Private Alfred Berry
191579 Army Service Corps, Motor Transport
Alfred Berry was the son of William and Sarah Berry (nee Short). He was born about 1881 in Newark, Notts and had brothers and sisters named Florence, Joseph, Matilda and Manda. In 1911 Alfred was living at 5, Victoria Street, Ironville, Derbyshire with his wife Maria (nee Dowman) and their children Florence Gwendoline b. 1906 and Cyril Wilfred Arthur b.1909 both in Ironville. His occupation is given as gardener domestic and he and Maria had been married for five years.
The family later moved to Pye Hill Cottages, Pye Hill, Jacksdale as recorded on the ‘Absent Voters List 1918/19’.
We know little about Alfred’s service career except to say he was awarded the Victory & British War Medals.
Alfred’s wife, Maria was involved with various community organisations such as the The Ladies Committee of the Crowning Ceremony, an event where some of the village’s most elderly folks were awarded a ‘crown’ (5 shillings - 25p) at Christmas time. A newspaper clipping of 1949 mentions that at one such event held at the Jacksdale County Schools, ‘tables were tastefully decorated by Mrs A. Berry‘. In October 1950 ‘Mrs A. Berry (Jacksdale) presided at a meeting of the Jacksdale Branch of the Codnor Park & Ironville Co-Operative Women’s Guild held in the Sunday School room at Pye Hill Trinity Church‘. In 1952 a Pye Hill newspaper article notes that she presided at the ‘Women’s Bright Hour’ held in the Providence Methodist Chapel and later in 1955 it is noted that she gave a reading.
Alfred and Maria’s son Cyril became a police officer with the Birmingham City Police and in 1932 married Irene Margery Cutts at St. Mary’s, Westwood, daughter of Robert Cutts, policeman. Cyril gave his residence at time of marriage as King’s Norton. In 1959 Cyril retired from the force with a rank of Police Sergeant. We have a collection of scanned documents relating to Cyril’s enlistment in the police force and would be pleased to pass them onto the Berry family. Alfred and Maria’s daughter ‘Gwen’ married Philip Chambers and in 1944 they were living at Laverick Road, Jacksdale when the birth of their daughter Christine Margaret Chambers was announced.
Any other information would be very welcome.