Hi Chris, I spent some time looking for my great uncle who it turned out was a career soldier. I visited the National Archives, not realising that career soldiers sometimes retire 'to pension'. As Albert didn't join up in WW1 his records may be slightly different. I had taken a wrong turn in assuming that as he was a publican he couldn't be an army pensioner so didn't look at those possibilities. My relative was in India in the early 1900's, retired, and then rejoined in WW1 as a storeman.
Your man probably didn't want to keep his German sounding name with all the anti-German feeling around at that time. I've tried to trace several 'aliases' and unfortunately some of them don't want to be found but don't give up, every little snippet adds to the picture.
I also noticed that you didn't feel one of the Alberts was 'yours'. Don't disregard him though, I ignored a soldier from the Royal Worcesters for years as I was looking for an Irishman who had come to Birmingham. He turned out to be my husband's great grandfather who had joined up in Ireland. Put all your info on the back burner and keep checking it!
Good Luck with your search and let us know when you find him.
