Stockwell War Memorial

Friends of Stockwell War Memorial & Gardens

KIA

Alfred Robert Lawrence

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A. R. Lawrence
Service no. 205241
Private, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), 1st Bn. attd. 1st/4th Bn.
Born in Southwark; enlisted in Southwark; lived in Lambeth
Killed in action age 27 on 28 March 1918
CWGC: “Son of Alfred and Mary Louisa Lawrence, of 65, Knowle Rd., Brixton, London.”
Remembered at Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France

Information from the 1911 census

Tentative identification
Alfred R. Lawrence, a 21-year-old signwriter, lived at 39 Burman Street, Southwark, with his parents, Alfred Lawrence, 45, a private coachman who did not know where he was born, and Louisa Lawrence, 42, a bookfolder born in Southwark. The family occupied 4 rooms. Alfred was an only child, the only survivor of Alfred and Louisa’s 2 children.

Albert John Laskey

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A. J. Laskey
Service no. 22997
Lance Corporal, Border Regiment, 1st Battalion; formerly 10696, East Surrey Regiment
Born in Lambeth; enlisted at Kingston-on-Thames; lived in Stockwell
Killed in action on 1 July 1916, aged about 22
Remembered at Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France

In 1911 Albert John David Laskey, 17, was working as an errand boy. He later became a greengrocer’s assistant, working for the Lackey family business at 6 Industrial Terrace, Brixton. However, he was let go from there as business was slack, according to Thomas Lackey, who provided a testimonial to the Army on Laskey’s good conduct. Lackey joined the East Surrey Regiment on 3 August 1913 at Kingston-on-Thames as a private.

Laskey lived with his family in four rooms at 33 Edithna Street, Stockwell. His father, William David, 46, was a “night porter (flats),” originally from Hempnall, Norfolk. His stepmother, Sarah Jane Eliza, 38, was from Islington, London. There were three half-siblings and two boarders.

The physical description of Laskey brings to mind a solid, well-built man. He was 5 feet 6½ inches tall, 10 stone, with a 34-inch chest, to which he could add 2 inches. He had a fresh complexion, with brown eyes and brown hair, a scar inside her right knee and a mile to the right of his abdomen.

There was only one misdemeanour on Laskey’s conduct sheet: at Kingston he was absent for three hours on 18 June 1915, for which he was punished with five days’ Confinement to Barracks and the loss of five days’ pay. Nevertheless, in July he was promoted to Lance Corporal.

Laskey went missing on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, when 19,240 men died during what became known as the Battle of Albert. His family now had an agonising wait to discover what had happened to him. On 19 September his wife, Florence Lily, wrote from her home at 55 Victor Road, Teddington, “I am asking if you [have heard] anything more of my husband. … He was reported missing on July 1st.” His stepmother wrote too. “Will you please let me know if you have any definite news of my son,” she pleaded on 26 March 1917. But Laskey’s body, like so many, was never found and he is remembered on Thiepval Memorial where those soldiers known only “to God” are listed.

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 Albert John David Laskey, 17, was working as an errand boy. He lived with his family in 4 rooms at 33 Edithna Street, Stockwell. Albert’s father, William David Laskey, 46, was a “night porter (flats)”. He was from Hempnall, Norfolk. His mother, Sarah Jane Eliza Laskey, 38, was from St Luke’s, London. There were 4 children:
Albert John David Laskey, 17, born in Greenwich
Dorothy Alice Laskey, 7, born in Peckham
Jeannie Olga Laskey, 5, born in Peckham
David William Laskey, 3, born in Stockwell
There were 2 boarders: William John Rivers Willson, 50, a travelling coalman, born in Greenwich, and Ray Thorley Hepworth, 24, an actor from Leeds.

George Charles Lasham

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G. C. Lasham
Service no. 7912
Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery, 9th Siege Bty.
Born in Brixton; enlisted at Shepherd’s Bush; lived in Lambeth, Surrey
Killed in action at age 28 on 26 August 1916
CWGC: “Son of John and Eliza Lasham of London; husband of Louisa Alice Lasham, of 7 Elwell Rd., Clapham, London.”
Remembered at Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt, France

Information from the censuses

In 1911 postman George Lasham, 22, lived at 137 Hartington Road, Stockwell, where his family occupied 6 rooms. His father, John Lasham, 51, was an engineer’s pattern maker, born in Lambeth. His mother, Eliza Lasham, 47, was from Lathbury, Buckinghamshire. There were 8 children in 1911 (one child had died), 6 of whom lived at home:
Louise Lasham, 26, a dressmaker, born in Kent
George Lasham, 22, a postman, born in London
Lily Lasham, 18, a needlewoman, born in London
James Lasham, 16, an apprentice engineer, born in London
Ernest Lasham, 10
Frederick Lasham, 5
In 1901 the Lasham family lived at 19 Courland Grove. This census states that John Lasham was deaf. The census includes
Charlotte Lasham, 14, born in Clapham

James Larcombe

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J. Larcombe
Service no. R/14879
Rifleman, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 7th Battalion
Killed in action aged 20 on 15 September 1916
Remembered at Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France

Information from British Army WWI Service Records 1914-1920

James Larcombe, a 19-year-old compositor from Stockwell, joined the King’s Royal Rifle Brigade on 3 August 1915 at Battersea. He stood 5 feet 3½ inches tall and weighed 112 pounds. His chest measured 35½ inches, which he could expand by 3 inches. He wore glasses.

There was just one disciplinary matter in his file. In March 1916 he was disciplined for hestitating to obey an order. His punishment was three days CB (confined to barracks).

His short Army career ended just over a year later at the Battle of the Somme, where he was missing in action and then declared dead.

On 2 November 1916,  Louisa Larcombe, his bereaved mother, wrote to the Rifles Record Office from her home in Hubert Grove, confused by information she had been given and clinging to hope.

Dear Sir,
I regret to inform you that I have been notified from the War Office that my son, Private J. Larcombe, R/14879, B. company, 7th Platoon, 7th Battalion, K.R.R., was missing after being in action on 15th Sept. last, there has also being [sic] one of his letters returned marked on the outside wounded on the 21st/9/16 and present location uncertain. Dear Sir as I am very anxious to know what has become of him, I should be most gratefully obliged if you could [make a] few inquiries about him off some of the lads that was with him on that date or any other possible way and kindly oblige.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. L. Larcombe

There is no record of the Army’s reply, if any.

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 James Larcombe was a 13-year-old schoolboy, living with his family in 5 rooms at 21 Hubert Grove, Stockwell. Robert Larcombe, 58, was a tram conductor, born at Crewkerne, Somerset. Louisa Larcombe, 49, was born in Bow, east London. His parents had had 5 children (2 had died). The children on the census were:
Robert Larcombe, 18, a clerk at the Conservative Club, born in Newington, London
Louisa Larcombe, 16, a machinist (blouse-making), born in Newington
James Larcombe, 13, born in Lambeth

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.

Frank Radcliffe King

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F. R. King
Second Lieutenant, The King’s (Liverpool Regiment), “D” Coy. 14th Battalion
Killed in action at age 30 on 14 September 1916
CWGC: “Son of George Edward King, J.P. (Alderman and Guardian for the Borough of Lambeth and Mayor of Lambeth 1928-29), of 57 Aytoun Road, Stockwell, London, and the late Julia Constance King.”
Remembered at Doiran Memorial, Greece

Information from the South London Press, October 1916

The South London Press reported his death in October 1916 and quoted from a letter from King’s Commanding Officer Colonel Lambert to his father “I regret to say your son was killed two days ago fighting gallantly. We had taken a position held by the Germans, and he and the bombers guarded our right flank and did great execution. He will be a great loss to the regiment, as he was so keen, and a most promising officer, but he died a soldier’s death. The regiment fought splendidly, and though we had heavy casualties – four other officers in the battalion being killed – we caused great losses to the Germans. My sincere sympathy in your bereavement.” A friend stated that King had been made Bombing officer of his battalion, but did not want his parents or sisters to know as this would have worried them. 

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 Frank Radcliffe King, 25, was working as an insurance clerk with the Law Union and Rock Insurance Company. He lived with his parents and 3 of his siblings at 57 Aytoun Road, Stockwell, where the family occupied 8 rooms. Frank’s father, George Edward King, 57, described himself as a schoolmaster and headteacher working for London County Council. He was born in Gorleston, Suffolk. His mother, Julia Constance, 54, was from Islington, north London. They had 5 children, 3 of whom lived at home:
Constance Dorothy King, 30, a schoolmistress and assistant teacher working for the London County Council, born in Brixton
Frank Radcliffe King, 25, born in Stockwell
Kathleen Muriel King, 23, a schoolmistress and assistant teacher working for the London County Council, born in Stockwell
Information from the 1901 Census
The family lived at 57 Aytoun Road in 1901. The census includes Frank’s other siblings
Ethel King, 18, a pupil-teacher, born in Brixton
Ernest King, 16, a clerk with an insurance company, born in Stockwell