Alfred Henry Charles Washbrook was born in 1882 in Vauxhall, Surrey (now Greater London), the third of the six children of Henry Charles Washbrook (1856-1913) and Susannah Phillis Washbrook née Davis (1854-1900). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1882 in the Lambeth Registration District, Surrey (now Greater London). On 23 April 1882 he was baptised at St Mary the Less Church, Princes Road (now renamed at Black Prince Road), Lambeth, where in the baptismal register his family are shown as living at 70 Vauxhall Walk and his father was recorded as a packer.
In the 1891 census he is shown as Alfred H. C. Washbrook, aged 9 years and a scholar, living in two rooms at 31 Southville, Lambeth, London, with his parents and four siblings: Frances Sarah Ann Washbrook (1878-1934); Frederick Walter William Washbrook (1880-1952), a scholar; William John Washbrook (1888-1941) and Daisy Alice Washbrook (1890-1961). His father's occupation was recorded as a warehouseman.
When the 1901 census was undertaken he was listed as Alfred H. C. Washbrook, aged 19 years and brewer's carman, living in four rooms at 11 Auckland Street, Lambeth, with his widowed father and five siblings: Frances Sarah Ann Washbrook; Frederick Walter William Washbrook, a printer's assistant; William James Washbrook; Daisy Alice Washbrook and Lily Maud Washbrook (1897-1957). His father was shown as a warehouseman.
On 24 July 1910 he married Jessie Eglinton (1887-1961) at St John the Evangelist Church, Brixton, London, where in the marriage register he is shown only as Alfred Washbrook, aged 27 years, a bachelor and a carman residing at 23 Ridgeway Road, Brixton, whilst his wife is described as aged 23 years, a spinster and a servant, also living at the same address, the daughter of Edward Eglinton (1855-1922), a farrier. They were to have four children: Alfred George Washbrook (1910-1977); Edward James Washbrook (1912-1973); Florence Louise Washbrook (1914-1995) and Elizabeth Rose Washbrook (1916-1991).
When their first child was baptised on 20 November 1910 at St Stephen's Church, Rochester Row, London, SW1, the baptismal register shows the family was living at 9 St Leonard Street, Westminster (later renamed as Longmoore Street) and that his occupation was still listed as a carman.
When he completed his 1911 census return form he recorded his name as Alfred Washbrook, aged 29 years and a provision merchant's carman living in two rooms at 6 Mosedale Street, Camberwell, with his wife and their son, Alfred George Washbrook.
Their third child was baptised on 6 December 1914 at St Stephen's Church, Rochester Row, where the baptismal register shows the family residing at 34 Upper Garden Street (later renamed as Thorndike Street), Westminster and he continued to be shown as a carman.
On 4 March 1916 their fourth child was baptised at St Stephen's Church, Rochester Row and the baptismal register shows the family living a 32 B Old Pye Street Buildings and he was recorded as a carman.
It was not until 5 July 1916 that their second child was baptised in St Matthew's Church, Great Peter Street, Westminster, London. The baptismal register shows the family address as 32 Westminster Buildings and he was still listed as a carman.
His World War One Service Record shows him as Alfred Charles Washbrook and that although he enlisted to serve in the army on 23 June 1916 he was not called up for service until 13 March 1917 as a Private in the 45th Training Reserve Battalion, service number 24845. His home address was recorded as 11 Hinchcliffe Street, Westminster. He entered France on 4 July 1917 and on 28 July 1917 he was posted to the 2nd/7th (Robin Hood) Battalion (Territorial Force), The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment), service number 72125. He was reported missing, presumed killed in action, aged 35 years, on 27 September 1917 and as he has no known grave he is commemorated on Panels 99 to 102 on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Vijfwegestraat, 8980 Zonnebeke, Belgium.
On 22 April 1918 his widow was awarded a weekly pension of £1-8s-9d for herself and their four children. By 4 December 1918 his army effects totalling £3-0s-10d were sent to his widow who was also sent his £3-0s-0d war gratuity on 4 November 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'WASHBROOK. A.C.' on the war memorial outside St John's Church, Smith Square, London, SW1. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website, on the A Street Near You website and the London WW1 Memorials website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
