Private Albert Henry Shears
16th Battalion, (Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry and Royal North Devon Yeomanry), Devonshire Regiment
Killed in Action
Date of Birth: 6 August 1898
Place of Birth: Shaldon, Devon
Date of Death: 2 September 1918 aged 20
Buried: Remembered on Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France; and on Seafront Memorial, St. Michael’s Church Memorial and St. James’ Church Memorial Window, Teignmouth, Devon
Awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Private Albert (Bert) Henry Shears age 20.
Born 6 August 1898, Shaldon, and baptised 2 August 1900 at St. John's Church, Torquay, he was the younger son of Alfred, a grocer, and Thomasina, 10 Ringmore Road, Shaldon. The family were still living here in 1901.
By 1911 his father was the foreman in charge of a grocery store at 4 Bank Street, Teignmouth; the family were living at this address and Bert was still at school; he was an expert swimmer and diver and well known in the town.
He was shown at Bank Street on the 1918 absent voter's list.
Devonshire Regiment
cap badge
Bert joined 2/7 Cyclist Battalion, Devonshire Regiment in October 1914. In August 1917 he went to Palestine where he was wounded in December 1917; he later re-joined his regiment which was transferred to the Western Front in March 1918.
Bert was serving with 16th Battalion, (Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry and Royal North Devon Yeomanry),Devonshire Regiment, service number 290205, when he was killed instantly by a shell near Dury a few days after his 20th birthday on 2 September 1918.
Remembered on Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France; and on Seafront Memorial, St. Michael's Church Memorial and St. James' Church Memorial Window, Teignmouth.
"His Corporal wrote that Bert was one of the smartest runners in my platoon and that they had served together for 3 years in the Cyclists. Bert was one of the men who took a flight on the Daily Mail seaplane which visited Teignmouth followed by swimming ashore and won 1st prize in this competition." Teignmouth Post - 13 September
His brother, Reggie, served with 3rd Gloucestershire Regiment and arrived home in 1919 when he was demobbed.
