Albert James Edward Worsley was born on 23 February 1881, the 3rd of the five children of John Worsley (1845-1906) and Mary Ann Worsley nèe Seal (1844-1888). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1881 in the Battersea Registration District, Surrey (now Greater London).
He was shown as a one-month-old baby on the census that was undertaken on 3 April 1881 and was living at 106 New Road, Battersea, with his parents and two brothers: John Henry Worsley (1877-1929) - a scholar and George William Worsley (b.1878). His father was listed as a bricklayer.
He and his four siblings: John Henry Worsley; George William Worsley; Frederick Charles Worsley (1882-1940) and Alice Louise Worsley, were all baptised on 16 August 1885 in the parish church at Lingfield, Surrey. The baptismal register shows the family address as New Road, Battersea and their father was recorded as a bricklayer.
His mother died and his father married Elizabeth Pemberton (b.1851) in the 4th quarter of 1888 in the Wandsworth Registration District, Surrey (now Greater London).
He was described as aged 10 years and a scholar on the census that was compiled on 5 April 1891. He was residing in two rooms within 135 New Road, Battersea, with his father, three of his siblings: John Henry Worsley - a port messenger; George William Worsley - a scholar; Frederick Charles Worsley - also a scholar, together with his half brother, Arthur Worsley (1890-1956).
On 23 February 1900 he joined the Royal Navy for a twelve year term of engagement, service number 194478, and he declared his date of birth incorrectly as 23 February 1882. During this time he served on numerous ships and the census that was taken on 31 March 1901 shows him as aged 19 years and an Ordinary Seaman on HMS Alexandra, a 2nd class battleship
He was recorded on the census form that was completed on 2 April 1911 as aged 29 years and a Leading Seaman on HMS Albemarle, a Duncan class battleship, that was stationed in Weymouth Bay, off Lulworth, Dorset.
On 23 February 1912, at the end of his twelve year engagement, he was transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve, service number RFR.PO/B.5023.
British Postal Service Appointment Books show that he was appointed as postman in Paddington, London, in April 1912 and this is confirmed in The London Gazette of 2 July 1912.
On 19 December 1912 he married Alice Louisa Copeland at St Paul's Church, Harrow Road, Paddington, where on the marriage register he shown as aged 31 years, a bachelor and a postman living at 28 Westbourne Terrace North, Paddington, the son of John Worsley, a deceased bricklayer, whilst his wife was described as aged 27 years and a spinster residing at 48 Torquay Street, Paddington, the daughter of William Copeland, a sawyer.
In January 1913 he was transferred as a postman to London's Western District Office.
Their son, Albert James Worsley, was born on 20 July 1913 and when he was baptised at St Paul's Church, Paddington on 10 August 1913, the family were living at 51 Westbourne Park Crescent, Paddington.
He was called back to Royal Navy service on 3 August 1914, again serving on several ships, the last being HM Trawler Fort George. He was a gunner on this Q ship, a heavily armoured merchant ship with concealed weaponry and on 14 June 1917 they were engaged by an enemy submarine and he was wounded. He died from these wounds, two days later, aged 36 years, at the Royal Naval Hospital, Granton, Scotland. He was , at Willesden New Cemetery, Cobbold Road, Willesden, Middlesex (now Greater London).
Administration of his estate was not granted to his widow until 26 October 1923 and this shows their address at the time of his death as 9 Leghorn Road, Harlesden, Middlesex (now Greater London). His estate totalled £150-0s-0d.
He is shown as 'WORSLEY, A. J. E.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the and on the and on .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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