On Leave but 4,000 Miles from home

On the 12th October 1918, My Great Grand Uncle, Albert Benjamin Uden, who was serving as a Lance Corporal with the 4th Field Company, 2nd Canadian Engineers was granted 14 days leave.

Obviously unable to return the 4,250 odd miles to Toronto to see his wife Maud and two young sons, Albert and George, one wonders how he spent his leave, did he just stay in France or was he able to visit his parents in Dover.

Albert Benjamin Uden was born on the 17th October 1882 in Dover, Kent. He was the youngest child of Albert and Eliza Uden (nee Sowman). An older brother Charles Edward Uden had died in infancy in 1880, his older sister Alice Uden (My Great Grandmother) was born on the 21st February 1873 in Bridge, Canterbury

His father was a Potato merchant and the family grew up on Seven Star Street in Dover. Albert married Maude Torr, also from Dover, in 1905 in Paddington. Along with their newly born son Albert they emigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1907 sailing on the Empress of Britain.

A second son, George was born in 1910 in Ontario and in 1915 when Albert enlisted the family were living in Bellwoods Ave, Toronto.

Albert’s parents Albert (born 1846, Bridge, Canterbury, Kent) and Eliza Sowman (born 1845, Boxford, Suffolk) had met around 1870, whilst working as servants for the Rev. John Hamilton, Vicar of Lynsted, Kent where Albert was employed as a coachman and Eliza as a cook. 1911 Albert’s parents were living a 3 Star Street, Dover, Kent with Albert Snr working as a greengrocer.

Albert Uden (Snr)

Albert’s wife Maud was also from Dover, both her parents, David & Charlotte Torr had passed away (David in 1903 & Charlotte in 1896). It is unlikely that Maud's childhood memories of Dover would be recalled with much pleasure.

Her father was the Landlord at the Barley Mow Inn and in 1890 he was charged with being in possession of 14 pounds of smuggled tobacco, for which he was found guilty and fined £5 10s.

Barley Mow Inn, Dover (photo from John Gilham Collection)

On the 7th Sept 1889 the Thanet Advertiser reported that

Charlotte Torr, wife of David Torr, Landlord of the Barley Mow Public House, Commerical Quay, was summoned for beating and ill treating her daughter, Maud Torr – Mr V Knocker prosecuted – From the evidence it appeared that the child’s eyes were blackened through being struck by the mother. The mother in defence denied striking the child on one occasion, but acknowledged striking her some days after, for disobeying her. The bench fined the defendant £5 and 24s or in default one months imprisonment and ordered her to be bound over to keep the peace. 

And on the 29th August 1890 the Dover Express reported that

Police said that on 18th July this year, he was in Snargate Street, when his attention was called to a child named Maud Torr, about eight years of age, she was very wet and cold, it being a wet day. He took her to her fathers house, the Barley Mow Inn, and found the mother was in bed drunk and the father not sober. He told the father to give the child food but he said he had no food in the house and was going to give her port wine. The superintendent then took the child to a coffee shop, and got her proper food. He could not get any guarantee that the child would be properly treated, he sent her to a relation, who took charge of her for the night. Torr and his wife were summoned for neglecting the child and the case was adjorned for two or three months, for him to put the child where it would be properly treated. Police-constable Knott was called, and corroborated Superintendent Sander's evidence. Witness said he had been called to the house on two or three occasions when there was disturbances between Mr. Torr and his wife. Neither of them were sober when witness had gone to the house.

Police-constable Fogg deposed: On July 10th, in consequence of something I was told, I went to Strond Street, and saw a large crowd of people outside the “Barley Mow” public-house. Mrs. Torr was the worse for drink, and was standing near the door with her face covered with blood. I went into the house, and saw the landlord, who was also drunk. I have seen Mr. Torr the worse for drink on more than one occasion, and also his wife.

Mr. Torr said he did not see why he should have to leave his house through his wife misbehaving herself. He had been nearly twelve years there.

Unsuprisingly David Torr had his licence refused and he eventually he was forced to vacant the premises.

Albert Uden, had been serving in France with the 4th Field Company, 2nd Canadian Engineers, Canadian Expeditionary Force since 1915 and On the 26th June 1918 he was admitted to hospital.

Perhaps he manged to visit his sister Alice, who was living in Battersea, with her husband Solomon Wraight and their family.

The Wraight Family Circa 1910

Alice's oldest son Solomon had emigrated to America in 1915 and was now serving in the American Army in France. Solomon's brother, William was a mechanic with RAF.

Perhaps this was his only opportunity to visit family relatives, whom he probably hadn't seen for over 10 years, would he ever get another? Albert returned to his unit after his leave on the 26th October 1918.

References
Canadian Library & Archives
Dover Kent Archives
British Newspaper Archives

A Doughboy overseas

On the 9th August 1918, 100 years ago today, Private Solomon Wraight (my Great Uncle) was serving overseas in the machine gun company of the 315th infantry regiment of the United States Army.

Solomon had been born in Lambeth, Surrey on the 22nd May 1895, the eldest child of Solomon and Alice Wraight (nee Uden). The family, originally from Kent moved to Wandsworth, Surrey in 1894/95 and by 1911 the Wraight family were living in Battersea, Middlesex with both Solomon and his father working as carpenters / joiners.

In August 1915, Solomon emigrated to the USA, and found employment as a carpenter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, eventually becoming a naturalised American citizen in May 1917 and enlisting in the United States Army in October 1917.

His younger brother William, also a carpenter by trade, had joined the Royal Navy Air Service in March 1917.

Solomon Wraight 

American troops, under the command of General Pershing, started to arrive in ever increasing numbers in France during the summer of 1918 offsetting the temporary numerical advantage the Germans held on the Western front since the collapse of Russia.

The official history of the 315th Infantry describes the arrival in Brest, France of the Regiment on the 18th July. It is likely that Solomon arrived in later waves, as not all the regiment arrived in France at the same time, however Solomon is likely to have had similar experiences.

“We marched through the back streets of Brest and out into the country about six kilometres, where we were ushered into a nice wet field and ordered to pitch tents. This was called a rest camp but all we did was carry water and rations for about a mile or so, and hustle field ranges, baggage etc.”

After 4 days they left the rest camp for the 10th training area.

“After three wonderful days and nights on the train, we were put off at a place called Vivey-Chalmessin. Nobody knew where we were, or what we were going, so we pitched tents in a neighbouring field, and it was here that we were introduced to Vin Rouge while waiting for somebody to give an order. The next morning we started for Chatoillenot, arriving after a hike of 18 kilometers, and there we were billeted. 

The next six weeks formed the most strenuous period in the history of the machine gun company, and the drill was long and tough.”

Sources
The Official History of the 315th Infantry USA.