HILDA MAY TODMAN was born circa 1892 in Croydon, Surrey (source : 1901 census)
. Her birth was registered in June quarter 1892 (source : Free BMD - district Croydon, volume 2a, page 229).
On the 1901 census, aged 9,
she is living with her parents at 21 Gladstone Road, Croydon, Surrey. On the 1891 census,
her family already lived here and the house was described as
next to "two house spaces, now used as garden plots" (source : 1891 census).
She married
ALFRED H BOOTH in June quarter 1915 (source : Free BMD,
district Croydon, volume 2a, page 773 ).
There is a birth listed for ALFRED HAROLD BOOTH in September quarter 1891 in Croydon
(source : Free BMD, district Croydon volume 2a page 270 ). On the 1901 census, aged 9,
he is with his parents JANE (49, born Sool Hill, Essex) & FREDERICK W BOOTH (48, born Wimbledon Surrey, domestic coachman),
11-year-old sister LOUISE M (born Croydon Surrey) and 19-year-old brother
ALBERT W (born Norwood, Surrey) at 6 Tavistock Grove in Croydon, Surrey.
There was an ALFRED HAROLD BOOTH who died on service in the First World War (source :
https://www.military-genealogy.com/nameShow?war=1&sid=64058 ), which is probably him, as this would explain
why no father is listed on daughter Barbara's birth certificate.
He must have been tragically killed in action while Hilda was pregnant.
On another website, there is an ALFRED HAROLD BOOTH of the
1st Battalion Bedford Regiment who was killed on the 12th May 1918 (source :
http://www.huntscycles.co.uk/Soldiers/B/Alfred%20Harold%20Booth%201.htm).
However, this date would not fit in with Barbara's birth in July 1919.
He is listed on the Roll of Honour (http://www.roll-of-honour.com/cgi-bin/1stbeds.cgi) :
1st Battalion & 1st Garrison Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment Men Who Died WW1
Surname: BOOTH
Forenames: Alfred Harold
Born: Croydon, Surrey
Enlisted: Kingston-on-Thames
Resident: Croydon
Serial No: 291381
Rank: Private
Manner of death: Died of wounds
Comm. or Buried: Aire Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France
Comm or Burial Ref: Grave II J 24
Theatre: France & Flanders
Date of death: 12 May 1918
Battalion: 1st
The National Archives has his medal card to be downloaded for £3-50. Same service number!
Description Medal card of Booth, Alfred H
Corps Regiment No Rank
Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion 291381 Private
Bedfordshire Regiment 291381 Private
Image Reference Format and Version Part Number Size (KB) Number of Pages Price (£)
460324 / 49079 PDF 1.2 1 200 1 3.50
(Many thanks to Carol Coleman for helping out with this info.)
An A H Booth enlisted at Croydon on 16 October 1916. His given address was 18a Lower Addiscombe Road,
Croydon. His Birthplace is given as Croydon, age was 25years and 2months, Height 5ft 8ins,
Weight 126lbs Occupation Grocer. Regiment: Huntingdon Cyclists 2/1st Battalion. (Even his chest measurement is given.)
This man's service number is given as 19110 and although it differs from the numbers
given on the MOD Medal Card it certainly looks to be the same man.
There are a number of Booths included who enlisted at Kingston but only three where
the Birthplace is specifically given as Croydon. There is no other AH. (There is an H.Booth born Croydon
who was aged 37 and an insurance collector - joined The Royal Fusiliers.)
Source: The Surrey Recruitment Registers, published by Surrey History Trust, full
details here: http://www.wsfhs.org/CDReview.htm (Thanks to Ann Sargeant for helping me out with this info.)
The Children of HILDA MAY TODMAN and ALFRED H BOOTH:
BARBARA JOYCE BOOTH was born
on 15th July 1919 and her address was given as 42 Kemerton Road, Croydon (source : birth certificate) .
