IVES Albert Daniels Private 46385

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Surname: IVES;

Forename(s): Albert Daniels;

Initials: AD;

Number: 46385;

Rank: Private;

Born in: Hampstead;

Enlistment Date: 11-Mar-1915;

Resided in: Kilburn;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 122 Coy;

Discharge Date: 08-Apr-1918;

Silver War Badge? 403025;

Other Data: b 2/6/1885
War Office Weekly casualty List 11/9/1917
MH106 - 11CCS - 1/8-6/8/1917: shell wd, rt hand, head & chest (penetrating)
disch KR xvi aged 33yrs 5m

My grandfather was born in 1885 in Hampstead. He was the youngest son of three sons and three daughters to Daniel and Mary Ives. Daniel Ives was a builder and, by all accounts, a bully (there is a report in the Kilburn Times
in 1902 of my great grandfather attempting to assault his wife when he came home drunk and wasn't happy that his dinner wasn't on the tabl.). My grandfather left home at 17 after his mother died in 1903 and lived with
Margaret Stride and her family, who ran a boarding house and was the mother of his best friend, Arthur Stride. He worked as a shop assistant in provisions (my mother thinks it might have been meat - she remembers he knew
howto precisely carve a joint of meat). He married my nana, Ella Hutton in 1914 and they had their first child, Arthur, in August 1915. Their second child, Norman, was born in December 1920 and their third child, Joan (my
mother) was born in January 1928.
My mother says that my grandfather worked in the back office at Fortnum and Mason, so he continued to stay in the field of provisions (which, as you say, is the occupation given in the 1939 census). Interestingly, the 1921
census says he was a postman at the Cricklewood sorting office in Willesden.
My mother, who is still alive, remembers that grandad was in poor health much of his life but thinks he must have been a strong man to survive his injuries and to live until his eighties.
He suffered badly from the London smogs, finding it difficulty to breath, and my mother says that if it wasn't for my nana's nursing, he would not have lived. My nana made him a flannel wrap to protect his chest from getting a
chill. Part of his little finger on one of his hands was missing and he had a large scar on his chest. Despite that my mother remembers that the family used to go for long walks on Sundays to Hampstead Heath. My grandfather
died aged 81 years in 1966, when I was 8 years old, so I only have hazy memories of him - sitting in his chair in his home, wearing a waistcoat with a pocket watch and a Charlie Chaplin moustache. My younger brother has
exactly the same memory but also remembers my grandad giving us half a crown each! After my grandad retired, he and my nana lived with my uncle Norman's family on the upper floor of my uncle's house in Wembley Park.
Despite his terrible injuries, he was very patriotic and encouraged both his sons to join up when the second world war broke out.
Like many other soldiers, my mum doesn't remember my grandad ever talking about the war. It sounds as if he was a quiet, gentle man. I don't know how much that was due to his war experiences or his personality. Mum
doesn't remember talking to him much - possibly because she was a girl and possibly because she was a late born child. If she did something her father didn't approve of, he would never tell her off but would say'I'll tell your
mother'. She also remembers making a home made radio during the war because he loved to listen to the news every day but he would always displace the whisker so she would have to re-set it for him - his unsteadiness might
have been due to his war injuries. She says her parents were particularly worried about their eldest son, Arthur, who was in bomber command, and whether news reports of lost personnel in bomber command might include my
uncle Arthur.
Grandad died in 1966 (he suffered much pain - my nana asked the doctor if if there was anything he could give him to reduce the pain and the doctor replied that he gave him anything stronger it would kill him). He was buried
or cremated at Carpenders Park near Watford, Hertfordshire. I think I visited the cemetery when I was a child but I have not been back. I plan to do so with my mother. If we do manage to get there, I could send you a photo of
the grave, if that would be of interest.;

END OF RECORD.

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