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- [S75] Other Researchers - Stephen Clowes.
After WW1 Minnie and son William Arthur lived in Albany Mansions, Battersea next door to Roberta Burstall mother of Beryl, later to be William's first wife. The story on our side of the family is that she knew nothing about Kathleen in Devon until a letter arrived for Albert Edward after he had gone back to Fort Tregantle, which she opened to find it was from Kathleen. Minnie was on the next train to Plymouth and the truth was out.
- [S11] Personal Knowledge, Yvonne.
Albert's daughter Jean, my husband's mother, and William's half sister, says that her father was in command at Fort Tregantle near Plymouth living with Katherine as his wife when she was small. Then it was found out that they weren't married and he was made to leave the army. The fort was virtually abandoned between 1918 and 1938 apparently, so Albert must have commanded the nearby army base. She was seven when they left Tregantle ie 1923 not long after her brother Peter was born.
Albert then sank his savings into a pub in Cornwall, but was hopeless at business and lost everything. He was helped out by former soldiers who had served under him. I'm not sure when he left Kathleen, and Jean's memory is not very clear now.
Jean's brother Peter was in the airforce in WW2 - 20 years younger than his halfbrother William, who must have been in the navy in WW1.
- [S75] Other Researchers - Stephen Clowes.
Albert Edward cashed in his Army pension to fund the pub venture…not the best move at the start of the depression. After it failed he worked as a clerk at the Gaslight and Coke Company. Did he stop living with Kathleen at some point? My grandmother, Beryl Burstall died (of a brain haemorrhage I think) in May 1936 and Minnie stepped in to look after my mum and her elder brother Chris in Worthing Sussex. Albert used to visit but was not allowed to stay overnight so he stayed at a B and B up the road. As far as we know he never moved back in with Minnie and was only visiting her at Danvers Street when he was killed. However, we understand there was a tremendous scene at the funeral with both 'wives' present at the graveside.
- [S20] Other Researchers - Angela Thomas.
From M.O.D records
Birth recorded as 14 November 1878
14:04:1897 Enlisted Number 6112 at Berwick-on-Tweed into the Kings Own Scottish Borderers and posted to Depot.
07:07:1897 Posted to 1st Battalion
19:06:1898 Appointed Drummer
22:07:1901 Promoted Lance Corporal
23:01:1902 Appointed Acting Corporal
05:07:1902 Appointed Lance Sergeant
07:04:1905 Posted to 1st Battalion
13:10:1905 Promoted Sergeant
13:10:1905 Attached to Royal Military College, Sandhurst and appointed Assistant Drill Instructor
06:09:1908 Appointed Acting Staff Sergeant with temporary rank of Colour Sergeant
13:08:1914 Promoted Colour Sergeant
06:03:1915 Appointed to a Commission as 2nd Lieutenant into the Kings Own Scottish Borderers, Regular Army, 3rd Battalion
21:06:1915 Embarked from Malta for UK Plymouth
date not recorded Attached to Royal Fusilliers, 26th Battalion
1917 Instructor at Officers School of Instruction, Bedford
1917-1918 Employed with RAF as adjutant, Squadron Leader and Commandant
1919-1920 Company Commander Kings Own Scottish Borderers, 2nd Battalion
1920-1923 Commandant Musketry Camp Tregantle, Devon
14:11:1923 Retired and granted the rank of Major
14:11:1928 Ceased to belong to the Regular Reserve of Officers
- [S20] Other Researchers - Angela Thomas.
Also from the MOD records
Overseas Service
South Africa 04:01:1900 to 29:08:1900
Gallipoli 25:04:1915 to 04:06:1915
France 01:04:1916 to 01:07:1916
South Africa 1900 to 1901
Promotions
2nd Lieutenant 06:03:1915
Lieutenant 31:01:1916
Captain LG 11:07:1917
Medals Awarded
South African Medal and 2 Clasps
Military Cross LG 1.1.17
- [S20] Other Researchers - Angela Thomas.
Also from the MOD records
On attestation he was described as 5'7" tall weighing 122lbs and his trade was given as porter.
His marriage to Minnie at Belfast on 19 December 1900 is recorded in the documents as is the birth of his son William Arthur born 16 February 1902 at Holywood. His next of kin is given as his mother Martha Worral of 3 Black Lion Court, Berwick Street, Oxford Street, London and his sisters Martha and Ellen.
- [S75] Other Researchers - Stephen Clowes.
Albert Edward was running two households for some considerable time. The story goes that he was wounded at Gallipoli in 1915 and fell in love with his nurse, Kathleen, giving rise to Jean in 1916. Did you know that Jean’s middle name Krithia is a site on the battlefield at Gallipoli. He was killed by a bomb blast which threw him down the stairs at Danvers Street but he was already ill with cancer.
- [S1] Certificate, Birth.
In Marylebone, at 55 Christopher Buildings.
- [S19] BMD - ancestry websites.
{{Ancestry Record|61866|158762|uk}} (dbid=61866&h=158762)
- [S1] Certificate, Death.
Living with Minnie at 49 Danvers St, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, London
- [S75] Other Researchers - Stephen Clowes.
Albert and Minnie had a second child who died not long after a very difficult birth after which Minnie refused to have sex again - this might partly explain why Albert took a second "wife".
- [S1] Certificate, Marriage.
Married Minnie in Belfast.
- [S114] Other Researchers - Peter Worrall.
The difference between a seasoned AEW and a shy young lady is charmingly obvious in the ´photo attached. Taken I think on the sports field at Tregantle Fort probably in the early ´20´s. No doubt they had journeyed there in AEW´s car a ´photo of which is also attached.
- [S114] Other Researchers - Peter Worrall.
I cannot see see that AEW ever did leave Kathleen, as we understood from Dad and our family talk that he - AEW that is - & Kathleen had been parents in the normal way. Even though we never had the opportunity to meet AEW, we did get to see Kathleen (Nanna Worrall to us as children) when we were very young and Dad used to talk a good deal about his times at home in Barnes with his Mum & Dad - although he well knew that something was going on elsewhere with Minnie and the other side of the family and often talked about the various discussion & debates that went on. Our Dad Peter, of course being only 17 when AEW died.
NB. later on when Dad bought the house (Pixies Folly) at Mortimer Common in the autumn of 1959, his idea was to make a granny flat for Nanna Worrall / Kathleen. Sadly she never got to live in it as she died that Christmas before her lodging was ready.
Our Dad, Peter was indeed in the RAF in WW2 (Bomber Command) and afterwards went into civil aviation with British South American Airways & later BOAC. He took part in the Berlin Airlift and afterwards was actively involved in the start of jet age travel flying the first Comet aircraft. Later on the glorious VC 10 and had a terrific flying career ending in retirement in June 1977.
- [S114] Other Researchers - Peter Worrall.
His Army career.
Looking back to the beginning of his career - when AEW enlisted in the KOSB´s at Berwick in April of 1897 - he was only 15 and obviously lied about his age - as did many - to get into the army.
That he was admitted at such a young age must have been either due to him being a mature looking young lad or that the recruiting sergeant was rather lenient that day (´OK son, you´ll do....' ) and with the Boer War boiling up in the background and the need for troops, there may have been shall we say, a certain relaxing of the regulations...
Thus after his initial training and formation in the KOSB´s, when he embarked for the Cape and the Boer War in January 1900 he was just 18.
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The Genealogy Zone
1881 - 1940 (58 years)
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