Albert Sarfas was born in Lewisham in London on 30 October 1900, the son of James Henry and Mary Ann Sarfas (née Wilkins). He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Artificer on 4 January 1916. After completing a five-year apprenticeship as an Engine Room Artificer, he served in the battleship HMS BARHAM, the cruiser HMS COVENTRY, and the torpedo boat destroyer HMS SERAPIS.

He joined HMS DOLPHIN for the Submarine Course on 5 February 1927 and for HMS L25 on 11 February 1928. Albert Sarfas was promoted to Warrant Engineer on 1 October 1928  and was appointed to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS LUCIA additional for Duty in Submarines on 16 May 1929. An appointment followed to HMS L26 as Engineering Officer on 16 June 1930. This was followed by an appointment to HMS L69 as Engineering Officer on 28th May 1931. On 15 February 1932 he was appointed to HMS PIGMY ‘for Submarines‘ and, on 20 May 1932 he was appointed to HMS CYCLOPS. He was appointed to HMS OTWAY as Engineering Officer on 1 May 1934, and then to HMS CYCLOPS in August 1935.

The date of his promotion to Commissioned Engineer was 1 October 1938 and he was appointed to HMS STERLET as Engineering Officer on 8 January 1939. On 15 April 1940 STERLET attacked and sank the German Gunnery Ship Brummer in the Oslo Fiord in Norway. On 18 April 1940, STERLET was lost with all hands, resulting from an attack by a German anti-submarine flotilla.

Albert Sarfas was the husband of Gabrielle Amalia Helene Sarfas (née Preradovic) whom he had married in Vienna in Austria on 19 August 1931. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Panel No. 37 Column No. 2.