Born on 3rd July 1896 at Trowbridge Wiltshire, son of John Charles (Army and Civilian Saddler) and Sarah Elizabeth Jackman. He was Baptised at Millwall on 30th August 1896. 1901: With his family at 32 Alpha Road, Poplar. He attended Glengall Road School Millwall. 1911: A Messenger, living with his family at 14 Mellish Street, Poplar. The family subsequently moved to 6 Gladys Villas, Stoneycroft Road, Woodford Bridge.
He enlisted at Walthamstow when war broke out, and was sent to Salonika (Greece). He was Killed in Action, probably during the attack on well established Bulgarian Troops at Tumbitza Farm on the Struma River.
His father joined the Army at 16, and had been a Saddler Sergeant with the Royal Field Artillery, but was discharged on 31st July 1907 having reached the 40 age limit. He re-enlisted on 10th September 1914, but was invalided out of the service in 1917 due to rheumatic fever and lumbago. He had not seen his son for two and a half years. His youngest son Will had been shot in the throat and badly gassed, but was recovering. His daughter operated the level crossing gates at Woodford Station. Her boyfriend, Private White of Woodford, was reported missing in the middle of July 1917.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com