Albert was born on the 2nd November 1890 in St Bees, Cumberland to Albert Isherwood and Martha Smith.

Albert went to Oxford University and the 1911 Census records that Albert was at home with his parents in the Staverton Vicarage, Trowbridge, Wiltshire and that he was an “Undergraduate, Oxford University”

In 1917 Albert was apparently Education Superintendent in Nigeria but he shortly started working as a civil servant in Tanganyika (now Tanzania). He became deputy directory of education in the Kings birthdoy honours of 1926:

CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD.
St. James’s Palace, S.IW. 1,
3rd July, 1926.
The KING has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of His Majesty’s Birthday, to give Orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (to be dated the 5th June, 1926):
To be Officers of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order:
Albert Arthur Magnall Isherwood, Esq., Deputy Director of Education, Tanganyika Territory.

Albert became Director of Education on 22 October 1931 on a salary of £1350 per year which included free housing.

The Tanganyika Territory Blue Book for 1937 gives an idea of what the British had organised in the country.

On the 11th June 1942 Albert was made an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) in the Kings Birthday Honours. (Supplement to the London Gazette, 11 June, 1942 – 2479).

Albert appears to have been married twice. His first wife was Agnes Theodosia Thompson who was born in 1882 and died on 16 February 1930 at the Sydenham Nursing Home in Harrogate. Albert and Agnes appear to have been living at Loftus Hill in Knaresborough (her parents home) according to Agnes’ probate documents. She was buried at St Oswald’s Church in Guiseley.

Albert remarried to Dorothy Helena Pulleine in 1932, Dorothy was the daughter of Bishop John Puleine, Bishop of Richmond and rector of Stanhope. near Barnard Castle. I am not aware of any children from either marriage.

Albert died on the 19th August 1957 and was buried in Moshi Cemetery in Tanganyika. The following is engraved on his tombstone

In Loving and Grateful Remembrance Before God
of Albert Arthur Mangwall Isherwood, CMG, OBE.
Born in Cumberland 1889.
Died at Moshi 1957.
A Colonial Civil Servant
Who Served Tanganyika from 1917 – 1954.
‘For with thee is the well of life
And in thy light shall we see light.’


[Last updated 02 Jan 2012]