 | ||||
| Street Family Photo. |
From back left: Albert Douglas Street (known as Doug) sitting on fence with cap; Margaret Daisy Street nee Ashforth standing in front of fence; Gertrude Olive Graham (known as Olive) nee Ashforth standing behind fence with hat; Florence Graham sitting on fence; Hugh Douglas Graham (known as Douglas) being held in arms; ALBERT PERCY STREET (known as Percy) holding Douglas; Alexander Graham (known as Alec) kneeling looking down.
The above photo was taken around 1929 when the family were in holiday in Scotland. Alec & Olive and their family lived in Scotland and invited Olive's sister Margaret and her family for a visit.
ALBERT PERCY STREET was born on 27 July 1886 in Baslow, Derbyshire, and christened on 26 September 1886. (1)
His parents were JOSHUA & AGNES ELIZABETH (or ELVINA) HAIL.
He was usually known as PERCY and had nine siblings: EDWIN JOSEPH born 1878; EVELYN AGNES born 1879; FRANK born 1881; HARRY born 1882; FREDERICK VINCENT born 1885; EMILY FRANCES born 1888; MAY born 1890; CHARLES born 1893 and MARGUERITE ANNIE born 1897.
When PERCY was 14 years old, the family were living at Cliffside, in Crich, near Matlock, and his father was the Publican at The Cliff Inn. His older brothers were working as stone mason's, except FRED who with PERCY was a carpenter/Joiner's apprentice. (2) In 1911 PERCY was a general labourer and living with his widowed mother and siblings EDWIN, MAY, CHARLES & MARGARET still in Crich. (3)
On 2 June 1913 ALBERT PERCY married MARGARET DAISY ASHFORTH at the United Methodist Church on Shaw Road, South Shore, Blackpool. Percy was recorded as a 26 year old 'General Labourer' living in Crich, Derbyshire. Percy's brother Charles and Margaret's sister Olive signed as witnesses on the marriage certificate. (4)
Not much is known about ALBERT PERCY's military career. When he signed attestation papers at Ripley with the KOYLI Corps (Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) on 3 December 1915, his answer to the question 'Have you ever served in the military' was 'Yes. 6 Batt Notts & Dbys, 3 years'. (5)
The dates on his service record are:
3 December 1915 - Attested. Age 29 years, 4 months. Trade: Slag loader. Address: Cromford Road, Ripley, Derbyshire.
6 July 1916 - KOYLI
31 July 1916 - Passed course in Transport Training
13 October 1916 - Was given leave for the death of someone. The papers are torn and burnt at this point and illegible as to exact reason.
8 December 1916 - 1st Garr Bn Yorks Regs
4 September 1917 - Good military character. 1st Garr. Bn Yorkshire, Regt Infantry
20 June 1918 - 4 days C.B. for inattention on parade at Sialkot
20 March 1919 - Disability, 32 years old. Sialkot "I do not claim to be suffering from a disability due to my military service."
12 April 1919 - Selected from Demobilisation - Sialkot
9 May 1919 - India, Bombay
5 June 1919 - Special Furlough Authority
16 July 1919 - Admitted to hospital
14 September 1919 - 28 days furlough
12 October 1919 - Age 33, Malaria 3-%, Weekly pension
15 May 1922 - British War Medal awarded.
'The Great War', also known as WW1, ended in 1918, but Pte PERCY ALBERT STREET's battallion were sent to Sialkot to assist in the 3rd Afghan War which lasted a couple of months. He served therefore with both the Sherwood Foresters and The Green Howards.
He returned home from war relatively unscathed and worked in the lead mines, and was a Lead Smelter in 1942 at Lea Bridge. Family story relates that he fell from his horse at some time and badly injured his leg and walked with a limp from them on. He also kept to himself at home and when his children were older he apparently sat in the kitchen listening to the radio. He took his only son, Albert Douglas, to football matches as a boy.(6)
In The Spirit of Crich, a book by Ken Jackson, there's a photo showing that he played football for Whatstandwell 3rd division, Matlock & District League, Division Cup in 1923.
His name is also on the Crich Roll of Honour as "Street, Pte. Percy."
His daughter-in-law commented in a letter that ALBERT PERCY & his wife Margaret Daisy were buried not cremated (as other family members were), but she was unable to tell where the grave is.
As PERCY and his wife aged their families took it in turns to care for them and have them stay with them. On 6th August 1959, while they were staying with their daughter Margaret Elvina (Elvie), in Dudley, near Birmingham, ALBERT PERCY STREET died, the cause of death given as 'lead poisoning'.
(1) familysearch.org
(2) 1901 Census
(3) 1911 Census
(4) Copy of marriage certificate
(5) ancestry.co.uk British Army WW1 Service Records
(6) Family recollections; his daughter-in-law's memoirs.
The above are the facts I have gleaned from various sources over a number of years. If any reader can add anything of interest regarding my ancestor, please contact me. Thank you.
© The information and photographs in this format may not be copied or pasted elsewhere without the author's written permission.
No comments:
Post a Comment