Current Information:

Age-17

37, Knott Street, Stepney

Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt

After the Western Front, the second largest theatre of war between 1914 and 1918 was Egypt and Palestine. Britain had long had a foothold in Egypt guarding the vitally important Suez Canal and when war was declared against Turkey (the Ottoman Empire) which controlled all of what is now known as the Middle East, British troops were sent to guard the canal from attacks from the north.

On 3rd February, 1915 there was a Turkish attack on the canal which was repulsed with the assistance of a number of British and French warships including HMS Hardinge, an armed troopship of the Royal Indian Marine, which came under attack from four inch and heavier guns. Both funnels were damaged and the ship was also badly hit elsewhere. Albert Rust was wounded in this engagement and died from his wounds on 12th February.