Stockwell War Memorial

Friends of Stockwell War Memorial & Gardens

age 35

William Alfred Lamerton

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W. A. Lamerton
Service no. 217128
Sapper, Royal Engineers, 48th Divisional Signal Coy
Born in Camberwell; enlisted in Lambeth; lived in Stockwell
Killed in action age 35 on 2 July 1918
CWGC: “Son of James Edward and Emily Lamerton, of Peckham; husband of Louisa Lamerton, of 6, Emily Mansions, Landor Road, Stockwell.”
Remembered at Magnaboschi British Cemetery, Italy

British Army WWI Service Records 1914-1920

William Lamerton, a skilled bricklayer (who also described himself on his enlistment papers as a house agent), attested at Lambeth Town Hall on 10 December 1915, just before the national compulsory call-up came into force. He was described as 5 feet 8¼ inches tall with a 37 inch chest (which he could expand 3 inches) and weighing 140 pounds (10 stone); his physical development was judged to be “fair”.

He was assigned to the Army Reserve and mobilised in December 1916. He joined the 48th Divisional Signal Company on 6 May 1917 and was killed in action in Italy in July 1918, leaving Louisa Lamerton a widow.

After Lamerton’s death, Louisa applied for a pension. On 31 October 1918 the Form was returned to the local pensions board, which was based at Hammerton Hall, Stockwell Green, as the Ministry of Pensions was not satisfied with the signature of the person who countersigned it. They responded with information that Dr. Cross of 51 High Street, Clapham had signed.

We do not know if Louisa had any special occupation or whether she was able to supplement the weekly widow’s pension of 20 shillings and 5 pence (just over one pound) she was awarded. Louisa was lucky in one way – she had only one child (seven-year-old Doris Louisa) to care for.

In March 1920, Louisa filed her Form W.5080, in which she listed the relatives of the late soldier. She almost forgot herself by signing herself “wife”, which she scrubbed out and replaced with “widow”.

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 William Lamerton, then 27, and his wife Louisa Lamerton, 27, were living in 6 rooms at 54 Lugard Road, Peckham with William’s older brother Harry Lamerton, 30, and his wife Eliza Lamerton, 37. Louisa was from Nunhead and Eliza from Peckham, while the Lamerton brothers were both born in Camberwell. Doris Lamerton had just been born.

Charles F. P. Hillier

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C. F. P. Hillier
Service no. L/7574
Private, Royal Fusiliers, 4th Battalion
Born in Cork, Ireland; enlisted in London
Killed in action on 27 October 1914, aged 35
CWGC: “Son of Daniel and Ellen Hillier, of 9 Hemans Street, Lambeth, London. Served in the South African Campaign.”
Remembered at Le Trouret Memorial, France

Tentative identification

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission database lists a Charles Hillier, whose parents lived at 9 Hemans Street, off Wandsworth Road. However, this man was christened Charles James John in Cork, Ireland, the son of Daniel Hillier, a coal porter from  Stratfield Saye, Berkshire, and Ellen (née Pierce)
from Cork. 

The CWGC database also states that Hillier served in the Boer War. On 24 October 1900 Charles  Hillier, a private with the South West Borderers, was admitted, for unknown reasons, to Brookwood Asylum in Surrey.

Albert Curtis

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A. Curtis
Service no. SS/8149
Private, Army Service Corps
Died on 30 August 1915, aged 35
Remembered at Wandsworth Cemetery, Magdalen Road, Earlsfield, south-west London

Albert Curtis left a widow, Forence Maud Curtis, living at Paradise Road, Stockwell, and five young children.

Albert married Florence in 1906, and worked as an upholsterer and maker of portmanteaux (suitcases and travelling bags). The 1911 census shows that he, then 32, and Florence, 22, had been married for five years, and lived with their two young children in one room in Speke Road (which ran parallel with Grant Road) in Clapham Junction.

Albert’s medal card shows that he served in France from 26 April 1915. He died in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Southampton, three weeks after he was hit by a sack of flour, which fell from a crane. His death certificate gives fracture of the spine among the causes of death.

Florence remained in Paradise Road, remarried and had three further sons, who all served in World War Two.