Albert Naylor
He was a coal miner when he enlisted.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Albert was the son of Albert Naylor and his first wife Sarah Ellen (née Martin).
His father Albert was born in about 1859 at Heanor, Derbyshire, and his mother Sarah Ellen Martin in 1866 at Sheffield. They were married at Radford St Peter on 25 December 1889 and had at least four children the eldest of whom, Richard Martin [Naylor], was born before their marriage (probably Richard Martin reg. 1886 OND Nottingham). Their other children were Albert b. 1893 (JAS) Swanwick Derbyshire, and Ada b. 1895, and Francis (Frank) b. 1901 who were born in Nottingham.
Albert, a coal miner, Sarah and their son Richard (4) were living at 5 Clifford Street, Radford, in 1891. Sarah and her children, Richard, who was a pit worker, Albert, Ada and Frank were recorded at 4 Kennington Road, Sneinton, in 1901; her husband has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census.
Sarah Ellen died on 1 June 1903 and Albert married Mary Martin (b. 1874 Derby) on 17 September 1904 at Nottingham Register Office. Albert and Mary had at least five children: Lena Mary b. 1904 (OND), Elsie b. 1906 (AMJ), Levi Townsend b. November 1907 (birth registered 1908 JFM), Mary Ellen birth registered 1911 (JFM) and Wilfred b. 1912.
Albert, a coal miner hewer, Mary were living at 34 Bright Street, Radford, in 1911. In the home on the night of the census were three of Albert's children by his first marriage, Albert (17) a coal miner hewer, Ada a cycle worker and Francis who was school age, and the four children of his second marriage, Lena, Elsie, Levi and Mary Ellen. Wilfred was born the following year.
Richard, Albert's eldest son, had joined the Grenadier Guards in October 1903 and had named his father and three siblings, Albert, Ada and Frank, all of 42 Pierrepont Street, Sneinton, as his next of kin. Richard was serving in London with the 1st Battalion in 1911. He married Helena Heeps, a widow, at Lambeth Register Office, in August 1916 and in 1921 they were living in London with their two sons. Richard died in November 1937. (For service details see 'Extra information')
Albert, a miner at Wollaton Colliery, his wife Mary and their five children, Lena and Elsie who were both clerks, Levi, Mary and Wilfred, were still living at 34 Bright Street, in 1921.
Of Albert's children by his first marriage, Ada had married John Dickens at Radford All Souls on 24 March 1913 and Albert had died in 1914 at the beginning of the war. Francis (Frank), an infantry soldier, was recorded on the 1921 Census at Mustapha Transit Camp, Alexandria, Egypt; a cancelled marriage certificate for his marriage at Radford All Souls in 1927, gave his occupation as soldier 'Military Police'.
Albert snr. died at his home, 34 Bright Street, on 13 February 1930 and was buried in the General Cemetery on 17 February.
When the England & Wales Register was compiled in 1939 Albert's widow was living with three of their children, Elsie (later Hughes) a draper shop assistant, Mary (m. 1948 Frederick L Jones) a cashier (furnishing) and Wilfred (m. 1948, Hannah Shanahan), a manager (NCS butchers), at 44 Hillside, Nottingham. Lena was married (1930, Richard Francis) and living on Wollaton Road, and Levi was also married (1934, Turner) and living in Birmingham.
Mary, of 75 Kimbolton Avenue, Nottingham, died on 10 May 1941, and was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery.
Gunner Albert Naylor enlisted on 4 August 1914 at Swanwick, and was posted to the 136th Battery Royal Field Artillery at Newcastle. He contracted pneumonia and died in Newcastle on 27 August 1914.
His body was returned to Nottingham and he was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery on 31 August 1914.
Albert's grave is close to that of two other WW1 casualties, 198785(Po) PO 1st Class George Henry Kilbourn RN (k. 26 November 1914), and a Belgian army officer, Lieut AFAL Dekeyser (d. 5 January 1916). Both are recorded on the CWGC database and PO Kilbourn is commemorated on this Roll of Honour. The three graves were in a neglected part of the Cemetery and were cleared by CWGC 'Eyes On Hands On' project volunteers in December 2025.
Nottinghamshire Guardian, ‘In Memoriam’, 4 June 1904. ‘Naylor. In loving memory of Sarah Ellen, the beloved wife of Albert Naylor, who died June 1st, 1903. Gone but not forgotten.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Albert's brother, Richard Martin Naylor, joined the Grenadier Guards on 16 October 1903 (11066 Private), on a short service engagement (3 years with the Colours, 9 years Reserve) but extended his service on 25 September 1905 to complete eight years with the Colours. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 9 October 1911 on expiration of his period of army service but was mobilised on 5 November 1914. He served in France and qualified for the 1914 Star and Clasp, British War Medal and Victory Medal having served with different battalions of the Grenadier Guards. He was discharged to Section Z, Army Reserve, on demobilization on 24 February 1919; demobilization address 34 Bright Street, Nottingham. His service papers record numerous offences resulting in imprisonment, loss of pay etc. throughout his period of service.
Albert's sister, Ada, married John Dickens at Radford All Souls on 24 March 1913. John attested in October 1914 and served with the 12th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. Service: Home 3 October 1914-5 October 1915, 1y. 23d. BEF France 6 October 1915-15 May 1918, 2y. 223d. Home 14 May 1918-5 October 1918, 142d. He was discharged in the rank of corporal on 5 October 1918, discharge address 34 Bright Street, Radford.
Albert's father, Albert Naylor, had, according to his Army service record, served with Royal Field Artillery before the Great War. He then attested in December 1914 at the age of 53, occupation coal miner, home address 34 Bright Street, Radford, and found fit for home duty. Albert was mobilised on 3 April 1915 (previous home service December 1914-2 April 1915), and served at home until 23 September 1917 when he was posted to BEF France (11374 BSM, RFA) on 24 September 1917 and probably transferred to the Labour Corps (44308) on 27 September 1917. According to post-war correspondence in his service record, administrative enquiries were made to confirm that Albert had been attached to the Depot Company, Chinese Labour Corps, while serving in France. He returned to the UK in November 1918 when he was discharged, 'no longer physically fit for war service), on 25 November. Discharge address 34 Bright Street, Nottingham.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 28, 29 & 31 August 1914: ‘Naylor. On the 27th inst., at Newcastle-on-Tyne, Gunner Albert Naylor, Royal Field Artillery, the beloved son of Albert and the late Sarah Ellen Naylor, 34, Bright-street, Radford, aged 22 years, after a short illness.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
On 31 August 1914 it was reported that a Nottingham family had brought their son's body back to the city to be buried. Gnr. Albert Naylor had enlisted the day war was declared, 4 August 1914, and had been posted to 136th Battery Royal Field Artillery in Newcastle. He contracted pneumonia and died in Newcastle on 27 August 1914.
Nottingham Evening Post, 31 August 1914: 'A kindly act. Radford parents and their soldier son. A few days ago Mr. Naylor, a resident of Bright-street, Radford, received a telegraphic communication from Newcastle-on-Tyne, announcing the death of his son from pneumonia. The lad only enlisted in the army quite recently. The parents made several unsuccessful attempts to get the body removed to Nottingham, and eventually the father approached Mr. C. E. M. S. Pilkington [1], of Wollaton, who promptly volunteered to help the family out of the difficulty by placing a motor car at their disposal. In the early hours of Saturday morning [29th August 1914] Mr. Pilkington, his chauffeur, and Mr. Naylor proceeded to Newcastle, and returned to Nottingham with the body of the deceased soldier the same night. Mr. Naylor and his family are naturally extremely grateful to Mr. Pilkington for his kindly and thoughtful help.'
[1] Claude William Egerton Milburne Swinnerton Pilkington, a member of the local gentry.
Above courtesy of Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 15 February 1930: ‘Naylor. On 13th, at 34 Bright-street, Radford, Albert (ex-BSM, RFA), beloved husband of Mary. Interment Monday, 2.30pm., General Cemetery. Friends please accept this the only intimation.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 12 May 1941: ‘Naylor. On May 10th, at 75 Kimbolton-avenue, Mary, widow of Albert, passed peacefully on. Service All Souls, Wednesday, 3 o’clock; interment General Cemetery 3.15.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Photo of Albert Naylor
Buried in Nottingham General Cemetery. Photograph Rachel Farrand (Dec. 2025)
Photo of Albert Naylor
Buried in Nottingham General Cemetery. Photograph Rachel Farrand (Dec. 2025)