Mann, Albert James

Albert James Mann was the son of Alderman James Wight Mann and his wife Annie Elizabeth Mann.  He was baptised on 20^th June 1884 at St Marys Church in Warwick

The family lived for many years at 64 Emscote Road (recorded in the 1891 and 1911 census) and also had an ironmongers shop in the Market Place.

The 1891 census shows a large household of James (45) and Annie (38) and their 10 children in age order – Arthur H (14), Ernest (12), Winifred (11), Ethel (9), Gertrude (8), Albert James (6), Osborne C (5), Gladys (3), Fanny Grace (2) and Stanley Lake (11 months).  There are three servants working at the house.  James is described as an Ironmonger and Implement Agent.

By 1911, they are still living at 64 Emscote Road – although many of the children have left home.  Remaining are both parents, Fanny (22), Stanley (20) with two further siblings Gordon Wight (17) and Marjorie Lillian (16) – so it seems there were twelve children in all.

Albert must have emigrated to Canada at some point and then returned to fight in the war.  We are unable to find any further details at this point

Warwick Advertiser 11th November 1916 p16 – Local War Items

“Private A J Mann of the Canadian Infantry, third son of Alderman Mann, who was in the open attack on German trenches each of Courcellette at noon on September 26th, and has not since been heard officially, is now reported missing. This information has been obtained through the kind interest of Brigadier General Lord Brooke”

Although it was later established that Albert was killed in September 1916, he was originally reported as missing and it wasn’t until nearly a year later, in August 1917, that his parents knew that he had died.

Albert’s brother, Ernest, was killed in 1917.  There is a gravestone on the family plot in Warwick Cemetery dedicated to them both:

The inscription reads:

In Loving Remembrance of Private A. J. Mann 31st Canadian Infantry who was reported missing at Courgelette France Sept 27th 1916 and afterwards presumed killed on that date aged 32 years.
Also of Pte. E. W. Mann 12th Middlesex Regt. who died in hospital at Etaples, France of enteric fever Sept 22nd 1917 and was buried at the Military Cemetery there aged 39 years.