William Frederick Stanbridge was born on the 11th of January 1894 in Wandsworth, London to coachman William and Rosa (nee Morath).
He was baptised on 8th April 1894 at St Stephen’s church, Clapham Park, Wandsworth. 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 was born in the 3rd quarter of 1905 in Redhill, Surrey.
Willie was admitted on 6th 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 12th 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 28th August 1916 into the 23rd (County of London) Battalion the London Regiment. He was a private with regimental number 8012.
Willie Stanbridge served from 12th November 1914 to 30th August 1916 on the home front. On 31st August 1916 he embarked from Southampton to France. Willie disembarked on 1st September 1916 in Haver, France and joined his unit in September 1916.
PTE. W. F. STANBRIDGE
(London Regiment)
Pte. Stanbridge, eldest son of Mr. W. Stanbridge, 17b Cotmandene, Dorking was reported in our last issue as having been killed in action on October 2nd.
William Frederick Stanbridge Death Notice © Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
William Frederick Stanbridge was killed in action on 2nd October 1916 on the Somme, France. His body was never found.
STANBRIDGE – In ever Loving Memory of our dear Will, W. F. Stanbridge, of Cotmandene, Dorking killed in action on the Somme, Oct 2nd 1916.
Our hearts are sadly aching for a lad we loved well;
He gave his heart for his country, in Honour’s cause he fell;
He sleeps beside his comrades in a hallowed grave unknown.
But his name is written in love on the hearts he left at home.
From Father, Mother, Didie and Kate
William Frederick Stanbridge Family Tribute © Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
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 13th October 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.
Willie Stanbridge received the British War and Victory medals.
“A RAY OF SUNSHINE”
Pte. W. F. Stanbridge, London Regiment, now reported killed on Oct 2nd, after being previously reported missing, is the eldest son of Mr. W. Stanbridge, 17b Cotmandene, Dorking. Deceased joined the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment on Nov. 13th 1914m and a year and nine months later (after arriving in France) was transferred to the London Regiment. Toward the end of October, Sergt. W. H. West, himself an old Dorking boy, made anxious inquiries about Pte. Stanbridge. To Mrs Stanbridge he wrote “I am writing these few lines to ask if you could give me any information concerning your son Willie. I am very sorry to say I have not seen or heard anything of him since October 1st, when we went into action, I am very anxious to get news of him, as he had been with me since he joined the Army, and I am an old Dorking boy myself, and there are several of us out here who came from the Queen’s. Your son was one of our best comrades, and the boys of his old regiment are very anxious to hear some news, as we all miss him very much. He was well liked in his new regiment; he was a good soldier, and we all hope and trust he is alive and well. We are all sorry that he is not with us now, for he was so bright and cheerful. He was like a ray of sunshine to us. Will you write back and let me know, for the old Dorking boys are anxiously waiting to hear good news.”
William Frederick Stanbridge Soldier Tribute © Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
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 William was born in the 4th quarter of 1868 in Betchworth, Surrey to agricultural labourer William, born about 1831 in Leigh, Surrey, and Mary Ann nee Miles, born about 1832. William Snr and Mary Ann married in the 2nd quarter of 1868 in Reigate, Surrey. William Jnr was baptised on 29th 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 died in the 3rd quarter of 1869 in Reigate.
At the time of the 1871 Census, William Jnr’s father, the widower, William, 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 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 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 4th February 1886 in Hounslow. He attested on 3rd 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 Jnr was transferred on 3rd February 1893 into the 1st class Army Reserve. He was discharged from military service in the first quarter of 1898.
William’s mother Rosa Morath was born in the 4th quarter of 1868 in Kensington, London to porter and green grocer Frederick, born about 1841 in Chelsea, Middlesex, and Jane, born about 1851 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. Rosa was baptised on 18th 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.
At the time of the 1891 Census, William’s parents, soldier William Jnr and Rosa lived with their daughter Teresa/Theresa at 46 Clarendon Place, Dover, Kent. The couple stated that they were married.
William Jnr and Rosa married in the 1st quarter of 1893 in 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 |
