Albert Wishart was born in Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 25 February 1894. He was the fifth of six children born to John and Mary Wishart. His father – a shipyard labourer from Scotland, had been married before and consequently, Albert also had seven older half-siblings.

Albert enlisted in Newcastle on 9 July 1913 when he was 19-years-old and working an apprenticeship at a local boot shop. He joined the 1st Northumberland Field Ambulance RAMC and was assigned the role of nursing orderly.

A year later, when war broke out, he was recalled to home base under emergency orders and mobilized for full-time war service on 4 August 1914, eventually embarking for France on 17 April 1915.

Albert served with the Northumberlands in France until Christmas Day 1915, when he was given eight days leave back in the United Kingdom. With the exception of a week’s leave at the end of January 1917, Albert saw continuous overseas service for almost two-years.

On 3 October 1917, he suffered a fractured left clavicle whilst playing football and colliding with a player from another unit. He claimed he was in the performance of military duty at the time of the accident, which was eventually accepted by his superiors. Albert spent Christmas 1917 at the Front and returned to Newcastle on the 24 January 1918 for sixteen days.

When Albert returned to France he was temporarily attached to the 1st/4th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment and demobilized during April 1919, however, he rejoined the Army in 1920 when he was re-engaged with the territorial forces in the 1st Northern CCS RAMC.

Albert eventually left the military in 1922 and married Margaret McCarty the following year. They had two daughters and ran a fish & chip shop in Wallsend.

He died in Newcastle during 1979.

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