Alfred Leonard Davis

Alfred Leonard was the eldest son of Alfred and Emily Davis (nee Redgate). His father Alfred was born in Sneinton in 1876 (J/F/M Radford), the son of John and Sabina Davis (nee Whiles/Wailes). His parents were married in 1860 (A/M/J Nottingham) and had at least ten children: Arthur, William, Edwin, Ernest, Alfred, Elizabeth, Leonard, Walter, John and Ann. In 1891 the Davis family was living on Sneinton Road, Sneinton. Eight of the children were still at home; Alfred was 14 years old and a printer's assistant. Alfred attested in the Militia on 30 May 1895; he was 18 years old and working as a printer for Alfred Young, 9 St James' Street, Nottingham. He gave his address as 14 Sneinton Road, off Carlton Road, and was probably still living with his parents. He served with the 4th Bn Sherwood Foresters (4050 Private) but only drilled one enlistment (to 20 March 1895) before being discharged. His mother Emily Redgate was born in Nottingham, birth registered 1877 (J/F/M Nottingham), and was the daughter of Samuel and Ellen (nee Pottinger). Her parents were married on 10 July 1876 (J/A/S Nottingham) at the parish church of St Luke, Sneinton. They had seven children of whom only three survived: Emily, Samuel and Ellen. In 1891 Samuel, Ellen and their three surviving children, Emily (14) a mill hand, Samuel (4) and Ellen (2), were living at Lake Yard, Nottingham. Emily's mother, Ellen, died in 1895 (J/A/S Nottingham) aged 42. Alfred and Emily were married in 1898 (O/N/D Nottingham) and had three sons: Alfred birth registered 1899 (J/F/M Nottingham, Redgate), Herbert birth registered 1902 (J/F/M Nottingham, Redgate) and Walter b. 1904 (J/A/S Nottingham, Redgate). Both Herbert and Walter died in childhood, Herbert in 1902 (J/A/S Nottingham) before his first birthday. In 1901 Alfred (24), a printer, and Emiiy (24), a lace hand, were living at 6 Storer Street, Nottingham, with their surviving son Alfred (2). Also in the household were Emily's widowed father Samuel (49) a timber labourer, her brother Samuel (14) who worked in a tan yard, and sister Ellen (11) who was still at school. Alfred Davis snr. died in 1904 (J/F/M Nottingham) aged 27; he and Emily had been married barely five years. By 1911 Emily (34), a lace hand (clipper), and her son Alfred (12), were living at 1 Beaumont Street, Nottingham, with her father (59) and brother Samuel (24). Also in the household was Florence Burton (18), a lace hand (clipper), who was Emily's cousin. Alfred's mother and grandfather were still living on Beaumont Street when he was killed in 1918. His grandfather, Samuel Redgate, died in 1932 (O/N/D Nottingham). His mother probably died in 1955 (J/F/M Nottingham) aged 77.