Fort Albert Barracks, Alderney

[mjn]

A friend of mine has found that one of her ancestors was at Fort Albert Barracks at the time of the 1901 census. As he was born in Suffolk and was back in Suffolk at the time of the 1911 census, she's puzzled as to why he was in Alderney. Can anyone help, please?

[CaroleW]

Does the 1901 entry show him as a soldier?  If so - presumably his regiment was stationed for a time in Alderney

[mjn]

Thanks, Carole, for your prompt reply. He's listed as an agricultural labourer which doesn't seem to tie in with him being a soldier.

[Cdrh-Wright]

I also have an ancestor who was born in Ipswich and resident at Albert Barracks in the 1901 census. He is listed as a farm carter.

[rogervmarshall]

My Great Uncle was also listed as being at the Fort on the 1901 census, as a Lieutenant in the Suffolk Regiment. He cannot have been there long as he qualified for the South Africa Medal & Clasp for serving in the South African war of 1899-1902, on attachment to the 3rd Batt. York & Lancaster Regiment. (He died on 30 March 1915 on the Western Front.)
The census list is not very enlightening as the Fort seemed to hold few soldiers but a lot of skilled (and unskilled) labourers. It seems it was a Napoleonic Fort so perhaps in 1901 it was being rebuilt.