John James Alvey
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John James was the eldest son of George and Ann/Annie Alvey (née Wood). His father George was born in East Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, in 1869 (reg. J/F/M), the son of James and Hannah Alvey. In 1881 the family was living in East Bridgford; his father was an agricultural labourer. His mother Annie was born in Richmond, Surrey, on 3 April 1867, the daughter of Thomas, a carpenter, and Hannah Wood. She was baptised at Richmond St John the Divine on 5 March 1868. In 1881 Annie was a domestic servant living in Nottingham in the household of Henry Kirkland, a joiner, and his wife Ellen. By 1891 she had moved to Mansfield where she was again a domestic servant and working for George Meggitt, a glue manufacturer, who had a wife and two young children. George and Annie were married in 1893 (A/M/J Nottingham), and had four children, the three oldest of whom were born in Mansfield Woodhouse: John James b. 1894, Mary Grace (Grace) b. 1896, George b 1901 (J/A/S) and Robert b. Pleasley Hill 1908 (reg. J/F/M). In 1901 George, a market gardener (own account) and Annie, were living on Bleasby Road, Fiskerton, with their two children, John (6) and Grace (4). Also in the household was a boarder, Robert Holton (70 b. Warminster Wilts) a widower 'living on own means'. Robert and his wife Eliza were recorded on the 1881 census on Peck Lane, Nottingham, where he was a refreshment house keeper, and in 1891 as a restaurant keeper at Exchange Walk, Nottingham. He and his wife had had at least five children. By 1911 George was working as a colliery banksman and he and Annie were living at 21 New England, Mansfield Road, Pleasley Hill, with their four children, John a colliery labourer and student, Grace, George and Robert (3). Robert Holton was still living with them; his occuption was given as retired butler/old age pensioner. He died in 1912. According to a newspaper report in 1917 when John's death was confirmed; his parents were still living at New England. However, his mother may have died in 1915 (reg. Ann Alvey b. abt 1867 d. 1915 O/N/D Mansfield).
Formerly 2611, 1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters John James served in France from 1916 and was killed at Foncquevillers on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. However, his death was not confirmed until July the following year. According to a battalion history, the battalion was in Reserve and lost 'three killed and two missing (attached to Trench Mortar Battery).' The roll of honour in the same book lists the names of seven other ranks who died on 1 July but probably included men who had been wounded at an earlier date and had died that day. John has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Mansfield Reporter, 4 August 1916:’ Heavy List of Sherwood Foresters … Wounded and Missing. Sherwood Foresters Alvey 2611 Cpl JJ (Mansfield).' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 20 July 1917: ‘Pleasley Hill Soldier Killed. We regret to state that the parents of Corporal James Alvey, late of New England, Pleasley, have received official intimation of his death. It appears he was amongst the wounded and missing on July 1st, 1916. He enlisted in the 1-8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, seven weeks after the war was declared, and was made corporal shortly afterwards. Before the war he was employed by the Stanton Iron Works and attended the Pleasley and New Houghton Wesleyan Sunday School and Church and was also a member of the choir.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects & WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: named his father, George Alvey, as his legatee
