Pte 32491 Alfred Jellicoe

Alfred Jellicoe was born in the June quarter of 1878 in Neston, Cheshire, the son of John Jellicoe and his wife Mary Elizabeth (nee Reynolds) who were married on the 05th June 1862 at St Nicholas' Church, Liverpool. John Gellicoe was a bricklayer of Crosshall Street, his father Thomas, whilst was Mary was also of Crosshall Street, her father John.

Alfred was baptised on the 14th November 1879 at Neston Parish Church. 

On the 1881 Census the family are living at Parkgate Road, Neston. His father, John, is aged 41, a bricklayer born in Neston, mother Mary Elizabeth is aged 41, a dressmaker born in Leamington, Warwickshire. Their children were all born in Neston are: Mary Elizabeth 13, Dora Eliza 9, Emma Jane 7, Beatrice Ellen 4, Alfred 2, and Ernest 7 months. 

On the 1891 Census the family have moved to Park Street, Neston. His father, John, is aged 51, a bricksetter, mother Mary Elizabeth is aged 51, children Mary E. aged 23 a schoolteacher, Emma 17 a dressmaker, Beatrice 14, Alfred is 12, Ernest 10, and new son Edwin 8. 

On the 1901 Census Alfred is aged 22, a tobacconist’s shop assistant, and is “visiting” widow Sarah Putt and family in the village of Little Sutton. Alfred was probably courting Sarah’s daughter Clara, who was aged 22 and born in Barrow-in-Furness. 

Alfred, a keen cyclist and member of the Neston Cycle Club, suffered a serious cycling accident in July 1901 as described in the Liverpool Evening Express on Monday 22 July 1901 

LIVERPOOL MERCHANT.  

(SPECIAL TELEGRAM.)  

Mr. Alfred Jellicoe, of Neston, member of the firm of Gray and Co., tobacco merchants, Rumford-street, Liverpool, was cycling through Little Sutton village about ten o’clock on Saturday night when he collided with a man in the roadway. He was flung with great violence over the handlebars, and sustained very grave injuries to the head. He was conveyed in an unconscious state to the house of Mr. Putt, a personal friend, where he now lies in a semi-conscious condition. 

Alfred appeared to make a full recovery and married Clara later that year on Boxing Day 1901 at St George's Presbyterian Church, Little Sutton. They had two sons born in Liverpool, Alfred a few days after the marriage and Edward Harold in 1903. 

The marriage was reported in the Birkenhead News on Saturday 04 January 1902 

LITTLE SUTTON WEDDING.—A very pretty and locally interesting wedding took place at the Presbyterian Church, the bride being Miss Clara, only daughter of Mrs. Putt. Mr. Alfred Jellicoe of Neston, was the bridegroom. The bridal party presented a very pretty picture as they stood before the altar, and a large congregation witnessed the ceremony. The bride was led into the church by her brother (Mr. Charles Putt) who gave her away. 

By 1909 Alfred had a change of career and began working as a steward aboard the American Line SS “Haverford” on a route between Liverpool and Philadelphia, USA. On the manifest his address was 33 Mansell Road, off Boaler Street.

On the 1911 Census at 15 Alexandra Road, West Kirby Alfred must have been away at sea. Clara’s mother Sarah Putt is aged 60, a boarding house keeper, daughter Clara Jellicoe aged 32 (married 4 years with 2 children), grandson Harold Jellicoe aged 8, grandson Alfred is with his grandparents at “Rose Brae”, Blackeys Lane, Neston. 

Edward Harold Jellicoe sadly died on the Wirral in late 1912, aged 9. 

Alfred’s service records have not survived but SDGW state he was previously 30553 Liverpool Regt. Luckily the subsequent record of Pte 30554 Frank Horrocks has survived so we can approximate Alfred’s service.   

Alfred enlisted in Liverpool on or around 11th Nov 1914 with the service number in the sequence 130xx (Horrocks was 13037 in the 4th City Battalion). He was transferred as 32491 to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at the 25th Infantry Base Depot, Etaples in December 1916. Alfred's former number of 30553 in SDGW is actually a Manchester Regiment number and his original KLR number has been lost to history. [Many thanks to RussT on GWF for analysing this].

Alfred died of wounds on Sunday 23rd September 1917, aged 39. The date according to the newspaper was Tuesday, 2nd October.  

Chester Chronicle - Saturday 13 October 1917 

ROLL HONOUR.—Another of Neston's heroes has made the supreme sacrifice. News arrived during the week of the death in action of Private Alf Jellicoe. He succumbed a few hours after being wounded, last Tuesday week, in France. He was 39 years of age and married. He leaves a widow and one child to mourn his loss. He was the eldest son of Mr. E. Jellicoe, Raby Park, Neston, a well-known Neston family. Pte. Jellicoe was a well-known man and highly respected. He was connected for some years with the Neston Church Choir and a regular attendant of the late Mr. Ariel Gray's Sunday Classes, and assisted Mr. Gray in connection with his commercial business. He joined up with a company of the North Lancashires two years ago, and it was only a short time ago was in England on special leave, although cheerfully accepting the situation in having to go back, had a kind of presentiment that he would not return again. There is another brother at the Front and one awaiting tribunal orders. Genuine sympathy is extended to the widow and parents and other relatives in their bereavement.  

Birkenhead News - Saturday 20 October 1917 

Neston Man Killed.  

Official intimation has been received of the death from shell fire of Private Alfred Jellicoe, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Jellicoe, of Neston. He enlisted in the Liverpool Pals soon after the outbreak of war, but was afterwards attached to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, and had been at the front for several months. He was very well-known in the district, and sincere sympathy is felt for his relatives in their bereavement. 

War Diary - 10th Battalion Loyal North Lancs Regiment  

September 1917 - Nr Kemmel, Belgium 

IRISH HOUSE  

20/9 All fighting kit issued. Ready to move up after a few moments notice.  

4.30pm Receive orders to move to BOIS CARRE and relieve the 7th Loyal North Lancs Regt. 

BOIS CARRE 

21/9 We are still waiting. We are to be the first to move.   

4pm receive orders to move to IRISH HOUSE. This is cancelled and we are to go to MONT ROUGE. Depart forthwith and arrive at 9:30 pm.   

COVUNNA(?) CAMP  

22/9  

9am Start training  

10am. Warning order to move up to line.  

5.30pm Embus and move up to relieve 1st Camb's, 118th Brigade, 39th Division.  

2/Lt H.N.King and 2/Lt G.Brydon are wounded, also 20 men.  

In the line(day of Alfred’s reported death).  

23/9 Heavily shelled all day, we are just on the right of TOWER HAMLETS in Shrewsbury Forest. In support to 6th Bedford Regt.  

24/9 Move off to relieve the 6th Bedford Regt.  

In the line.  

25/9 Still very rough, casualties mounting up.  

26/9 Heavily shelled all day, the “hottest” day of all. 

27/9 11pm We are relieved in the line by the 10th Bn. Royal Fusiliers and moved back to camp at Irish House, Kemmel. 

Alfred now rests at Hooge Crater Cemetery, Zillebeke, Flanders:    

Hooge Chateau and its stables were the scene of very fierce fighting throughout the First World War. On 31 October 1914, the staff of the 1st and 2nd Divisions were wiped out when the chateau was shelled; from 24 May to 3 June 1915, the chateau was defended against German attacks and in July 1915, the crater was made by a mine sprung by the 3rd Division. On 30 July, the Germans took the chateau, and on 9 August, it and the crater were regained by the 6th Division. The Germans retook Hooge on 6 June 1916 and on 31 July 1917, the 8th Division advanced 1.6 Kms beyond it. It was lost for the last time in April 1918, but regained by the 9th (Scottish) and 29th Divisions on 28 September.   

Hooge Crater Cemetery was begun by the 7th Division Burial Officer early in October 1917. It contained originally 76 graves, in Rows A to D of Plot I, but was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Zillebeke, Zantvoorde and Gheluvelt and other smaller cemeteries.   

There are now 5,916 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 3,570 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials record the names of a number of casualties either known or believed to be buried among them, or whose graves in other cemeteries were destroyed by shell fire.   

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. 

Alfred was remembered by his family on the first anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo on Monday 23 September 1918 

JELLICOE—In loving memory of our dear son, Private A. JELLICOE (our Alf), L.N.L., killed in action, September 23, 1917. —Ever remembered by his Father, Mother, Sisters, and Brothers Ern, and Edwin (in France).  

Our dear son went to do his best, 

Until God called him to his rest—  

Away from all his troubles.  

Mother and Father.  

JELLICOE—In loving memory my dear brother, Private ALFRED JELLICOE, L.N.L., killed action, September 23, 1917.  

His King and country called him,  

The call was not vain;  

On Britain's roll honour  

You will find our dear brother's name.  

Ever remembered his Sister Lucy, Crewe. 

He was also remembered in the Birkenhead News on Wednesday 09 January 1918: 

Fallen Heroes of 1917. 

Private Alfred Jellicoe, L.N.L.  

His brother Edwin served as Pte 89766 MGC in France, Ernest served as Pte 20187 West Riding Regt, receiving the SWB in 1917. 

His widow Clara, date of birth 19th November 1879, remarried to James Henry Brown in 1924 and they appear on the 1939 Register at 26 Linkside, Bebington. 

She died, aged 71, on the 09th November 1950. 

Probate:- 

BROWN Clara of 26 Linkside, Higher Bebington Wirral Cheshire wife of James Henry Brown died 9 November 1950 Administration Liverpool 23 January to the said James Henry Brown factory manager. Effects £599 7s 9d. 

His father John died on the 11th April 1926, aged 86, and his mother Mary Elizabeth died on the 01st February 1929, aged 89. 

The Jellicoe family grave in Neston Parish Churchyard reads:- 

In Loving Remembrance of  

WILLIAM JELLICOE,  

Who died 30th January 1890,  

Aged 26 years. 

Also his brother ALFRED,  

Who was killed in France, 

23rd September 1917, 

Aged 39 years.  

Also JOHN,  

The dearly beloved husband of  

MARY ELIZABETH JELLICOE,  

And father of the above, 

Who passed away 11th April 1926,  

In his 87th year.  

Also MARY ELIZABETH, 

Wife of the above,  

Who died 1st February 1929,  

In her 90th year.  

“AND THE KING’S WORDS SHALL THRILL THE HEARTS  

‘ SERVANTS OF GOD, WELL DONE. ’ ”  

We currently have no further information on Alfred Jellicoe, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.