Pte Albert Lodge

Albert Lodge was employed by the town council before the war and lived in a house not far from the train station on St James' Road, one of the lost Victorian roads of Brentwood that were demolished in the 1950s.

He joined the army in August 1914, landing in France probably on the 22nd/23rd August, and saw his first action at the Battle of Mons.

He was also present for some of the famous truces that occured around Christmas 1914, another soldier reported the story in the Chelmsford Chronicle:

As I have told you before, our trenches are only 30 or 40 yards from the Germans. This led to an exciting incident the other day. Our fellows have been in the habit of shouting across to the enemy and we used to get answers from them. We were told to get into conversation with them, and this is what happened:- From our trenches "Good morning Fritz" - No answer "Good Morning Fritz" - Still No answer "GOOD MORNING FRITZ" from the German trenches: "Good morning" Our trench: "How are you?" from German trenches: "All right" "Come over here Fritz" reply: "No; if I come I will be shot" "No you won't. Come on" reply "No fear" "Come and get some fags Fritz" reply: "No you come halfway and I'll meet you" One of our fellows there upon filled his pockets with fags and got over the trench. The German got over his trench and right enough they met half way and shook hands. Fritz taking the fags and giving chocolate in exchange. It was good to see the Germans on top of their trenches and the English also with caps waving in the air, all cheering. About 18 of our men [A and D Companies of the 2nd Essex] went halfway and met about the same number of Germans. This lasted about half an hour, when each side returned to their trenches to shoot each other again.

Albert was wounded some time before March 1915, when he returned to England. Unfortunately he later died of his wounds. He is remembered on the St Thomas' War Memorial and Brentwood War Memorial.