44th New Brunswick Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Alfred John Tooze was born on 10 September 1892 and according to his baptism record dated 9 October 1892, he was the son of Alfred and Eva Tooze.
Alfred was a cabinet maker and the family lived at 2 Bath Terrace, Russell Street, Stroud.
Alfred was the couple’s first born. Edward Ashley followed in 1894 and a daughter called Margaret Edith was born in the summer of 1898 but died the same year.
Alfred’s sister Evelyn Maria Maud (Evaline on the birth register) was born in March of 1901.
Tragically her mother died following childbirth and there is a report in The Citizen of 28 March 1901 stating that 38-year-old Eva Maria Tooze of 11 Church Street died after confinement. Her husband stated that she had not needed a doctor since her first pregnancy and that a mid-wife and neighbour attended.
Elizabeth Tooze, her mother-in-law stated that when she was called to help as Eva ‘was in a dangerous state’. The doctor was called (against Eva’s wishes) but Eva died before he arrived.
The jury returned a verdict of death during confinement.
The 1901 Census therefore shows Alfred living with his two sons and month-old daughter.
By the time of the 1911 Census, Alfred had remarried. His wife was Elizabeth Maud Tapley who was born in Norfolk. Alfred stated that they had been married for four years. Alfred (junior) and Edward were 18 and 17 respectively.
Alfred was an ironmonger’s porter and Edward, an office boy. They continued to live at 11 Church Street. Evelyn was living with her grandmother, Elizabeth Tooze, at Belle Vue Road, Stroud.
Alfred (senior) died on 7 November 1911 and it would appear that his widow left the area and died at Eastbourne in 1922.
It appears that Alfred decided that his future lay in Canada. There is an entry on Ancestry for Alfred leaving Liverpool on 6 June 1913 bound for Quebec.
He is accompanied by George Tooze, aged 44, who was a baker. I believe this to be Alfred’s uncle who at the 1911 Census was running a bakery business in Stapleton, Bristol. Although I cannot confirm a return passage for George, he did not stay and died in Bristol some years later. I can only assume he was there to support his young nephew’s new adventure.
There are attestation papers showing that Alfred enlisted at Winnipeg with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 17 November 1915. He gave his occupation as tea packer and next of kin as his brother, Edward, in Belle Vue Road, Stroud.
Alfred’s army records are now available through the Library and Archives Canada website. Alfred gave his brother Edward, as next of kin. The record card also says to notify W H Burrows (brother-in-law) of 273 Semple Avenue, Winnipeg. I am unclear as to who this is as Alfred only had the one sister who remained in England.
Alfred sailed from Halifax on the SS Olympic on 1 April 1916 arriving at Bordon 10 days later.
He initially was attached to the 61st Battalion, transferring to the 44th on 30 April 1916. He was then at Bramshott disembarking at Havre on 12 August 1916.
He was admitted to hospital at Etaples with trench foot on four occasions between December and February 1917.
On 21 April 1917, Alfred was admitted to the British Red Cross hospital at Wimereux with a head
fracture, in the temple area , fracture to the upper arm and hand gunshot wounds. He was then transferred to Mill Home Hospital Moor Park, Preston on 23 April.
The records state that he underwent surgery to remove a fractured piece of parietal bone on 26 April and died at 1.30am on 30 April 1917; he was 24 years old.
His next of kin was his sister Evelyn Tooze at 7 Belle Vue Road, Stroud.
Alfred’s body was returned to Stroud and was buried at Stroud Cemetery with a CWGC headstone.
Alfred’s brother Edward enlisted for war service at Stroud in October 1915 and his service papers survive. He gave his next of kin as his 15-year-old sister, Evelyn and his grandmother, Elizabeth Tooze.
Edward was a driver with the Army Service Corps, serving in East Africa where he contracted malaria.
Edward survived the war, marrying Edith White in 1922 and he died in 1963.
Alfred’s sister Evelyn married Percival Alder at Southampton in 1931 and she died there in 1990.
Researched by Helen Wollington 7 February 2018 (revised 3 November 2018)