William Martyr was amongst the first cohort of students to register for Ilford County High School at the beginning of July 1901. He was born in Stratford on 11th December 1890 and had previously attended Christchurch School, Ilford. He remained at Ilford County High School until 3rd June 1904, at which point he took up a post in business. He took a post as an Insurance Agent some time before 1911.
William was the son of Clarence and Rebecca Martyr. His family lived at 219 Thorold Road, Ilford in 1901, however they had moved to 41 Grosvenor Road, Ilford by 1911. His father was living on his own means and had no occupation between 1891 and 1911. However, his mother had been a dressmaker in the 1890s. William had an older brother, Henry and a younger sister, Eveline.
William is recorded on the first Roll of Honour (in the Christmas 1914 edition of the school magazine, Chronicles). It gives his regiments as ‘L.R.B.’ The CWGC website gives more details. William was promoted to the rank of Acting Serjeant in the London Rifle Brigade just before his death on 27th November 1916. His service number was S/3669 and he was fighting close to the seaside town of Etretat in France when he died. He was buried in the local churchyard (Grave II. A. 10A).
Research by Andrew Emeny, History Teacher at ICHS
Sources:
Ancestry.com
ICHS school records and magazines
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Note
Ilford County High School started life as the Park Higher Grade School in 1901 in Balfour Road, Ilford. It was renamed Ilford County High School (or initially County High School, Ilford) in the years after the school’s management was transferred from Ilford School Board to Essex Education Committee in 1904.