Family Headstone
Bottom with inscription
Medal Index Card
On side of stone
Also his sons
At Vis-En-Artois Memorial Cemetery, France is the Commonwealth Headstone for 74431/66540/GS/79731 Private Alfred Mais, 13th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, who died 05/10/1918.
Alfred Mais was born on the 25th June 1899, [baptised on the 9th July 1899], at 43 Backhouse Street, Darlington, Durham, the son of Thomas, born 1st June 1858, at Great Smeaton, [School Attendance and Relieving Office, and a Registrar of Births and Vaccination Officer], died on the 27th July 1930, (age 72), and Sarah [nee Wallis], born 9th February 1861, at Darlington, died on the 23rd August 1946, Darlington (age 85). They were married on the 5th February 1884, and they had nine children.
Annie, born 20th February 1884, died 5th May 1966 at Darlington, Durham, Waddington, born 1886, died on the 20th October 1917 at Ypres, Emily, born 18th August 1894, died 4th July 1969, [in 1939 she was residing at 158 Park Lane, Darlington, and was a Clerk. Also at the same address was her older sister Annie who was an Elementary School Teacher, together with their mother Sarah], Sarah Lillian, baptised 5th March 1890, died 1966, married a Thomas Young Miller, Thomas William, born 16th February 1892 who went on to marry an Annan Johnston Anderson born on the 15th March 1892, died 14th June 1975, in 1939 they were residing at 22 Courtlands Road, Darlington, Durham. He was an Estimator Forging Caster and was also an A.R.P. with First Aid Skills. He died on the 29th May 1961. Their daughter Agnes was born in 1924 in Darlington and married Robert Evelyn Terrance Kingan in 1945 in Darlington. Charles Edward, born 27th April 1897, who became a Public Assistant Officer in Local Government, he married Emma McLoughlin, born 13th January 1902, died 6th March 1981 in Leeds, in 1926. Their children were Francis Thomas, born 27th June 1927 in Hemsworth, [was a permanent secretary in the civil service and secretary of the Royal Northern College of Music], who went on to marry Margaret Edythe Evans in 1973 and then Joan Frost-Smith in 1987 in Penrith, Judith born 20th June 1931, in Barnsley, who went on to marry Michael Cavanagh in 1963 in Leeds, Eileen, born 21st March 1935, Dorothy, born 21st March 1935, who went on to marry a Gerald Anthony Moxon in 1961 in Leeds. In 1939 they were residing at 151 Wilthorpe Road, Barnsley, Darton, Yorkshire, with two children, Judith born 20th June 1931, Dorothy, born 21st March 1935. [They show on the 1939 census with their married surnames Cavanagh and Moxon]. Dorothy was born on the 12th July 1887 but died on the 13th January 1891 and Nora born in 1904, baptised on 31st July, unfortunately died in 1907. They were all born in Darlington.
In 1881, Thomas Mais, age 22, [Alfred's father] was an Accountant clerk residing at 37 Backhouse Street, with his parents, William Mais, [born East Cowton, 25th September 1825, died 1907, Darlington], who was a shoemakers apprentice at Bolton-on-Swale in 1841, and his wife Fanny. They had five children including Thomas. Mary E, born 19th August 1862, Henry, born 9th August 1853, Dorothy born 1st March 1850, died 1925, and Frederick born 21st October 1851.
Williams father was also a William Mais, born 7th April 1792, at Kingston, West Indies, baptised 3rd April 1794, he married his second wife and William’s mother, Mary Sayer, on the 8th May 1819 at East Cowton. He was a retired School Master, and had been teaching at East Cowton School. In 1861 he was boarding with his son William and his family. He died 31st July 1865 in Great Smeaton and was buried on the 3rd August.
By 1911, Thomas and the family were residing at 16 Clifton Road, Darlington, Alfred was working for Barclays Bank at Darlington when he was conscripted. He should have been 18 years and 6 months, to have been eligible.
The vast numbers swelling the ranks of the British army in 1916, due to conscription, necessitated a reorganisation of the reserve battalions. Before September 1916, most infantry regiments, including the Durham Light Infantry, had a reserve battalion. New recruits tended to be sent to the reserve battalion of their local regiment for basic training.
He was attested to the 20th Training Brigade, which included the 87th Training Reserve Battalion as a private, TR/5/74431.
Then from the 1st April 1918, he was transferred to the 1/4th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers until the 30th August, Service nu 66540, then transferred to the 13th (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers. Service number GS/79731, from the 31st August 1918.
He was killed in action on the 5th October 1918.
By 1918, his parents had moved to 158 Park Lane, Darlington, Durham.
Three of his older brothers Waddington, and Thomas (born 25th June 1899), and Charles also enlisted.
Charles served in the Tank Corps.
Thomas enlisted into the 1/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, service number 2493, with the rank of Lance-Corporal. Thomas is remembered at Darlington in D40.067
With Thanks to Howard Mais, 13th March 2017
Acknowledgment to Nicholas at Barclays Bank Archive.
Alfred Mais is remembered at Darlington on D40.034 and D40.046 also in the Barclay's Bank Remembrance Book and on the Company's War Memorial.
