Albert Henry Cass

War Service

Albert’s military service reckons from 12.12.1915 when he was enlisted as a private, service number 62005 in the 3rd Battalion the York and Lancaster Regiment.
Upon enlisting his medical record shows that Albert was 5’6” tall, had a chest measurement of 39”, brown hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion.
The 3rd was a reserve battalion formed in August 1914 at Pontefract. A depot/training unit, it moved on mobilisation to Cleadon and in January 1915 went on to Sunderland then moved in August 1915 to Durham but returned to Sunderland in February 1916 where it remained as part of the Tyne Garrison.
Albert remained in the reserve from 13.12.1915 until 12.7.1918. From then until 12.1.1919 he was placed on the Z list, liable for recall if required.
From the information given on the discharge sheet it was his intention to return to Brotherton and to coal mining.

Family Life

He was born in Riccall towards the end of 1887 and baptised on 25th December 1887 to parents Hur and Jane Elizabeth Cass. Hur and Jane Elizabeth Firth (commonly called Elizabeth) had married at Everingham Church in February of 1873. Albert Henry was the youngest of their eight children.
On both the 1881 and 1891 Census the family were living at Dam End Road, Riccall. Albert’s father is listed as a farm labourer on both censuses.
Albert’s father died at Hillam at the back end of January 1897 and was buried at Riccall on 2nd February. Albert was nine years old when his father died.
In 1901 13 year old Albert H. Cass is found living on Monk Fryston Road, Fairburn living with Frank Turley, a miner, and his wife Elizabeth along with Frank’s daughters Elizabeth aged 7 and Jane aged 5. Curiously, Albert is described as ‘son-in-law’.
Albert’s mother Elizabeth had married Frank Turley in the second quarter of 1900 at Pontefract Registry Office, having previously had their intended marriage at Ledsham Church in May of 1899 objected to because of their relationship which was against the Church of England’s law of “kindred and affinity”.
Frank Turley was Elizabeth’s son in law. He had previously been married to Elizabeth’s daughter Amelia. Amelia had died in 1898.
In 1911 Albert was himself a miner and living in 6 New Row, Fairburn with Frank and Elizabeth Turley as his lodgers.
In August 1911 Albert married Rose Ellen Brook of Fairburn, the marriage being registered in Tadcaster.
The couple had two children - Sarah Elizabeth born in Fairburn on 3rd April 1912 and Thomas born in Brotherton on 12th November 1914. This would indicate that Albert moved to Brotherton in the period between the births of his children.
After the War
In March 1921 Albert and Rose had a third child - Cyril.
The family moved to live in the new estate at Marsh Croft.
Albert’s mother Elizabeth died in Brotherton in December 1940 at the age of 88.
Albert Henry was buried in Brotherton on 28th October 1961 and had still been living in Marsh Croft.
On 14th March 1968, having moved to 9a West Acres, Byram, Rose Ellen passed away.