Written by
Douglas Edwards.
At a recent medal auction, Lot 266 came up but with few details of the recipient apart from the basic description of the two medals and no backstory to better understand the events for which the medals, an Edward VII Volunteer Decoration and a WW1 Victory Medal, were awarded. The latter is inscribed with the name of Lt. Colonel A E Jolliffe.
Unlocking the background story and finding the man behind the medals has proved exciting and fascinating in equal order. What became readily apparent is Jolliffe’s strong connection to the Isle of Wight and to Ventnor. The research journey has allowed the opportunity to delve into Ventnor’s social and economic history, covering the last quarter of the 19th century and the first of the 20th century, placing the man into his community and time period.
Albert Edward Jolliffe was born on 31st May 1863 in Bonchurch into a well-known Isle of Wight family. His father, Jonathan Jolliffe (1817 – 1897), was a farmer of Luccombe Farm, which consisted of 300 acres, and an enterprising builder recorded as employing 27 workers in 1881. By the early 1860s, Jonathan had established a strong reputation locally and was seen as a pillar of the local community, having strong social connections and economic interests. Albert’s early years were spent in and around Luccomb Farm, Bonchurch, where he lived with his parents and four siblings. He developed a close bond with his elder brother Henry (b.1862), which later led them into a business partnership lasting 30 years. They both also signed up as local Rifle Volunteers.
Jonathan founded the firm, the Jolliffe Brother Partnership, in 1836, which became the pre-eminent House & Estate Agent on the Isle of Wight (“IoW”) as well as the leading coal merchant, and Albert and Henry joined their father in running the business. When Jonathan retired, the two brothers took over. By then, the business had moved from Bonchurch to Pier Street, Ventnor, in the 1870s. The brothers were coal agents for several Colliers, notably the Caradoc Wallsend Company, and provided coal wholesale and retail. The coal business was based at the railway station on Newport Road. The family’s Estate Agency, located at 5 Pier Street, Ventnor, was one of the first to capitalise on the demand from London society seeking summer holiday residences on the IoW, no doubt fuelled by Queen Victoria herself buying and upgrading Osborne House in 1845. As a result, the Jolliffe family established a lucrative network of contacts and clients.
The Jolliffe Brothers continued to prosper in business until October 1904, when they then formally, and amicably agreed to dissolve the partnership due to diverging business interests. Over the period 1899 /1900, Albert had decided to acquire and become the proprietor of the Bonchurch Hotel. He went on to own the hotel for nearly 20 years, with only his military service from 1915 to 1918 interrupting his direct involvement in the management of the hotel.
As well as a successful businessman, Albert was engaged in the wider Ventnor community and was active in many local societies and local politics. On 28 October 1886, at age 23, he married Mary Corbould (1864 – 1932) at St Saviour’s, Shanklin. They had three children, of whom only one, Rosa Mary, reached adulthood.
Of interest to Albert, and indeed his brother Henry, was the emergence of the Volunteer movement, a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery, and engineer corps created as a popular movement throughout Britain in 1859. Both men became members of the local Volunteer Rifle Corps in the early 1880s.
The force’s establishment was triggered by concerns about French expansionist policies under Napoleon III and the poor state of the British Army to defend the home territories. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated with the British Army after the Childers Reforms in 1881. The IoW was to see the establishment of the 1st Isle of Wight Rifle Volunteers, as well as several artillery batteries, the latter tied to a wider southern Hampshire Artillery Volunteer Corps.
Due to the enthusiasm of the local community to defend the island, there were sufficient volunteers from Ventnor and its surrounding area to create the 5th Corps, IoW Rifle Volunteers, comprising two infantry companies on 25th February 1860. In 1880, all the independent volunteer rifle corps were consolidated as the 1st IoW Rifle Volunteer Corps, with the Ventnor units becoming “F” & “G” companies of the new Corps. Their drill hall was located at 27-29 South Street but was demolished after World War 2. The Corp was redesignated in September 1885 as the 5th (Isle of Wight “Princess Beatrice’s”) Volunteer Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment. In 1908, with the formation of the Territorial Force, the unit became the 8th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment.
The two Ventnor companies were to be an integral part of the Ventnor community. The combined units engaged in numerous social fundraising and sporting events, as initially, these units were self-funded by the officers and communities in which they lived. Research so far has indicated that the Ventnor units had also established their own band, which was active across the whole of the island. Several Ventnor volunteers joined the regular army when the latter was fighting the Boers in South Africa in 1900 /1901.
It appears Albert initially became a private in the Ventnor, “G” Company of the 1st IoW Rifle Volunteers. He clearly was an expert shot and, in 1884, is noted in the local newspaper as a Corporal who won various shooting competitions. Undoubtedly, due to his abilities, local connections, and standing in the community, he was offered and accepted a commission as a Lieutenant on the 24th of January 1885. In this capacity, he was appointed to the Ventnor “F” Company, 1st IoW Rifle Volunteer Corps.
During his service with the 1st IoW Rifle Volunteers, Albert attended numerous parades and drill nights, with several notable occasions, including the parade in July 1890 for the then Duke of Edinburg at Ryde. He was promoted to Captain in February 1893, taking command of “F” Company, Ventnor. In this role, he attended a parade at Osbourne House in August 1897 on the appointment of the Duke of York as Colonel of the Battalion. Queen Victoria was in attendance and met the officers on parade that day. Later that year, Albert resigned his commission. This was not, however, the end of his Volunteer service.
Albert was attracted to the Volunteer Artillery’s emergence when the Hampshire Artillery Volunteers sought to expand their footprint and reach across the county. The following year, in May 1898, he is found to have taken a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Ventnor Batteries, 2nd Hampshire Royal Artillery Volunteers. Albert was quickly promoted to Captain, and in December 1902, he was officer commanding both No.10 and No. 12 batteries of the 5th Hampshire Royal Garrison Artillery, based in Ventnor. In recognition of his long volunteer service (20 years), he was awarded the Volunteer Decoration in March 1905 and two years later was promoted to Major.
By December 1911, Albert was an officer commanding the 4th Battery, 2nd Wessex Brigade (ex Ventnor & Freshwater artillery companies), and his brother Henry was also an officer in the unit. Albert had the Honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Almost two years later, in July 1913, Albert resigned from his commission but was allowed to use his rank and wear the uniform.
With the dawning of WW1, August 1914, the British Army was found short of experienced officers and men, which led to the mobilisation of the Territorial force a month later. Still, additional resources were required, and retired officers and senior NCOs were asked to return to the colours. Albert took up the call and, in July 1915, was restored to the Territorial Reserve List of Officers and eventually to the General List. In August 1916, he was found with the Welsh Division Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery and on 28th February 1917, headed to France with this unit. He became a full Lieutenant Colonel and was eventually to lead a Brigade. A newspaper article in 1918 states that he was commandant of a P.O.W. camp, albeit this has not been confirmed. With the war ending in November 1918 and Albert having attained the prescribed age limit, he retired for the second time, aged 58, on 4th October 1921.
Records after 1918 have been hard to find, although it is known that Albert returned to Ventnor and sought to re-engage with the local community. He is recorded as a member of Bonchurch Parish Council and a Liberal Councillor on the Isle of Wight Rural District Council. His other activities included championing local athletics, the South Coast Amateur Rowing Association, the IoW Board of Guardians, and being an active Freemason.
Albert’s wife, Mary (nee Corbould), died in 1932. On the 1939 register, he is found with his sister Rosa, living at Fern Bank, Ventnor. He went on to live for a further three years, passing away at home on January 13, 1942. Surprisingly, unlike the majority of the Jolliffe family, he wasn’t buried in the local family plot; rather, his final resting place was with his wife Mary in Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester.
As shown, two simple medals have awakened a life story, and the role Albert played in the development of Ventnor’s social and economic life can be placed into perspective. Also, his passion for the Volunteers, both the infantry and artillery, clearly brought connectivity to the wider Ventnor community and beyond, allowing the units he was affiliated with to flourish during and after his time served.
There is still much to learn about Albert, particularly his time as owner of the Bonchurch Hotel and his local community activities. It would be delightful if a better image of Albert could be found to enhance this narrative.
Douglas would like to hear from anyone who could add to this fascinating story. Here is his email address.
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