Albert Cast
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Albert was the twin son of Henry John and Alice Cast (née Brooks).
Both his parents were born in Nottingham, Henry John in 1869 and Alice in 1866. They were married on 23 November 1889 (reg. Ilkeston) and had seven children: James b. Cossall 1890, Ann Elizabeth b. Ilkeston 1892 (d. 18 December 1913) and five children who were born in Nottingham, Ellen b. 1894, William b. 1896, twins Henry John and Albert b. 1898 and Herbert b. 1899.
Henry, a miner, his wife and their infant son James were living on Middleton Street, Cossall, in 1891. By 1901 they had moved to 26 Richmond Street, Nottingham. In the household on the night of the census were Henry, a fruit salesman, Alice and their seven children.
The family was living at 2 Hedderley Street, St Ann's Well Road, Nottingham, in 1911: Henry, now a coal and fire wood dealer on his own account, his wife who was working from home as a chevener (hosiery trade) as were her daughters Ann and Ellen, James an unemployed general labourer and Reservist, William a joiner's apprentice and Henry, Albert and Herbert who were all school age.
Henry and Alice had moved to Red Hill, Arnold by December 1913 when their eldest daughter, Ann, died aged 21.
Albert, and probably his twin and younger brother, was educated at the Daybrook Primary School and then the Robert Mellors Secondary School, Arnold.
Henry, a Pearl Assurance insurance agent, and Alice were recorded on the 1921 Census at 8 Morris Street, Daybrook. Living with them was their their son James, a miner hewer at Gedling Digby Colliery, and his wife Elizabeth and also a granddaughter, Kathleen Mellor Kirk, the daughter of Ellen and her husband Mark Kirk (m. 1915).
When the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled, Henry (retired), Alice and their grandson Albert L (b. 1922), a clerk (works order office), the son of Herbert and Elsie (Craven m. 1919), were living at 250 Mansfield Road, Arnold.
Alice died in 1940 aged 73 and Henry John in 1944 aged 74,
Albert Cast enlisted at Derby and served with the 8th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
He was killed in action on 8th June 1917. Albert has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium (Panel 47).
CWGC History of the Memorial (extract): The Menin Gate is one of four memorials to the missing in Belgian Flanders which cover the area known as the Ypres Salient ... The Salient was formed during the First Battle of Ypres in October and November 1914, when a small British Expeditionary Force succeeded in securing the town before the onset of winter, pushing the German forces back to the Passchendaele Ridge. The Second Battle of Ypres began in April 1915 ... ending with the Allied withdrawal and a shortening of the line of defence. There was little more significant activity on this front until 1917, when in the Third Battle of Ypres an offensive was mounted by Commonwealth forces to divert German attention from a weakened French front further south. The initial attempt in June to dislodge the Germans from the Messines Ridge was a complete success, but the main assault north-eastward, which began at the end of July, quickly became a dogged struggle against determined opposition and the rapidly deteriorating weather. The campaign finally came to a close in November with the capture of Passchendaele.' (www.cwgc.org)
Three of his brothers also served in the Great War: James, his twin Henry John and Herbert. James served in the Tank Corps (304885 Private) and was discharged to Daybrook, Arnold, on 3 December 1918. Henry John enlisted in the 2n Coy 8th Bn KRRC (11889 Private) and was discharged to the Army Reserve in January 1919 (see WW2 record for Harry Cast for additional information). Herbert enlisted in March 1917 in the 51st (Garrison) Bn KOYLI (82805 Private) and served with the BEF France from 27 March 1918, suffering a gunshot wound to the head on 23 April. He served in France to 28 August 1918 then home to 20 October 1919. It appears from Herbert's Army Service Record that he extended his service on a Short Service Engagement (2, 3 or 4 years with the Colours) and served in India from 21 October 1919 to May 1920.
Two of Albert's nephews died in the Second World War. Harry Cast, the son of his brother Henry John (jnr) and his wife Elizabeth, served with the Parachute Regiment (4987084) and was killed in action on 18 September 1944 during Operation Market Garden. Herbert Cast, the son of his brother Herbert and his wife Elsie, joined the Royal Navy and died when his ship, MV King Malcolm, which was part of an Atlantic convoy, was lost with all hands on 31 October 1941. See records on this Roll of Honour.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Death’, 17 December 1913: ‘Cast. On the 16th ins., at Red Hill, Ann Elizabeth, age 21, the beloved daughter of Henry John and Alice Cast, late Hedderley-street. Interment Saturday, 3.0, Daybrook Cemetery. Rest at last.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
CWGC Additional information: 'Son of Henry J. and Alice Cast, of 8, Morris St., Daybrook, Notts.'
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 6 July 1917: ‘Cast. Killed in action, June 8th, Pte A Cast (twin), KOYLI, beloved son of Mr and Mrs Cast, Redhill, late Nottingham. He gave his all.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Photo of Albert Cast
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium