Died: Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich
Address / Local links: 35 Plymstock Road, Welling
Family / Relatives: Son of Henry George and Mary Ann Elizabeth Stafford Husband of Ada May Stafford of Welling
Other Information: A General Labourer Steel Works
Reginald Cecil Stafford was born in Stafford on the 13th February 1910, to Henry George and Mary Ann Elizabeth, the third eldest of six children. His father, born in 1884, grew up in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, and by the time he was 15, was working as an Iron Moulder’s Apprentice. His father was baptised as George Henry, the same name as his father, but it seems that he was known as Henry.
Henry married Reginald’s mother, Mary Ann Elizabeth Skate, in 1905, in Lincoln. It is unclear why the couple were married here, as Mary also grew up in Norfolk. She was born in 1886, in Grimston, a village close to King’s Lynn. By the age of 15 she was employed as a General Domestic Servant and was living with her employers in King’s Lynn.
Reginald’s eldest brother was born in August 1906 and was given the name George Henry, which seems to have been a family tradition. His next brother, Edward Sydney, was born just over nine months later, in November 1907. The family were now living in Stafford. Reginald was born two and half years later. At the time of the 1911 Census, Henry was working as an Iron Moulder at an electrical works and his sister Lilly was living with the family.
The family moved again, and when Reginald’s sister, Gladys Ethel, was born in 1914, they were living in Newark. His next sister, Annie Kathleen, was born in January 1918, in King’s Lynn. It is likely that they moved to be closer to other family whilst Reginald’s father was fighting in the First World War. Henry served as a Private with both the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, and with the Royal Defence Corps.
Reginald’s youngest brother, William, was born in King’s Lynn in March 1920. Sadly, their father Henry died just two months later, in May, aged 35. His cause of death is not known but could have been as a result of injuries sustained during the war, as Reginald’s mother Mary received a war pension. However, his death is not recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Reginald married his first cousin, Ada May Skate, in July 1938, in Freebridge Lynn, Norfolk. Reginald was 28 and Ada was 26. She was the daughter of his mother’s brother, Sydney Charles Skate, and was born in Grimston, Norfolk, in April 1912.
Electoral records show that in 1938 Reginald was living in Greenwich, at 269 Woolwich Road, with Edward and Emily Farlie and Cecil Wardale, it is likely that he had moved away from Norfolk in search of work and was lodging with the Farlies. Ada followed Reginald to London during the following months, with the September 1939 Register showing them both living at 35 Plymstock Road, Welling, along with Reginald’s youngest brother, William, who was then 19 years old. All the family were employed, Reginald was working as a General Labourer at a steel works, Ada’s occupation was wiring telephone cards, and William was working as a Fitter Labourer at a motor works.
Ada fell pregnant shortly after the start of World War Two and gave birth to their son Michael in July 1940. Their daughter Brenda was born two and half years later, in January 1943.
Very little is known of Reginald’s war service, just that he served with the 208 Field Regiment in the Royal Artillery. Reginald passed away on the 8th August 1947 at the Royal Herbert Hospital in Woolwich, London, aged 37. Reginald was only two years older than his father was when he died, and both survived the wars they served in, only to pass away relatively shortly afterwards. Unlike his father, Reginald’s death is recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, so it seems even more likely that it was a result of his war service.
Reginald’s funeral was held three days after his death, on the 11th August, at St. Michael’s Church. He was buried in the churchyard with a cross headstone marking his grave, the inscription read: “In Memory of my Dear Husband. Always in our thoughts. His loving Wife & children R.I.P.”. He is also commemorated on the St. Michael’s Church memorial panel. Records show that he left effects of £760 19s. 6d to Ada.
Ada continued living at 35 Plymstock Road until at least 1965 when she died in 1990, aged 78. Her death is recorded in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, but she was cremated in Greenwich, London.
We have continued to try to discover more about Reginald by looking at local newspaper reports, but with only limited success…(We did discover that he was actually fined 5s in February 1940 for not carrying proper cycle lights on his bike!)
The other item found (pictured) was this short cutting from the Kentish Independent from 15th august 1947 – so much is perhaps still to be discovered…
Pictured are the Royal Herbert Hospital in Woolwich where Reginald died, the memorial tablet at St. Michael’s and his now faded headstone in St. Michael’s graveyard.
…………………………………………………….
If anyone is able to add any extra information, provide more family details, or suggest any corrections, please let us know – also, if anyone has any more photos of this individual listed on our memorials, please get in touch. Thank you.
Commemorated
- St. Michael’s East Wickham Church Memorial Tablet
- East Wickham (St Michael’s) Churchyard, Welling
This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to Reginald C Stafford, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.