Monday, August 27, 2012

2nd Lieutenant Alfred Mortenson 4716, 104216

There is only one Alfred Mortenson in the CWGC database, although there is no other information about his place of birth the WW1 medal roll index cards show only one Alfred Mortenson and he was in the Liverpool Regiment so I am confident that this is the right man. The medal card also gives the address of his mother so I can be sure I have the correct man on the census records.
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Alfred Mortenson was born on June 28 1895 and baptised on 31st March the same year in St James Church. His parents were Christian and Mary Ann Mortenson of 45 Upper Hill Street which is in the area of St James' Church. Christian Mortenson was a Dock Gate man.

The 1901 census shows the Mortenson family living at 45 Canning Pierhead.
This image (dated 1919 and out of copyright) is of the Pilotage Office at Canning Pierhead. Source: Port Cities Mersey Gateway Partnership Canning Dock is adjacent to the Albert Dock. I surmise that there were houses for the Dock officials as the neighbours were also Dock Gatemen and the Dock Master (and a Publican!)
The census shows that Alfred was the 3rd of 4 children and his father was from Sweden.
 
At the time of the 1911 census the family had moved to 42 Canning Pierhead, Christian was still a Dock Gateman. Alfred, aged 16, was working as an office boy for a shipping company.
 
The census shows that their house was not large, with 4 rooms (plus any bathroom) but this was more than adequate by the standards of the time for the 4 people who lived there.
 
The Medal Roll Index Card for Alfred Mortenson (below) shows that he was a Private in the Liverpool Regiment with the regimental number 4716 then a Private in the Machine Gun Corps with the regimental number 104216, rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant.
The main body of the card has the medal roll references for his Victory Medal and British War Medal. It also shows that the theatre of war first served in was France on 1st February 1917. He was commisioned as a Second Lieutenant on 27th November 1917 and deceased 15th April 1918.
(click here to go to a website which explains the ranks of the British Army - I have found it very useful)
The reverse of the card gives the address for correspondence as 42 Rundle Road. It says it is his mother but the initial C would be for his father Christian.
 

UK Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919

Name:
Alfred Mortenson
Death Date:
15 Apr 1918
Rank:
T/2/Lieutenant
Regiment:
Machine Gun Corps
Battalion:
59th
Type of Casualty:
Killed in action
 
 

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