Albert's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Albert Brindley was born on 16th March 1881, the son of Sarah A (née Jackson) and Henry Brindley, a bread baker, of 25 Saville Street, Macclesfield. In the 1881 census, one-month-old ALbert was recorded living at that addres with his parents and older siblings Sarah (10), Rachel (8), William (6), Hannah (4) and Fred (2). By 1891 Albert's mother had died but the family was still living at the same address, including Albert's sister Janet who was three years younger. In 1901 only Albert and Janet were still at home with their widowed father; Albert was employed as a packing box maker.
Albert attended the Centenary School and he was associated with St Peter’s Church; he was also a member of the Men’s Reading Room.
Albert married a near neighbour, Annie Cox, at St Peters Church, Macclesfield on 25th May 1901. At this time, Albert was a box maker at a soap works and Annie was employed as a silk winder. The couple first lived at Court 2, Gunco Lane, Macclesfield.
By 1911, Albert and his young family had moved to 42 Bennett Street, Newton Heath, Manchester, where Albert worked as a labourer for a sail cloth manufacturer. However, they later moved back to Macclesfield, living at 7 Dean Street, off Windmill Square near Calamine Street. The property was a small two up, two down cottage, with lighting provided by oil lamps and cooking done over a fire.
Albert and Annie had a total of eleven children – Annie (1901), Arthur (1902), Lily (1904), May (1907), Elizabeth (1909), Ethel (1910), William (1911), Harry (1913), Jack and Mary (1914), with Thomas (1917) the last child being born six weeks before Albert enlisted.
WW1 SERVICE
When he enlisted in May 1917 in Macclesfield, Albert was employed at London Road Station, Manchester. After completing his training, Albert was drafted with the British Expeditionary Force to France on 6 December 1917.
Albert was reported missing on 23rd March 1918 and officially recorded as having died on 26th March 1918. Albert Brindley's death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 19 April 1918:
KILLED - Mrs Brindley, 7 Dean St, Macclesfield, has been officially notified that her husband, Pte Albert Brindley, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, was killed in France between the 23rd and 26th March. He leaves nine children, the eldest being 16 years of age and the youngest twelve months. Pte Brindley was 37 years of age and attended Centenary School. He was associated with St Peter's Church and was a member of the Men's Reading Room. Pte Brindley was formerly employed at London Rd Station, Manchester; he enlisted eleven months ago and was drafted out to France on December 6th.
Pte Brindley was a well-known local swimmer and won the Borough Competition on two occasions.
Mrs Brindley had previously lost a brother, Lance-Corpl Arthur Cox, Ches Regt, who was killed about six months ago. She has two other brothers in the Northumberland Fusiliers - Ptes Thomas William and Albert Cox. Both have been wounded. Three brothers-in-law are in France. Three nephews are serving - Pte Albert Bailey (taken prisoner at Gaza); Pte Chas Bailey (in Egypt); and Pte James Bailey (France).
COMMEMORATION
Private Albert Brindley has no known grave and he is commemorated on Bay 10 of the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
In Macclesfield, Private Albert Brindley is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael's Church and St Peter’s Church war memorials.
The floral tributes laid when the Macclesfield Park Green War Memorial was unveiled on 21st September 1921 included one with the words “In loving remembrance of my dear husband, Private A. Brindley.”
NOTES
Albert’s son, Harry Brindley, was killed in Burma during WW2 on 29th March 1944 at the age of 30 and is also commemorated on the Macclesfield Park Green Memorial.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births, Marriages
Census (England & Wales): 1881, 1901, 1911
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Lives of the First World War website
Macclesfield Times: 19 April 1918
Macclesfield Courier: 24 September 1921
Thanks to Maureen, great-granddaughter of Albert Brindley, for her assistance in compiling this information.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.