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2200 1st/5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Albert Byham (Recorded as ‘Arthur Robert’ on CWGC) was born in 1887 in Glemsford, the son of Charles and Hannah Byham. His father was employed as a silk weaver and the family lived at 27 Gregory Gardens. By 1911 his widowed father had moved with his two sons to live with his widowed sister, who ran The Magpie Inn at Combs Ford near Stowmarket.
Albert was employed as a labourer before he enlisted in Colchester, Essex and served with the Suffolk Regiment. The battalion, which formed part of 153rd Brigade, 54th (East Anglian) Division landed at Suvla Bay in early August 1915 and saw action against the Turks, advancing through heavy enemy fire without any artillery support from their own side to gain 1,300 yards. The battalion suffered 186 killed or wounded and a further 160 sick, the majority suffering with dysentery. The battalion was garrisoned at Hill 60 and had to endure disease, swarms of flies, heat, water shortage and lack of transport.
Albert served alongside other Sudbury men including his Commanding Officer Lt. Colonel William Morris Armes, CSM Wilfred Hunt, Harry Farrant, Percy Hume, Bertie Martin and David Pettit, who all lost their lives in the Gallipoli Campaign.
Albert was killed in action at Gallipoli on 6 September 1915 aged 27 and lies buried in 7th Field Ambulance Cemetery, Turkey. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
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