Albert Victor Organ was a twin to Charles H. Organ and they were born in the Registration District of Sedgley, Staffordshire, Dudley Register Office SEG/155/154 and SEG/155/153 in 1889.
They were the sons of Charles & Emma Organ and were living at 30, Stoke Street, Brierley, Coseley, Sedgley (St. Martin) on the 1891 census. Head of the household was Charles, 34 a Bedstead Fitter, wife Emma 33, sons William,12, Frederick, 9, and John , 8 and daughter Sarah, 4 made up the rest of the household with the twins, age 1. Charles’s sister-in-law Agnes Bradford, single and 19 was a Bedstead Warehouse girl. All had been born in Sedgley, Staffordshire.
By 1901 some of the family had moved to 17, Chell Street, Brierley, Coseley, Sedgley, (Eccl. Parish:- St. Martins). Head of the household was Eliza (or Elina) Evans, 54, a widow and her son William Evans, 22 single and Farm Labourer. Eliza’s nephews, William,22, a Sheet Mold (sic) Worker (Forge), John, 17 a Sheet Iron Mill man, all single, Charles H. and Albert V, both 11, with Niece Elise May age 3 were in her household.
The 1911 census sees the family even more complicated, living at 38, (Pump Yard) Ash Street, Bradley, Coseley. (4 rooms). The head of the household was Thomas Mumford, 60, married and a pauper on the Parish, disabled from work, born Pershore, Worcestershire. His wife Phebe (sic) 49 and Thomas had been married 18 years, 8 children had been born to them but they had suffered the loss of 3 children. Phebe had been born in Princess End, Coseley. 2 sons, Thomas, 14 and Errand Boy and John Herbert 12 at school, their daughter Emma Mumford, 8 was also at school had all been born at Chell Street, Coseley. By Thomas’s name was written “of Wife”, but this was crossed out.
2 Boarders, Albert Orgon (sic), 21, single and a Labourer, Furnace and Bert Orgon (sic), 19 single and a Sheet Inspector in the Sheet Iron Works were living with the family, they had been born in Stoke Street, Coseley. There were 2 visitors, Emma May Orgon (sic), 3, born in Chell Street, Coseley and Jack Orgon(sic) 26, Married, a Boater Down Labourer in the Sheet Iron Works, born in Stoke Street, Coseley.
Strangely there were 2 other entries on the census Elizabeth Howell, daughter*, married, 26 (married 1 year) born Wiggon (sic) and William Thomas Howells son* 20 or 40? (Married 3 years) General Labourer born Snapes Bank, these two entries were crossed out, presumably by the Enumerator, but I found a marriage between a John Enoch Organ and an Elizabeth Howell in 1910 in Wolverhampton (Vol. 6b, Page 846)
* These are the relationships to the head of the household.
If I am correct about Albert Victor, he must have come to the Sealand area after the 1911 census, but as he was a Steel worker before, it would fit.
I contacted Lisa Gibbons on Ancestry and she is researching the men from the Black Country and had information re the Organ family, as Albert’s mother Emma was her Nan’s aunt, and she was able to fill in quite a few gaps in the story, I am grateful for her help to tell Albert’s story.
It seems that Albert’s twin brother, Charles was in the in 4th South Staffs Rgt reserves from 1908. Attended camp dutifully up to 1913, his last known address was 35 Brookside, Garden City, Queensferry, so must have come to Sealand with Albert, but what date of course we do not know. Lisa found most likely death registered in 1942 in Rowley Regis, which was the new registration district designed to confuse family historians fifty or so year later (by which time registration districts had almost gone back to where they were).
Albert’s other brother John Enoch (Jack) also died in 1918, and Lisa thinks perhaps of the flu.
I cannot find any Army service records for him, but UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 about Albert Victor Organ tells us that he was born in Bilston, Staffs and he enlisted in Wolverhampton, which is in his home area. Everything else confirms the details above.
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 about Albert Victor Organ tells us that his first Theatre of War was the Balkans and the date of his entry into it was 25th July 1915, he was killed in action 15 days later. As he is remembered on the Helles Memorial, he has no known grave.
A Mrs. Williams filled in his Flintshire WW1 Index Card Sealand F6 which states that he was living at 35, Brookside, Garden City and she states that he was in the Army for 8 years from the 7th August 1914, she also stated that he died on the 7th August 1915, but all official documents say it was the 9th of August that he died. Mrs William signed the card on the 30th October, but didn’t state the year, although I know that all the cards were signed between 1919 and 1921.
Albert Victor Organ in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 may explain who Mrs. Williams was – 4 Legatees all received a total of 4/10d each, on the 8th February 1916, brothers William, Fred, John and James B. The latter being deceased, his share had been given to sister Mrs. Sarah Williams, at her brother Charles’s wish on the same date. Sisters Florence, Elsie and Mrs. Sarah Williams received 4/9d with a sole Legatee, Mrs. Sarah Williams receiving another 4/9d on the 24th February 1916. Brother William seems to have received Charle’s War Gratuity of £3 on the 8th September 1919.
He is also remembered on the St. Ethelwold’s Church Memorial Screen and the North Wales Memorial Arch, Bangor for the Parish of Sealand.