Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Alice Hazelton (x362)

10/10/1884 –30/05/1966

Born in India; wife of a colonel in the Indian Army Veterinary Corps

• David Squire

Alice Gertrude Hazleton (nee Glennie)

Alice Gertrude Hazleton (nee Glennie) was born 10^th October 1884 in Morar, India. Her parents were Edward and his wife, Mary Alice.  Edward served in the Indian Army taking part in the 1880 Afghan War and was decorated for his bravery during this campaign, rising to the rank of Colonel. Alice was the oldest of 4 siblings, that included Evelyn, Edward and John.

Alice appears to have been partly educated in England, showing as a boarder at Woodford School, Croydon in the 1901 census. Alice returned to India after completing her education, marrying Edwin Hills Hazleton on 2^nd October 1904 in Poona, Bombay, India. Edwin was 23 years older than Alice and had been married before with first wife dying young. He served as an officer within the Indian Vet Corps.

The couple must have returned to England shortly after marrying, as by the 1911census they are living at Hooks Hill, Frensham, Farnham, Surrey. The household includes Alice and Edwin along with 4 children,  Alice Mary Angela, Gertrude Kathlen, Edwin Geoffery and Bryan Edward along with 4 servants, including a governess. Edwin’s occupation is listed as Colonel in the Army Veterinary Service. The family must have moved around after returning from India, with the 2 eldest children born in York, the next being born in Dublin and only the youngest arriving whilst the family lived in Frensham.

The start of WW1 saw Edwin posted back to India, to serve within the Indian Veterinary Corps, reaching the rank of Brigadier General. Sadly, Edwin died on 25^th July 1916 from a heart attack in Simla, India and was buried at Kanlog cemetery. It would seem that Alice and the family had accompanied Edwin to India as the youngest and 6^th child, Margaret Hope, was born in Shimla in 1915, after the 5^th child, Beatrice Norah, had been born in Frensham.

Alice was left a modest estate of £1,050 by Edwin, equivalent to about £112,000 today and a generous army pension of £800 a year. She relocated the family back to England and in the 1921 census is listed as living at “Helmsley”, Montague Road, Berkhamsted. There are no servants at this house but Alice is assisted by a governess in bringing up her 6 children.

The next we hear of Alice is in the 1939 register, when she continued to live in Berkhamsted, resident at 99 Cross Oaks Road, along with her daughter Alice May Angela.

Alice spent the last 25 years or so of her life in Berkhamsted, before she died on 30th May 1966. Her probate shows she was living at 16 Shrublands Road, Berkhamsted, with her estate amounting to a very modest £1,849, modern day equivalent value of £36,000. Alice was buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted.