ALBERT ERNEST KELLAWAY
Given the number of men that volunteered in Portsmouth it is hardly surprising that many brothers would find themselves serving in the same army, and of those families many suffered the loss of more than one son. This is what happened to the family of Charles and Alice Kellaway.
Charles and Alice married in 1885 when Charles, who was born in Portsmouth was 25 years old and Alice who's birthplace was Bridport was 22 years of age. It is quite likely that Charles was at that time in the navy as there is no trace of them living in the UK in the 1891 Census. Even if that is incorrect he certainly had a strong connection to the sea as he was listed as a shipwright in 1901 when the couple were living at 15 Basin Street with their sons Charles (12), William (9) and Albert (6).
By 1911 the family had moved to 119 Wingfield Street, just around the corner from All Saints Church. The Census of that year tells us that the eldest son Charles had died, William was a Dockyard Labourer, Albert was an errand boy and a daughter had been born.
Albert enlisted in November 1916 when he was 21 years old. He was probably conscripted. He received a months training before being sent to France. He took part in the Battle of Arras where he was killed just a few months after arriving on the Western Front. Albert's brother William had previously been killed on the Western Front in November 1916.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission list Lance-Corporal Albert Ernest Kellaway (23161), 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, died 09/04/1917. Buried in Wancourt British Cemetery (Grave V1.E.10.). The CWGC give his age as 27 but this does not tie in with other evidence.
Albert Kellaway is remembered on the All Saints Church WW1 memorial and the Cenotaph. He is listed in the 'National Roll of the Great War' Section X, p. 126, which gave his address as 30 Baker Street, Portsmouth.
Tim Backhouse
December 2013