Alfred Brownlow

He was the son of James Brownlow and Mary Brownlow nee Holroyd. According to the information James and Mary provided on the 1911 Census, they had been married for 38 years and had had 11 children of whom 10 were still living at the time of the census. However, only nine children were named on the census between 1891 and 1911 (family not yet traced on 1881 Census); Thomas (b. 1875), Eliza (b. 1878), Wallace (b. 1880), Mark (b. 1881), George (b. 1886), Arthur (b. 1888), Annie (b. 1890), Alfred (b. 1893) and Frederick (b. 1898). All the children were born in Nottingham. In 1891 the family was living at 25 Mount Pleasant, Basford. James was a coal miner. Seven children were at home on the night of the census; Thomas (15), a lacemaker, Eliza (13), Wallace (10), Mark (9), George (5), Arthur (2) and Annie (1). Also in the household were James' parents-in-law, William Holdroyd (71) a framework knitter) and Eliza Holdroyd (72). By 1901 the family was living at 70 Bailey Street, Basford. Seven children were still at home; Thomas (25) a lace warehouseman, Wallace (20) a hosiery bleacher), Mark (19) a mechanical engineer, George (15), Annie (11), Alfred (7) and Frederick (2). William Holroyd (82) was still living with the family On 27 August 1903 James' eldest son, Thomas, married Ellen Brown at the Methodist New Conection Chapel, Nottingham. In October the same year Alfred's brother Mark joined the Royal Navy and by the time of the 1911 Census was serving at HMS Mercury, Portsmouth, although on the night of the census he was a visitor in the home of Frederick Hobbs, an engine fitter, at 54 Edmund Road, Southsea, Hampshire. By 1911 Alfred's parents had moved to 65 Vernon Avenue, Old Basford; only George (25) a coal miner, Annie (21) a lace finisher/machinst) and Frederick (12) were still at home. Alfred (18) had already joined the Royal Field Artillery and was in Lille Barracks, Marlborough Lines, Aldershot, with the 116th Battery. Arthur (22), a twist hand (lace maker), was a boarder at 12 Park Street, Heanor, in the household of William (60) and Jane Holdroyd (60), who may have been related to Arthur's mother. Wallace Brownlow (30) a hosiery bleacher, was living at 53 Springfield Street, Basford, with his wife of 5 years, Agnes (28), and their son Mark (2). Wallace died on 16 June 1955 aged 74. Thomas Brownlow and his wife Ellen who were married in 1903 were living at 137 Vernon Road, Basford. Alfred married Minnie Newton in 1912 (J/F/M). Minnie was the daughter of Isaac and Martha Newton. She and Alfred had a daughter, Winnie. The widowed Minnie married Sam Taylor in 1920 (O/N/D). She later lived at 29 Sherwood Rise, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire (CWGC). Minnie died on 12 April 1979 aged 85 years. Alfred's brother, 271387 ERA (2nd Class) Mark Brownlow, served in the Royal Navy from 1903 and was serving HMS Good Hope when she was sunk with all hands at the Battle of Coronel on 1 November 1914 (Portsmouth Naval Memorial). Another brother, Thomas, attested on 9 December 1915 at the age of 40 years 5 months and joined the RMAC (155655 Private). Thomas was transferred to the Army Reserve on 10 December 1915 and was not mobilized until 8 July 1918; he was demobilized on 9 March 1919.