Alfred Charles Vivian
Serjeant Alfred Charles Vivian – The King’s (Liverpool Regiment), 11th Works Company; Irish Command Labour Centre, Labour Corps
Early Life
Alfred Charles Vivian was born in 1860 in Swansea,
the youngest son of Abel Vivian and Ann Upshall. His parents were
married in 1837 at Haselbury Bryan, Dorset, shortly before the
introduction of Civil Registration in England and Wales.
 |
| 1861 Census |
The 1861 Census records the family living at the Red Lion Public House, Sketty, while Abel was absent from the household. Dorset-born Ann Vivian, aged 46, was listed as Victualler’s Wife. Their children present were Cordelia Upshall (25), Christopher Tom (19), Emma Rosena (12), Alice Ann (10), Harry (8), Frederick James (6), Georgina (4), and Alfred Charles (1).
 |
| 1871 Census |
By the 1871 Census, the family were running Refreshment Rooms at Blackpill, with Abel, aged 68, recorded as Publican, and Ann, aged 56, managing the business. Their children at home were Thomas (26), Alice (19), Harry (17), Georgina (16), and Alfred (14).
 |
| 1881 Census |
Following Abel’s death in 1874, the 1881 Census shows the family still residing at the Refreshment Rooms, Blackpill. Ann, aged 64, was described as a Hotel Keeper, assisted by her daughter Alice (26) and son Alfred (21), who was employed as a Livery Stable Keeper.
Marriage and Family
 |
| 1891 Census |
In 1887, Alfred married Mary Jane Woollacott at St. Andrew’s Church, Oystermouth. The 1891 Census records the couple living at 8 Westbourne Place, Swansea. Alfred, aged 31, was working as a Livery Stable Keeper, and Mary was 28.
Sadly, Mary Jane died in 1897, aged just 35.
 |
| 1911 Census |
By the 1911 Census, Alfred had remarried to Margaret Preston, and the couple were running the Ship & Castle Inn, Newton, Oystermouth. Alfred, aged 51, was listed as a Hotel Keeper, and Margaret, aged 33, assisted in the business. Their children were Doris (8), Fred (7), and Tom (1 month). Also, present were Alfred’s sister Alice Ann (56), living on private means, and Rose Bidder (42), a domestic servant.
The Ship & Castle Inn, Newton, Oystermouth
The Ship & Castle Inn was a well-known public
house in Newton, serving the local community and visitors to the Mumbles
area. Situated near the old Newton Road and the scenic coastline, it was a
popular meeting place for locals, tradesmen, and travellers. The inn had
long-standing ties to seafaring families and the coastal trade, making it a
fitting establishment for Alfred, whose family had been involved in hospitality
for generations. Under Alfred and Margaret’s management, the Ship & Castle
would have been both a family home and a busy social centre for the growing
village community.
Military Service
 |
| Attestation Papers (1908) |
At the outbreak of the First World War, Alfred again
offered his service. He was posted as a Lance Serjeant with The
King’s (Liverpool Regiment), 11th Works Company. The Works
Companies carried out vital construction, maintenance, and logistical
duties, including building camps, repairing roads and railways, and maintaining
docks and depots. These units were staffed by older soldiers and skilled
tradesmen whose practical experience was indispensable to the Army’s
operations.
The King’s (Liverpool Regiment), one of the oldest
regiments in the British Army, expanded greatly during the war, forming several
service and works battalions that provided critical engineering and labour
support both at home and abroad.
Later, Alfred transferred to the Irish Command Labour
Centre, Labour Corps, where he held the rank of Serjeant. The Labour
Corps, established in 1917, coordinated the massive manpower needed
to sustain the British Army. Its members — often older men or those no longer
fit for front-line combat — carried out essential work under difficult
conditions, including road construction, camp building, transport duties, and
the recovery of the fallen after battle.
Death
Serjeant Alfred Charles Vivian died on 29th
May 1920, aged 61, making him the oldest serviceman buried at
Oystermouth Cemetery.
Burial
 |
| Alfred Charles Vivian Oystermouth Cemetery credit - findagrave |
Legacy
Alfred Charles Vivian exemplified a lifetime of
dedication to community and country. A respected local hotel keeper and
businessman, he continued to serve his nation well into his later years,
contributing his strength and skill through the Works Companies and the Labour
Corps during and after the Great War. His grave at Oystermouth Cemetery
stands not only as a tribute to his service but also as a reflection of the
enduring local tradition of public spirit and duty that defined the Mumbles
community.
Comments
Post a Comment