Captain Cyril Charles Alcindor

1914-1946

Canvey Island Roll of Honour 1939-1945

The first name on the Canvey WW2 Roll of Honour, which currently hangs in St Nicholas Church, is C.C. Alcindor, Cpt. Beds & Herts.

I could find no mention of him on the Commonwealth Graves Commission website but found a death for him in 1946 in the Stepney District of London. Who he was or what his connection to Canvey was no one could tell me. Thanks to my connections with Find a Grave and with my own research some of the answers were found.

Cyril Charles Alcindor was born in 1914 in the Paddington area of London. He was the second son of Dr John Alcindor and his wife Minnie A C Martin. Dr John Alcindor was quite well known in his time, born in 1873 in Port of Spain, Trinidad, son of Francis Alcindor a cocoa planter, he won an Island Scholarship and attended Medical School at Edinburgh University, graduating in 1899. (Click on their names for more info)

Dr John Alcindor 1920’s

Dr John Alcindor worked in several London Hospitals before establishing a medical practise in Paddington about 1907. He can be found in the BT Phone books at 23 Westbourne Park Road W2 from 1919-1924 as a Medical Practitioner. He married his wife Minnie Amy Clara Mary Martin in 1911, daughter of Louis Martin. The couple had two other sons, John Francis 1912-1993 and Roland Patrick Boyce 1917-1991.

During his career he was published for his research into influenza, cancer and tuberculosis. He was secretary of the Poor Law Medical Officers’ Association, member of the National Council for Combating Venereal Disease, the American Anti-Tuberculosis Society and the Catholic Doctors’ Society. John was also awarded the Red Cross War Medal for his work with wounded soldiers returning to London during WW1. He was instrumental in the formation of the African Progress Union (APU). He died on the 25th October 1924 in St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington after a long illness. He was buried at St Mary’s Cemetery, Kensal Rise. Minnie died in 1961 her death is registered in the Ilford District. She was possibly living on Canvey after the death of her husband. We have been told that the singer Paul Robeson came to stay with the family on Canvey. This has been reported to us from more than one source.

John and Minnie’s son Cyril Charles married Jessie Ruby Eves (b1912-1978) in Gravesend, Kent in 1939. I believe they had a daughter, Joan, born in 1942 in Gloucestershire. Their son John F Alcindor was born in 1944 on Canvey.  Cyril’s brother John Francis was also living on Canvey. He had married Evelyn G Carter in the Canvey area in 1945. They had two sons and two daughters born in the area. Roger C (1947), Rosemary C (1947-1947 Roger’s twin who died shortly after), Peter R (1951) and Barbara L (1955).

The grave of Dr John Alcindor and his son Cyril at St Mary’s Cemetery, Kensel Rise

Cyril was a Captain in the Beds and Herts. Regiment. He was a soldier from the 1930’s, taking part in the invasion of France in 1944. He was appointed a 2nd lieutenant on the 24 March 1944, as a Captain after the war he was one of two officers who interviewed new National Servicemen finding suitable placements for them. He died in 1946 and his death is registered in the District of Stepney, London. He is buried with his father at St Mary’s Cemetery, Kensal Rise, Paddington.

Cyril’s brother John Francis (known as Frank) lived on Canvey until his death in 1993. He is in the BT Phone book of 1950-54 living in the Driveway, later moving to the Vicarage Close until his death. John’s ashes along with Evelyn’s, his wife, are interned in St Katherine’s Churchyard. The other son Roland was living in London.

I have been told by several sources that Paul Robeson, the famous singer visited the Island and stayed with Alcindor’s. It would be interesting to have more details.

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If anyone has more details about the Alcindor family particularly relating to Canvey please comment below.

Alcindor family. l-r Brothers John Francis (Frank), Cyril Charles and Roland with Franks wife Evelyn.
Thanks to John Alcindor (Cyril's son) for the photos

Comments about this page

  • Janet,

    A Blue Plaque for Dr John Alcindor (Cyril’s father) is being unveiled on Wednesday 16 July at 209 Harrow Road, London W2.

    The Lord Mayor of Westminster and Acting High Commissioner for Trinidad and Tobago will be unveiling the plaque with members of the family.

    All are welcome, and there is a reception afterwards at the Stowe Centre.

    By David Alcindor (12/07/2014)
  • Thanks for letting us know David

    By Janet Penn (12/07/2014)
  • Hi Janet, I’m Frank Alcindor’s daughter and would just confirm that our grandmother, Minnie Alcindor lived with my mum (Evelyn) and dad  on Canvey at the Driveway. When she died the family moved  to Waarden Villas on Canvey before moving to Vicarage Close when I was about 4 or 5 years old. I thought you might want to update the information you have on the page.

    best rgds

    Barbara Holmes 

    By Barbara Holmes (12/07/2014)
  • Great information Barbara thank you.

    By Janet Penn (12/07/2014)
  • I went to Basildon Fryerns Grammar and Technical School in the 1960’s with Roger Alcindor, he was in the year above but we both travelled on the unruly contract bus from the Island. Do the family members have any news of Roger? A mutual friend asked after him some years ago.

    By Tony Maguire (21/07/2014)
  • In 1939,
    Roland P. B. ALCINDOR (Master Plumber),
    John F. ALCINDOR (Sign Writer),
    Minnie A. C. ALCINDOR (Club Proprietress)
    were all living at Claremont, Westcliff Gardens, Canvey.

    By Martin Lepley (09/02/2020)
  • My mother always talked about the Alcindors living in the Driveway and that Paul Robeson was a visitor. My sister Pat (born 1924) was friends with one of the children. I’ve just noticed the address listed in 1939. Claremont was a club as my mother told me she used to sing there. Perhaps there was a love of music explaining the friendship with Paul Robeson? There is a photo of Clairmont on the old website.

    By Maureen Buckmaster (09/02/2020)
  • Yes Maureen you can find it by putting the name Claremont in the search engine.

    By Janet Penn (10/02/2020)
  • Thanks for the latest posts. They have added another couple of parts to the jigsaw.
    I am John Francis Alcindor, son of Cyril Charles Alcindor. My father was stationed on the island, I believe, in 1944. That’s where I was born, on D-Day!
    My birth certificate gives my birth address as Warlingcourt, Weel Road. I haven’t found Warlingcourt so presume it was destroyed in the Great Flood.
    I presume that my father was involved with the anti-aircraft batteries on Canvey, but Army records don’t provide any information.
    After I was born, we moved to Blakeney, Norfolk, where, I presume he was involved with RAF Langan defence. My first memory is seeing the last day of WW2 when they set fire to all the FIDO at Langan and I remember my father lifting me onto his shoulders to see the fire.
    We later moved to Bury St Edmunds where he was stationed for Army selection duties.
    He died in 1946.
    Earlier history, he served an electrician apprenticeship in Cheltenham where the family lived after my Grandfather died. Minnie ran a tea shop in Eckington. All three boys attended Worcester Grammar School.
    I was told that John Francis was a signwriter, but I knew him as a brilliant electronics person.
    I didn’t know that Roland was a master plumber.
    Another new news is that Minnie ran a Gentleman’s club, Claremont, which I knew but could never find any record in Kelly’s.
    I think Paul Robeson’s visit was more to do with John Francis’s association with AFU, friendship with musician Samuel Coleridge Taylor and other musicians in London.
    I have no idea when the family moved to Canvey, but it must have been after or during WW2 as my sister Joan was born in Cheltenham in 1941. I believe Mum and Dad stayed with Minnie at that time. Dad signed up for the Army in about 1935.
    He was stationed in Gravesend in 1939 when he met and married Mum.
    He was part of the BEF in 1940 but returned home before Dunkerque. He served in Gibraltar as RSM and was awarded a commission in 1943. He was promoted Captain in 1944.
    That’s all I know.

    By JOHN ALCINDOR (16/02/2020)
  • Thank you John for adding a little more to your father’s story. Do you by any chance have a photo of him? It would be great if we could add one to the site.

    By Janet Penn (16/02/2020)
  • If you wanted to find out more about “Walingcourt”. There was a planning application approved 1st April 1952 when drains were installed. This might include the location of the property.

    The plans are in the Essex Record Office (Chelmsford), and will be within item D/UCi 2/4, and the planning reference is “7413”

    By Martin Lepley (16/02/2020)
  • Thank you Martin. I will search for it.
    Regards,
    John Alcindor

    By JOHN ALCINDOR (17/02/2020)
  • Hi John, I guess you are the cousin of Roger C Alcindor? I mentioned, earlier in this stream, that I attended Basildon Fryerns Grammar and Technical with Roger. I’m in touch with others of our contemporaries and Roger has been mentioned several times in our correspondence. In particular, I remember his prowess with a recorder, belting our popular songs of the day on the school bus! We would be interested to learn what became of Roger after Fryerns.
    Many thanks,

    Tony Maguire

    By Tony Maguire (23/02/2020)
  • Sorry Tony. I don’t have any contact with Roger, apart from plaque unveilings and the like.
    If I get an address, I will let you know.
    Best wishes,
    John Alcindor

    By JOHN ALCINDOR (14/03/2020)
  • Thank you John

    By Tony Maguire (15/03/2020)
  • Hi… I am a Year 2 Teacher at The Stonebridge School in Brent and would love to cover the life of Dr. John Alcindor as part of Black History Month.
    Could you please send me information about this amazing doctor?
    Also, are there anyone family members that could come and visit the school to speak about John Alcindor?

    By Dina Oldham (24/09/2020)
  • I remember Roger Alcindor very well.We were in the same form at Fryerns G/T School Basildon.Lost track of him after I left the school

    By Frederick Parkin (26/10/2020)
  • I am hoping to get in touch with the descendants of John Alcindor for an American friend (who was known as Lew Alcindor) of my husband. We are hoping to put him in touch with his English family. My husband and I live in London and my husband has known his friend for over 50 years.
    If John, David or Barbara could get in contact with me, I’d be delighted to put them directly in touch with our friend.

    By Angela Dawood (09/04/2022)
  • An interesting piece on Dr John Alcindor from the Red Cross web site:
    https://www.redcross.org.uk/stories/our-movement/our-history/the-famous-black-doctor-of-paddington

    By Tony Maguire (12/04/2022)
  • I lived next door to The Alcindors, at The Driveway, in the late 50’s and remember them being a close family and excellent neighbours.
    Francis was working in electronics at the time.

    By Paul Mason (16/11/2022)
  • Hi there,
    I am curious to know whether Cyril Charles Alcindor ever lived in Hertfordshire or Bedfordshire, and whether that is why he was in the Beds and Herts Regiment? Thank you

    By Georgina (22/01/2024)

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