Albert Snuggs
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Albert was the son of John and Lizzie (also Elizabeth) Snuggs (née King). His father John Snuggs was borin Abingdon, Berkshire, in about 1870. His mother Lizzie was born in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, in about 1876, the daughter of John and Mary A King. In 1891 Lizzie (16) was living with her parents and siblings at Turn Again Lane, Abingdon, Berkshire. John and Lizzie's eldest son, John William, was born in Abingdon in 1894 shortly before his parents' marriage at Swanwick Baptist Chapel, Derbyshire, in 1894 (O/N/D Belper Derbyshire). John and Lizzie were to have seven children of whom only six were still living by 1911: John William b. Abingdon 1894 and Albert Victor b. Somercotes birth registered 1897 (J/F/M) who were both baptised at Somercotes St Thomas on 5 September 1895, Nellie Elizabeth b. Mansfield Woodhouse 1899 bap. Mansfield Woodhouse St Edmund King & Martyr January 1900, Frank Robert b. Mansfield Woodhouse 1900 bap. St Edmund September 1900, Ernest (Ernest Henry) b. Mansfield Woodhouse birth registered 1902 (J/F/M) and Lewis (Alfred Lewis) b. Mansfield Woodhouse 1908 d.6 January 1915. In 1901 John, a coal miner, and Lizzie were living on Grove Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, with their children John, Albert, Nellie and Frank. By 1911 the family was living at 9 Warsop Road, Mansfield Woodhouse. The six surviving children were in the home on the night of the census: John a pony driver), Albert a cotton frame tenter, Nellie, Frank, Ernest and Lewis who died four years later in 1915. The eldest son, John William, atttested in March 1915 and gave his address as 38 Derby Street, Mansfield Woodhouse. A report in the local paper of Albert's death in 1917 also gave this as the family home. However, Albert's Medal Index Card has a note that his mother had contacted the army about his medals and gave her address as 28 Park Avenue, Mansfield Woodhouse; the date on the card has been partially obliterated. John and Lizzie later moved back to Abingdon, Berkshire, as this is the address on the CWGC record. Albert's siblings appear to have stayed in Mansfield after the war: Nellie Elizabeth married Richard Hill in 1919, Frank Robert married Gertrude D Jones in 1922 and Ernest married Grace L Strauther in 192; all the marriages were registered in Mansfield. His brother John William served as a Gunner in the Royal Horse and Field Artillery 612637 Gunner), attesting on 18 March 1915, He was discharged to Mansfield in 1919 having served abroad in Mespotoamia, probably from August 1917, but returning to England in 1919 from Bombay.
13th (Service) Battalion (1st County Down), Royal Irish Rifles. Formerly 40410 Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). The 13th (Service) Battalion was a battalion of Kitchener's New Armies and was raised in County Down in September 1914 and joined 108th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division. The Battalion served with the BEF France from October 1915. In 1917 it was engaged in the Battle of Langemarck (Third Battle of Ypres), 16-18 August 1917. Albert probably enlisted in 1916. He suffered chest wounds on 15 August 1917 and according to a letter written to his family while in hospital, Albert lay in a shell hole until found by a stretcher bearer. He was treated initially at a Field Ambulance and then transferred to No. 32 Stationary Hospital where he died from his wounds on 31 August. He was buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery (grave ref VI.A.7). The headstones in this cemetery are laid flat because of the sandy nature of the soil. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Wimereux Communal Cemetery (extract): 'Wimereux was the headquarters of the Queen Mary's Army Auxilliary Corps during the First World War and in 1919 it became the General Headquarters of the British Army. From October 1914 onwards, Boulogne and Wimereux formed an important hospital centre and until June 1918, the medical units at Wimereux used the communal cemetery for burials, the south-eastern half having been set aside for Commonwealth graves, although a few burial were also made among the civilian graves. By June 1918, this half of the cemetery was filled, and subsequent burials from the hospitals at Wimereux were made in the new military cemetery at Terlincthun.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Peace perfect peace with our loved one far away in Jesu's keeping he is safe' CWGC Additional information: 'Son of John and Lizzie Snuggs, of Abingdon, Berks.' Mansfield Reporter, 21 September 1917: ‘Another Mansfield Private Killed.' 'Private B (sic) Snuggs, of the RIR, son of Mrs G (sic) Snuggs, 38, Derby-street, Mansfield, has died from wounds in France. In a letter to his mother, written last month, he stated that he was wounded on the 15th, and lay in a shell-hole until found by an SB [stretcher bearer]. He says: ‘I had crawled from my shell-hole towards our trenches, and the SB heard my shouts. One big fellow carried me in on his back. I think he was a second-lieutenant. He took me to a concrete dug-out, and gave me water and a mouthful of bread, and I was then carried to the Field Ambulance, and from there I was taken to hospital, where I am being well looked after.’ 'Before joining the army, Snuggs was employed at Mansfield gas works. He enlisted in March, 1916, and was trained at Brockton, Staffs, going out to France in July of the same year. Mrs Snuggs has also received the following letters: ‘32 Stationary Hospital, BEF France. 23 August 1917. Mrs G Snuggs. Dear Madam, I am writing to you at the request of your son, Private B Snuggs of the 13th RIR, who is now in this hospital, suffering from a wound in the chest. He is, so far, going on as well as can be expected, and is now slightly better and somewhat better than he was, but I regret to say that he is still very ill, and that he is in a very serious condition. We can but hope and pray that the slight improvement will now continue. You may rest assured that he is in very capable hands, and that he [is] receiving every possible care and attention. He would so much like to hear from you and a letter to him in Ward E. at the above address, if posted by return, would find him. He sends you his very best love, and he hopes that you will not worry yourself on his account. His only regret is that he cannot just at present write to you himself. May I also add my own very deep sympathy for you in your very great anxiety, and express the hope that he may very shortly be well enough to be sent to England. Yours truly, EBB Towse Captain (The Gordon Highlanders).' ’32 Stationary Hosptial, BEF France. 3rd September, 1917. Dear Madam, You will already have heard the very sad news of the death of your son, Private B Snuggs, of the 13th RIR, in this hospital on the 31st August, and I am writing to you know to ask if you would like a photograph of the Wimereux Cemetery, where he is laid to rest amongst our sailors and soldiers. In offering you my very deep and heartfelt sympathy for you in your very great loss, may at the same time say that, although it is far too early as yet, the time will come when it will be some consolation to you to remember that your son gave up his life willingly and nobly for his country, in its time of sore need, doing his duty. He has given his all, and is now at rest, and it is for those whom he has left behind that our thoughts and prayers are for. May God grant you comfort and strength to bear your very great grief. Yours sympathetically, EBB Towse, Captain (The Gordon Highlanders).' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 28 September 1917, photograph with caption: ‘Private B Snuggs, Last week we gave details from wounds received in France, of Private B. Snuggs of the RIR, son of Mrs G Snuggs, 38, Derby-street, Mansfield, but the photograph had not then come to hand when we went to press.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). Mansfield Reporter, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 14 September: notices from ‘Mother, Father, Sister and Brothers also Brother Jack in Mesopotamia’ and ‘Mr and Mrs Allsopp and Family, 7 Burns Street.’ Also 6 September 1918 from the family and 3 September 1920 from ‘Mother, Sister and Brothers,’ ‘also my darling little son Lewis Snuggs who died 6th January 1915.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father John was his legatee. WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his mother Elizabeth L Snuggs.
