James Alfred Parker PITCHFORTH ²

  Notes:

Alfred was the third of the eight grandparents. His earliest known ancestor was John Pitchforth aka Pitch, a coal miner who lived in the mid-18th Century in Crigglestone in Yorkshire. The next two generations were farmers/farm labourers, and his father was a soldier.

The eldest son, he was known by his second name Alfred. He was brought up in India, and returned to England at the age of 15 when his father retired from the Army. He lived for a while with his cousins in Hampstead where he was a stationer's assistant, then enlisted in the Royal Marines at the age of 19. He fitted in well, but after almost three years he transferred to the 8th Hussars, his father and brother Dick's regiment, and in 1909 was promoted to Sergeant (QMS). He served for 21 years, including five years in India, and saw active service in the Boer War and WW1. After leaving the army he settled in Colchester, and worked as a clerk for the LNER at Parkstone Quay. He retired in 1939 at the age of 65, and was an ARP warden during WW2. He outlived his brothers, and died in Colchester at the age of 88.

Alfred married Daisy Fisher (qv) in 1909, shortly before his promotion to SQMS. They sailed to India later the same year. Their eldest son and daughter were born in Lucknow, and their four younger daughters in Colchester.

Additional source:
Pitchforth, R.A. (1973). Pitchforth family history. Unpublished notes.

James married Daisy Clara FISHER, daughter of Stephen FISHER and Clara Jane TAYLOR, on 17 Mar 1909 in St Mary-at-the-Walls, Colchester, Essex.¹ (Daisy Clara FISHER was born on 25 Aug 1886 in Brightlingsea, Essex,⁶ died on 31 Mar 1964 in Colchester, Essex ⁷ and was buried on 22 Jul 1964 in Colchester Cemetery, Colchester, Essex ⁸.)