Albert Edgar NEVILLE (1893–1918)
Albert Edgar Neville was born in New Headington on 1 December 1893, the son of James Frederick Neville, known as Frederick (born in Headington and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 20 May 1855) and Mary Webb (born in Stanton St John in 1854/5).
His parents were married in the Headington Registration District in the first quarter of 1888 and had four children:
- Frederick James Neville (born on 8 November 1889 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 5 January 1890);
died aged 4, buried at Headington Cemetery on 12 July 1894 - Thomas Edward Neville (born on 15 September 1891, baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 29 November 1891)
- Albert Edgar Neville (born on 1 December 1893, baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 25 February 1894)
- Ernest Neville (born on 10 April 1896 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 21 June 1896);
died aged 10 months, buried at Headington Cemetery on 20 February 1897.
At the time of the 1881 census James’s father Frederick Neville (25) was working as a general labourer and living with his parents and siblings in New Headington; and his mother Mary Webb (26) was living in Stanton St John village with her widowed father (75) and her brother (26), both called Thomas and both agricultural labourers.
The couple remained in Headington after their marriage, and James’s father became a gardener. The 1891 census shows them living with their firstborn son Frederick at 11 Windsor Street (then numbered 5), which was taken into All Saints’ parish in 1910.
By the time of the 1901 census Frederick had died, and Albert (now 7) had been born.
Albert’s father died at the age of 56 and was buried at Headington Cemetery on 27 May 1909.
The 1911 census shows Albert (17) living at 11 Windsor Street with his widowed mother. He was now working as a nurseryman (probably with Mattock’s Nurseries nearby), and his only surviving brother, Thomas (19) was working as a house painter.
In the First World War Albert Neville served as a Private in 4th Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 202069). He died in France at the age of 24 on 30 June 1918, probably as a German prisoner-of-war. He is buried at the Sarralbe Military Cemetery (A. 9), and is listed on the roll of honour of All Saints’ Church, Highfield.
Postscript
Albert’s mother
- Mrs Mary Neville died at the age of 77 in 1933 (death registered in second quarter in Oxford District).
Albert’s brother
- Thomas Neville was living at 11 Windsor Street by 1930, and he remained there until the late 1960s.