Private Algernon Lambourne Army Service Corps
The Man Algernon Lambourne was born on Born on Saturday 11th September 1880 in Kirtlington, Oxford, son of Arthur a Coachman and Gardener and Anna Elizabeth nee Evans. He was one of five children, George Arthur 8th December 1870 - 1961, Annie Louisa 5th November 1872 - 1951, Linda Mary 12th September 1874 - 1961 and another unknown sibling who died very young.
Algernon was Baptised on 10th October 1880 in Kirtlington under Church of England rites and his father’s occupation shown as a Parish Clerk! Although the 1881 census shows the family living at 77 Kirtlington Mansions and Arthur’s job as a Coachman and Gardener.
On 12th May 1886 in Kirtlington, Algernon was involved in a serious accident when a water barrel that he and some friends were playing in fell on him, breaking both thighs. He seems to have made a good recovery.
In 1891 the family lived at 76 Kirtlington Mansions and by 1901 at 55 ‘In the Village’, Kirtlington and Algernon, now aged 20 had become a butcher.
Sometime after 1901, Algernon moved to Warwick, possibly with his work and lived in Smith Street. On 5th August 1907 he married Annie Elizabeth Prydderch, a Midwife, in Kirtlington and they had one son Arthur Algernon (1908-73). Oddly Arthur’s occupation is once again shown as Parish Clerk.
Algernon and Annie lived in Warwick, the 1911 census showing them at 3 Burnaby Terrace, Paradise Street and Algernon working as Foreign Meat Company Manager. The 1912 Directory showing them at 3 Paradise Street. They moved again, to neighboring Royal Leamington Spa and lived at 116 Lower Shrubland Street in the town.
Algernon was Baptised on 10th October 1880 in Kirtlington under Church of England rites and his father’s occupation shown as a Parish Clerk! Although the 1881 census shows the family living at 77 Kirtlington Mansions and Arthur’s job as a Coachman and Gardener.
On 12th May 1886 in Kirtlington, Algernon was involved in a serious accident when a water barrel that he and some friends were playing in fell on him, breaking both thighs. He seems to have made a good recovery.
In 1891 the family lived at 76 Kirtlington Mansions and by 1901 at 55 ‘In the Village’, Kirtlington and Algernon, now aged 20 had become a butcher.
Sometime after 1901, Algernon moved to Warwick, possibly with his work and lived in Smith Street. On 5th August 1907 he married Annie Elizabeth Prydderch, a Midwife, in Kirtlington and they had one son Arthur Algernon (1908-73). Oddly Arthur’s occupation is once again shown as Parish Clerk.
Algernon and Annie lived in Warwick, the 1911 census showing them at 3 Burnaby Terrace, Paradise Street and Algernon working as Foreign Meat Company Manager. The 1912 Directory showing them at 3 Paradise Street. They moved again, to neighboring Royal Leamington Spa and lived at 116 Lower Shrubland Street in the town.
Following the start of World War I on 4th August 1914, Algernon was initially exempt from any call up even after the Military Service Act of January 1916, which specified that single men aged 18 to 40 years old were liable to be called up for military service unless they were widowed with children or ministers of a religion. However, this was amended in May 1916 to include married men, thus Algernon was now liable, although he may have foreseen the situation as on 14th February 1916 he enlisted into the Army Service at Leamington, as a Private with service number M/335574. He was 35 years old and described as 5’.9” tall, weighing 166lbs a chest of 39 ¾“ with good physical development, varicose veins in both legs and a corneal wound.
Following his training at the ASC Motor Transport Depot he qualified as a Heavy Lorry Driver and served in the UK until 9th October 1917 when he embarked in Liverpool aboard the ‘Port Lincoln’ a Passenger Refrigerated Cargo ship and sailed to East Africa, landing at Dar Es Salaam on 19th November. The East African campaign in World War I was a series of battles and guerrilla actions, which started in German East Africa and spread to portions of Mozambique, Rhodesia, British East Africa, the Uganda and the Belgian Congo.
He suffered from Malaria whilst in Africa, being hospitalized several times for the illness in different location including Mombasa and Nairobi.
On 13th December 1918, having been in Africa just over a year, Algernon sailed home to the UK aboard the ‘Conconda’ landing at Southampton. He was subsequently demobilised and transferred to the Z Class reserve on 13th March 1919 returning to Leamington Spa and resuming his work with the meat industry. For his service he was awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Algernon and Annie moved to 16 Radford Road in Leamington where the 1939 Register shows them living, he, now a Butcher, District Manager. He died a year later, on 22nd November 1940 of Meningococcal Meningitis, a very nasty disease, at the Warneford Hospital aged 60. His estate was worth £2495.00 (£175,000.0 in 2024).
Annie died 16 years later at Henley, Oxfordshire in 1956 aged 82.
Following his training at the ASC Motor Transport Depot he qualified as a Heavy Lorry Driver and served in the UK until 9th October 1917 when he embarked in Liverpool aboard the ‘Port Lincoln’ a Passenger Refrigerated Cargo ship and sailed to East Africa, landing at Dar Es Salaam on 19th November. The East African campaign in World War I was a series of battles and guerrilla actions, which started in German East Africa and spread to portions of Mozambique, Rhodesia, British East Africa, the Uganda and the Belgian Congo.
He suffered from Malaria whilst in Africa, being hospitalized several times for the illness in different location including Mombasa and Nairobi.
On 13th December 1918, having been in Africa just over a year, Algernon sailed home to the UK aboard the ‘Conconda’ landing at Southampton. He was subsequently demobilised and transferred to the Z Class reserve on 13th March 1919 returning to Leamington Spa and resuming his work with the meat industry. For his service he was awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Algernon and Annie moved to 16 Radford Road in Leamington where the 1939 Register shows them living, he, now a Butcher, District Manager. He died a year later, on 22nd November 1940 of Meningococcal Meningitis, a very nasty disease, at the Warneford Hospital aged 60. His estate was worth £2495.00 (£175,000.0 in 2024).
Annie died 16 years later at Henley, Oxfordshire in 1956 aged 82.
The Story The Victory Medal awarded to Algernon Lambourne was acquired from E-Bay on 21st April 2024 and of immediate interest as Algernon had lived in Royal Leamington Spa, a sub theme within this collection.
Because of his unusual name, research on Ancestry was relatively straightforward, except for some initial complications, these being that his father Arthur, was occasionally listed as Arthur Algernon and Algernon as Algernon Arthur and he had a son Arthur Algernon! The confusion was further compounded by the fact Algernon’s mother was Anna Elizabeth and his wife Annie Elizabeth. However, once these differences had been established and checked, it enabled a reasonable biography to be put together, helped by the fact his World War I service papers have survived and show him serving in the unusual theatre of the East Africa Campaign.
Sadly, his 1914-18 British War Medal is missing, nevertheless it is pleasing to have another resident of Royal Leamington Spa remembered and his addresses visited as they were so local.
Because of his unusual name, research on Ancestry was relatively straightforward, except for some initial complications, these being that his father Arthur, was occasionally listed as Arthur Algernon and Algernon as Algernon Arthur and he had a son Arthur Algernon! The confusion was further compounded by the fact Algernon’s mother was Anna Elizabeth and his wife Annie Elizabeth. However, once these differences had been established and checked, it enabled a reasonable biography to be put together, helped by the fact his World War I service papers have survived and show him serving in the unusual theatre of the East Africa Campaign.
Sadly, his 1914-18 British War Medal is missing, nevertheless it is pleasing to have another resident of Royal Leamington Spa remembered and his addresses visited as they were so local.
Smith Street, 3 Paradise Street, 116 Shrubland Street and 16 Radford Road (12th May 24)
Medal Details:
- Victory Medal: M-335574 PTE.A.LAMBOURNE. A.S.C.
This page last updated 22 May 24
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