George Angrave 1898-1983

Facts

*Date*	Event	*Source*
14 Feb 1898	George Angrave was born at 143 Willow St, Leicester. His father was a foreman shoe finisher. He was the eleventh child (the second son) of Henry Thomas Angrave (49) - the seventh with his second wife Lydia Collins (35). George had two older step-sisters, five older sisters, and one brother 14 years older, whom he later called his 'chip'.	Birth certificate See 12 Henry Thomas Angrave Doreen Angrave
25 Oct 1899	When he was 2, his sister, Dora, was born.	Leicester Education Department register
31 Mar 1901	The family were still living at 143 Willow Street.	Census
1909	His nephew (his brother's son), Harry, was born.	Harry Angrave
Abt 1910	He received a Boys' Brigade Cup Final medal for football.	Bill Angrave
2 Apr 1911	The family were still in Willow Street but had moved to number 203.	Census
Abt 1912	He was awarded the prize of a desk and certificate in a school swimming competition. This was the first time he had entered a swimming pool - he taught himself to swim in the river Soar and the local canal.	Bill Angrave
1913+	Like his father he was a keen amateur boxer: he was a member of an amateur boxing club.	Bill Angrave
1914-18	According to family tradition, he signed up for the army in WW1 without his parents' knowledge. Soon after joining, he was called into a superior's office. Perhaps he was going to be awarded a stripe... No, it was his mother, who had come to take him home again because he was under age! (This story is supported by the surviving army records - see the next two entries).	Alan Angrave
15 Nov 1915	He enlisted for the 'Sherwood Foresters' (18th battalion Notts and Derby regiment). The records show he was a shoehand, 5' 2" tall, with an 'apparent age' of 19 years 273 days (he was actually 17 years 273 days).	British Army: enlistment record
24 Nov 1915	He was discharged from the army, having 'mis-stated age on enlistment'.	British Army: enlistment record
Feb 1916	He joined the Highland Light Infantry and later the King's Own Scottish Borderers.	British Army: medal roll
1916	According to his eldest son, George claimed that the reason for choosing a Scottish regiment was that it was a safe distance from his mother! He said he spent 6 months in Ireland training, before being sent over to France. After a winter there he was admitted to a field hospital with 'trench foot'. He was sent to hospital in England for 10 months and then posted back to France for the remainder of the War. He rarely talked about his war experiences in later life, but he did mention that the pay was 3d a day, 5 Woodbines were a penny and shoe polish a halfpenny. In the style of the time, he affected to find parts of the experience amusing - for example, the way they disposed of lice in their clothes by running a lighted match along the seams.	Alan Angrave
1916-1918	While in the Army, he won a cup for lightweight boxing.	Bill Angrave
1918	His medal card shows that he was a Private in the Highland Light Infantry (Victory Medal) No 28224 and the King's Own Scottish Borderers (British War Medal) No 41302.	PRO ref Roll D/105 B14 Page 1467
1918	Back in Civvy Street, he got a job as a clicker.	Doreen Angrave
1918+	His brother had a leather factory in Nicholas Street, near St George's Way, Leicester. George put his £80 'gratuity' from the army into his brother's business and lost it.	Bill Angrave
1920	When he first met his future wife, Florence, he was so shabbily dressed that, in a typical gesture, she made him an overcoat.	Bill Angrave
26 Dec 1921	At the age of 23, he married, at St Matthew's Church, Leicester, Florence Susannah Jane Allen (27), dressmaker, of 6 Spa Cottages, Curzon Street. He described himself as a leather salesman, of 203 Willow Street. The witnesses were Edward Allen (father-in-law) and Bertie Belton (brother-in-law).	Marriage certificate
3 Nov 1922	His first child, Alan Thomas, was born.	Doreen Angrave
12 Jul 1924	His second child, Mary Winifred, was born.	Doreen Angrave
15 Oct 1924	When he was 26, his father died.	Death certificate - H T Angrave
10 Mar 1927	His third child, William George (Bill), was born.	Doreen Angrave
1927-1934	During the Depression, he was unemployed for seven years.	Doreen Angrave
4 Mar 1929	His fourth and final child, Doreen, was born.	Birth certificate
1930s	For his younger daughter he was a dour and taciturn man at this stage in his life: 'No talking at the table' was a common injunction.	Doreen Angrave
1934	He finally landed a job as a waiter in a working men's club. His daughter was taken to see him at work and remembered how happy he looked to have a job.	Doreen Angrave
Mar 1935	He became landlord at the Railway Tavern, 48 Samuel St, Leicester.	Doreen Angrave
8 Apr 1935	His mother died of cancer, aged 72.	Death certificate
1939	At the outbreak of the Second War, he was too old (41) for the Army, so he joined the Home Guard.	Doreen Angrave
19 Nov 1940	On one occasion, during the bombing of Leicester city, the air raid shelter in Southampton St took a direct hit, and the exit was blocked by concrete rubble. Five were killed and fourteen injured. The area above and around the shelter was in flames. As the sort of person who did not use shelters, George was one of those on the outside who helped clear the exit so that those trapped inside - including his wife and daughters - could get out.	Doreen Angrave
20 Aug 1949	At his daughter's wedding he was recorded as a licensee of 3 Florence Road, Leicester	Wedding certificate
(1950+	His nephew, Harry, was a Salvation Army brother for 45 years.)	Harry Angrave
1957	His telephone number was Granby 2389 and his address 3 Florence Road.	Leicester telephone directory
1956-1960	If he left the house he would say, 'Tell your Nana I've gone to see a man about a dog' - meaning he had gone to the dog-track to place a bet. Only he was allowed to come round each day (just before six) and adjust the clocks in the house, particularly the grandfather clock in the 'front room'. On Sunday mornings, you had to be quiet, because he slept in. He would appear for 'Sunday dinner' with no collar on, sitting at the table alone to have his first course, which was Yorkshire pudding and gravy, a habit from previous times, designed to kill the appetite when there was not enough to eat. He never failed to tip his visiting grandchildren sixpence (rising later to half a crown) at the end of a visit.	David Thacker
1958	He moved to 23 Earlswood Road, Evington, with his wife and unmarried daughter, Mary.	Doreen Angrave
1960	At the age of 62, he suffered a stroke, which deprived him of speech for the rest of his life.	Doreen Angrave
1960s	He spent a good deal of time watching the 'gee-gees' on TV with his brother or at home.	Harry Angrave
25 Sep 1983	George Angrave died at 23 Earlswood Rd, Evington, Leicester, aged 85. The certificate says 'cerebro-vascular accident'.	Death certificate