Frederick John Wunderling was born on 21 June 1914, the sixth of the eight children of William Frederick John Wunderling (1879-1946) and Eliza Ann Wunderling née Brady (1878-1927). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1914 in the Shoreditch Registration District, London. On 12 July 1914 he was baptised at St John the Baptist Church, Hoxton, Middlesex (now Greater London), where in the baptismal register his date of birth was confirmed, that his family were shown as living at 9 Allerton Street, Hoxton and that his father was a carman.
His seven siblings were: Rose Louisa Wunderling (1904-1980); Elsie Ellen Wunderling (1906-1931); Henry Dudley Valentine Wunderling (1907-1939); Alfred Wunderling (1909-1940); Maud Charlotte Wunderling (1912-1913); George Albert Wonderling (1915-1987); Louisa Mary Elizabeth Wonderling (1921-1921).
His father was of German descent and during World War One the family changed their surname to Wonderling and in the 1921 census he is shown as Frederick Wonderland, aged 7 years and in whole-time education, still living in three rooms at 9 Allerton Street, Hoxton, with his parents and his six surviving siblings: Rose Louisa Wonderling - a button maker employed by George Brook & Co at 53 St Leonard Street, London EC; Elsie Ellen Wonderling - a tailoress working for Lookwood & Bradley at 128 Old Street, London, EC; Henry Dudley Valentine Wonderling - a grocer's assistant at George Carter & Co at Nile Street, Hoxton, London, N1; Alfred Wonderling - in whole-time education; George Albert Wonderling (1915-1987) - in whole-time education and Louisa Mary Elizabeth Wonderling (1921-1921). His father showed himself as an out of work carman having last been employed by W & H Cooper of 176 Brady Street, Bethnal Green, London N.
In the 1937 electoral register he is listed with other members of his family at 43 Castlefrank House, Hoxton Street, London, N1. He is shown as both an absent voter and a naval or military voter.
During World War Two he served in the army ending his service as a Company Sergeant Major in the 1st Battalion, The Glasgow Highlanders (Highland Light Infantry), service number 6550848, and was discharged on 21 November 1945.
He married Violet Gladys Francis (1908-1964) on 15 June 1945 in the Islington Registration District and their son, Brian Leonard Wondering (1948-1972) was born on 25 October 1948. On 23 December 1948 he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Africa Star, the France and Germany Star and the 1939-1945 War Medal, that were sent to him at 23 Bardwell Street, London, N7.
Electoral registers in 1953 and 1954 show him, his wife and his brother, George Albert Wondering, listed at 101 Crouch Hill Court, Sparsholt Road, London, N19.
He was listed on the electoral registers from 1960 to 1970 at 6 Southgate Court, Downham Road, London, N1.
Following the death of his wife on 4 March 1964, that was registered in the 1st quarter of 1964 in the Islington Registration District, he married Mabel Rose Crosswell (1914-1990) in the 3rd quarter of 1967, again in the Islington Registration District.
Telephone directories in 1971 list him at 85 Citizen House, Harvist Estate, London, N7.
He was killed, aged 60 years, in the Moorgate tube disaster, his death being registered in the 2nd quarter of 1975 in the London City Registration District. His body was cremated on 6 March 1975 in the London Borough of Islington and the cremated remains were buried on 20 March 1975, also in the London Borough of Islington, of which the precise location is unknown.
Probate records confirm that he had lived at 85 Citizen House, Harvist Estate, Hornsey Road, London, N7 and had died on 28 February 1975. Probate was granted on 14 April 1975 and his effects totalled £5772.
He is show as 'WONDERLING, FREDERICK' on the Moorgate tube disaster memorial in Finsbury Square, London, EC2.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them