Alfred Priestley
- Family History
- Military History
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Alfred Priestley was born in 1896 at Newark and was the son of Walter a White Smith and Mary Jane Priestley née Beckeitt of 18 Eldon Street,Newark His father Walter Priestley was born in 1871 at Leeds and his mother Mary Jane Beckitt was born in 1875 at Farndon, they were married in 1892 their marriage was recorded in the Newark Registration District. They went on to have the following children all of whom were born in Newark, Alice Harriett b1894, Alfred b1896, Beatrice b1898, Hilda Edith b1910 and Mary Jane b1911 . In the 1911 census the family are living at 18 Eldon Street, Newark and are shown as Walter Priestley 40 yrs a white smith he is living with his wife Mary Jane 38 yrs and their children, Alice Harriett 17 yrs a ladies mantle maker, Alfred 15 yrs a millwright's apprentice, Beatrice 13 yrs a scholar, Hilda Edith 1 year and Mary Jane 4 months of age. He married his wife Ellen Taylor in 1913, the marriage was recorded in the Newark Registration area, they went on to have a child Walter, born 6th April 1913 at Newark. Following Alfred's death his widow was awarded a pension of 15 shillings a week for herself and her son with effect from 20th December 1915. His widow re married in in 1917 to John Fritton in Newark and they lived at 3 Lane Ends Wheatley Halifax Yorkshire.
Lance Corporal Alfred Priestley attested on 11th March 1912 at Newark into the 1/8 battalion Sherwood Foresters, (Territorial battalion ) signing up for 4 yrs. He gave his age as 17yrs and 9 months and his occupation as that of a millwright giving hi address as 18 Eldon Street, Newark. His next of kin was his father Walter of the same address. He served with the 1/8th until the outbreak of war when he was embodied on 5th August 1914. He landed in France on 2nd March 1915 and was promoted to Lance Corporal on 9th April 1915. He died of wounds when on 10th May 1915 he was explaining a hand grenade to some members of his section when it accidently exploded. He was conveyed to the hospital but died shortly after being admitted he was buried in Loker Churchyard, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, he had served for 3 years and 61 days.
Article published 19th May 1915 in the Newark Advertiser :- Son of Walter & Mary Jane Priestley of Eldon Street, Newark. Resided with wife, Ellen and young child in Egglestone’s Yard. Had been in the local Territorials for four years and received his first stripe after arriving in France. He was before the war a fitter at Ransomes. It was only on the 4th May that his wife received a letter describing a narrow escape when a shell dropped near him. Recently appointed to the command of a group of bomb throwers. He was explaining a hand grenade to some members when it accidently exploded. He was conveyed to the hospital but died shortly after being admitted. His father is also in the National Reserve.
