Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Alfred Rance

1880 –1932

Fought in the Boer War; frequently in trouble before settling down after marriage

Relatives

Florence Rance — wife

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 890? Alfred Rance (1880-1932)

Alfred was born in 1880 in Berkhamsted, the first child of John and Emily Rance. Hs father was an agricultural labourer and carter. In 1881 the family lived in Ellesmere Road.

Alfred attended the Berkhamsted National School, but appears to have struggled badly and it is perhaps this which set him on the turbulent, and often violent, path his life was to take.

In April 1887 he was one of several children kept back for a year when others in their class were transferred to the Boys and Girl’s School. In 1888 his reading was “very imperfect”, he was “unable to spell short words” and “had no ability at all” in mathematics.

By 1891 his was employed as a chemical labourer, probably at Cooper’s sheep dip factory, and Arthur, David and Lily had joined the family. Alfred, who had become a labourer, lived with his family at 76, George Street.

On 23 January 1899 Alfred enlisted in the Rifle Brigade for seven years, plus five years in the Reserves. His records show that at the time he as just under 5 foot seven inches tall, with brown hair, a sallow complexion and dark grey eyes.

He served in England until 2 September 1900, then in South Africa until 24 September 1902 where he served in the Orange Free State and the Transvaal and was awarded both the Queen’s and the King’s South Africa medals.

Alfred was transferred to Egypt where he undertook the Mounted Infantry course. On 10 December 1904 he was convicted of two counts of “Committing an offence against the person of an inhabitant of the country in which he was serving.” He was sentenced to 21 days in prison and forfeited his pay. He remained in Egypt for three years.

On 10 October 1905 he was posted to Malta and finally back to England on 25 October 1906.

Alfred appears to have returned a hardened and difficult character and a disruptive influence in his family.

In March 1907, presumably whilst on leave, Alfred was in front of the Berkhamsted Magistrates court charged with drunkenness on the 2^nd. PC Capel gave evidence that Alfred’s brother (unnamed) made a complaint to him. PC Capel found Alfred in George Street “very drunk” and told him to get inside and keep quiet. Alfred replied that he wanted his brother to go into the meadow so they “could fight it out, saying he would bash his brains out.” Alfred denied being drunk and said that his brother had punched him on the nose first. He was found guilty and fined 7s 6d and costs.

In April that year he was up before the Berkhamsted Bench again, charged with Lewis Sills for assaulting the landlord of the Anchor, Bourne End and causing malicious damage. In June 1907 he was fined 15 shillings for obscenity and, at the same court, his brother David was found guilty of assault, wilful damage and refusing to leave licenced premises on Easter Monday.

Alfred was in trouble again, accused of assaulting his mother, on  28^th August 1909. Emily stated that at about midnight she had heard her sons Alfred and David fighting upstairs. She found Alfred on top of David and pulled him away, whereupon he hit her in the face and about the body. She ran to find the Police Sergeant Perry, who lived opposite. He removed Alfred who was making threats against his mother and brother and “using filthy language”. Emily told the court that she was afraid of Alfred and did not want him in her house. “When under the influence of drink he was not responsible for his actions.” She told the Bench that Alfred had been in the Army “and since he returned from active service he seemed to be going from bad to worse.” He had not come to court and the Bench issued a warrant for his arrest.

When he was finally brought before the court Emily declined to press the assault charges, despite having appeared previously with two very black eyes, saying she just wanted Alfred bound over “to keep him from the drink.” She stated that she was afraid of him and did not want him in the house “for he seemed to go mad when in drink.” Alfred was bound over for six months with three sureties of £5.

In September 1910 Alfred, who was presumably on leave again, with his mother, his brother David and a Lucy Leadbetter were charged at the Petty Sessions with “hooting and yelling” on the 4^th. All pleaded Not Guilty, except Lucy who had left the district. Police Sergeant Perry, who lived opposite the family gave evidence that he had been woken at 1.15am by shouting and swearing. He put on his uniform and went down and found the two women quarrelling with each other and the two brothers likewise.

At that point Arthur Rance appeared, accompanied by two police constables, and complaining that he had been assaulted by his brothers. Then Mrs Rance complained that she had been struck by a Mrs Chennells, who had left the scene. The Chairman of the bench dismissed the charge against Mrs Rance and heard Arthur’s evidence.

Arthur said he lived at 35, Ellesmere Road and that David was staying with him. At midnight Alfred and Mrs Leadbetter had knocked on the door and, when he opened it, Alfred had assaulted him. Arthur left to call the police and David went to call their mother. Eleven previous convictions were shown against Alfred and he and Mrs Leadbetter were fined £2 each with 12s 6d costs.

When he got back to his regiment Alfred was promptly imprisoned for one month as a result of the civil conviction.

Alfred was finally discharged from the Army 22 January 1911. From then on there were no more newspaper reports concerning him and it seems he may have sobered up.

He married Florence Wesley in 1915. She already had a son, William J Wesley (born 1913).

Their first child, Winifred C, was born in 1916.

In 1921 they lived at Bank Mill Cottages, Bank Mill. Alfred was a coal carter employed by coal merchant Mr P A Wright.

Alfred John was born in 1922 followed by Arthur Leslie (1924), Kathleen Margaret (1925), Philip David (1928) and Geoffrey Leonard (1930).

Alfred died in May 1932 at 39, Highfield Road, aged 52.

Florence survived him until 1943 and is buried here with him.

Florence Rance

10/03/1892 –1943

Wife of Alfred Rance

Relatives

Alfred Rance — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 890 Florence (née Wesley) (1892-1943)

Florence was born 10 March 1892 in Berkhamsted to unmarried mother Louisa Wesley.

On 3 May 1897 she began school at Pitstone National School. Her father’s name was given as George Wesley, which appears to be a fiction.

In 1901 she was living with her mother and grandmother, Emma Wesley, “near the railway arch” in Pitstone. The two women were straw plaiters.

By 28 October 1908 she had left school.

Florence entered domestic service and in 1911 was a live-in general domestic servant employed by widow Mary Ann Reddy and her son in Hampstead.

William J Wesley was born in 1913. (His father is not known, but by 1939 he was using the surname Rance, so his stepfather may possibly have been his real father. However he was still recorded as Wesley on the 1921 census return.)

Florence married Alfred Rance in Berkhamsted 1915.

They were to have six children: Winifred C (1916), Alfred John (1922), Arthur Leslie (1924), Kathleen Margaret (1925), Philip David (1928) and Geoffrey Leonard (1930).

In 1921 the family lived at Bank Mill Cottages, Bank Mill. Alfred was a coal carter.

Alfred died May 1932 at 39, Highfield Road and is buried here.

At the time of the 1939 Register Florence lived at 28, Highfield Road with William J, Arthur, Kathleen and Geoffrey L, plus gardener Robert Snowdon and charwoman Winifred Snowdon who may have been lodgers.

She died in 1943.