William Frederick Stanbridge was born on the 11th of January 1894 in Wandsworth, London to coachman William Stanbridge Jnr and Rosa Stanbridge nee Morath.
He was baptised on the 8th of April 1894 at St Stephen’s church, Clapham Park, Wandsworth, London. At the time of the baptism, the family lived at 9 Prospect Cottages and William Jnr was working as a coachman.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at London Cottages, London Road, Bushey Rural, Watford, Hertfordshire. Rosa was at home and was looking after her son Willie. The household further comprised of boarder, gardener, Arthur [?Dawkins].
Willie’s brother Henry Herbert Stanbridge was born in the 3rd quarter of 1905 in Redhill, Surrey.
Willie Stanbridge was admitted on the 6th of January 1908 into the St Martin’s Church of England School in Dorking for boys. At the time of his admission, the family lived at 4 Dene Street, Dorking. The previous school that Willie attended was in Redhill.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at 68 Dene Street Cottages. William Stanbridge Jnr was working as a coachman/bus driver and Rosa was at home. Of their children: Willie was working as an errand boy and Henry was a scholar. The accommodation had three rooms. Rosa stated that she had given birth to two children.
Willie Stanbridge enlisted into the 5th (Reserve) Battalion the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment on the 12th of November 1914 in Dorking. He was a private with regimental number 3501. At the time of his enlistment Willie resided at Leith Vale (at Lodge), Ockley, Surrey and was working as a gardener. He was employed by Mrs Bromley at Leith Vale, Ockley, Surrey.
Willie was transferred on the 28th of August 1916 into the 23rd (County of London) Battalion the London Regiment. He was a private with regimental number 8012.
Willie Stanbridge served from the 12th of November 1914 to the 30th of August 1916 on the home front.
On the 31st of August 1916 he embarked from Southampton to France. Willie disembarked on the 1st of September 1916 in Haver, France and joined his unit in September 1916.
William Frederick Stanbridge was killed in action on the 2nd of October 1916 on the Somme, France. His body was never found.
He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France on Pier and Face 9D 9C 13C and 12C.
At the time of his death, Willie’s parents resided at 17B, Cotmandene, Dorking, Surrey.
Willie’s father William Stanbridge Jnr received £8 and 10s on the 13th of October 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.
Willie Stanbridge received the British War and Victory medals.
Sergeant W. H. West, himself an old Dorking boy, remembered Willie as a very bright and cheerful lad who was like a ray of sunshine to everybody in his former regiment The Queens.
Stanbridge Family History
Willie’s father Wiliam Stanbridge Jnr was born in the 4th quarter of 1868 in Betchworth, Surrey to agricultural labourer William Stanbridge Snr, born about 1831 in Leigh, Surrey, and Mary Ann Stanbridge nee Miles, born about 1832. William Stanbridge Snr and Mary Ann Miles married in the 2nd quarter of 1868 in the Registration District of Reigate, Surrey. William Stanbridge Jnr was baptised on the 29th of November 1868 at St Michael’s church in Betchworth. At the time of the baptism, the family lived in Betchworth.
William Jnr’s mother Mary Ann Stanbridge died in the 3rd quarter of 1869 in the Registration District of Reigate, Surrey.
At the time of the 1871 Census, William Jnr’s father, the widower, William Stanbridge Snr, was a boarder of agricultural labourer James Worsfold at No 2 Parkers Cottages, Butler Street, Brockham. William Snr was working as an agricultural labourer.
At the time of the 1871 Census, William Stanbridge Jnr was a nurse child of agricultural labourer Isaac Ansell and his wife Mary Ansell at No 8 Brockham Borough Cottage, Brockham.
At the time of the 1881 Census, William Stanbridge Jnr was living with cordwainer Charles Chandler and his wife Ann Chandler at Sand Pits, Buckland.
William Stanbridge Jnr joined the 7th Foot Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) on the 4th of February 1886 in Hounslow. He attested on the 3rd of February 1886 in Chichester. He was a private with regimental number 2384. At the time of his enlistment William worked as a groom. He stated that he had previously served in the 3rd Battalion the Royal Sussex Regiment. William was 5ft and 7inches tall and weighed 128lbs. He had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. During his military service he also served for 1 year and 128 days in Egypt. William Stanbridge Jnr was transferred on the 3rd of February 1893 into the 1st class Army Reserve. He was discharged from military service in the first quarter of 1898.
William Frederick’s mother Rosa Morath was born in the 4th quarter of 1868 in Kensington, London to porter and green grocer Frederick Morath, born about 1841 in Chelsea, Middlesex, and Jane Morath, born about 1851 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. Rosa Morath was baptised on the 18th of August 1872 at St Barnabas’ church in Kensington. At the time of the baptism, the family lived at 5 Shaftesbury Cottages, Kensington.
At the time of the 1881 Census, the family lived at 80 Pembroke Road, (Greengrocer’s Shop), Kensington, London. Frederick was working as a green grocer and Jane was looking after their six children including Rosa.
William Frederick’s mother Rosa Morath conceived his sister Teresa/Theresa Stanbridge in the 1st quarter of 1891 in Dover, Kent.
At the time of the 1891 Census, William Frederick’s parents, soldier William Stanbridge Jnr and Rosa Stanbridge lived with their daughter Teresa/Theresa at 46 Clarendon Place, Dover, Kent. The couple stated that they were married.
William Stanbridge Jnr and Rosa Morath married in the 1st quarter of 1893 in the Registration District of Kensington, London.
| Born | Wandsworth, London | |
| Lived | Ockley, Surrey | |
| Son of | Rosa (nee Morath) and William Stanbridge jnr of Dorking | |
| School | St. Martin’s School Dorking British School (Powell Corderoy School) |
|
| Regiment | 23rd Battalion, London Regiment | |
| Number | 8012 | |
| Former Regiment | 3501 The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) | |
| Date of Death | 2nd October 1916 | |
| Place of Death | Somme, France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 22 | |
| Memorial | Thiepval Memorial |
