Current Information:

Age-30

18, Gambetta Street, Battersea

Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France

The Battle of Messines 12th October-2nd November 1914

The Battle of Messines was fought in October 1914. It was part of the Race to the Sea and it took place between the Comines-Ypres canal  and  the River Douve. It involved the 1st and 2nd Cavalry Divisions and elements of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Divisions as well part of the Indian Division. During the evening of the last day of October, 1914 the 18th Hussars of 2nd Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division were relieved from trenches one mile east of St Eloi and moved to Wulverghem. On 1st November Messines, which was held mainly by other cavalry units, came under fierce attack and 18th Hussars moved to trenches about one mile east of the village on the Wulverghem-Messines road where they too came under attack.

Albert Healy died from wounds on 6th November, 1914, after having been sent to a base hospital on the coast, and it was likely that he was wounded during this time at Messines.