
continued with a renewed attack in
the same area on the 18th of
October, 1916 the day on which
Archie died. He was 20 years of
age.
Archie is buried in the Warlencourt
British Cemetery which was made
late in 1919 when graves were
brought in from small cemeteries
and the battlefield of Warlencourt
and Le Sars.
.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
