Timeline

1904-04-05  Born 9 Providence Cottages, Groombridge to George codger Avis and Caroline Bailey

1904-05-22  Christened at St Johns Groombridge, father a labourer

1911-04-01  Census, living 9 Providence Cottages, Groombridge, aged 6.

1921-10-05  Invalided out of the navy with pleurisy after 5 months service

1948-04-10  Married unknown at Parish Church Reigate

1974-07-02  Died Crawley Hospital


Notes:

William married but had no children, according to Kathleen. Death certificate applied for - believe died Q3 1974 in Crawley, 18, 1657. Believed to have been living with his wife in a bungalow in Keepers Corner, Burstow, Surrey, at that time. Bev remembers sitting outside in the car with Tony while Kathleen and Ernest went inside(bungalow possibly now called Marylands). Photo of Bill in sailors uniform shows him belonging to HMS Vivid. This is believed to be the navy barracks at Devonport, Plymouth. Death certificate received - his wife was not the informant so her name still not known. Address confirmed as Marylands though. Christening details obtained at Maidstone Records Office 10/02/2011.Marriage certificate now received - married Margaret Edith Ratcliffe 10th April 1948 in Reigate. She was known as Madge. They had no children. Visit to the National Records Office in Kew 24/09/2011 obtained print of navy record - see photo of him in HMS Vivid sailor uniform. He was invalided out of the navy after only 5 months with pleurisy. Evelyns sons Chris and John Richards believe that he had some sort of bike accident in which he hurt his head, which affected him throughout the rest of his life.
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