Trafford

Born on the 13th August 1878, the birth being registered during the
September quarter 1878 in the Norwich R.D. - ref: 4b/169, the second son of
Alfred Cooper & Alice Self (nee Barnard).

1881 Census - 13 Unthanks Road, Norwich Heigham, Norwich, Norfolk.   Son -
aged: 2 - born: Norwich, Norfolk.    Head of household - Alfred C. Self -
Married - aged: 37 - occ: Commercial Clerk - born: City of London,
Middlesex.    Also Alice Self - Wife - aged: 31 - born: Bracon Ash,
Norfolk. Plus 3 siblings and 2 domestic servants.

1891 Census - Arlington House, Mount Pleasant, Norwich, Norfolk.   Son
(listed as Barnard Self) - aged: 12 - Scholar - born: Norwich, Norfolk.  
Head of household - Alfred Cooper Self - Married - aged: 47 - occ:
Warehouseman - born: Stepney, London.   Also Alice Self - Wife - aged: 41 -
born: Bracon Ash, Norfolk.   Plus 10 siblings and 2 domestic servants.

1901 Census - 35 Burma Road, Stoke Newington, Hackney, London.   Boarder -
aged: 22 - Cardboard Box Manufacturer.   Head of household - Ellen Pybus a
57 years old Music Teacher, plus 2 other boarders.

1911 Census - Boarding House, 4 Stanley Street, Moss Side, Manchester.  
Boarder - aged: 32 - occ: Manager at Box Manufacturer - born: Heigham,
Norwich.

He married Edith Elsie Bennett on the 4th June 1914 at St. Mary's Parish
Church, Henbury, Gloucestershire, the marriage being registered during the
June quarter 1914 - Thornbury R.D. - ref: 6a/606 (Thornbury includes
Henbury).   Edith was born on the 29th October 1882 and died on the 12th
June 1936.  They had a son - Peter Barnard Self who was born at Urmston on
the 26th July 1917.

WO  363 -  He attested on the 10th December 1915 and medically examined on
the 4th August 1916.  He was then aged: 37 years, 11 months.   He was 5
feet 8 1/2 inches in height and weighed 117 lb.   His chest measurements
were 32 - 35 1/2 inches.  His complexion was Fair, his eyes Blue and his
hair Dark.  He stated that he had considerable pain in left heel when
walking.  The examining doctor’s comment was "probably due to him having
slightly flat feet".  Mobilised on the 21st March 1917.   Joined the Grove
Park Depot on the 24th March 1917.  Passed his driving test on the 19th May
1917.

He was posted to France on the 15th June 1917 and embarked on the S.S. King
Edward at Southampton, arriving at Rouen, France the next day.    He was
granted 14 days leave from the 13th to the 27th February 1918.  Admitted to
the 3rd Australian C.C.S. (Casualty Clearing Station) on the 17th March
1918 suffering from Tubercular Laryngitis and from there sent down to No.
55 General Hospital on the 19th.   On the 25th March 1918 he was sent back
to England and into the Chester War Hospital where he was diagnosed with
Malignant Laryngitis.  Discharged from there on the 1st May 1918 to the 2nd
Western Hospital, Manchester for Radium treatment, where again the
diagnosis was the same.  After treatment, he was discharged from there on
the 28th July 1918. 

Issued with a Silver War Badge No. 434863, on the 8th August 1918.   He was
discharged from the Army as being no longer physically fit for war service,
at the Woolwich Dockyards on the 12th August 1918.   He was then aged: 40
and was 5 feet 10 1/2 inches in height.   He chest measurements were 32 1/2
- 36 inches.   He had Pale complexion, Blue eyes and Dark Brown hair.  His
employment was Cardboard Box Factory Manager, residing at Thorn Lea,
Davyhulme.  His character was described as - Good.

M.I. - "Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for
his friends".

CWGC - Son of Alfred Cook (sic) Self; husband of Edith Elsie Self, of
"Thorn Lea," Station Rd., Nailsea, Somerset. Born at Norwich.

His grand-daughter - Hazel Self - kindly informs me that her grandfather
was born at Heigham Road, West Wymer, Norwich, the eldest of 10.   He
married in 1914 Edith Elsie Bennett at St,. Mary's P.C., Henbury, Bristol,
where he is buried.   In 1916, they moved to a little semi called
'Arlington' (named after a family home in Norwich), Davyhulme Road,
Urmston.   “Barnie” as he was known, was employed as the Manager of
Thomas G. Nuttall's, cardboard box factory, Commercial Street, Deansgate,
Manchester.   Prior to which he was probably working in Robinson's paper
bag factory in Bristol, so may have moved to Manchester because of the job
opportunity.  After Barnie's death, Edith moved to Nailsea, Somerset.
                
He died of tumour of the larynx as a result of gas poisoning.   Albert's
son - Peter Barnard Self died in December 2008, aged: 91.