Bert Angel was born in 1896 in Luton.

In 1911 he is living with his family at 168 Park Street. His father is 36 years old & working as a bricklayer, mother Lizzie is 37 & his 12 year old Hedley is at school. Bert is 14 years old & working as an office boy.

On 1st January 1915 Bert attested at Bedford for the 3/1st East Anglian Field Company of the Royal Engineers. He is described as being 5ft 7 1/2 inches tall & gave his address as 6 Beech Road, where is uncle Henry lived & his father as next of kin on his service record.

In September 1916 Bert married Olive Brown in Luton.

He served with the regiment for 1 1/2 years, part of that in Egypt.

On 20th January 1916 he was discharged as no longer fit for war service. He had spent 8 weeks in hospital in Peterborough with double pneumonia, losing 3 stone in weight since June 1915. It was reported that it was caused by being frequently wet through whilst on pontoon bridge building duty.

Bert survived the war & died in June 1947 in Hemel Hempstead aged 50.