Albert Reginald Wallis
Attended Mundella School, Meadows, Nottingham. Organist at St. Paul's Church, Hyson Green.
Employment: 1901 - office boy at a hosiery warehouse. 1911 - clerk (City Council 'gas office').
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Albert Reginald (Reg) Wallis was the son of John William and Mary Poole Wallis (née Stevenson).
His father John was born in Nottingham in 1861 (reg. JFM). His mother Mary Poole Stevenson, the daughter of John and Mary Stevenson (née Poole), was born in Nottingham in 1856 (OND) and baptised at Nottingham St Nicholas on 18 January 1857.
John and Mary were married at Nottingham St John on 30 April 1883 and had four children, one of whom died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children were Albert Reginald birth reg. 1887 (JFM) bap. St John 20 March 1887; Ethel May birth reg. 1890 (JFM) and Walter Charles b. 1892 bap. St John 17 April 1892.
John and Mary were living at 12 Lamcote Street when Albert was baptised in March 1887 and were still at the same address when the census was taken in 1891 and 1901. John's occupation was given as a hosiery machine fitter on both census and by 1901 Albert was working as an office boy at a hosiery warehouse.
The family had moved to the Dairy, Leslie Road, Forest Fields, by 1911. John was working as a hosiery machine mechanic, Albert was a clerk (City Council), Ethel an uncertificated teacher (City Council) and Walter a milk seller on his own account.
Walter has not yet been traced after 1911 but predeceased his father who died in 1949.
Mary Poole Wallis died on 15 May 1938, home address 46 Mayo Road, Sherwood Rise. Her widowed husband John and their daughter Ethel, an elementary school teacher, were still living at 46 Mayo Road in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. John died on 25 January 1949. Ethel continued to live at 46 Mayo Road until her death on 6 January 1963.
Albert married Sarah Ada (Ada) Quinney in June 1915; they lived at 17 Premier Road, Nottingham.
His wife was the daughter of Elijah and Ada (née Williamson m. 1878) who had four children: George Edward (b. 1880 d. 1891), Elijah (b. 1882), Sarah Ada (b. 1884) and Harriet Ada (b. 1886). In 1911 Elijah, a former lace maker, was the licensee of the Cricket Players public house on Lindsay Street, Hyson Green. In the household were his wife, his daughters Ada and Harriet (Sparkes m. 1906) who were assisting in the business and his son-in-law, John George (George) Sparkes, a gas meter maker. His son Elijah, a barman who was probably working for his father, was living on Berridge Road with his wife Maria (m. 1906) who died the following year aged 32.
Elijah snr. was still the licensee of the Cricket Players Arms in 1921. Also in the household were his wife and their two widowed children; Elijah, a cellarman, and Sarah Ada, a barmaid.
Elijah Quinney jnr. died in November 1939. Notices were place in the Nottingham Evening Post on 8 November 1939 by Ada [Wallis] and Harriet and George [Sparkes]. He was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery.
Sarah Ada Wallis did not remarry. She has not yet been traced on the 1939 Register but was living at 4 Leslie Road, Forest Fields, at the time of her death on 17 December 1959. One of the two executors of her Will was her brother-in-law, John George Sparkes.
Bombardier Albert Reginald Wallis served with 'C' Battery, 60th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
He died of wounds in No. 2 General Hospital, Le Havre, France, on 1 January 1917 while awaiting medical transfer to the UK. He was buried in Le Havre St. Marie Cemetery (grave ref 3.D.13).
Albert qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Albert Reginald's brother-in-law, Elijah Quinney, a widower, attested on 12 July 1915. He gave his address as The Cricket Players, Hyson Green, which was also the address of his father, his named next of kin. Elijah served in the RFA (81434 Gunner). Although few of his Army service documents survive, there is a record that he was serving in Basrah (Iraq) in 1917 and was admitted to hospital on several occasions (illness). He later transferred to India and was discharged to the UK from Bombay in 1919 (report dated 15 May) onboard SS City of Calcutta, because he was deemed 'unfit to stand another hot weather in India.'
CWGC Additional information: Husband of Sarah Ada Wallis, of 17, Premier Rd., Nottingham.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'If love could have saved him he would still live'
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave, headstone inscription:
Face 1. 'In loving memory of our dear mother Mary wife of the late John Stevenson who entered into rest on her 82nd birthday, Feb. 11th 1910. Her children rise up and call her blessed; Proverbs xxxi.28'
Face 2. 'In dear memory of Albert Reginald beloved husband of Ada Wallis and grandson of John and Mary Stevenson died of wounds January 1st 1917 aged 29 years interred at Le Havre. If love could have saved him he would still live.'
The headstone immediately behind the Stevenson grave commemorates members of Mary Poole Wallis's family: ‘In memory of Elizabeth Goddard, daughter of Richard and Ann Poole died September 10th 1884 aged 69. Also Lilian Kate and Andrew Poole Hart great grandchildren of R & A Poole who died in infancy.'
Additional information: Richard Poole, a 'sinker maker', his wife Ann and five children including Elizabeth (25) and Mary (13) were living on Carlton Road, Sneinton, in 1841. Elizabeth married Edward Goddard in 1845 (JAS Radford) and died in 1884. In 1851, Mary, a school mistress, was living with her parents at 51 Derby Road. She married John Stevenson in 1855 (JFM Nottingham) and they had at least five children: Ann Elizabeth (b. 1855), Mary Poole later Wallis (b. 1856 d. 1938), William (b. 1858), Kate (b. 1862) and Alexandra Elizabeth (b. 1864).
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Marriages’, 8 June 1915. Wallis-Quinney. On June 8th, at St Paul’s Hyson Green, Albert Reginald Wallis to Ada Quinney, both of this city.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 8 January 1917:
'Wallis. Died of wounds, January 1st, 1917, en route for England, Bombardier A. R. Wallis, R.F.A., late organist of St. Paul's Church, Hyson Green. Dearly loved. His sorrowing wife.'
'Wallis. Died January 1st, 1917, from wounds received in action, Bombardier A. R. Wallis (Reg), our beloved brother-in-law. Deeply lamented. George and Harriett [Sparkes].'
Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 1 January 1918:
'Wallis. In loving memory of Albert (Reg.) Wallis, died of wounds January 1st, 1917. Wife.'
'Wallis. In tender and loving memory of our dear son, Bombdr. A. R. Wallis (Reg.), who died of wounds on New Year's Day, 1917. His sufferings were for the good of others.'
'Wallis. To the dear memory of Reg., who died of wounds January 1st., 1917. George and Harriett [Sparkes].'
Above courtesy Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
WW1 Pension Ledgers: his widow Sarah A Wallis, 17 (-) Road was awarded 15/- [fifteen shillings] from 26 June 1917, first payment made 9 July 1917.
Mundella Magazine, Christmas 1918, ROH: 'Wallis RA, Bomb, RFA'
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 28 January 1949: ‘Wallis. On January 25th at 46 Mayo-road, John William, in his 88th year beloved father of May and the late Reg. and Walter.’ (wwwwwbritishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 29 April 1963: Local Wills. ‘Miss Ethel May Wallis, of Mayo-road, Sherwood-Rise, Nottingham, retired teacher, who had taught at the Old Basford Junior and Infant School, St Phillip’s Primary School, and the Claremont Junior and Infant School, Carrington, and who died on January 6, aged 72 years.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Additional research/record updated, RF May 2026.
Photo of Albert Reginald Wallis
Buried in Le Havre St Marie Cemetery (www.cwgc.org)
Photo of Albert Reginald Wallis
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave (Stevenson) also commemorating AR Wallis (pre-clearance of undergrowth). Photograph Rachel Farrand (2 May 2026)
Photo of Albert Reginald Wallis
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave (Stevenson) also commemorating AR Wallis. Photograph Rachel Farrand (2 May 2026)
Photo of Albert Reginald Wallis
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave (Stevenson). Commemoration AR Wallis . Photograph Rachel Farrand (2 May 2026)