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.