Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Alfred George Hester

21-o1-1888 –1940

A labourer; served in WWI and was gassed

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave Alfred George Hester (1888-1940)

Alfred was born 21 January 1888 in Tring to Charles and Ann Agnes (née Penn) Hester who must soon have moved to London as he was baptised 16 October 1892 at St Mary, Tottenham. Or, possibly, as his mother was from Tring, she had returned home to have the baby.

His father was a mason’s labourer born in Chenies, Bucks.

In 1891 Alfred was living with his parents and younger sister in Islington. Three more girls and a boy were born to Charles and Ann.

In 1901 the family of nine, plus a boarder, were living at Rose Cottage, Pinner Road, Harrow and his father was employed as a builder’s labourer. Another sister for Alfred was born in 1906.

At the age of twenty on 8 February 1907 Alfred signed up for the 1^st King’s Dragoon Guards. He stated that he was already in the 18^th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers and was a labourer. On enlistment his height was 5’ 6 ^5/8” and his weight 136 lbs. After  six months’ service and a gymnastics course he had reached 5’ 7” and 141 lbs. His complexion was “fresh”, his eyes grey and his hair light brown. He had tattooed dots on his right forearm.

He was posted (but the records do not say where) on 12 February 1907 and discharged 28 October the same year, “Services no longer required”, presumably with the end of the Boer War. His parents were at 56, Shrewsbury Road, Harlesden.

Alfred was employed as a labourer by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway co. from 27 March 1908 on 3s 6d per week. It is not known how long this employment lasted.

Alfred married Rose Granger in 1909 in Hendon. Their son George Frederick was born in 1910 in Willesden.

The 1911 census return shows Alfred, Rose and little George visiting friends. Alfred’s occupation is shown as labourer, chemical factory.

Two more sons were born: Charles (1912, Willesden) and Ernie (1915, Watford). and on 7 June that year Alfred, whose occupation at the time was stoker, enlisted as a gunner in the Royal Army Service Corps.

On 5 March 1916 he embarked on the Marguerite at Southampton and disembarked at the Base Horse Transport Depot at Le Havre the next day. Alfred served with the 203 Mobile Ordnance workshop but was invalided to England 26 September 1917 with pharyngitis – inflammation at the back of the throat.

In November 1918 he was gassed and admitted to hospital, discharged a month later.

Alfred was demobilised 20 January 1919. His home address was given as 4, Sotheron Road, Watford.

The family was still at that address in 1921 when Alfred was employed as a labourer by the Watford UDC Electrical department. Rose, George, Charles and Ernie were all at home.

The 1939 Register states that Alfred was “separated from wife”. She was living with their son George in Watford. Alfred was at 1, Billet Lane and employed as a labourer.

He died in December 1940 at 9, High Street aged 54.