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Alfred Reginald Mason

J

Jules65

master brummie
Alfred Reginald Mason was my Great Uncle. He was born in Birmingham in 1899 to parents William Mason and Mary Ball. Family legend has it that he was under age and lied about it to go to war. He went with a few friends from the same street to sign up and whilst they were all sent home for various reasons he wasn't. I think he died in 1917 in a POW camp in Stendal, Germany.

How can I find out more information about him? What regiment he served in etc.

My uncle also thinks there is a memorial in Germany, possibly Stendal, with his name on. I would dearly love a photo of this.

My own father was named Alfred after his mother's brother and now with children of my own cannot comprehend how his parents coped with losing a 16 year old boy. Such a waste of life - whatever age!

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I apologise if I have posted in the wrong place.
 
I can only find an Alfred John Mason from Birmingham who served in the RAMC and was killed in 1918 and is commemorated on a War memorial in Italy. No luck with Alfred Reginald Mason.

Terry
 
Thank you for your help. I have looked at the CWGC website and found an Reginald Alfred Mason listed who may be my Alfred. His father is listed as William Mason of 4 Church Cottages, St. Georges, Birmingham. His regiment was the King's Royal Rifle Corps. The age is incorrect but if he lied about his age to gain entry into the army - it would be. If it is the right person he died on 6.10.1918.

What do I need to do to establish if this is my Alfred? One thought springs to mind is to find the family on the 1901 census and see if they are living at 4 Church Cottages, which is probably doubtful. In all my research into the family tree people seemed to move around a lot and are living at different addresses every 10 years!

Thanks to everyone. I have looked at the link provided and the account given bears out that he probably died of malnutrition, lack of care etc.
 
Hi Jules.

Don't know if this is any help to you, but there is a William Thomas Mason shown on the 1925 Electoral Roll. He is living with a couple named Dauncy at 4 Church Cottages.

I have attached a copy of the roll for you to have a look-see.

barrie
 
Barrie thanks for this info - it is fantastic! You have just confirmed that it is indeed the right family. Violet Dauncey nee Mason is my grandmother. Her brother was Alfred Reginald Mason. Her husband George Daniel Dauncey died before I was born but my Uncle (my dad's brother) has told me a little about him. My dad died quite a few years ago now before my interest in family history. What questions I would love to have asked him. Apparently George Dauncey served in Africa during one of the wars out there. He would have been really young and I think was maybe a drummer boy. He was on his way home to England when his ship was diverted to France to deploy troups in WW1. Life was indeed hard to people back then. He was brought up by his widowed father, his mother having died in childbirth when he was just 4. Maybe a life in the army was a good option to many young men.

Sorry I have digressed a little! Going back to Alfred Mason - is there anyone who could help me find out a little more about his regiment, where he would have served etc.

I would also like to trace similar information regarding George Dauncey. Does anyone know which war he would have been fighting in in Africa.

Thanks to everyone for their help.

Also may be going a little off thread here, but my father Alfred George Dauncey served with REME in WW2. Are there any websites where I could find out more information about his service history?

Sorry to ask so many questions. This site is just so good and people are so helpful.
 
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