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b.1881-d.1914
Albert’s birthplace
According to Royal Navyrecords Albert George Moore was born on 20 September 1878 in Wells next Sea, Norfolk, commonly called just Wells. It is a fishing port on the east coast of England. There were three shipyards in Wells, all now closed. As a commercial port it supplied large quantities of malt to Holland and to London. This area is still renowned for growing malting barley and exporting it worldwide. Today Wells remains an old world town, full of narrow streets, old alleys and yards.
Albert’s parents and siblings
Albert George Moore’s parents were Robert Moore and Sarah Maria Denson. They were married on 26 May 1860 at St Nicholas Parish Church in Wells. Albert’s father worked as a labourer/agricultural worker. His mother Sarah was from a family of mariners. It was the first marriage for both Robert and Sarah. Together they had at least seven children and Albert George was their last.
Robert and Sarah’s first two children William Walter Moore, born May 1861 and Robert William Moore, born December 1863 only survived a few weeks. Their third child was a daughter Florence, who was born in Rawmarsh in South Yorkshire in 1865. Robert and Sarah had left Wells for a short period, perhaps for work opportunities in a more industrial area. However the family soon returned to Norfolk. Florence survived infancy and was soon joined by sisters Susannah, born 1867 and May born 1870.
Albert’s birth
At the time of the 1871 census Robert, Sarah and their three little daughters were living in Great Snoring, a village a few miles from Wells. Robert was working as an agricultural labourer. The three girls were soon joined by two boys, William born 1874 and the last one Albert George Moore, born in 1877 who is the subject of our story. He was born on 20 September 1877, despite a different date recorded on his Royal Navy records. Whether there was any benefit in declaring he was a year younger, or whether birthdays were not always remembered with accuracy, it is difficult to say. Albert grew up living very close to the sea in Norfolk.
1881
By 1881 the family was complete and they were living in Black Horse Yard. Albert was just three and was already recorded as a scholar. His father was working as an agricultural labourer. The two oldest girls were working as domestic servants.
The 1890s
In 1891 the family were living in nearby Playhouse Yard. These yards were small groups of houses. Playhouse Yard had around ten small cottages and was very close to the Quay. Albert was still at school and his father was working as a bricklayer’s labourer and his mother was supplementing the family’s income by working as a laundress.
On 10 Jan 1894 Albert’s father Robert Moore died. Albert was 16 years of age. His mother Sarah remarried within a few months, this time to Robert Garner, a widower who worked as a plate-layer on the railway.
Enlisting in the Royal Navy
Albert was twenty one when he joined the Royal Navy in January 1899. On enlisting Albert had given his occupation as a Hawker and he signed up for 12 years. Albert served for just over 11 of those years before he was purchased out.
Albert served mostly on battleships. Although not at war, the Royal Navy had one of the most powerful fleets in the world. It kept the British isles immune from invasion, although its main role was the protection of trade.
Looking at his navy record Albert is regularly recorded as of very good character and there were very few disciplinary remarks against him. Initially he was a stoker, working up to being part of the armaments crew on the armored cruisers and battlecruisers. An armourer was also known as a gunner and was responsible for maintaining, repairing and supplying weapons and ammunition, always ensuring the ship’s armament was in the best condition. A lot of the postings were sailing around the waters of the United Kingdom.
In July 1909 Albert served on his last ship The Lord Nelson, a pre-dreadnought battleship, which had only been completed in 1908. Albert was posted on The Lord Nelson between 18 July 1909 and 18 February 1910. Just before this Albert had married Elizabeth Alford in Bromley in 1909 (AMJ). She was from Devon, the daughter of John and Rebecca Alford. Whether Elizabeth had met Albert in Devon we do not know. His ship would have docked at various ports around the UK. At some time on Albert’s last voyage there was an application submitted for his purchase (release). This would be unusual as Albert had only one year left to serve.
The Lord Nelson 1909
His purchase, paid for by himself or his family, would have cost around £12, nearly a year’s average salary and a lot of money for most people to find. It is possible that Albert was already experiencing some health issues, as the following year there was another application submitted for a refund of the purchase money, as he was by then an inpatient in an asylum. However this application was rejected.
Marriage and admission to Horton
Following Elizabeth and Albert’s marriage, the couple settled in Bromley and on 10 August 1910 they welcomed a son Albert John Moore. It must have been a proud time for the family as Albert registered his son’s birth. He gave his occupation as a chauffeur. Any happiness was not to last, as on 22 December 1910, just four months after their baby’s arrival, Albert was admitted to Horton Asylum, where he spent over four years before he died on 10th May 1914. Albert’s cause of death was General Paralysis of the Insane and Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
It is not known whether Elizabeth visited Albert whilst he was in Horton, as she had returned to live with her father in Devon. She was however the informant on his death certificate.That was unusual as it was usually done by the medical superintendent of the asylum. Elizabeth never married again.
Albert George Moore was buried in the Horton Estate Cemetery in grave 1037.
Author’s Notes
Albert and Elizabeth’s son grew up in Devon with his mother and grandfather. He went on to become a flying officer in the RAF in WW2. Elizabeth died in Devon in1967.
