Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
Cyril Rochester Welsman was born on 2nd August 1896 in Leytonstone, Essex to warehouseman and whole sale drapery traveller Frank Rochester Welsman and dressmaker Edith/Ada Welsman (nee Walter).
Cyril’s father, Frank, was born about 1867 in Hackney, Middlesex to merchant and commission agent William Richard Welsman, born about 1837 in Cheadle, Cheshire, and Susanna Diana Welsman, born about 1837 in Hackney. Frank was baptised on 11th June 1871 at St Mark’s Church in Dalton, Hackney. At the time of the 1881 Census, Frank was a boarder and student at the Royal Commercial Traveller’s School in Pinner, Hendon, Middlesex.
Cyril’s mother Edith was born in the 2nd quarter of 1867 in Bath, Somerset to lawyer George Walker, born about 1836 in Bath, and laundress Hannah Walker, born about 1830 in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire. Edith was also known as Ada. At the time of the 1881 Census, Edith lived with her parents and siblings at 5 Wood Street in Bath. She was working as a dressmaker and her father George was an unemployed lawyer. At the time of the 1891 Census, Hannah was living on her own means and her daughter Edith was a dressmaker.
Frank and Edith married on 1st August 1892 at St Paul’s Church in Canonbury, Islington. Frank was working as a warehouseman and he lived at 57 Mildmay Grove in Islington. Edith lived at 80 Mildmay Road in Islington.
Cyril had two siblings: Dorothy born on 27th October 1901 in Leytonstone, Essex and Leslie Frank born about 1893 in Islington, Middlesex.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 58 Vernon Road, Low Leyton, West Ham, Essex. Frank was working as a whole sale drapery traveller and Edith was at home looking after their children Leslie and Cyril.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at 37 Montagu Gardens, Wallington, Surrey. Frank was working as a glass and pottery warehouseman and Edith was at home. Of their children, Leslie was working as a clerk for East India Trade and Cyril and Dorothy were at school scholars. The accommodation had seven rooms.
Cyril enlisted in Chelsea and joined the 18th (County of London) Battalion (Irish Rifles), the London Regiment. He became a private with a regimental number 3929. At the time of his enlistment he lived in Wallington.
Cyril disembarked on 3rd January 1916 to France.
He was killed in an action on 24th April 1916 in Gouy, Aisne, France. After much rain during the previous days, 24th April was a dry day. The flooded state of trenches had improved. The left positioned company used Rifle grenades on the enemy, who replied with heavy mortars on the whole front, resulting in a support line and communication trenches being damaged. The day had 10 casualties.
Cyril is buried at the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France. His grave reference number is: III.G.6. The headstone inscription was commissioned by his father Frank Rochester Welsham of ‘Greystones’, Deepdene Park Road, Dorking. The inscription reads: “He Heard The Call And In Obeying Gave His All”.
Cyril was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
Frank received £4, 10s and 10d on 10th August 1916 and £3 on 17th September 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.
Frank died on the 6th of May 1931. He left his son Leslie Frank Welsman, an export buyer, £750 in probate.
Edith of 92 Carlton-avenue-west, North Wembley, Middlesex died on 6th November 1947 at Redhill County Hospital, Edgware, Middlesex.
| Born | Leytonstone, London | |
| Lived | Wallington, Greater London | |
| Son of | Edith and Frank R. Welsman of “Greystanes”, Deepdene Park Road, Dorking | |
| Regiment | 18th Battalion. London Regiment (London Irish Rifles) | |
| Number | 3929 | |
| Date of Death | 23rd April 1916 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 19 | |
| Cemetery | Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery |
