Albert James GARNER was born on the 5th April 1897 in Leicester. His mother was 47 at the time, so it entirely possible that Albert was the daughter of his 'sister' Nellie Maud GARNER who would have been 24 and unmarried at the time of his birth.

In March 1901 the family home was at 79, Oxford Street, Leicester. By April 1911 the family had moved to 10, Littleton Street, Woodgate, Leicester.

Albert enlisted into the Royal Marines in Nottingham on the 1st December 1914, his reckonable service to commence on the 5th April 1915, and was allocated the service number 18237. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 8 inches in height, with a fresh complexion, dark brown hair and grey eyes, it was noted he had a tattoo spot on his front left forearm and a mole over his left shoulder blade. He gave his date of birth as the 5th April 1897 and stated he was born in St. Martin’s, Leicester, he gave his trade or calling as a core maker in an iron foundry, he gave his religion as Church of England and his mother Emma, of 10, Littleton Street, Woodgate, Leicester as his next of kin.

His record of service began when he was received at the Recruit Depot at Deal and served there from 1 Dec 1914 – 26 May 1915, when he was transferred to Portsmouth. Portsmouth Division, 27 May 1915 to 23 Jun 1915, when he embarked to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in the Dardanelles. HMS Victory, Royal Marine Brigade, M.E.F., 24 Jun 1915 – 17 Sep 1915 Albert died on 17 Sep 1915 in Netley Royal Naval Hospital from dysentery.