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Albert George (1) Hogger was born in 1881 to parents Benjamin (1) Hogger and his wife Georgianna Adelaide (nee) Golding. The birth certificate [Birth Index: Cosford 4a 599, 1881 (June)] states that he was born on May 21st 1881 at Groton, Suffolk (no more specific address cited). His father's occupation was wheelwright and his mother - her name misspelled as 'Georgena' - was the informant.
The 1891 Census finds him living at age 9 with his parents in Groton.
In the late 1890s he left his home in Suffolk and moved to central Wales, perhaps through the encouragement of his sister Flora Kate (1) who had married a gardener, George Thomas. It is related in Small Worlds [SW] that Albert George (1) took up a position as a trainee gardener at Pencerrig, a large and very beautiful country house situated in Llanelwedd parish just off the road connecting Builth Wells to Llandrindod Wells. From Pencerrig there is a track leading down to a little hamlet called Cwmbach where there stands an attractive Victorian church named St. John's. It was after a service there one Sunday morning that Albert George (1) met his future wife Eliza Ann (nee) Mason.Eliza Ann was born on August 21st 1883 to parents Evan (2) Mason and his wife Eliza (nee) Price at their home Cwmprophwyd near Cwmbach. The GRO reference is [Birth Index: Builth 11b 78, 1883 (Sept)]. Her mother Eliza was a daughter of Evan (2) Price, a huntsman and farmer of Red House, one of the many farms then belonging to the Pencerrig Estate.
The earliest known photograph of Albert George (1) shows him as quite a young man, perhaps not even 20. On its reverse side is written, in either his or Eliza Ann's hand, the phrase "met Oct 2nd 1899".
The 1901 Census finds him at age "19" boarding at a house named Pengraig, very near to Pencerrig, and occupied as a domestic gardener. He may have been working at Pencerrig at this time. However, later that year, he was evidently living at the other "big house" in this area, namely Welfield, now known as Cefn-Dyrys, which is not far from Pencerrig. Later in 1901 he placed this advertisement in the local Evening Express, issue of September 11th:
Young Man (single), aged 21, Seeks Situation as Under Gardener or Third where four are kept - A. G. Hogger, The Gardens, Wellfield [sic], Builth.
This may indicate that he had already ceased working at Pencerrig, had moved on to Welfield and was now looking to move on yet again. However, alternative interpretations and chronologies are possible.
According to his youngest son, Albert George (1) had been contented with his progress at Pencerrig and was nearing the end of his training there when he was obliged to work for a spell in its glass-houses. The heat in these caused him nose-bleeds of such severity that he could no longer continue, and brought his ambition - of becoming formally qualified for a position as a head gardener himself one day - to an end.
He married Eliza Ann on April 8th 1902 at the Register Office in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, almost certainly because Eliza Ann was by then many months' pregnant with their first child Alice Hilda (1). The marriage certificate [Marriage Index: Haverfordwest 11a 1801, 1902 (June)] describes him as a domestic gardener and bachelor aged 21 and her as a spinster aged 19. His place of residence was given as Lower Farm in Fishguard (about 15 miles from Haverfordwest) and hers as "Cwmprofit", Builth" (although her home Cwmprophwyd was actually in Cwmbach, Radnorshire, whereas Builth - a couple of miles away - was in Breconshire). The witnesses were Ernest Mason - Eliza Ann's (favourite) brother - and James Davies whose connection is unknown. At that time Ernest - an agricultural engineer - is believed to have been living in or near Haverfordwest. The wedding may have been held there only because Eliza Ann (or her parents) did not wish to see her married locally in such an obviously advanced state of pregnancy. It is not clear why Albert George (1) was in Fishguard at that time; he may have been just lodging there over the period of the wedding.
When Alice Hilda (1) was baptised in August 1902 the family's address was given in the St. John's Church register as "Cwmprofit" and Albert George (1) was still working as a gardener.
At some point after marrying, Albert George (1) gave up gardening as an occupation and took up more menial employment in the new quarries at Llanelwedd, just across the River Wye from Builth.
By the time of the 1911 Census he and Eliza Ann, together with her parents, were living just outside Builth town in an area called Oaklands (near the Hay road), in a house named The Firs. Evan (2) Mason was occupied as a mason for the Cambrian Railways and Albert George (1) was working (at the Llanelwedd Quarries) as a "cement block maker (for building purposes)". Albert George (1) was listed at The Firs in the 1914-1915 Electoral Register, recorded as lodging in a single room for which he was paying rent to Evan (2) Mason.
Presently Evan (2) and Eliza moved to Newbridge-on-Wye in Radnorshire. Evan (2) then had an incapacitating accident on the railway bridge where he was working as a stonemason, whereupon Albert George (1) and his family moved into the cottage next door in order to be of assistance. He then had to cycle that seven miles each day to and from his work at Llanelwedd. During these journeys in the early mornings he would often be accompanied some way by his son Albert Cyril (1); they would spend a while hunting game (using a catapult or sporting rifle) which the boy would take back home for the table, Albert George (1) then continuing on to his work in the quarries.
In mid-1915 his third and last child John Ernest George (1) was born at the Newbridge home, the address of which was at that time 6, Woodland Cottages. The cottage still stands, but may now bear a different number. Albert George (1) now moved his family again, this time to a remote cottage named Penbenkin (Pen-y-Boncyn) accessible only by a rough track up the hillside above Carneddau Farm, in the range of hills known as Carneddau. This cottage was reported in 2002 as having become just a ruin.
By October 1916 Albert George (1) had become the manager of the concrete blocks department at the Llanelwedd Quarries. He evidently played a key role here, because the Quarries proprietor Mr. Thomas Lant made repeated efforts to retain him rather than see him conscripted into military service for the War that was now engulfing Europe. In January 1916 the Government had passed the Military Service Act requiring all men between 18 and 41 to register for military service, unless they had a certificate of exemption. Exemption could be claimed on grounds of essential war work, ill-health, family dependants or conscientious objection. Appeals against conscription were presented to military service appeals tribunals; a local tribunal would meet to discuss and adjudge cases, and a whole county tribunal would listen to appeals. About 2,000 tribunals were established across the British Isles. Appeals arising from the Builth area were handled by the so-called Colwyn Tribunal. An appeal on behalf of Albert George (1) was reported in the Brecon & Radnor Express, issue of October 28th 1916 as follows:
Mr. Thos. Lant (proprietor of Llanelwedd Quarries) appealed on behalf of Mr W. [sic - A.] Hogger, manager of the concrete blocks department, ten men in this work having joined at the outbreak of hostilities. About 40 of Mr. Lant's men had "joined up." He would not appeal for this man if he could manage without him. Mr. Hogger was exempted till 1st January.
A second appeal on behalf of Albert George (1) was reported in the Brecon & Radnor Express, issue of February 8th 1917:
Mr. H. G. Vaughan (solicitor, Builth Wells) appeared in the case of Mr A. G. Hogger, a stone machinist, in the employ of Mr Thos. Lant (Llanelwedd), and stated the man was absolutely necessary. Mr Lant had released all the men he could. The tribunal adjourned the decision, pending medical examination.
This appeal was determined a fortnight later, as reported in the Brecon & Radnor Express, issue of February 22nd 1917:
Mr. T. Lant appealed on behalf of his employee Mr Hogger, a man 35 years of age, with wife and three children. The only man he had at present who knew how to use the drill at the quarry. The demand at the quarry for road stones at present was more than he could cope with at present owing to the fact that a large number of his men had joined the colours. He had at all times encouraged his men to join and he would not have appealed on behalf of Hogger if he could possibly have managed without him. He had only 24 men at present and he would be prepared to put on 300 men if he could get them. Since the outbreak of the war from 40 to 50 men had joined the army. He had two cart horses but owing to the reduction in the number of men the horses were not fully occupied, but now he had rented 14 acres of land, seven of which would be put under the plough this spring - five under oats and two acres under potatoes. Hogger was the only man he had in charge of the concrete blocks department, and it was in the national interest that he should be able to carry on the quarries in order that he could supply stone for road repairings. The Chairman said the number of men joined from the quarries showed a fine record. Conditional exemption was granted.
At some point after this he entered service with the King's Shropshire Light Infantry, 1st Battalion, and was duly despatched to France. His movements and actions abroad are largely unknown, as no Service Record for him has survived, but according to family anecdote they included a spell of guard duty in France at a prisoner-of-war camp, believed to have been at Péronne near the Somme. By the end of the War he had become a corporal and had survived without a scratch. He returned home to Penbenkin, bringing with him a little souvenir from the camp at which he been guarding German prisoners. Now in the possession of the site owner, this consists of a small metal case into which a matchbox is slotted. On one side is inscribed "A.G. HOGGER FIRST K.S.L.I." and on the other side "FRANCE WAR 1918". Inside the matchbox is a lock of pale hair, probably Eliza Ann's.
There survives a registered letter which he sent from France to Eliza Ann and his youngest child on May 30th 1918, one week before the latter's third birthday on June 6th. With it in its envelope is a pale blue silk handkerchief embroidered with floral motifs and the words "To my dear Son". Written in now quite faint pencil, the letter reads as follows:
On Active Service With The British Expeditionary Forces
Thurs. May 30th '18
Dear Georgie and Mum,
Just a line in a hurry to wish little Georgie many happy returns of the day.
I don't suppose he will know what it means, but please give him a birthday
kiss from his Dad. I tried last night to get him some little thing, but could
not find anything suitable, there's nothing about here in the way of toys.
I've enclosed two halfcrowns, one for him, perhaps you will get him some
little thing in Builth for him with it, the other one for Bert. The blue rosary
is for yourself, if you would rather have a black one or a white one, let's know
the next time you write. I'm thinking of sending Alice one. I was thinking if
you did not care for the colour you could change, but I don't suppose I should
get your reply in time to know which to send. The black one is only a cheap one.
I thought it might amuse Georgie a bit although neither of the things I've sent is
very suitable for him. The handkerchief will do for his new suit. I will write again
tomorrow. I received a letter from you last night. Hoping this will find you all well,
with best love & wishes I remain your loving Dad and husband. AGH.
Back in civilian life, Albert George (1) now resumed his former work at the Llanelwedd quarries, but moved the family to a much more spacious rented home - one of a pair of semi-detached houses situated very near to the Groe in Builth. These had previously been a single house named Groe Villa, but were now known as Nos. 1 and 2, Groe Villa. The Hoggers occupied No. 2, which was (unintuitively, perhaps) the left-most of the pair. The Groe is an extensive green parkland running alongside the River Wye. This new home had five bedrooms as well as cellars. The in-laws Evan (2) Mason and Eliza also moved in there with them. Albert George (1) adapted some of the remaining space to accommodate his various gardening and carpentering operations, these being his main hobbies. He also loved whist and attended all the local whist drives, once winning a little cup on a pedestal.
His physique was strong and stocky, probably not taller than about 5'8". His usual head-gear was a cap, but on Sundays - on which he attended Church with his wife - he wore a bowler and a navy blue suit. His hair remained thick, strong and unwhitened throughout his life. His moustache was gingery and quite long, brushed back each side from the centre.
Both he and Eliza Ann started becoming unwell in the 1930s, he with the onset of bowel cancer and she with diabetes. His illness had possibly been triggered by working with carcinogenic materials in the Quarries. Eventually he had to have a colostomy operation at Cardiff General Hospital. After this he took up an easier job at the local brewery. He remained very active in his gardening, which he pursued in several allotments around Builth besides his own garden, and sold much of what he produced.
The 1939 National register for England and Wales finds him, Eliza Ann and their daughter Alice Hilda living at 2, Groe Villas. He was now occupied as a brewer's labourer and Alice as a cook general.
In Spring 1941 he and Eliza Ann were both still at 2, Groe Villa, together with their as-yet-unmarried daughter. The two sons were away in the armed services and the in-laws were long dead. Albert George (1) was by now really ill and died at age 59 on May 7th of that year [Death Index: Builth 11b 188, 1941 (June)]. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Matthew's Llanelwedd on May 10th. Eliza Ann remained at Groe Villa for a few more years, but very soon after the War she moved to the Wishaw-Motherwell region of Lanarkshire, Scotland to live with Alice Hilda (1) who had at last married, to a Scotsman. Her diabetes now became so serious that she had to have a leg amputated, and in January 1947 she died. She was buried in Wishaw or Motherwell.
Alice Hilda (1) was born on June 23rd 1902 and baptised on August 24th 1902 at St John's Cwmbach. She married Alexander ("Alex") Cullen in 1946 [Marriage Index: Radnor W. 11b 190, 1946 (March) - hand-entered in the GRO index and mis-indexed as "Hagger"]. She died aged "70" in 1973 [GROS Death Ref: Motherwell & Wishaw 570/00/1077, 1973]. Alex Cullen died aged "61" in 1974 [GROS Death Ref: Motherwell & Wishaw 570/00/0591, 1974].