Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man:
Rifleman William John Makepeace. Born on the 29th May 1880 in Marylebone, the son of George and Mary Ann Makepeace, née Gould. His father was a Grocer. In his early years he was called John William Makepeace and his birth was registered as such. He was baptised on the 25th July 1880 at St. Mary’s Church, Bryanston Square, Marylebone and the family were living at 1 Crawford Street, Marylebone. The 1881 census shows the family living at 1-2 Crawford Street, above an antique furniture shop. The 1891 census shows that his father had died and that his widowed mother had moved to 1 Miles Building, off Carlisle Street, Marylebone where she was living with her children, Henry George, aged 17; Ernest Edward, aged 13; John William, aged 10; Arthur Stephen, aged 7 and George Albert, aged 3 years. In October 1898 he was appointed as a Postman in London West. The 1901 census shows he was still living at 1 Miles Building and he gave his occupation as a Postman. The 1911 census shows that the family had moved to 28 Milton Road, Hanwell. He was now recording his name as William John Makepeace. He was still single and a Postman. He originally enlisted in the 8th City of London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), service number 5585, in Harrow, Middlesex, but it was in the 1st/9th Battalion of the London Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) that he entered France on the 16th July 1916. His service number was 7610 and his regimental number was 393691. He was Killed in Action on the 9th October 1916, aged 36 years, and as he has no known grave is commemorated on Pier and Face 9.C of the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Probate records show that his address at the time of his death was 90 Vaughan Road, Harrow, Middlesex and that administration of his estate was granted to his mother on the 15th July 1917. His effects totalled £155-2s-10d. She also received his back pay of £2-10s-2d on the 17th November 1917 and a War Gratuity of £3-0s-0d on the 19th November 1919. He was posthumously awarded The British War Medal, 1914-1918 and The Victory Medal.
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