Resident of Willesden who volunteered in the Anglo Boer War, 1899-1900.
William Robert Arnell was born on 22 August 1877, the third of the ten children of Charles Arnell (1847-1931) and Emily Jane Arnell née Adams (1849-1918). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1877 in the Marylebone Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London). On 1 October 1877 he was baptised in St Marylebone Parish Church, Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5LT, where in the baptismal register his family are shown at 26 George Street, Marylebone and that his father was a hotel proprietor.
His nine siblings were: Catherine Emily Arnell (1874-1953); Gertrude Sarah Arnell (1875-1945); Ethel Maud Arnell (1874-1963); Charles George Arnell (1880-1918); John Edwin Arnell (1882-1973); Henry Graham Arnell (1884-1917); Lily Agnes Arnell (1886-1974); Herbert Stanley Arnell (1889-1962) and Dorothy Mabel Arnell (b.1891).
He is shown in the 1881 census as aged 3 years, living at Durrants Hotel (2024: still operating), 24, 26 & 28, George Street, Marylebone, with his parents, his four siblings: Catherine Emily Arnell; Gertrude Sarah Arnell; Ethel Maud Arnell and Charles George Arnell, together with 2 male waiters, 2 hotel porters, a page, a cook, a kitchen-maid, a scullery-maid, 4 housemaids, 2 nurse-maids and 2 laundry-maids. On the night of the census there were 13 boarders staying in the hotel. His father was listed as the hotel proprietor.
He was aged 13 years and a scholar when the 1891 census was taken. He is shown as residing at the Queen's Hotel, King Street, Weymouth, Dorset, with his parents, seven of his siblings: Catherine Emily Arnell, who was a barmaid; Ethel Maud Arnell; Charles George Arnell; John Edwin Arnell; Henry Graham Arnell; Herbert Stanley Arnell and Dorothy Mabel Arnell, together with a nursemaid, a cook, a waitress, a housemaid, and a male under boots. On the night of the census there were seven boarders staying in the hotel. His father was listed as the hotel proprietor.
On 1 January 1900, giving his occupation as a clerk, he enlisted as a Private in the City of London Imperial Volunteers, service number 199, and fought in the Second Boer War. The angloboerwar.com website confirms he was presented with a Willesden Tribute Medal on 8 November 1900 at a ceremonial banquet held at Kensal Rise Board School. He would have also been awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal.
In 1901 he enlisted in the Imperial Yeomanry Metropolitan Mounted Rifles, service number 34379 and in the 1901 census he is shown as aged 23 years and a Corporal in the Imperial Yeomanry, living at 128 Mortimer Road, Kensal Green, Willesden, Middlesex (now Greater London) with his parents, five of his siblings: Gertrude Sarah Arnell, who was a saleswoman at the Army & Navy Stores; John Edwin Arnell, a commercial clerk; Henry Graham Arnell, also a commercial clerk; Lily Agnes Arnell and Herbert Stanley Arnell. His father was described as a printer's managing clerk.
On 18 August 1906 he married Annie Ethel Edwards (1878-1958) at St James's Church, 32 St James Avenue, London, W13 9DJ, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 29 years, a bachelor and a dentist's assistant residing at 128 Mortimer Road, Willesden, whilst his wife was described as aged 28 years, a spinster living at 88 Eccleston Road, West Ealing, the daughter of Ralph Petvin Edwards, a joiner. They had four children: Kathleen Ellen Arnell (1907-1974); William Ralph Arnell (1908-1960); Maurice Henry Arnell (1909-1984) and Emily Phyllis Arnell (1912-2011).
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as aged 33 years and a prosthetic dentist, living in a five roomed property at 43 Northcroft Road, West Ealing, with his wife and their three children: Kathleen Ellen Arnell; William Ralph Arnell and Maurice Henry Arnell.
At the age of 37 years he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps, service number 148481, on 14 October 1914.
The 1939 England and Wales Register confirmed his date of birth and described him as a dentist (surgical & mechanical) still residing at 43 Northcroft Road, West Ealing, with his wife and three of their children: Kathleen Ellen Arnold, a children's governess; Maurice Henry Arnell, an instrument maker, scientific, optical & electrical and an Air Raid Precautions Stretcher Bearer and Emily Phyllis Bicknell.
Electoral registers continued to list him and his family at 43 Northcroft Road, London, W13 until his death, aged 87 years, was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1965 in the Ealing Registration District, London.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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