360th Water Company, Royal Engineers. Regimental number 349428.
Early life:
Albert was born late in 1884 at Bingley to parents James and Isabella. By the time he was 6 in 1891 they were living at 12, Bingley Road, Cross Roads, with his sister Eva and brother John William.
By 1901 they had moved to 1, Albert Street, Cross Roads, and he was 16 years old and working as a worsted spinner.
In the 1911 census he had changed occupation to Carter (for a carting agent) and was living with his family at 7, Robert Street, Cross Roads. He was 26 by this time.
Two years later in 1913, he married Maria Williams at the Primitive Methodist Chapel at Haworth on 4th of January, they were both aged 28. Maria was a worsted weaver and Albert was now a railway goods porter. Son Dennis was born at Cross Roads on 4th July 1915.
In the same year, Albert enlisted in the Army on 10th November and took the oath at Haworth a month later. He was aged 30 years and was transferred to the Army Reserve, probably because he was a married man with one child. On 12th November 1916, their daughter Elsie was born at Cross Roads.
War service:
He was mobilised at Halifax on 27th April 1918 at the age of 33 years, 92 days and immediately posted as a Private to Bedford “A” Royal Engineer Signals depot. Occupation: Labourer, Group 26/53. He joined units from Bedford on 22nd May.
He embarked from Dover on 28th April 1919. Embarked from Taranto on 6th May. Disembarked at Port Said, Egypt on 11th May and was posted to 360 Water Company on 20th May. He was part of the British Egyptian Expeditionary Force which was defending the Suez Canal at the end of the Great War.
Royal Engineers Water Companies would have been hugely important to the men living in the heat of the desert. He does not appear to have any war medals awarded, but from the look of his service it’s likely he would not have been eligible, as his overseas service began after the Great War had ended.
Albert was posted to demobilisation camp on 2nd February 1920 and had his discharge medical on 7th February at Kantara (Suez Canal). Embarked at Alexandria on 13th March, on board H. M. Transport Magdalena, bound for UK. For dispersal in London on 28th March.
Post war:
In the 1921 census Albert was living at 4 Robert Street in Cross Roads with his widowed father James, a 67 year old employee of Haworth Council. Albert was aged 36 and a fitter’s labourer employed by Hall and Stell textile engineers on Dalton Lane in Keighley. Maria was 37 and on home duties, Dennis was aged six and whole time at school along with his sister Elsie aged four. Also living here was Albert’s brother John William Dodgson a widower aged 34, an iron planer for Croft and Naylors Tool makers at Parker Street in Keighley.
In the 1939 register Albert was living at 9, Rupert street in Cross Roads and was aged about 53. Maria was about 54 and on unpaid domestic duties and their daughter Elsie aged 23 was also living here. She was a mender of dress goods. Elise later married and became Elsie Manley.
Maria died in March 1957 aged 73 years, recorded in the Worth Valley register. Albert died in December 1966 aged 81, also recorded in the Worth Valley register.
Remembrance:
Remembered (as served and returned from the war) on the Cross Roads Roll of Honour/War Memorial in Cross Roads Park. Also (complete with photograph) on the Cross Roads Primitive Methodist Chapel Roll of Honour. He is also named on the Haworth Oddfellows Roll of Honour/War Memorial.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Free BMD Birth Index, 1837-1915.
England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007.
England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916-2005.
1891 England Census.
1901 England Census.
1911 England Census.
England & Wales, Free BMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915.
West Yorkshire, Non-Conformist Records, 1646-1985.
British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920.
1921 England Census.
1939 England and Wales Register.
England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007.
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962.
