THE hundred year anniversary of a Penarth man who served in the First World War is approach.

Herbert Albert Barrett, known as Albert Barrett, was born in Penarth in 1892 and died at the battle of Passchendaele on August 23, 1917.

He was the son of blacksmith Thomas Barrett and Rosina Barrett of 5 Ivy Street.

In 1901 the family lived at 6 Paget Terrace and, after being widowed in 1911, Rosina Barrett moved her family to live at 9 Maughan Terrace.

Albert's name appears on the cenotaph in Alexandra Park and despite initially being misspelt as Bartlett, it was soon corrected.

Albert was a grocer’s assistant and was baptised at All Saints church on November 30, 1892.

He was one of eight siblings, the brother of Thomas, Winnifred, Alfred, Grace, Jack, Rachel and Jean.

He attended the National School in Penarth which is now known as St Cyres.

He originally served as a private in the Welsh Regiment before being posted to the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) - known as the "suicide squad.

Albert was killed aged just 24 and is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium.

He saw action at the battles for Pilckem Ridge and Langemark during the battle of Passchendaele.

Although he had no children of his own, he is survived by his oldest living relative, nephew John Angove who is aged 94.

Albert's brother Thomas served as a soldier and is believed to have been lost in France. Jack also served as a soldier and, although injured in battle, he survived.

Ruth Brennan, Albert's great niece, said: "He must have been very scared but also so brave and we wish that he could have made it home. His memory will live on with us all now."

Dr Jonathan Hicks, head teacher of St Cyres School, provided the family with the only remaining photograph of Albert as all others have been destroyed.