Alfred Clare Lane (1878 - 1950)

Descendants

Biography

In 1878 Victoria had been Queen of the United Kingdom for 41 years, and her empire was entering the Second Anglo-Afghan War and the Zulu War in South Africa. Benjamin Disraeli was Prime Minister.

Alfred Clare Lane was born June 8, 1878, the same year as Josef Stalin and Pancho Villa, and christened on July 26th at St. Mary's Church of England in Watford, Hertfordshire.^[1] Today Watford is a town on the northern outskirts of London. His family remained in Watford, at least through the census of 1891.^[2]

Alfred trained as a shoemaker and this occupation is mentioned several times throughout his life. As a young man seeking employment, Alfred would have been drawn to the world's largest city and he found both work and a wife in London. We don't have a precise date but sometime in the first three months of 1898, Alfred married Alice Lavinia Elizabeth Leeks in Kensington. ^[3] They were still in London, living across the Thames in Kennington, when their first child, Alfred Clare (Jr.), was christened on June 25, 1899.^[4]

By April 1, 1901 when the census of England was taken, the family had relocated 20 miles east of central London to Grays Thurrock, Essex where Alfred was a boot store manager. ^[5] They were still here when their second child, daughter Lily, was born on February 18, 1902. ^[6] From Grays Thurrock the family moved to Yarmouth, England. Two more children were born here; son Robert in June 1904 and daughter Violet in 1906.^[7]

According to a later census record Alfred emigrated to Canada in 1907.^[8] In November of 1907 we have a record of his wife and 4 children arriving in Canada to join her husband. Their destination is listed as Vernon, British Columbia.^[9]

Alfred Lane outside his shoe shop about 1910

In 1909 he is listed in the business directory for Vernon operating a boot and shoe repair business of which we have a photograph of him standing outside the shop. ^[10] The family residence is above the shop which was on the corner of Vance and Barnard, present day 33rd street and 30th Avenue. He is still in Vernon for the census of July 1911 although his family is not with him as they had departed for a trip back to England the same month.^[11]

It is at this juncture that the life of Alfred and his family takes a strange turn.

The Empress of Ireland arrived in Quebec City in July of 1913 with Alice Lane returning from England with her four children, but their destination is now Fort George, B.C.^[12]

Fort George was somewhat of a boomtown at this time. The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway had announced plans in 1906 to pass near the remote fur trading post of Fort George. Development started in earnest about 1909 and by 1913 the area was booming with railroad construction workers. A new townsite had developed with the railroad and was renamed Prince George. Old Fort George was eventually incorporated in the the modern city of Prince George. Perhaps Alfred had decided to leave Vernon and get in on the boomtown action.

Family lore, undocumented and unsourced, says that when Alice Lane returned to British Columbia with her children, husband Alfred was nowhere to be found; it seems he had abandoned the family. The future of Alice and her family from here forward will be covered in her profile. (See the section on Divorce in the Research Notes.)

As to Alfred there is no firm knowledge of his movements from July 1911 until he surfaces in Reno, Nevada in November 1915 seeking a divorce. A newspaper notice states a hearing on the divorce request is scheduled for November 8, 1915. While the actual decree has not been located it is presumed he was successful although that becomes an important point just two years later.^[13]

His actual residence was more likely Los Angeles, California as he began the process of applying for naturalization as a US citizen from there, on Nov 26, 1915 . His application states he arrived in the United States in 1915.^[14] Alfred had moved to the Pasadena area of California and purchased a shoe repair shop at 61 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena from another cobbler, Charles H. Francis. Soon after, on March 1st, 1916 Alfred married the daughter of Mr. Francis, Dora May Francis. ^[15] They could only have known each other for less than a year; he was 37, she was 20 and not long out of high school. ^[16]

They probably shouldn't have rushed the marriage. A little over a year later Dora is asking for an annulment of the marriage and has charged Alfred with bigamy. Alfred claims he received a divorce in Reno and the charge is a ploy to keep him from enlisting in the war effort. ^[17]

By July, Alfred is back in Victoria, British Columbia enlisting in the Canadian military. As to young Dora, the 1920 Census has her living with her parents and listed as single on the census. No record of a divorce or annulment between Alfred and Dora has been located, primarily due to the difficulty in accessing these records in California. Dora married again on April 2, 1921 but claimed on her marriage license that she had never been previously married.

Alfred enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on July 13, 1917 at the advanced age of 39 years. At his enlistment he claimed to have three years military experience in "B" Squadron of the British Columbia Horse. He was noted as 5" 7" tall, medium complexion, brown hair, brown eyes.

Alfred Lane military training

The B.C. Horse Regiment had been formed as a Reserve unit in Vernon on April 1, 1908. No personnel records of these units were kept prior to the Great War but it seems very likely that Alfred was an early enlistee, maybe even a founding member. We know he was in Vernon from 1907 to sometime after 1911 and he had the time in this period to acquire his stated 3 years military experience.

His enlistment in 1917 was initially in to the 50th Regiment (Gordon Highlanders of Canada) but in September he was transferred to the 2nd Depot Battalion of the British Columbia Regiment. After a training period at Willow's Camp, Victoria, B.C., Alfred departed for England and disembarked at LIverpool on December 4, 1917. He wrote a letter to his oldest son Alfred dated December 31, 1917 in which he indicated he was able to spend Christmas with family in England, specifically "Aunt Lill".

By March 8, 2018 he was at the front in France. An extract from his military medical history reads: ^[18]

On May 1st 1918 patient was sent down the line with trench fever, was out two weeks and returned to duty. Remained on duty until Aug 9th. Collapsed on the march Aug 9th and was examined by Medical Officer, temp 103.8. Was evacuated to England, to Birmingham War Hospital. Was then transferred to Epsom for six weeks. While at Epsom he had very little use of his right leg, which seemed to drag. He was boarded and sent to Special Hospital Buxton, was there for six months, then invalided to Canada in April (1919). Was admitted to Esquimalt Military Hospital (E.M.H.) for treatment.

Alfred continued to receive treatment at E.M.H and also at the Royal Jubilee Hospital In Victoria from May through September, 1919. His Case Sheet had the following note:

Patient is complaining a good deal of pain in various regions arms, back, legs etc. States he feels very weak but he is able to play golf and tennis. Cannot find any apparent reason for this weakness although I think patient has certain amount of Myalgia pain which probably worries him a good deal more than it would one of less neurotic temperament. Is not gaining weight and does not look very well. Needs some dental treatment and recommend he be transferred to Esquimalt as soon as possible.

The medical records also indicate the 5'7" Alfred was 124 lbs. at this time. On September 18, 1919 Alfred Clare Lane was discharged from the Canadian military at Victoria, British Columbia "by reason of medical unfitness".

Within a month of his discharge, Alfred returned back to Pasadena. ^[19]. When his son Alfred emigrated to California in December 1923 he was noted on the record as joining his father in Los Angeles. Alfred Senior was already gone however. In what was most likely another case of quickly falling in love, Alfred married Muriel Lane in Holy Trinity Church in Suva, Fiji on June 16, 1923. Muriel was from Australia and the couple set up their household in a suburb of Sydney. Muriel and Alfred are recorded in the electoral rolls for New South Wales in 1939 and 1946

At the age of 62, Alfred enlisted in the Australian Army on May 21, 1941 during the height of World War II but was discharged November 12 of that same year. His discharge may have been related to a slight case of misrepresentation as his service record gives his birth year as 1892, shaving 14 years off his true age.

A detailed service record has not been studied but it looks like he was assigned to the local headquarters in some capacity.

Alfred Clare Lane's interesting and varied life ended at the age of 71, In Randwick Hospital, a suburb of Sydney on January 30, 1950. His obituary states he was "the beloved husband of Muriel and the loving father of Philip"^[20]

Research Notes

Further research on the life of Alfred Lane is needed in several areas.
Divorce from Alice Leeks - Did Alfred abandon his first family as per family lore or did his wife leave him for another man (Talmadge Taylor)?
Marriage to Dora Francis - Why did this marriage end so quickly? Dora sought an annulment and charged Alfred with bigamy but he claimed he had obtained a divorce and the charge was a ploy to keep him from enlisting in the Canadian military. Obtaining the divorce or annulment documents may shed further light.
Australia - Alfred emigrated to Australia and married for a third time (to "Muriel"). They had a son, Phillip, but he may have been either biological or a step-son. ^[21] Further research on this part of Alfred's life is needed as an immigration record, a marriage record, and a birth record for Philip have not been located.

Profile researched and written by Donald A. Gibson (MacLean-2308) Last updated March 2024.

Sources

1. ↑ FamilySearch,England Births and Christenings 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch, ((https://familysearch.org : accessed ), Lane, Alfred Clare; St. Mary, Watford, christening 26Jul 1878.
2. ↑ "FamilySearch; Census 1891 England and Wales," database, FamilySearch, (www.familysearch.org : accessed ), Francis Lane, Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, England.
3. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch, (https://familysearch.org/ : accessed 20 September 2017), Alfred Clare Lane Marriage registration.
4. ↑ , "FamilySearch, England Births and Christenings 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch, ((https://familysearch.org : accessed ), Alfred Clare Lane.
5. ↑ "England and Wales Census 1901," database, FamilySearch, (www.familysearch.org : accessed ), Alfred C. Lane, Grays Thurrock, Essex.
6. ↑ Findmypast, "England & Wales Births 1837-2006 Transcription," database online, FindMypast, (: accessed ), Lily Elizabeth Lane; bap.27Apr1902; Grays Thurrock, SS Peter & Paul.
7. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch, (https://familysearch.org/ : Downloaded 15 October 2017), Robert Francis Lane birth registration.
8. ↑ Census of Canada 1911, , Page 25, Family 265, Alfred C Lane and Vernon Yale and Cariboo, British Columbia ; digital images, Library and Archives Canada, (: accessed ).
9. ↑ "Genealogy and Family History," database, Library and Archives Canada, Library and Archives Canada (https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng : accessed ), Passengers Lists for port of Quebec; Alice Lane; Kensignton; Nov 1907.
10. ↑ Vernon & District Family Historical Society, "1909 Vernon Directory," abstracts, (http://www.vdfhs.com/resources/resource_centre/years/1909.pdf : accessed ), LANE_b1858_AlfredC_boot and shoe-maker and repairer on Barnard Ave,.
11. ↑ Census of Canada 1911, , Page 25, Family 265, Alfred C Lane and Vernon Yale and Cariboo, British Columbia ; digital images, Library and Archives Canada, (: accessed ).
12. ↑ "Genealogy and Family History," database, Library and Archives Canada, Library and Archives Canada (https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng : accessed ), Passenger Lists for port of Quebec, Alice Lane, Empress of Ireland, July 1913.
13. ↑ Nevada State Journal, "Cases are Set for Hearing By Court," Notices, , 3 November 1915, Page 8; online archives (: Newspapers. com 21 November 2020).
14. ↑ Alfred Clare Lane, Declaration dated 26Nov1915, , California, US District Court for the Southern District; Central Division (Los Angeles);
15. ↑ "FamilySearch; California County Marriages 1850-1952," database, FamlySearch, (www.familysearch.org : accessed ), Alfred Clare Lane and Dora May Francis, 01Mar1916.
16. ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Canada Calls, Case Detains," News report, , 11 May 1917, A.C Lane charged with bigamy; online archives (: accessed 25 November 2020); Newspapers.com.
17. ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Canada Calls, Case Detains," News report, , 11 May 1917, A.C Lane charged with bigamy; online archives (: accessed 25 November 2020); Newspapers.com.
18. ↑ Library and Archives Canada, "Personnel Records of the First World War," database, Genealogy and Family History Collection (www.bac-lac.gc.ca : paper copy in the Donald A. Gibson Genealogical Collection March 2018), Lane, Alfred Clare (2025233).
19. ↑ US Government State & Federal, "Emigration & Passenger Lists," database, , online at FindMypast.com 9 March 2024: United States Passenger & Crew Lists; Washington; Alfred Lane; 1921.
20. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald, , , 6 February 1950, Deaths; Page 14. Lane, Alfred Clare.
21. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald, , , 6 February 1950, Deaths; Page 14. Lane, Alfred Clare.