After researching for many hours & getting help regarding Albert, We narrowed the search to just one man.

1899 Born Albert Victor

1891 census has him Albert V Leighten age 2

1901 census has him as Albert N leighton The N is a V and is wrong on the details at the national archives.

1911 census as Albert Leighton only

Quick look through surviving records suggest that he enlistment January 1915

Army number 16930 enlisted 9/1/1915 and 17290 enlisted 30/1/1915.

He served with the 1st/South Staffordshire Regiment.

After careful consideration the Albert Leighton.

I think that the medal belonged to was living in Staffordshire at Hightown, Hednesford, which is only a few miles from Lichfield where the South Staffs were raising Battalions for Kitchener's New Army.

Researched information point to this

Looking at the Casualties list doesn't really help to place him, for example Army issued numbers 17089 was in the 2nd Bn and 17090 was in the 7th; 17063 was in the 9th which was a Pioneer Battalion.

So given the the pre war occupation of the above Albert in the mines it's a possibility but as I said we could eliminate the guesswork by looking at the Rolls.

17063 did come from Brierley Hill, Staffordshire and looking through the CWGC for soldiers with 170** in the South Staffs where additional information is given they were all living in the Midlands e.g. Wolverhampton, West Bromwich, Walsall etc and even one who was born in Hightown, Hednesford.

17009 W. Wright who is interred in Cannock Cemetery.

So it does appear in January 1915 recruits to the South Staffs were still coming in from the local community.

From the 1911 census these details were also used to come to the conclusion that the medal was warded to this man

Name:

Albert Leighton

Age in 1911:

22

Estimated Birth Year:

abt 1889

Relation to Head:

Brother

Gender:

Male

Birth Place:

Hightown, Staffordshire

Civil Parish:

Cannock

County/Island:

Staffordshire

Country:

England

Street Address:

15 Platt St, Hightown, Hednesford, Staffordshire

Marital Status:

Single

Occupation:

Miner Horse Driver Under Ground

Registration District:

Cannock

Registration District Number:

368

Sub-registration District:

Cannock

ED, institution, or vessel:

12

Household Schedule Number:

104

Piece:

16945

Household Members:

Name

Age

John Leighton

27

Eliza Leighton

24

Albert Leighton

1

John Leighton

6

Albert Leighton

22

Hannah Leighton

3

William Lyons

58

Raymond Jowett

22