East Enders of World War One

East Enders of World War One
This booklet accompanies THCH’s WWI Centenary Photographic Exhibition
Foreword
Many individuals, organisations, charities, councils and housing associations across the UK and of course,
Governments around the World, will be marking the centenary of the start of World War I this August.
At THCH, we decided to hold an exhibition of East Enders who served in the War.
The majority of information contained in the booklet and used in our exhibition, has been provided by local
residents – for which we are extremely grateful.
We are also delighted to have been able to link up with the East London Suffragette Festival, which in
August is marking 100 years since the founding of the East London Federation of Suffragettes by Sylvia
Pankhurst and her colleagues.
Imperial War Museum’s Lives of The First World War
All the images and stories featured will be added to the Imperial War Museum’s WWI project to document
and record for posterity, the lives of more than 8 million people who served in the Great War.
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The East London Suffragettes
Unlike most other women’s suffrage societies, the East London Federation of the Suffragettes did not
suspend their campaigning activities during WWI. But they did change their priorities and their approach.
Many members of the Federation were opposed to the War, and after 1916 the organisation openly
campaigned against conscription, executions for cowardice and wartime restrictions on free speech.
However, at the start of the War they launched a number of relief initiatives which would continue long
after the War ended.
Who were the East London Federation of Suffragettes?
Led by Sylvia Pankhurst, the ELFS began as the East London
branch of the Women's Social and Political Union, who
used militant tactics to campaign for women to be awarded
the right to vote.
However, in January 1914, the WSPU leaders Emmeline and
Christabel Pankhurst – Sylvia's mother and sister – decided
that the ELFS must become a separate organisation, as they
would not 'step in line' with the rest of the movement.
Many in the WSPU also believed that poor women had
nothing to contribute to the fight for the vote.
The East London branch of the WSPU defiantly renamed
themselves the East London Federation of the Suffragettes,
and launched their own newspaper, in which they stated:
“Some people say that the lives of working women are too
hard and their education too small for them to become a
powerful voice in winning the vote. Such people have
forgotten their history.”
Sylvia Pankhurst with baby 1915
Over the next few years the Federation did prove the power of a working women's movement. Their
influence and importance extended far beyond their impact on the struggle for Votes for Women, and they
became an independent force for change in the East End.
How did the outbreak of the First World War affect the East End?
Within a few weeks of the outbreak of war many East End factories had closed. Workers had no benefits to
fall back on and little chance of finding another position. At the same time, panic-buying caused food
prices to rise rapidly.
As men on the Army reserves list were called up and others enlisted, many women were suddenly left
alone to provide for their family, sometimes with just a few hours' notice. While separation allowances to
provide for soldier's wives and children were slowly introduced, they were not generous, were often paid
late and could be suspended for weeks at a time.
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The queues at town halls all over the country were enormous, and marriage and birth certificates
requested as proof cost money to acquire, and were frequently lost by the administration. With only
antiquated Poor Laws, the workhouse, and minimal National Insurance coverage in place of a welfare
state, within weeks of war's outbreak many families in the East End were facing starvation. People began
to arrive at the suffragettes' Women's Hall at 400 Old Ford Road seeking help.
How did the East London suffragettes help the War Effort?
Although most ELFS members were opposed to the War, they worked tirelessly to help local families that
were affected by it. Sylvia Pankhurst wrote a letter to The Times calling for donations and they soon began
to receive money to buy milk for starving babies, which they gave out from the Women's Hall on Old Ford
Road, and also from centres in Canning Town, Stepney and Poplar.
The suffragettes opened a clinic to treat the children worst affected by hunger and disease, a nursery
where women could leave their children safely while they went out to work, and three canteens serving
nutritious food at “cost price”, anticipating the Government's National Kitchens by several years.
The suffragettes even opened a cooperative toy factory, where local women could earn a living wage and
learn a trade at the same time.
The Toy Factory
In October 1914, Sylvia Pankhurst, with the financial assistance of Norah Smyth, opened the East London
Toy Factory at 45 Norman Road (now Norman Grove) in an effort to provide work for East End women who
had lost their jobs through the war.
The factory was run on cooperative lines and
the workers were paid a generous minimum
wage of 5d an hour or £1 a week.
The first toys produced were simple flat
wooden animals, but soon the factory was
producing jointed wooden toys, stuffed
animals and soft dolls with wax and china
heads.
The toys were very popular, and were sold in
Selfridges, Liberty's, Gamage's and other
department stores.
Women working the Toy Factory at 45 Norman Road
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The Mother's Arms
On the corner of Old Ford Road and St
Stephen's Road was a disused public house,
which at one time was called the Gunmakers'
Arms, as it lay opposite a weapons factory.
The ELFS set to work refurbishing the place,
and in April 1915, the Mother's Arms opened
as a mother and baby clinic, free milk depot
and day nursery.
The project was a huge success. In 1916
writer Israel Zangwill said that “...the hope of
the world lies in changing the Gunmaker's
Arms into the Mother's Arms”.
Mothers and their infants to the clinic at the
Mother's Arms - 1914
Milk depots
The East London Federation of Suffragettes began distributing milk to feed starving infants from their
Women's Hall at 400 Old Ford Road. Over the next few weeks, other war relief offices were opened, first at
319 East India Dock Road, and Crowder Hall, Bow Road - the Poplar Women's Hall was later opened at 20
Railway Street and 53 St Leonard's Street, Bromley.
Later, a centre was opened in Canning Town, first at Butcher's Road, and later at 55 Fife Road. Soon all
these centres were providing free milk to mothers with babies, together with Virol, eggs and barley, as well
as free leaflets and feeding charts about infant health.
Cost Price Restaurants
Another ELFS initiative launched in the early years of the War were 'cost price' restaurants, which served
nutritious hot food for very low prices. ‘Cost price’ was intended as a ‘slogan against profiteering’, and the
Federation aimed to serve ‘two-penny, two-course meals to adults and penny meals to children’.
The Cost Price restaurant - opened by the Suffragettes on Old Ford Road
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The first restaurant was opened at 400 Old Ford Road, with others following at the other women's centres
at 20 Railway Street in Poplar and 53 Leonard Street in Bromley.
All three became very popular, and the provision of meals for over 100 people each mealtime with very
scant facilities was no mean feat.
As writer Miles Franklin observed admiringly “Dear me! What courage, industry and sheer grit it takes to
keep clean these ramshackle, mouldy places with the tin-pot means of accomplishment at hand”.
After the War
Just before the War ended in 1918, women over 30 who owned property were finally awarded the vote.
Although most of the poor women members of the ELFS were still excluded, they changed their name to
the Workers' Socialist Federation and began to focus more on worker's rights than women's rights. The
Mother's Arms stayed open until 1921, and the whole organisation finally closed down in 1924.
Although the East London Federation of Suffragettes only existed for a few years, it made a tremendous
impact, in the East End and beyond.
The Federation worked tirelessly to win over the people of east London to the cause of votes for women,
and succeeded. Through their war work they not only changed lives but saved them, and they deserve to
be more widely remembered today.
Norah Smyth
Norah Smyth was one of the most important members of the East London Federation of the Suffragettes,
and a great friend of Sylvia Pankhurst. Although Norah was also from a wealthy background, she dedicated
many years of her life, and almost all of her inheritance, to the suffragette cause, and lived in Bow with
Sylvia for many years.
Though never a 'star' of the suffragette movement, Smyth played countless crucial roles, from drilling the
People's Army to painting the Women's Hall to dressing up as Father Christmas to distribute presents to
local children. Miles Franklin described her as “equally capable” to Sylvia, and admired the way she could
“turn her hand from fitting out a baby to driving a motor car, as the necessity arises.”
One of Norah's greatest contributions was as an observer. She was a talented amateur photographer, and
it is thanks to her that we have such a fantastic visual record of the East London suffragettes and their
world.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Sarah from the East London Suffragette Festival for providing this information and
to Norah's great nephew Paul Isolani Smyth for his permission to reproduce her photographs.
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Samuel Adelson (1896 – 1925)
Samuel Adelson, who resided with his aunt at 8 Gosset Street, Brick Lane was in the 38th Battalion, Royal
Fusilliers and fought in Palestine in 1918. He was born in Nemajunai, Trakai, Lithuania in 1896 to David
Adelson and Zlota Gordon Adelson. In 1920 Samuel emigrated to America where he died in Springfield,
Massachusett in 1925.
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Henry George Croney (1897 – 1982)
Henry George Croney, also known as Harry, was born in Poplar in 1897 and served in the Royal Artillery
from 1914-1918. Lying about his age, Henry enlisted in the Army before he was legally eligible and joined
the Royal Artillery due to his experience with horses (having worked since a child with his father who ran
horses and carts from the docks).
Henry’s grand-daughter, Cheryl Loughnane, recalls the wartime stories Henry would tell – including his
hatred of bully beef and of the time he stole a pig from French farm.
After the war, Henry married Annie and worked as a haulier. When he retired, he could not stop driving
around the East End and became a volunteer for ‘Meals on Wheels,’ delivering dinners to pensioners.
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Henry Croney as a child.
Taken at Late Avery’s Studio
East India Dock Road, E14
Henry with family
Henry’s WWII Home Guard recognition
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George Joseph Dubock (1878 – 1951)
George Joseph Dubock was descended from a Huguenot family which arrived in the East End in 1706.
Born on 5 December 1878 in 109 Eastfield St, Limehouse, George and his family moved shortly after to
Mile End Old Town. George worked as a Dock Labourer and a Road Sweeper/Scavenger for the Council.
Serving as Private 14373 in the Sixth Dorset Regiment, George was a victim of a gas attack and suffered
post-traumatic stress after the War.
Later, George became a Master Cabinet Maker and ended his days working in Newbury, restoring old
furniture until he died in 1951.
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Cards sent home from the front by George Dubock to his daughter, Emily, in September 1915.
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Walter Tull (1888 – 1918)
Second Lieutenant Walter Tull was the first
black British Army Infantry Officer.
Walter Tull, the son of a joiner, was born in
Folkestone on the 28 April 1888. Walter's
father, the son of a slave, had arrived from
Barbados in 1876.
In 1895, when Walter was seven, his mother
died and his father remarried. But he died two
years later and Walter’s stepmother was unable
to cope with all six children and Walter and his
brother Edward were sent to a Methodist run
orphanage in Bethnal Green, London.
Walter was a keen footballer and played for a
local team in Clapton. In 1908 Walter's talents
were discovered by a scout from Tottenham
Hotspur and the club decided to sign this
promising young footballer.
He played for Tottenham until 1910, when he
was transferred for a large fee to Northampton
Town. Walter was the first black outfield player
to play professional football in Britain.
Image courtesy of Doug Banks
(www.colourisehistory.com )
When the First World War broke out, Walter abandoned his football career to join the 17th (1st Football)
Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment.
During his military training Walter was promoted three times. In November 1914, as Lance Sergeant he
was sent to Les Ciseaux in France. In May, 1915 Walter was sent home with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Returning to France in September 1916 Walter fought in the Battle of the Somme, between October and
November, 1916. His courage and abilities encouraged his superior officers to recommend him as an
officer. On 26 December, 1916, Walter went back to England on Leave and to train as an officer.
There were military laws forbidding 'any negro or person of colour' being commissioned as an officer,
despite this, Walter was promoted to lieutenant in 1917.
Walter was the first ever Black officer in the British Army, and the first black officer to lead white men into
battle.
Walter was sent to the Italian Front where he twice led his Company across the River Piave on a raid and
both times brought all of his troops back safely. He was mentioned in Despatches for his 'gallantry and
coolness' under fire by his commanding officer. He was recommended for the Military Cross but never
received it.
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After their time in Italy, Walter's Battalion was transferred to the Somme Valley in France. On 25 March,
1918, Walter Tull was killed by machine gun fire while trying to help his men withdraw.
Walter was such a popular man that several of his men risked their own lives in an attempt to retrieve his
body under heavy fire but they were unsuccessful due to the enemy soldiers advance. Walter's body was
never found and he is one of thousands of soldiers from World War One who has no known grave.
Walter Tull pictured with his family before being
sent to an orphanage in Bethnal Green
with his brother Edward
Walter Tull whilst playing for Tottenham Hotspurs
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Richard Williams (1875 - 1947)
Richard and Margaret Williams
Richard Williams was born as William Waghorn on 4 April 1875 in Old Brewery, Hayes, Kent. He worked in
Kent as a labourer and later moved to the East End to work on the construction of the Blackwall Tunnel. He
married Margaret Constable (1888-1966) on 28 June 1913 in The Register Office, Mile End Old Town.
They lived all their married life in the Stepney area and had a total of 12 children. Richard joined the army
and subsequently suffered from poor health as his lungs were affected by the munitions used in battle.
Richard passed away in Stepney in 1947.
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Issy Smith VC (1890 – 1940)
Born Ishroulch Shmeilowitz in Alexandria, Egypt on
18 September 1890, the son of French citizens
Moses and Eva Shmeilowitz (who were of Russian
origin) Issy Smith arrived in East London as a
stowaway aged 11, where he attended Berner
Street School, Commercial Street, before working as
a deliverer in the East End.
He joined the British Army in 1904, becoming a
private in the Manchester Regiment.
The pseudonym Issy Smith was adopted in the
process of enlisting at the behest of a recruiting
sergeant. Smith completed his training, serving in
South Africa and India with the 1st Battalion. He
boxed competitively, winning the British Army's
middleweight championship, and played football.
While in India, Smith was present at the Delhi
Durbar parade, in which the 1st Manchester’s
participated, and was thus awarded the Delhi
Durbar Medal.
Accepting his discharge in 1912, Smith emigrated to
Australia, where he remained until mobilised as a
reservist in 1914 - As a corporal in the 1st Battalion,
the Manchester Regiment.
In 26 April 1915, Smith, on his own initiative, recovered wounded soldiers while exposed to sustained fire
and attended to them "with the greatest devotion to duty regardless of personal risk". His conduct
secured a recommendation for the Victoria Cross, which was awarded to Smith in August 1915. The
citation reads “No. 168 Acting Corporal Issy Smith, 1st Battalion The Manchester Regiment. For most
conspicuous bravery on 26th April, 1915, near Ypres, when he left his Company on his own initiative and
went well forward towards the enemy's position to assist a severely wounded man, whom he carried a
distance of 250 yards into safety, whilst exposed the whole time to heavy machine-gun and rifle fire.
Subsequently, Corporal Smith displayed great gallantry, when the casualties were very heavy, in voluntarily
assisting to bring in many more wounded men throughout the day, and attending to them with the
greatest devotion to duty regardless of personal risk”.
In recognition of his VC, he was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre and Russian Cross of St. George
(4th class) by the respective Governments.
Issy Smith returned to Australia in 1925 with his wife and daughter, becoming a prominent figure in
Melbourne's Jewish community and was also appointed a Justice of the Peace. Issy passed away on 11
September 1940 from coronary thrombosis.
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Henry Charles William Sumner (1875 - 1924)
Henry Charles William Sumner was born on 27 April 1875 at 4 Dingle Lane, Poplar.
Henry, a professional soldier, was a corporal in the 10th County of London Regiment and served in the
Boer War and the First World War.
During WWI he was a guard at the German prisoner of war camp at Alexandra Palace in North London. He
married Margaret Fenn (1882-1958) at St Saviour’s Church, Poplar on 7 October 1904 and had a total of 8
children.
Henry died of cancer of the colon, aged 49, at the Queen’s Hospital, in Chislehurst, Kent, which was for
military personnel.
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Harry Joseph Haynes (1893 - 1960)
Uncle to the legendry football and England Captain, Johnny Haynes, South Londoner Harry Haynes was
born on 6 December 1893 and served in the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War I. Following the
war, Harry worked as a labourer at the London & St Katharine Docks in Wapping.
Port of London Dock Pass
Birth Certificate for Harry Haynes
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George William Gristey (1890 - 1915)
George Gristey was born in Hackney on 13 March 1890.
At the time of his death, George’s mother, Laura Rixen (formerly Gristey) lived at 20 Cranbrook Road,
Green Street in Bethnal Green. George served as a private in the East Surrey regiment and was killed in
Belgium on 23 June 1915. George is buried at Woods Cemetery, 4kms south-east of Ypres town centre in
West Flanders.
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Charles Hunt (1888 – 1914)
Charles Alfred Hunt was born in 1888 in Mile End, London and served as a Private in the 12th (Prince of
Wales’s Royal) Lancers.
The Lancers arrived in France on 18 August 1914 and only ten days later, fought a battle against a regiment
of German Dragoons at Moy. Charles Hunt was awarded the 1914 Star and Victory medals but just 11 days
after arriving in France, and at just 26 years of age, Charles died of his wounds received in the battle.
Charles’ grave in Bavay, a small cemetery that for most of the war was behind German lines. Charles is one
of only 12 Commonwealth servicemen buried in this graveyard.
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George Harden Outram (1870-1938)
George Outram was born on 17 March 1870 at 21 Dunstan Road, Mile End, the son of Arthur Outram
(1826-1904) and Martha Jane Harden (1841-1877).
George married Margaret (Mag) Charlotte Constable (1871-1932) on Christmas Day 1889, at St Paul’s
Church, Bow Common (which was on the site of the modern St Paul’s with St Luke’s Church, at the junction
of Burdett Road and St Paul’s Way) and had 10 children.
After service in the Merchant Navy, George became a lighter-man. The picture above shows George in an
army uniform and was taken during the First World War, when he took barges across to France.
Although not in the army he was made to wear a uniform so that if he was caught by the Germans he
would not be shot as a spy. George died of a stroke in Mile End Hospital in April 1938 aged 68.
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Arthur Outram (1890-1917)
Arthur and Nell Outram
Arthur Outram was born on 20 September 1890, at 25 London Street, Ratcliff.
Arthur was killed in Belgium on 10 October 1917 whilst serving as a Sergeant with the 2nd Battalion, Duke
of Wellington's Regiment.
Sadly, like many of his comrades, he has no known grave. Therefore he is commemorated by name on
Panel 82 of the Tyne Cot Memorial in the Tyne Cot Cemetery (the largest British war cemetery in the
world), 2km South-West of Passendale, formerly known as Passchendaele. His name is also listed on the
memorial at St Anne’s Church, Limehouse.
Arthur had married Ellen Callaghan (1891-1970) at St Matthew’s Church, Limehouse on 26 November 1916
- they had one son, also called Arthur, who was less than a month old when his father was killed.
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Alfred William Blanford (1894 – 1916)
Alfred was born in Poplar in 1894 and resided at 64 Whitethorn Street, Bow E3. In April 1912, aged just 18,
he married Florence Jenkins and in the December of the same year, had their first child – also called Alfred.
In February 2014, Alfred and Florence’s second son, Fredrick, was born and their third, Edith, in December
1916.
Alfred had joined the Army before his 20th birthday and in December 1914, at the time of his third child’s
birth, was in training in Aldershot.
Alfred served as a Driver (37674) in the Royal Field Artillery and was killed in action in May 1916.
The letter above from the Regimental
Paymaster of 5 June 1916 notifies
Alfred’s wife, Florence, of his death and
that the separation allowance and
allotment of pay will continue
temporarily.
The card on the right was sent from
Aldershot to Arthur’s mother at
Whitethorn Street on 13 December 1914.
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James David Everingham (1894 – 1976)
After the death of Alfred William
Blanford in May 1916 (see previous
page), Florence Blanford married
James David Everingham of Gale
Street, Bethnal Green on 21 August
1920 and went onto have 9 other
children, including: Charles, William,
Emma, Lilian, George, John, Mary and
James.
James, son of Alfred Everingham and
Charlotte Agonbar of Mile End, was
born on 4 February 1894 and baptised
on 21 February of that year at All
Hallows Church, Bromely.
Driver, Royal Field Artillery (Reg. No. 36150)
James and Florence are pictured here
on Southend in the 1930’s before they
retired to Canvey Island in the 1940’s.
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Alfred James Barwell (1898 – 1918)
Alfred James Barwell was born on 3 December 1889 and was a Private in the Queen’s Own (Royal West
Kent Regiment).
Alfred was baptised on 1 June 1899 at St Simon Zelotes Church, Bethnal Green and lived with his parents,
Alfred & Alice Barwell, at 5 Prospect Place, Bethnal Green and later, 27 Museum Buildings, Chester St,
Bethnal Green. Aged just nineteen, Alfred was killed in action on 21 March 1918. His is listed on the
Pozieres Memorial (Panel Ref 58 and 59) in the Somme.
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John Arthur Tribe (1895 - 1915)
Rifleman John Tribe (L) was part of a large, close-knit family from Poplar and Limehouse.
Born in Limehouse to John and Amy Tribe (nee Ingleden) in 1895, the 1901 Census showed John living at 46
Halley Street, Limehouse. Lying about his age, John joined the Army in 1911, serving in the Fourth
Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps - first in India and then at the Battle of Loos where he was killed in
action on 25 September 1915 . John is commemorated at the Loos Memorial but has no known grave.
(Story & photo of John Arthur Tribe courtesy of the East London Advertiser).
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Joseph Klein (1888 – 1976)
Son of Mark and Rose Klein (nee Polack), Joseph was born on 1 March 1888 in Spitalfields. Census records
show the Klein’s living at 87 Great Gordon Street, Spitalfields in 1891, 1 Grebe Court, Mile End in 1901 and
37 Gold St, Mile End Old Town in 1911. Joseph never spoke of the conflict in which he was awarded the
1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal in World War I.
It is believed he threw them all in the Thames.
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Isaac Rosenberg (1890 – 1918)
Poet and artist, Isaac Rosenberg, who died in
action at the Somme in 1918 at the age of
twenty-seven, was born on 25 November 1890
and lived at 47 Cable St between 1897 and 1900
where he attended St Paul’s School, St
George’s-in-the-East.
In 1900, the family moved to Stepney so Isaac
could attend Baker St School and receive a
Jewish education.
Isaac Rosenberg - Self Portrait
Isaac loathed war and hated the idea of killing but, while unemployed, he learned that his mother would
be able to claim a separation allowance, so he enlisted. He was assigned to the Twelfth Suffolk Regiment, a
Bantam Battalion formed of men less than five foot and three inches in height, but in the spring of 1916 he
was transferred to the Eleventh Battalion of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment and in June of that
year he was sent to France.
Issac was killed early on the morning of 1st April 1918 during the German spring offensive.
His body was not immediately found but, in 1926, the remains of eleven soldiers of the KORL were
discovered and buried together in Northumberland Cemetery, Fampoux.
Although his body could not be identified, he was known to be among them. His remains were later
reinterred at Bailleul Road East Cemetery, St. Laurent-Blangy, near
Arras where his headstone reads “Buried neat this spot”.Beneath his name, dates and regiment are
engraved the Star of David and the words “Artist and Poet.”
‘Poems from the Trenches’ by Isaac Rosenberg is recognised as some of the most outstanding verse
written during the War.
There are proposals to erect a commemorative statue in Torrington Square, London WC1 – To find out
more, please visit www.jeecs.org.uk/rosenberg or follow on Twitter @Rosenbergstatue
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George William Andrew Thompson (c. 1884- 1916)
A copy of the will of Riffleman
(20940) George Thompson of 8
Chambers Street, off Lemon Street
who saw duty in France and
Flanders and was killed in action on
28 September 1916.
George left the sum of £105 -7 -10.
However, the interesting point to
note is the addition to the will
stating “no portion of the assets
shall be distributed or paid during
the war to any beneficiary of
creditor who is German, AustroHungarian, Turkish or Bulgarian”.
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William Claude Gardner (1891 – 1915)
William Claude Gardner, was born on 11August
1891 in the Peabody Buildings at 139 Commercial
Street, Spitalfields – William was born to James
and Martha Gardner in a family of 13 children.
William was a Private in the London Regiment.
He was part of the old 2nd London Territorial Force
Division, which was mobilised in August 1914. The
division consisted of First Line Battalions in the
London Regiment and crossed to France in March
1915.
He died on 26 May 1915, for most conspicuous
bravery at Givenchy on the night of 25/26 May.
After the successful assault on the German
position by the 24th battalion efforts were made
by that unit to follow up their success by a bomb
attack. During the process 58 out of a total of 75
men became casualties.
During this battle L/Cpl Keyworth stood fully exposed for two hours on the top of the enemy’s parapet and
threw about 150 bombs amongst the Germans who were only a few yards away.
William died whilst trying to save wounded
comrades. He was killed instantaneously whilst
attending to wounded soldiers in between the
trenches.
William’s brother Bertie was called up as well but
he didn’t actually fight because he was a scale
maker. This business is still running today in the
family.
Letter from King George following William’s
death in France
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Robert Henry Tolliday (1894 – 1974)
Robert Tolliday (front row first left).
Born on 14 November 1894 at 37 Warner Place, Bethnal Green and baptised on 2 December of that year at
St James the Great Church, Bethnal Green, Robert later lived at 3 Longnor Road, Mile End (1901 Census).
Robert served in the Twelfth Lancers until 12 May 1917 when the Lancers became the Fifth SMG and he
stayed with them until the end of the War.
He was one of the last who charged into the German lines on horseback with no weapon beyond a wooden
lance and when a bomb exploded beneath his horse, Old Tom, it kept on running with its entrails
streaming until it collapsed.
After the war, Robert married Louisa Brenchley on 31 July 1921 at St James’s Church, Ratcliff.
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Joseph Edward Lee (1892 – 1977)
Son of Edward and Annie Lee (nee Seager), Joseph was born in 1892 in Limehouse and lived at 48 Gill
Street, Limehouse (1901 Census) and 58 Church Row (now Newell Street,) Limehouse.
Joseph married Mary Jane Day – pictured above and known by her middle name, Jane – in 1916.
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James Polston (1884 – 1916)
James Polston served as Rifleman (5059) 18th
Battalion, London Regiment, London Irish Rifles.
Born 20 September 1884 James was the eldest son
of James and Elizabeth Polston of Warner Place and
Lauriston Road, Bethnal Green.
James was killed in action on 8 December 1916
Flanders and is commemorated at Railway Dugouts
Burial Ground.
Thomas Polston (1900 – 1946)
Thomas Polston, was born in August 1900 was the
youngest son of James and Elizabeth Polston of Warner
Place, Bethnal Green and lied about his age to join the
army.
Thomas was wounded in France but returned safely and
died in 1946.
Thomas is the father of Betty Morley, who provided all
the material on the ‘Polston Boys’ for our exhibition.
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William Polston (1894 - 1917)
William and Emily Polston (nee Tatum)
Born on 12 March 1894 to Henry and Louisa Polston of Menotti Street, Bethnal Green, William was
baptised on 1 April of that year at St Andrew’s Church in Bethnal Green. William married Emily Tatum at St
Andrew’s on 16 July 1916 and served as a Private (252950) in the 3rd Battalion, London Regt Royal
Fusiliers. William died of wounds 28 June 1917, aged 23, and was buried on 6 July 1917 in Farnham, Surry.
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Henry Polston (1894 - 1951)
Henry was baptised on 14 January 1894 at St Andrew’s Church, Bethnal Green. Corporal Henry Polston
(13619) B Company, 10th Essex Regiment returned safe from the war and married Hilda May Morfee on 22
May 1920 at St John of Jerusalem Church, Hackney. Henry, a printer by profession, passed away in 1951.
Henry (L) is pictured here with his brother, William Polston (see previous page).
Arthur Edwin Polston (1881 – 1967)
Born on 24 January 1881 to James and Mary
Polston of Sale St and Mennotti Street, Bethnal
Green, Arthur was baptised on 20 February 1881
at St Jude’s Church in Bethnal Green.
Arthur married May Annie Weller in Guildford in
1908 and served as a Petty Officer in the Royal
Navy.
Arthur returned home safe after the war and
died in 1967.
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Frederick Polston (1895 - 1972)
Son of James and Elizabeth Polston of 32 Warner Place, Bethnal Green and brother to James (see page 34),
Frederick Polston was born on 8 November 1895 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church in Bethnal Green on 1
December 1895. Frederick was a Sergeant in the Royal Horse Artillery and returned home safe from the
war, marrying Lily Hart in 1923. Frederick passed away in 1972.
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Charles Henry Greenwood (formally Vollmar) (1897 – 1987)
Charles was born on 21 September 1897 at 16 Ontario Street, Southwark to Karl and Martha Vollmar. His
parents were born in Germany but married in Lambeth. In 1905, when Charles was just 8 years of age, his
father, then aged 35, passed away leaving his mother, Martha, to run the family bakery in Tower Bridge
Road, Bermondsey.
In 1909, Martha married widowed German baker, Val Grunewald , and moved to 207 Green Street (now
Roman Road) in Bethnal Green where Charles probably attended the nearby Bonner School.
On 22 September 1916, aged 19 years and 1 day, Charles Henry Vollmar enlisted as a Private in the British
Army (4th Battalion. Middlesex Regiment, The Duke of Cambridge’s Own) in Stratford, East London.
The 3rd and 4th Battalions had separate Independent Labour Corps (ILC) for men who “tho born in England”,
had “Alien” parents.
War records and diaries show that many of these men did not fight on the front line but carried out
essential tasks – maintaining roads, clearing woods, delivering stores etc.
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Charles went to France with the
3rd and 4th Battalions ILC in March
1917, where they suffered heavy
losses at Arras and Arleux. The ILC
were also at Polygon Wood and
Passchendaele.
Although the war ended in 1918,
Charles stayed on in France and
Belgium to bury the dead and clear
the fields of ammunition –
spending time at Ondank Dump, a
collection centre for munitions and
other battlefield items.
Charles Vollmar (L) with fellow ILC corps
near Ypres, Belgium 1919
In 1919, Charles returned to the UK to
change his name by Deed Poll to Greenwood
(the English version of his step-father’s
German surname) before returning back to
Europe.
Charles Greenwood was officially discharged
on 15 January 1920 as “surplus to military
requirements not having suffered
impairment after 3 years and 166 days with
Colours”.
Following his service, Charles returned home to help run the family bakery, marrying Elsie in 1925 and
running the bakery until he sold it on his retirement in 1957, moving to near Bromley in Kent. Charles
passed away peacefully in 1987.
Sources: Chelsea Army Museum, National Achieves Kew, “No Labour: No
Battle” by John Stirling & Ivor Lee, “The British Solider of the First World
War” Shire Publications and Elizabeth Greenwood (Daughter-in-law and
wife of Peter, Charles and Elsie’s son).
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Earnest Bradshaw (c. 1900 - )
Son of George Bradshaw and Mary Ann Leary, the 1901 and 1911 Census showed Earnest Bradshaw as
living at 2 Ship Street, St George’s in the East.
Earnest emigrated to St Kilda West, Balaclave, Victoria in Australia
Page | 40
Henry James Armstrong (1884 -
Born in 1884 at 14 Wharf Road, Hoxton, Henry Armstrong married Caroline Florence Sadgrove on 4 April
1920 in West Ham.
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Edwin (Ted) and Harry (Henry) Bullwinkle
Edwin and Henry Bullwinkle were the sons of Edwin and Lousia (nee Tootal) Bullwinkle, who were married
at St Marks Church, Bow on Christmas Day 1896 and lived at 41 Usher Road, Bow. The 1911 Census
showed the Bullwinkle’s living at 654 Old Ford Road, Bow.
Edwin and Louisa had a total of 9 children:
 Top Row – Louisa (Known as Sis), Harry (Known as Henry), Alfred and Edwin (Known as Ted)
 Middle Row – Louisa Bullwinkle (nee Tootal), William (Known as Bill), Hester, Ivy, Edwin
 Front Row – Alice and Marie
Edwin (Ted) Bullwinkle
Served as Ground Staff in the Royal Flying Corps before becoming a taxi and coach driver after the War.
Edwin married Ada and changed his surname to Bull (on Ada’s insistence) and had three children: Teddy,
Brian and Elizabeth. Edwin emigrated to Australian late in life to be near Brian and Elizabeth who had both
moved there.
Harry (Henry) Bullwinkle
Harry was born in Bow on 13 November 1900 and also served as Ground Crew in the Royal Flying Corps.
Harry married May Addlesee in 1925 and moved to Lincolnshire opening an garage and taxi business,
which is still in the family today – Bullwinkles Garage, Baumber (www.bullwinklesgarage.co.uk) .
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George Hamas (b 1900) is thought to have lied
about his age in order to “sign up”
Sid and Nell Daley of Malabar Street, E14
Kate Daisy (Kitty) Needham of British Street,
E14 photographed in May 1916 – Kitty served
as a nurse in both World Wars
Jack Oliver (centre) of 285 Manchester Road
with friends whilst convalescing after being
wounded at the Somme
Images courtesy of Island History News (Nov/Dec 2013 issue)
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Harry Baker (1899 – 1973)
Career solider, Harry Baker (also known as Charles Henry Baker) was born on 12 October 1899 and
lived at 44 Cadiz Street, off Whitehorse Lane, Stepney and served in The Queen's Own Cameron
Highlanders.
The photos on the following page show Harry was gassed at the Somme but continued with his Army
career, serving in India for 7 years (1922-1929). Harry passed away on 24 March 1973.
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Harry pictured after he completed his service
Service record showing Harry was gassed at the
Somme
Certificate of transfer to the Army Reserve
Final Assessments of Conduct and Character on
Leaving the Colours
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William (Bill) Voisey (1891 – 1964)
William (Bill) Voisey played and managed Millwall
and made one appearance for the England
Wartime team in 1919.
Bill parents, Robert and Alice Voisey (nee Eagles)
were married in October 1886 at St John’s
Church, Cubitt Town, which is where Bill was
baptised on 10 December 1891.
Bill served with the Royal Field Artillery at
Passchendaele where he was mentioned in
dispatches
The citation reads “He came to France with the
Division, has frequently acted as Battery Sgt.
Major and invariably displayed marked resource,
particularly during the retirement after 21 March
1918 when the Battery sustained many casualties
from hostile fire.
His fine example and disregard of danger
contributed largely to the withdrawal of men and
guns. Has always set a fine example of courage
and cheerfulness to all ranks”.
Bill was awarded the Military Medal and the
DCM) Distinguished Conduct Medal and the
Belgium Croix de Guerre.
At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Bill coached Great Britain’s football team.
The 1911 Census showed Bill living at 280 Manchester Road, which was very near Millwall’s then ground,
and Bill, who played for the team later went on to manager Millwall Football Club between 1940 and 1944.
Bill was forced to retire after sustaining injuries during an air raid on their stadium.
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John Thomas Fisher ( - 1916)
John Fisher lived at 94 Pritchard’s Road,
Bethnal Green when he enlisted (Signing
up in Shoreditch) with the Royal Welsh
Fusiliers on 19 April 1915. (The Fusiliers
are one of the oldest regiments in the
regular army, hence the archaic spelling
of the word Welch instead of Welsh).
Many Welsh families moved to London
in the late 1800s and John would have
been either born in Wales, or the son of
a Welsh family.
Soldiers of the Royal Welch Fusiliers
Although no photo of John exists, the following information has been research and provided by Susan
Tredinnick, who has been researching the lives of WWI soldiers listed at the Tabernacle Chapel, Austin Street,
Hoxton.
John married Charlotte Catherine Williamson at All Soul’s Church, Hackney on 6 July 1913 and had two
daughters, Charlotte Elizabth and Rebecca Jane. Following enlistment, Private 27347 John Fisher was
attached to various Battalions including the 18th, 3rd and 10th. John was killed in action on 30 April 1916 –
the exact location of his death in unknown - but he is buried at Lindonhoek Military Cemetery in Belgium,
which point to one of the battles in and around Ypres.
Letters on file at the National Archives from John’s mother-in-law, Mrs Williamson, show how John’s wife
heard about his death but would not accept it until official confirmation was received.
Dear Sri, I hope you will excuse my writing you these few lines, it is now a two weeks since my daughter
read the news of her husband's death Fisher 27347 D.Reg 10 Batt. RWF. Dear Sir we had the news on the
4th of May from the Chaplain who held the Service on him and told us that he was buried in a neat little
grave. My daughter went to the Army Office the next day before to my writing to you. I have all my work to
satisfy my daughter as she will not believe that her husband is dead until she gets an answer from you hoping that you will not delay more than you can help.
Dear Sir. Owing to a bad confinement my daughter, Mrs C C Fisher, lost the use of her right hand and
cannot write her own letters but as she lives with me her own mother and I have always wrote her
husband's letters. I am sending this to you hoping you will quite understand he was always a good lad and
also a good husband and hoping you will not be offended (at) me if this was (the) truth and this (tally) bold
to that it was quite true and she also (unreadable) had a letter to send to you and told her that you would
answer her by letter which she would have to take back to the War Office and any (unreadable) give in her
official (unreadable) until she receives your letter to her in answer the girl does not know what to do.
A hand written note on the second letter reads: Official notification sent 25 May 1916.
The final paper in the Archive is a receipt for the 1914-15 Star, granted to 24347 Fisher J T of Royal Welch
Fusiliers, dated 24 October 1920 and signed by his widow.
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Francis Lawson Baker (1899 –
The British War Medal 1914-1920 and Victory Medal
1914-1919 show were awarded to Private (496433)
Francis Lawson Baker of 1 Lake Street, Stepney.
Francis was born in 1899 to Thomas William Baker
and Alice Maria Baker, who were married on 5
August 1894. Records show Francis was baptised on
30 December 1899, listing his parents address at
that time as 43 East Block, Peabody Square.
When Francis was 17, he enlisted and joined with
the 13th London Regiment.
The London Regiment was formed in 1908 in order
to regiment the 26 Volunteer Force battalions in the
newly formed County of London, each battalion
having a distinctive uniform.
The Regiment expanded to 88 battalions in the First
World War, of which 49 battalions saw action in
France and Flanders, 6 saw action at the Gallipoli
Campaign, 12 saw action at Salonika, 14 saw action
against the Turks in Palestine and one saw action in
Waziristan and Afghanistan.
Francis was discharged in January 1919.
13th London Regiment
Group of soldiers outside corrugated iron or asbestos hut. Stamped on reverse: Bandsman Barnaby, 13th
London Regiment, Photographer Artist, Victoria Photographic Works, Stamstead Road, Forest Hill S.E.
Page | 48
Alfred John Vonhofen (Syrett) (1897 – 1917)
Born to Alfred and Maria Vonhofon on 17
September 1897, Alfred used his mother’s
maiden name, Syrett, and set sail for Australia
on 21 August 1914 to learn and take up dairy
farming.
On 7 February 1916, Alfred enlisted in the
Australian Imperial Force, 1st Infantry
Battalion. On his Enlistment Application Form,
Alfred indicated his faather as a Mr A Syrett of
18 Salmon Lane.
Alfred’s Service Record shows that he left
Sydney on 3 June 1916, arriving in England on
1 September 1916.
One week later he was charged with “Being
out of Bounds” and “Attempting to travel on a
train without a pass” for which he received
168 hours, or one week’s, detention.
On 16 September, Alfred was sent to France,
arriving with his Battalion on 30 September.
Alfred was “wounded in action ‘In the Field’”
on 5 November and transferred to the 3rd
London General Hospital, returning to his unit
later that month.
Alfred once again found himself in trouble, when on 3 January 1917 he forfeited 7 days’ pay for
overstaying furlough (leave). In April 1917 Alfred spent more time in hospital in England, returning to
France in June.
Alfred was killed in action sometime between 2 and 5 October 1917.
In December 1917 and February 1918 communications were received confirming Alfred used an alias to
enlist and that his rightful next-of-kin was his father, Mr A Von Hofen – who used a c/o address of Mitre
Court, Milk Street, London.
In April 1918, the Australian Imperial Force received from a letter from Stella Thompson of 812 George
Street, Sydney stating she was Alfred’s only “intimate” friend in Australia and that she wished to forward
some personal items to his moth.
Page | 49
Henry George Maffia (1879 - 1920)
Henry Maffia and Elizabeth (nee Stacey) Maffia with their son John, taken in 1915.
Henry married Elizabeth on 25 December 1898 at St Jude’s Church, Bethnal Green and the 1901 Census
showed Henry and Elizabeth registered at 47 Barnsley Street, Bethnal Green. Henry was wounded twice in
Flanders and gassed on the last day of the War, dying on 16 March 1920 from the effects of the gas. Liberal
MP for Bethnal Green, Sir Percy Holman, fought until 1928 to obtain a War Widows’ Pension for Elizabeth.
Henry was buried on 22 March 1920 at Manor Park Cemetery.
Page | 50
Acknowledgements
Our East Enders of World War I exhibition and this booklet is due to the kind contributions of following:
East London Suffragette Festival
Elizabeth Greenwood
June Berry
Rita Brown
Mavis Bullwinkle
Betty Morley
Edith Morley
Ray Sparra Everingham
Doug Banks
Penny Wolswinkel
Cheryl Loughnane
Beryl Bryan
East London Advertiser
David Ward
Mick Coplen
Stephen Gardner
Michael Tyrrell
Emily Shepherd
Lillian Leonard
Christina Chesterman
Mark J Samson
Island History News
And the young men and women who served their country
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Produced and printed by
Tower Hamlets Community Housing
285 Commercial Road
Stepney
London
E1 2PS
July 2014
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