Stockwell War Memorial

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Stockwell War Memorial

Frederick Harold Capewell

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The Capewell headstone in West Norwood Cemetery
The Capewell headstone in West Norwood Cemetery

F. H. Capewell
Service no. G/75140
Private, Royal Fusiliers, 17th Battalion
Died age 18 on 1 April 1918
Son of Brian Charles and Lily Rosina Capewell of 35 Union Road, Clapham.
Remembered at West Norwood Cemetery and Crematorium

Brother of Brian Harvey Capewell

Information from the Capewell family

“Fred was due to take over his father’s business and his father never got over their deaths. Their sisters did well – Isabel read Geography at University, quite something for a working class girl of that time, and went on to become a headmistress in Palmer’s Green. The other boys became bank managers or civil servants. The last survivor, Richard Thomas, died in 1986. Their second cousin was Sir Malcolm Sargent, the famous conductor via their grandmother.
The family originated form Fradswell, near Stone in Staffordshire and their grandfather Brian Capewell came down to London and worked in a variety of jobs including as a muffin man.”

Information from the censuses and from the family headstone in West Norwood Cemetery

In 1901 Frederick Harold Capewell was living with his family at 68 Paradise Road, Lambeth. By 1911 they had moved to 24 Union Road, London SW4 where they had 7 rooms.

In 1911, Frederick’s father, Brian Charles Capewell, was a 47-year-old master plasterer born in Finsbury. The headstone states that he died on 20 October 1939, aged 76.

Frederick’s mother, Lily Rosina Capewell (also shown on the headstone) was 47 in 1911. She was born in London. The children listed on the census were:
Isabel Capewell, 20, a college student, born in Battersea. She died 8 April 1963, aged 72.
Brian Harvey Capewell, 17, born in Clapham. He is shown on the headstone: “BRIAN HARVEY CAPEWELL. KILLED IN 1914-1918 war (NAVY) AGED 22”
Harry James Capewell, 15, born in Clapham. He died 27 November 1965, aged 70. (The headstone includes Harry’s wife Grace, who died 8 July 1988, aged 93.)
Frederick Harold Capewell, 12, born in Clapham. He shown on the headstone: “FREDERICK HAROLD CAPEWELL. KILLED IN 1914-1918 WAR (ARMY) DIED 6 APRIL 1918. AGED 19”
Richard Thomas Capewell, 2, born in Clapham.

The 1901 census also lists
Lily E. Capewell, 3, who died aged 7 October 1904.
Daisy Capewell, 8

The headstone includes
Sidney G. Capewell, who died 10 February 1905, aged 7 months.

Brian Harvey Capewell

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The Capewell headstone in West Norwood Cemetery
The Capewell headstone in West Norwood Cemetery

B. H. Capewell
Service no. M/15985
Ship’s Steward Assistant, Royal Navy, H.M.S. “Vala.”
Died age 23 on 21 August 1917
Son of Brian Charles and Lily Rosina Capewell, of 35 Union Road, Clapham, London.
Remembered at Plymouth Naval Memorial, West Norwood Cemetery, London SE27

Brother of Frederick Harold Capewell

HMS “Vala” was a Q boat was torpedoed on 21 August 1917.

Information from the Great War Forum

The Q boat “Vala” was sailing from Milford Haven to cruise between the Fastnet and the Scillies, she was one day out when last heard from. When she never returned to Queenstown, Q Ship Heather went to search for her in the Bay of Biscay. On 7th of September the German Government announced by wireless that the former English Steamer Vala had been sunk by a U-Boat (UB.54) . Commander Leopold A. Bernays CMG was in command.

Information from the censuses and from the family headstone in West Norwood Cemetery

In 1901 Brian Harvey Capewell was living with his family at 68 Paradise Road, Lambeth. By 1911 they had moved to 24 Union Road, London SW4 where they had 7 rooms.

In 1911, Brian’s father, Brian Charles Capewell, was a 47-year-old master plasterer born in Finsbury. The headstone states that he died on 20 October 1939, aged 76.

Brian’s mother, Lily Rosina Capewell (also shown on the headstone) was 47 in 1911. She was born in London. The children listed on the census were:
Isabel Capewell, 20, a college student, born in Battersea. She died 8 April 1963, aged 72.
Brian Harvey Capewell, 17, born in Clapham. He is shown on the headstone: “BRIAN HARVEY CAPEWELL. KILLED IN 1914-1918 war (NAVY) AGED 22”
Harry James Capewell, 15, born in Clapham. He died 27 November 1965, aged 70. (The headstone includes Harry’s wife Grace, who died 8 July 1988, aged 93.)
Frederick Harold Capewell, 12, born in Clapham. He shown on the headstone: “FREDERICK HAROLD CAPEWELL. KILLED IN 1914-1918 WAR (ARMY) DIED 6 APRIL 1918. AGED 19”
Richard Thomas Capewell, 2, born in Clapham.

The 1901 census also lists
Lily E. Capewell, 3, who died aged 7 on October 1904.
Daisy Capewell, 8

The headstone includes
Sidney G. Capewell, who died on 10 February 1905, aged 7 months.

George Herbert Canham

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G. H. Canham
Service no. 3861
Rifleman, London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles), “D” Coy. 1st/16th Battalion
Born in Chelsfield, Kent; enlisted in Westminster; lived in Stockwell
Killed in action on 10 September 1916, aged 21
CWGC: “Eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Canham, of 35, Mordaunt St., Stockwell, London.”
Remembered at Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France

National Roll of the Great War 1914-1918

CANHAM, G. H., Rifleman, 16th London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles).
He volunteered in March 1915 and was drafted to the Western Front the following year. He took part in several important engagements and was killed in action on the Somme on September 10th 1916. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.
35, Mordaunt Street, Stockwell, S.W.9.

George’s brother William James Canham, who survived the war, also appear in the National Roll, as does A. H. Canham of the same address.

British Army WWI Service Records 1914-1920

George Herbert Canham enlisted at 58 Buckingham Gate on 1 March 1915. He was 20 years and 5 months old, stood 5 feet 9 inches and had a 36½ chest (which he could expand by 3½ inches). His physical development was judged to be “good”.

Canham’s file does not include much more than the basic details of his movements. He was Home from the day of his enlistment to the Territorial Force until 21 April 1916, when he embarked for Rouen. He was deployed in the field from 4 May 1916, and survived there until 10 September, when he was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme.

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 the Canham family inhabited 5 rooms at 4 Tivoli Road, West Norwood. William Canham, 41, was a brewer’s drayman, born in Wenhaston, Suffolk. Clara Amy Canham 43, was born in Farnborough, Kent. They had had 6 children, 5 surviving at the time of the census
George Herbert Canham, 16, a shop porter, born in Chelsfield, Kent
William James Canham (cited in the National Roll), 14, an office lad, born in Farnborough, an office lad
Arthur Kitchener Canham, 10, born in Chelsea
Florence Maud Canham 7, born in Chelsea
Maurice Gordon Canham 3, born in Brixton

Arthur Sidney Candy

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Arthur Sidney Candy
Arthur Sidney Candy. Photo © Marietta Crichton Stuart The headstone reads: “Not gone from memory or love, but to his father’s home above”

A. S. Candy
Private no. A/201081
Rifleman, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 7th Battalion
Died age 23 on 22 October 1917
Son of Amelia S. Candy, of 7 Tregothnan Road, Stockwell, London.
Remembered at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911, the Candy family was living in 17 Trevelyan Road, Tooting, where they occupied 4 rooms. William Robert Candy, 67, was an out-of-work plasterer. He was born in Southampton. His wife, Amelia Sophia Candy, 59, was born in Lambeth. Charles James Candy, 23, was a printer’s labourer. Arthur Sidney Candy, 16, was apprenticed as a compositor; Lydia Amelia Candy, 33, was a tobacco weigher. All were born in Lambeth. William and Amelia had had 10 children, of whom 6 had survived.

Information from 1901 census

In 1901 the Candy family was living at 22 Griffen Street. William Candy, 57, was a plumber born in Southampton; Amelia Candy, 48, was from Lambeth. The children registered on the census were
Phoebe Candy, 25, stationary folder
Lydia Candy, 23, tobacco sorter
Emily Candy, 21, tobacco sorter
Charles Candy, 13
Arthur Candy, 6

Archibald Samuel Campbell

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A. S. Campbell
Service no. 203096
Private, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 2nd/4th Battalion
Killed in action on 26 April 1918
Remembered at Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel

British Army Pension Records 1914-1920

Very soon after war broke out jeweller’s assistant Archibald Samuel Campbell took himself to the recruiting office at Battersea and offered himself to the Wiltshire Regiment. They gave him a number, 13710, and measured him up: 5 feet 2 inches, 110 pounds and 34 inch chest. Puny by our standards, but not exceptional then. Campbell was described as having a sallow complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. His overall physical development was judged to be “good”.

However, only 41 days later he was discharged under Para 392 (ii) King’s Regulations ‘ “not being likely to become an efficient soldier”. There are no more details.

Campbell must have re-enlisted or have been called up again, this time joining the Queen’s Regiment, surviving to 26 April 1918 when he was killed in action and buried in the war cemetery in Jerusalem (now in Israel).

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 Archibald Samuel Campbell was a student living at 193 Wandsworth Road with his parents and brother. The family had 2 rooms. Thomas S. Campbell, 48, was a messenger for the Admiralty. He was born in Chelsea, London. Humilia Campbell, 37, was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire. Archibald, then 15, was born in Langton Herring, Dorset. His younger brother, Edgar L. Campbell, 6, was born in Battersea.  Humilia and Thomas had 3 children, with only Archibald and Edgar surviving to 1911.

William George Callen

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W. G. Callen
Service no. 12089
Rifleman, King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Died age 24 on 29 August 1920
Son of Mr W. H. Callen, 100 Dorset Road, Clapham Road, London.
Remembered at Lambeth (Tooting) Cemetery

Information from the censuses

In 1911 William Henry Callen, then 45, born in Eastleigh, Hampshire, was living with his wife Ada Elizabeth, 47, born in Woolwich, at 100 Dorset Road, where the family occupied 4 rooms. Callen was a railway porter. His children, all born in South Lambeth, were Jessie Marion, 17, no occupation listed; William George, then 15, who was to die in 1920, presumably of wounds sustained in the war; and Florence Elizabeth, 13. The 1901 includes a third daughter, Margaret, born in 1900. At that time the family was living at 12 Walberswick Street.

The 1911 census shows that William Henry and Ada Elizabeth had had 5 children, 3 of them surviving to 1911.