Pte Albert William Victor Carroll

Albert was born to Peter and Elizebeth (Eliza) Carroll in Brentwood in 1911, his father was a verger at St Thomas' Church. He grew up at 55 South Street before getting a job as a lorry driver and moving out to Ongar Road when he married.

When the second world war broke out, Albert joined the 1st Battalion Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. The 1st Oxford & Bucks landed in Normandy on 24th June 1944, about two weeks after D Day.

On 25 June, Operation Epsom aimed to seize the town of Caen, a crucial objective for the allied forces. Despite its importance, capturing Caen proved difficult and the operation failed. The Germans counter-attacked, and the 1st Oxford & Bucks faced heavy artillery fire while stationed around the Odon bridge. Allied efforts to take Caen persisted, and during Operation Charnwood on 9 July, the first allied troops entered the heavily damaged city. The 1st Battalion's initial significant engagement during the battle involved capturing the village of Cahier and a nearby mill. Fighting around Caen continued throughout the month, resulting in substantial casualties for the battalion.

It was during these actions that Albert was killed on 17th July 1944.