Alfred Windley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Alfred was the son of Alfred and Phoebe Windley (née Gray). Alfred snr. was born in Radford, Nottingham, in about 1854 and Phoebe was born in Ireland in about 1852. They were married at Nottingham St Matthew on 23 November 1878 and had six children who were all born in Nottingham and baptised at Nottingham St Paul: Helen (reg. Helen but known as Ellen) b. 1881 bap. (Ellen) January 1882; Sarah Ann birth registered 1884 (J/F/M) bap. March 1884; Enoch b. 1886 bap. November 1886 d. 1887; John b. 1888 bap. November 1888; Harry birth registered 1891 (J/F/M) bap. April 1891 and Alfred b. 1893 bap. October 1893. Alfred and Phoebe were living on West Street, Nottingham, when their two daughters were baptised, at James Yard, Nottingham, when Enoch was baptised in 1886 but had moved to Convent Street by the time John was baptised in 1888 and were registered there on the 1891 Census. The family was living at 11 Union Terrace, Nottingham, in 1901: Albert, a point and spring maker in the lace industry although previously employed as a paint maker (1891), Phoebe, Ellen and Sarah who were both machinists, John (12), Harry (10) and Alfred (7). Also in the household was a boarder, Charles Burrows (4). Phoebe died in 1907 and in 1911 her widowed husband was living at 17 Enoch Terrace, St Anns Well Road, Nottingham. Also in the home was Alice Forsey (43), married, who was described as a domestic servant ('at home'). The eldest daughter, Ellen, had married Arthur Leatherland in 1906 and she and her husband, a boot maker, were living on Gawthorne Street, Nottingham. Also in the household were her brother Harry, a printer's labourer, and her brother John's daughter, Annie Elizabeth (b. 1908), who was probably in the care of the Leatherlands. Ellen and Arthur later moved to 90 Sandon Street, New Basford. Harry continued to live with the couple and named his sister as his next of kin when he enlisted. Sarah Ann was living on Rutland Terrace, Bunbury Street, Meadows, Nottingham, with her husband Albert Dale, a bobbin and carriage hand, whom she had married in 1907. Also in the household was her youngest brother, Alfred, who was a beer bottler. Sarah and her husband later moved to Coventry but Alfred remained in Nottingham and married Mabel Belshaw in 1916. John had married Nellie Gertrude Whiting in 1908 (J/A/S) and their daughter Annie Elizabeth was born later that year. In 1911, John, an iron moulder, and Nellie, a lace clipper, were living at 8 Franchise Terrace, Westminster Street, Nottingham, although their daughter was living with John's married sister Ellen Leatherland. Nellie died later that year aged 24 and John married secondly Fanny Pacey in 1912. They had two children, Fanny G. who was born in 1912 and died the following year, and Walter who was born in 1914. Alfred married Mabel Belshaw (b. 1892) in 1916 and they lived at 21 Broad Street Nottingham, the address given for his widow on the CWGC record. With effect from 29th April 1918, Mabel was awarded a pension of 13 shillings and 9 pence a week. Mabel did not remarry and in 1939 was living on Old Lenton Street, Nottingham (no occupation). She died in 1977. Alfred's brothers, Harry and John, also died in the war, Harry in 1915 and John in 1917 (see 'Extra information' and records on this Roll of Honour). Alfred Windley snr. died in 1929.
Alfred enlisted in Nottingham and served with the 2/7th battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbys) Regiment. He was killed in action on 29th September 1917 and is buried in White House Cemetery, St Jean les Ypres, Belgium (grave reference I.B.22). Alfred qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of White House Cemetery (extract): 'White House Cemetery was begun in March 1915 and used until April 1918 by units holding this part of the line. It then comprised most of the present Plots I and II; but after the Armistice these Plots were completed, and III and IV added, when graves were brought in from the battlefields around Ypres (now Ieper) and from a number of small burial grounds [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)
His brother, S/7042 Rifleman Harry Windley, Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), was killed in action on 25 September 1915 and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. (See record on this Roll of Honour) His brother Sergeant John (Jack) Windley, Sherwood Foresters, died of wounds on 14th July 1917 and is buried in Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery. (See record on this Roll of Honour) CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Sadly missed' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 11 October 1917: ‘Windley. Killed in action, Pte Alfred Windley, beloved brother of Mr and Mrs Leatherland, 90, Sandon-street. He gave his life for us.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 11, 12 & 13 October 1917: ‘Windley. Killed in action, September 29th, Pte A Windley, Sherwood Foresters. A bitter blow, a shock severe, to part with one I loved so dear; Christ will link the broken chain, closer when we meet again. His sorrowing wife Mabel.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 11, 12 & 13 October 1917: ‘Windley. Killed in action, September 29th, Pte A Windley, aged 24, beloved brother of Mrs [Sarah] and Mr Dale, of Coventry. Third brother to fall. For ever in our thoughts.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 25 September 1918: ‘Windley. In loving remembrance of our dear brothers, Rifleman Harry Windley, killed in action September 25th 1915, also Pte Alfred Windley, killed in action September 29th, 1917. Sadly missed. Nellie and Arthur [Leatherland].’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)