Albert was the son of James Chappell and his wife Cecilia (known as Celia) nee Kettleband.
James Chappell was born in 1860 (J/F/M Radford) and Cecilia in 1865 (J/F/M Liverpool). They were married in 1890 (J/A/S Nottingham) and had seven children of whom only five survived childhood: James Edward b. 7 October 1889 (Nottingham), Lily b. 15 May 1891 (1891 A/M/J Nottingham), Maria b. abt 1893, Albert b. 26 October 1995 (Swinton Yorkshire) and Harold b. 4 January 1898 (Nottingham).
In 1891 James (31), a framework knitter, and Cecilia (26), a box maker, were living at 9 Selbourne Street, Nottingham, with their son James Edward (2).
By 1901 the family was living at 24 Mount Court, Mount Street, Nottingham. James (41) was now a bricklayer's labourer, Cecilia was still working as a box maker. In the home on the night of the census were theirfive children; James (12), Lily (9), Maria (8), Albert (7) and Harold (3)andalso James' widowed mother-in-law, Maria Rimington (formerly Kettleband).
The family was still living on Mount Street, Nottingham, in 1911. Only four of the children were in the household on the night of the census: Lily (20), a box maker, Maria (18) and Albert (17) who were not in employment, and Harold (13) who was still at school.
The eldest child James Edward, had joined the Royal Navy on 12 October 1907 at the age of 18 (SS2149 Ordinary Seaman). His last service date was 12 October 1912 and he transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve on 13 October 1912. His service document was annotated, 'Rendered meritorious service at wreck of SS Delhi, December 1911'.
By the time of the outbreak of war the family home was at 16 Crown Street, Carlton Road, Nottingham.
Albert's father and two brothers also served in the war:
James Edward was mobilized on 2 August 1914 and was not demobilized until 22 February1919.
Harold joined the Royal Navy (J37705) in April 1915 as a Boy 2nd Class and entered on a 12 year engagement on 4 January 1916, his 18th birthday. He was rated Able Seaman on 21 August 1917. His last ship was HMS Queen Elizabeth, during which time he 'ran' (deserted) and served 42 days detention as a consequence. He left the Royal Navy in 1919, 'services no longer required'.
James senior attested on 29 December 1914 in the Rifle Brigade (150468 Private). He gave his age as 49, 'born about 1865', although by then he would have been about 54 years old. He served at home from 29 December 1914 until 30 December the following year when he joined the Expeditionary Force Egypt. He served in Egypt until 25 December 1916 then transferred to home service on 26 December. He was discharged from the army on 16 March 1917 after serving for 2 years 78 days, 'no longer fit for war service'.
Albert's father, James, died in 1941 (June Nottingham) aged 81 and his mother, Cecilia, in 1955 (Jun Nottingham) age 90.
Of Albert's siblings:
James Edward married Elizabeth A Phillips in 1913 (O/N/D Nottingham). He died in 1963 (March Nottingham) aged 74.
Lily married William H Keeton in 1913 (J/F/M Nottingham). She died in 1982 (June Nottingham) aged 91.
Maria died unmarried in 1978 (June Nottingham) aged 85.
Harold died in 1963 (March Nottingham) aged 74.