Albert Victor Soar
In 1911 he was a cigarette machine operator but gave his occupation as paper maker when he attested in 1912 in the Territorial Force.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Albert Victor Soar was the son of Marcus Thomas and Charlotte Louisa Soar (née Newman) of Lowdham.
His father Marcus Thomas was born in 1867 in Nottingham and his mother Charlotte was born in 1864, also in Nottingham. They were married on 5 May 1887 (reg. Nottingham) and had seven children four of whom died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children were: Marcus Thomas b. 1892 Nottingham, Albert Victor b. 6 February 1897 Lowdham and Gertrude Jenny b. 1899 Lowdham. The names of three children who died in infancy/childhood were named on the family grave in Nottingham General Cemetery: Frank Bernard d. 23 February 1891 age 6 months, Mary Jane (Jenny) d. 7 June 1893 age 5 and Ethel Annie d. 6 June 1895 age 10 months.
The family was living at Victoria Cottages, Lowdham, in 1911: Marcus, secretary of a limited company (building merchant), his wife Charlotte Louisa and two of their three children, Albert Victor (14) a cigarette machine operator, and Gertrude Jenny (12) scholar. They employed a domestic servant, Nellie Paling (17, b. Lowdham).
Their eldest son, Marcus Thomas (19), an assistant to a builder's merchant, was a visitor in the household of John and Elizabeth Mansfield at 43 Kentwood Road, Sneinton, Nottingham. Also in the home was John and Elizabeth's daughter, Fanny Mansfield (21), a lace hand, whom Marcus married later that year.
Albert's father, Marcus Thomas, died on 19 October 1927 and his mother, Charlotte Louisa, on 12 January 1952. Charlotte, who outlived her children, was still living at the family home at Victoria Cottage, Station Road, Lowdham, at the time of her death.
Of Albert's siblings:
Marcus Thomas died aged 48 in 1939 (reg. March Bingham).
Gertrude Jenny married George William Bradley (b. 1895) in 1921 (AMJ Southwell) and their daughter, Daphne Joan, was born in February 1923. At the time of the 1939 England & Wales Register, Gertrude, described as 'incapacitated' and George, a printer's reader (Observer Corporation), were living at 11 Station Road, Southwell, with their daughter Daphne, a junior clerk for a local authority. Also in the household was Edna J Bradley (b. 1917), occupation 'domestic duties, paid'. Gertrude died in 1946 aged 45.
Albert Victor Soar enlisted on a four-year engagement in the Territorial Force at Southwell on 12 February 1912. He gave his age as 17 (b. 6 February 1897 therefore aged 15), address Lowdham, occupation paper maker.
He was embodied for war on 5 August 1914 and served with 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), landing in France on 2 March 1915.
He was killed in action on 7 May 1915 and was buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave ref. E.88).
War diary, 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, 7th May 1915: '1374 Soar A V shot in front (head) at Kemmel'.
Albert qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC History of Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery (extract): the cemetery is 8km from the town of Ieper (Ypres). 'Kemmel Chateau was north-east of Kemmel village and the cemetery was established on the north side of the chateau grounds in December 1914. It continued to be used by divisions fighting on the southern sectors of the Belgian front until March 1918, when after fierce fighting involving both Commonwealth and French forces, the village and cemetery fell into German hands in late April. The cemetery was retaken later in the year.' (www.cwgc.org.uk)
CWGC Additional information: Son of Marcus T. and Charlotte Soar, of Lowdham, Notts.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends'
Nottingham General Cemetery, inscription family headstone: 'In loving memory of Frank Bernard who died Feby. 23rd 1891 aged 6 months. Also of Mary Jane (Jenny) who died June 7th 1893 aged 5 years. The beloved children of Marcus T. and Charlotte Soar. Also Ethel Annie Soar who died June 6th 1895 aged 10 months. Also of our dearly beloved son Albert Victor Soar, Private 1374 1st/8th Sherwood Foresters killed in action (Belgium), May 7th 1915 in his 19th year. He gave his life that we might live. His last message: 'God be with you till we meet again.' 'Sleep dearest ones in pure sweet slumbers sleep. The world's great sorrows were not meant for thee. Thy lives were tuned to gladness not to weep. To sing in heavenly choirs and wait for me.'
The following information is from the British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 12, 13, 14 and 15 May 1915: ‘Soar. On the 7th inst., in Belgium, killed in action, Private Albert Victor Soar, the youngest, and dearly loved son of Marcus T. and Charlotte L. Soar, of Lowdham, in his 19th year. He did his duty. God be with us till we meet again.’
Nottingham Evening Post, 25 May 1915. Photograph with caption: ‘Pte. AV Soar, 1/8th Sherwood Foresters, Station Road, Lowdham, killed in action May 7. Aged 19.’
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 6 May 1916: ‘Soar. In fondest remembrance of Pte. Albert Victor Soar, killed in action May 7th, 1915. Time changes many things, but loving memory ever clings. Flo.’
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 8 May 1916: ‘Soar. In loving memory of Albert Soar, Sherwood Foresters, killed in action, May 7th, 1915. Fondly remembered. Alf and Kate.’
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 8 May 1916: ‘Soar. In loving memory of our dearly beloved son, Private Albert V Soar (of Lowdham), 1374, 1/8th Sherwood Foresters, killed in action (Belgium), May 7th, 1915. There’s never a morn or a night returns but what we are thinking of thee. Sadly missed by his sorrowing father, mother, brother and sister.’
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 8 May 1916: ‘Soar. In loving memory of our dear nephew, Private Albert Victor Soar (of Lowdham), 1374, Sherwood Foresters, killed in action May 7th, 1915. Ever in our thoughts. John and S Ann McIntyre.’
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 7 May 1917: ‘Soar. In loving memory of our dearly-beloved son, Private Albert V. Soar, of Lowdham, 1374, 1st/8th Sherwood Foresters, killed in action, Kemmel, Belgium, May 7th, 1915. Never a morning day or a night returns but that we are thinking of thee. Sadly missed by his sorrowing father, mother, brother, and sister.’
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 7 May 1917: ‘Soar. In loving memory of our dear nephew, Private Albert Victor Soar, of Lowdham, 1374, 1st/8th Sherwood Foresters, killed in action May 7th, 1915. A noble life laid down. John and S Ann McIntyre.’
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 7 May 1917: ‘Soar. In loving memory of Albert V. Soar, 8th Sherwoods, killed May 7th, 1915. Still remembered. Cousin Alf and Kate.’
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 7 May 1917: ‘Soar. In loving memory of Private Albert Victor Soar, killed in action May 7th, 1915. Never will his memory fade. Flo.’
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 8 May 1918: ‘Soar. In loving memory of Lowdham, Sherwoods, killed in action, Kemmel, Belgium, May 7th, 1915. Never a morning dawns or a night returns but what we think of thee. Sadly missed by his sorrowing father, mother, brother and sister.’
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 8 May 1918: ‘Soar. In loving memory of our dear nephew, Albert Victor Soar, killed in action May 7th, 1915. Ever in our thoughts. J&SA McIntyre.’
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 8, 9 and 10 May 1919: ‘Soar. In ever-loving memory of our dear son, Pte Albert V. Soar, (of Lowdham), No 1374, 1/8th Sherwoods, killed in action, Kemmel, May 7th, 1915. Ever in our thoughts. Dearly loved and sadly missed. Father, mother, brother, and sister.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam; 8 May 1919: ‘Soar in loving memory of Pte Albert Soar, killed in action May 7th, 1915. Fondly remembered by cousins Alf and Kate.’
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 7, 8 and 9 May 1925: ‘Soar. In ever loving memory of our dear son and brother (Pte.) Albert V Soar, of Lowdham, killed in action, Kemmel, 7th, 1915. Ever in our thoughts.’
Probate: Soar Marcus Thomas of Victoria-cottage Lowdham Nottinghamshire died 19 October 1927 Probate Nottingham 27 March to Charlotte Louisa Soar widow Marcus Thomas Soar builder's merchant and Gertrude Jenny Bradley (wife of George William Bradley). Effects £6657 5s). Resworn £6907 5s. (Revoked pursuant to order dated 24 Novr 1933).
Probate: Soar Charlotte Louisa of Victoria Cottage Station-road Lowdham Nottinghamshire widow died 12 January 1952 Probate Nottingham 28 April to Daphne Joan Paterson [granddaughter] (wife of James Crawford More Paterson) Effects £515 13s. 8d.
Additional research RF.
Albert Victor Soar
Buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, France. Photograph Murray Biddle
Albert Victor Soar
Nottingham Evening Post, 25 May 1915. Source: Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
Albert Victor Soar
Family grave/headstone, Nottingham General Cemetery. Rachel Farrand (Feb. 2019)