Stockwell War Memorial

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Stockwell War Memorial

Albert John Blackmore

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A. J. Blackmore
Service no. 2966
Trooper, 1st Life Guards
Born in Wandsworth
Killed in action on 30 October 1914
Remembered at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

This identification is somewhat tentative. This the only A. J. Blackmore in both the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database and in the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919. There is an Albert Blackmore on the 1911 census, living at 1 Kielers Cottages, Clapham Road with his parents, Walter Blackmore and Fanny Blackmore, both 53, and from Devon (Puddington and Sandford). This Albert, aged 15, was a lift attendant in a mansion block. There is no evidence that this and the Blackmore in the military databases are the same person.

Arthur Edward Blacker

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A. Blacker
Service no. 44089
Rifleman, Royal Irish Rifles; formerly 5973, London Regiment
Died of wounds on 25 June 1918, age 28
CWGC: “Son of Arthur and Nellie Blacker, of London; husband of Charlotte Blacker, of 50 Shillington Street, Battersea, London.”
Remembered at Wandsworth (Earlsfield) Cemetery

Information from the censuses

In 1901 Arthur Edward Blacker was living with his famiy in 3 rooms at 7 Lithgow Street, Battersea (this street is no longer in existence). He is still living there in the 1911 census. His father, also called Arthur, was born 1862, was born in Wandsworth and was employed as a general builder’s labourer. His mother, Ellen H. Blacker (also known as Nellie), born 1865, was also from Wandsworth. There were 3 children on the 1911 census, all born in Battersea:
Ellen Eliza, Blacker, born 1886
Arthur Edwards Blacker, born 1890, a biscuit factory worker
Lilian Edwards Blacker, born 1901
The 1911 census states that there had been 9 children, 4 of whom had died.
The 1901 census includes, in addition,
Florence Blacker, born 1894
Annie Blacker, born 1895
In 1911 Ellen’s brother, George Fry, 34 and married, who worked in a print house, was visiting.

Additionally, a member of the Blacker family tells me that Arthur’s other brother and sisters were:
James George 1896-1897
Violet Ivy 1903-1905

Arthur and his wife Charlotte had at least two children, both born in Battersea:
Frederick G. A. Blacker, born 1916
Ivy L. Blacker, born 1918

Arthur was baptised on 21 February 1890 in Saint Mary’s Church, Battersea, Wandsworth. At the time, he was living at 13 Harroway Road, Battersea.

William Bird

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W. Bird
Service no. J/24752
Able Seaman, Royal Navy, H.M.S. “Princess Royal.”
Died at around age 22 on 18 July 1918
Son of William Bird, of 21, Irving Grove, Stockwell, London.
Also remembered at Lambeth Cemetery, Screen Wall and St Andrew’s Church, Landor Road, London SW9

Information from the 1901 and 1911 censuses

In 1911 William Bird lived with his family in 6 rooms at 21 Irving Grove, off Stockwell Road, SW9 (they are also at this address in the 1901 census). His father, also called William, was 40 and worked as a butcher’s carman. His mother, Mary Ann Bird, 40, was born in Pimlico. Nine of their 11 children survived.
The children on the census were
Arthur Francis Bird, 19, a bioscope operator
Rose Bird, 17, “at home”
William Bird, 15, an errand boy, killed in 1918
Lily Bird, 13
Edith Bird, 9
Albert Bird, 8
Annie Bird, 6
Harry Bird, 4
Marrie Bird, 2
All but Mary Ann Bird were born in Stockwell.
Alfred Gibson, 76, a retired coachman born in Islington, was visiting. He was boarding with the family in the 1901 census as was Alfred Save, 23, a single baker from Clapham.

Sydney Walter Billingsley

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S. W. Billingsley
Service no. 4001
Rifleman, London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles), 1st/21st Battalion
Killed in action age 18 on 12 September 1916 (Billingsley’s enlistment record shows that he claimed to be 19)
CWGC: “Son of Mrs A. H. Handel, of 18a Morat Street, Brixton.”
Remembered at Thiepval Memorial, France and on the war shrine at St Michael’s Church, Stockwell Park Road, London SW9 0DA

Brother of George Frederick Billingsley
Stepson of Harry Frank Handel

Information from British Army WWI Service Records

Sydney Walter Billingsley, 5 foot 2, 8 stone and 33 inches around the chest, enlisted at Camberwell on 28 May 1915. He was 19 and his war lasted just 1 year and 107 days.

The military record Army Form W. 5080, undated but probably completed in 1919, shows that he was survived by a full brother, Albert William Billingsley, 26; full sisters, Winnie Billingsley, 17, and Eva Billingsley, 23, as well as three half-siblings: Robert Handel, 10, Arthur Handel, 7, Ida Helen Handel, 3, and his mother, Ada Handel. His brother George Frederick Billingsley died in 1918 at the age of 24.

Billingsley was hospitalised at least 4 times – each time with pyrescia or fever. He was disciplined at least 10 times, his crimes including “breaking out of camp” (twice) and having dirty equipment; hesitating to obey an order; being late for parade. It is clear that he and Army life were not a good combination.

Before joining up, Billingsley was an electrical engineer’s assistant. He lived with his family at 2 Arlington Mansions, Morat Street, London SW9.

George Frederick Billingsley

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G. F. Billingsley
Service no. 10356
Private, Yorkshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion
Died age 24 on 29 September 1918
CWGC: “Son of Mrs. A. H. Handel, of 2 Arlington Mansions, 18A Morat Street, Brixton.”
Remembered at Sucrerie Cemetery, Epinoy, France and on the war shrine at St Michael’s Church, Stockwell Park Road, London 0DA.

Brother of Sydney Walter Billingsley.
Stepson of Harry Frank Handel

George Frederick Billingsley was born on 23 June 1894 at 6 Robert Street, near Regent’s Park in north London and baptised on 10 July 1894 at Holy Trinity, Gray’s Inn Road.

George and his brother Sydney were among six siblings and three half-siblings. 

Information from the censuses and other sources

In 1911 Sydney and George Billingsley, both remembered on the Stockwell War Memorial, lived with their mother, stepfather Harry Frank Handel (also remembered on the memorial), sister and half-brother in 2 rooms at 101 Cornwallis Road, Upper Holloway, north London. Harry Handel, at 29 much younger than his wife, was an army pensioner, now working as a cook. He was born in Kennington. Ada Harriett (née Mew), 42, was born in Banstead, Surrey. The couple has a son, Robert Harry Handel, 11 months, born in Highgate, north London. George  Frederick Billingsley, 16, worked as an office boy for a publisher. He was born in Holborn. Sydney Walter Billingsley, 13, was born in Kensal Rise, north London. Winifred Kate Billingsley, 9, was born in Highgate.

Billingsley’s father, Alfred Billingsley, was listed in the census as 37, a printer’s machine minder born in St Luke’s. The family lived at 309 Hornsey Road, Islington. He died in 1903 in Islington.

Percy Bigg

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P. Bigg
Service no. CH/17624
Private, Royal Marine Light Infantry, H.M.S. “Formidable”
Died age 19 on 1 January 1915
Son of Alfred Bigg, of 12, Thorparch Road, Wandsworth. Born at Lambeth.
Remembered at Chatham Naval Memorial and at Stockwell War Memorial, London SW9

Private Bigg died after H. M. S. “Formidable” was torpedoed by a German sub and sank off Portland Bill. 547 crew (35 officers and 512 men) out of total of 782 died, including the captain (Captain Loxley). The wreck site is protected under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.
MaritimeQuest has a list of all lost on the Formidable.

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 the Bigg family lived in 6 rooms at 4 Victoria Place, Priory Grove. Alfred Bigg, 44, was a carman for a laundry. He was born in Hertfordshire. Ellen Bigg, 44, was born in Fontmell Magna, Dorset. There were 7 surviving children (of 11):
George Alfred Bigg, 22, a carman, born in Kennington
Rose Bigg, 20, a shell box maker, born in Kennington
Bertram James Bigg, 19, a painter, born in Kennington
Percy Bigg, 15, a porter, born in Battersea
Sidney Bigg, 9, born in Battersea
Arthur Bigg, 8, born in Lambeth
Albert Thomas Bigg, 3, born in Lambeth