Name
Alfred Worbey
1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/09/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
35464
Essex Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 98-99
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Alfred was born in 1889 in Hitchin and christened on 22 November 1889 in St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin. His parents were Alfred and Emma Worbey.
In 1891 the family were living at 19 St Andrew’s Place, Hitchin, which remained their address in the other census below. Present were both parents: Alfred (40) working as a ? journeyman and Emma (38) a strawplaiter. Their children were: Arthur (16), Charlie (14), Frederick (6), Lilly (4) and Alfred (2).
In 1901 both parents were still present, with Alfred working as a market gardener. Of their children, Arthur was absent, the others were all present plus Ada (10), Albert (7) and Rose (5).
In 1911 Alfred’s father was working as a market gardener. The children still at home were Alfred, now 21 and working as a gardener, Albert and Rose. The census recorded they had been married for 42 years with 13 children, of whom 2 had died.
Alfred (junior)’s future wife Cissie May Tansley was recorded as May Tandley (18) living with her parents and siblings in Harvey's Yard, Hitchin, her son Alfred George Tansley was with her and 5 months old.
Alfred married Cissie May Tansley (b 1/7/1992) in Hitchin in 1911. As recorded above she already had one child, Alfred George Tansley, the father is unknown.
After their marriage they had three children Leonard Arthur Worbey, born in 1912, Florence May Worbey, born in 1914 and Lilian Rose Worbey born in 1917.
It is believed that he had or was involved in a greengrocer's business in Hitchin before he served.
Officially Alfred was recorded as born, living and enlisting in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
After enlistment of conscription Alfred was sent to the Suffolk Regiment with the service number 32409. He went to France in January 1917 and was later posted to the 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment and given Regimental Number 35464. This Battalion was part of the 12th Brigade, 4th Division, XIV Corps in the 5th Army in the Battle of Polygon Wood.
He was killed in action probably in the area between Langemarck and Poelcappelle.
He has no known grave and is remembered on Panel 98 to 99of the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing in Belgium.
Additional Information
After his death £3 13s 1d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Cissie, on 1 February 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £5 was authorised to be paid to her on 10 November 1919.
His pension cards record Cissie May Worbey (b 1/7/1992) as his widow and as his dependant, originally living at Blackhorse Lane, Hitchin, but later amended to 2 Penns Yard, Hitchin. It also records their children as Alfred George Tansley (b 18/10/1910 – before wedlock), Leonard Arthur Worbey (b 22/7/1912, Florence May Worbey (b 14/1/1914) and Lilian Rose Worbey (b 19/8/1917). She was awarded a grant of £5 on 25 October 1917 then pension of 28s 9d a week for her and their children from 15 April 1919.
Probably later still Cissie lived at 67 Sunnyside Rd., Highbury, Hitchin.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
