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Private George Sydney James Whife

 

Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.

George Sydney James Whife Birth Registration Transcription © findmypast.co.uk
George Sydney James Whife – Image from Official Birth Registration Indexes © findmypast.co.uk

George Sydney James Whife was born on the 12th  of December 1894 in Deptford, London (historically a part of Kent) to marine engineer John Charles Whife and Sarah Jane Whife nee Hind.

George´s father John Charles Whife was born in the 3rd quarter of 1858 in Greenwich, London (historically a part of Kent) to carman and labourer Samuel Whife, born about 1831 in Braintree, Essex and Charlotte A. Whife, born about 1830 in Essex.

George´s mother Sarah Jane Hind was born in the 4th quarter of 1868 in Leeds, Yorkshire to shoemaker Charles Hind, born about 1846 in Nottinghamshire, and Hannah Maria Hind, born about 1851 in Lincolnshire.

John Charles Whife married Sarah Jane Hind, by Banns, on the 16th of April 1892 at St Luke´s church in Peckham, Camberwell, London. At the time of the marriage, the couple lived at 10 Shenley Road, Peckham, Camberwell and John Charles was working as a marine engineer.

George Sydney James Whife Baptism Certificate © ancestry.co.uk
George Sydney James Whife – Baptism Entry from Parish Register © ancestry.co.uk

George Sydney James Whife was born on the 12th of December 1894 in Deptford, London and was baptised on the 13th of January 1895 at St Luke´s church in Deptford. At the time of the baptism, the family lived at 61 Gosterwood Street, Deptford and John Charles Whife was working as a machinist.

George Whife had five siblings: Evelyn Edith Mary Whife born in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in Deptford, London, John Leonard Charles Whife born in the 1st quarter of 1899 in Deptford, London, Archibald Edward Thomas Whife born on the 18th of September 1900 in Deptford, London, Robert Gabriel Whife born in the 1st quarter of 1902 in Deptford, London and Florence Annie Elizabeth Whife born in the 2nd quarter of 1905 in Deptford, London.

George´s brother Archibald Edward Thomas Whife was baptised on the 17th of October 1900 at St Luke´s church in Deptford. At the time of the baptism, the family lived at 92 Etta Street in Deptford and John Charles was working as a machinist.

George Sydney James Whife 1901 Census © findmypast.co.uk
George Sydney James Whife 1901 Census © findmypast.co.uk

At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 92 Etta Street in Deptford. John Charles was working as a marine engineer and Sarah Jane was at home with their children: Evelyn Edith Mary, John Leonard Charles, George Sydney James and Archibald Edward Thomas. The household further comprised of a boarder, marine engineer, Alfred Ch. Watts. Alfred Ch. Watts was born about 1849 in Lambeth, London.

On the 3rd of October 1901, John Charles Whife of 92 Etta Street, Deptford, filed petition for a dissolution of his marriage with Sarah Jane Whife.

In the petition John Charles Whife stated, that after his marriage with Sarah Jane, the couple lived with their children at: Chubworthy Street, Woodpecker Road, New Cross in London; at 1 Etta Street, at 18 Gosterwood Street and Evelyn Street all in Deptford, London; at St Mary´s Road, Plaistow in Essex; at Chesterton Villas, Evelyn Street, 179 Grove Street and at 92 Etta Street all in Deptford, London.

According to Mr Whife, from approximately March 1900 up to the date of the petition, Sarah Jane was at the 92 Etta Street, Deptford and at 14 Knowle Street, Deptford, frequently committing adultery with labourer Thomas Watts. Mr Whife sought also the custody of his four children.

Thomas Watts was a son of the widowed Alfred Ch. Watts, who was a boarder of the Whife´s at 92 Etta Street in Deptford. Thomas Watts was born about 1873 in Bermondsey, London. At the time of the 1891 Census, Thomas lived with his parents Alfred Ch. Watts and Anne Watts and his siblings at Camberwell in London. Thomas Watts was an engine fitter apprentice and Alfred Ch. Watts was a millwright.

The petition was later abandoned.

George Sydney James Whife 1911 Census © findmypast.co.uk
George Sydney James Whife 1911 Census © findmypast.co.uk

At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at 8 Bawtree Road, New Cross, Deptford, London. John Charles was working as a machine driller and Sarah Jane was a school cleaner. Of their children Evelyn Edith Mary was a general domestic servant, George was a credit draper traveller and John Leonard Charles, Archibald Edward Thomas, Robert Gabriel and Florence Annie Elizabeth were scholars. The accommodation had four rooms.

The 1912 London, England, Electoral Register reads that John Charles Whife lived at 8 Bawtree Road, New Cross, Deptford, London.

George Whife enlisted in Camberwell, London into the 1st/15th (County of London) Battalion (the Prince of Wales´Own Civil Service Rifles). He was a Private with regimental numbers 6456 and 533241.

George disembarked on the 23rd of July 1916 to France.

George Sydney James Whife GRO War Deaths Transcription © findmypast.co.uk

George Sydney James Whife Panel List Thiepval Memorial © CWGC.org
George Sydney James Whife Panel List Thiepval Memorial © CWGC.org

He was killed in an action on or since the 7th of October 1916 in France, and is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial in France on Pier and Face 13C.

George Sydney James Whife WW1 Medal Rolls Index Card © ancestry.co.uk
George Sydney James Whife WW1 Medal Rolls Index Card © ancestry.co.uk
George Sydney James Whife British War Medal and Victory Medal © ancestry.co.uk
George Sydney James Whife British War Medal and Victory Medal © ancestry.co.uk

George Whife was awarded the British War and Victory medals.

George Sydney James Whife Soldiers Effects © ancestry.co.uk
George Sydney James Whife Soldiers Effects © ancestry.co.uk

George left to his brother Archibald Edward Thomas Whife £1, 17s and 5d on the 11th of January 1918 and the further £3 on the 6th of December 1919 in Soldier´s Effects.

George Sydney James Whife Thiepval Memorial Roll of Honour © CWGC.org
George Sydney James Whife Thiepval Memorial Roll of Honour © CWGC.org

The Grave Registration Report reads that George´s parents lived at 10 Riverside, Pixholm (Pixham) in Dorking.

The 1919 Surrey, England, Electoral Register reads that John Charles Whife and Sarah Jane Whife lived at 10 Moleside in Dorking.

According to the 1920 Surrey, England, Electoral Register, John Charles Whife, Sarah Jane Whife and their sons Archibald Edward Thomas Wife and John Leonard Charles Whife lived at 10 Moleside in Dorking.

George´s sister Florence Annie Elizabeth Whife married Dougles Charles Moxham, by the Banns, on the 4th of November 1922 at St Martin´s church in Dorking. At the time of the marriage, Dougles Charles lived at the Stream, Betchworth, Surrey and was working as a chauffeur. Dougles Charles´ father George William Moxham was also working as a chauffeur. Florence Annie Elizabeth Whife lived at 10 Riverside in Dorking. Her father John Charles Whife was a marine engineer.

The 1926 Surrey, England, Electoral Register reads, that John Charles Whife, Sarah Jane Whife and their sons John Leonard Charles Whife and Robert Gabriel lived at 10 Moleside in Dorking.

John Charles Whife died in 1926 in the Registration District of Epsom, Surrey. He was 68 years old.

George Sydney James´ sister Evelyn Edith Mary Whife married Frederick G. Reeves in the 3rd quarter of 1928 in the Registration District of Dorking.

According to the 1934 Surrey, England, Electoral Register, Douglas Charles Moxham, his wife Florence Annie Elizabeth Moxham and her mother Sarah Jane Whife lived at 30 Bridge Street, Leatherhead, Surrey.

Sarah Jane Whife died in 1934 in the Registration District of Surrey Mid Eastern. She was 66 years old.

George´s brother, Archibald Edward Thomas, named his son after his fallen brother: George Sidney James Whife. George Sidney James Whife was born in the 3rd quarter of 1924 in the Registration District of Wandsworth, London. George Sidney James was part of the 15th Battalion, the Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment). He was killed on the 26th of June 1944 in Italy. He is buried at the Orvieto War Cemetery. He was only 20 years old. His headstone bears the inscription: ´Forgive us As we forgive them We have forgiven them We know you did, George´.

Born Deptford, London
Son of John Charles Whife and Sarah Jane Whife (nee Hind)
Regiment 1st/15th County of London Battalion. Prince of Wales Own Civil Service Rifles
Number 533241
Date of Death 7th October 1916
Place of Death Somme, France
Cause of Death Killed in Action
Age 21
Memorial Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France
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