Alfred Lees Aspland

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Chemist

Birthplace Cheshire Dunkinfield EnglandPlace of Death Middlesex Barnet Date of Birth: April 10, 1878 Date of Death: January 21, 1947

Biography

Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Alfred Lees Aspland

Gender: Male

Date and Place of Birth: 10/04/1878 at Dukinfield, Cheshire (2) (12)

Date and Place of Death: 21/01/1947 aged 68 at Wellhouse Hospital, Barnet, Middlesex. (1) (9)

Nationality: British

Biography

Childhood: He had one brother, Sidney Lancelot Aspland who was born 15/12/1880. In 1881 he was living at St. Ellens House , Crescent Road, Dukinfield, with his parents and younger brother . (1) (2)

Parents: Father: Father was John Lees Aspland, born 1844 in Dukinfield. He died on 07/10/1897 aged 53. (1) (9)

Mother: Eliza Ellen Marsden, born 1847 in Sheffield, died 10/06/1905 in Manchester (1) (2)

Parent’s occupations: Father was a solicitor (2)

Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: In 1891 he was a pupil at Seafield House School in Lytham St. Anns (3). The school was founded in 1847 and finally closed in 1937. (4)

Occupation: Research and analytical chemist. In 1901 he was a research chemist living with his uncle and family in Eccleshall Bierlow, Yorkshire (5) (10) (12)

Place of residence at Gretna: N/K

Job title at Gretna: Presume he was a chemist

Marital status: Married

Spouse name (including male name): Maud Lilian Ball born 09/10/1880 (1) (10) (12). Died 22/07/1953 at Park Hospital, Davyhulme, Lancashire. (9)

Date of marriage: 17/12/1917 (1) (10)

Children: One daughter, Barbara Marian Aspland , born 1922 in Salford, Lancashire (1) (9)

Travels: Lived for a while in Australia, not sure how long. On 11/03/1909 a Mr. Alf. L. Aspland sailed on the ship “Suevic” from Liverpool to Albany, Western Australia, although his occupation was given as “agriculture”. (8). In 1916, A. L. Aspland was on the electoral register in Bornholm, Albany, Australia. He sailed back on the “ Osterley “ from Freemantle to London, arriving 10/11/1916. He was recorded as being an analyst aged 30. (10)

When he left Gretna he gave his forwarding address as Lower Kalgan River, Albany, West Australia. I cannot find any records of him travelling back to Australia and in 1923 – 1930 he is on the electoral rolls living at “Kalgan “, Reynards Road, Welwyn,Hertfordshire, with his wife Maud and they are still there in 1939. He has called his house after the place he was planning to live in Australia. (7) (9)

Awards/recognitions:

Trivia / any other information: On 11th 1908, it was reported in the Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser that John Alexander Hamilton, an American, was charged with having obtained £74 by false pretences from Alfred Lees Aspland, by misrepresentation. The case was ajourned . A week later Mr. Hamilton cut his wrist and throat but apparently his injuries were not serious. It was not recorded whether Alfred ever got his money back ! (6)

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