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William Arthur Worrall

William Arthur Worrall[1, 2, 3, 4]

Male 1902 - 1967  (65 years)

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  • Name William Arthur Worrall 
    Born 16 Feb 1902 
    Gender Male 
    Died Nov 1967 
    Person ID I404  Family
    Last Modified 7 Feb 2009 

    Father Albert Edward Worrall,   b. 9 Nov 1881, 55 Christopher Buildings, Marylebone, London, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 31 Oct 1940, West London Hospital, London, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 58 years) 
    Mother Minnie Charlotte Eckett,   b. 1881, Basingstone Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Feb 1970  (Age 89 years) 
    Married 9 Dec 1900  Belfast, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Location 49 Danvers Street, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea SW3, London at his death. 
    Photos
    Albert E. Worrall, Minnie and son William at Sandhurst Millitary College c.1914
    Albert E. Worrall, Minnie and son William at Sandhurst Millitary College c.1914
    Family ID F53  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Beryl Burstall,   b. 02 Feb 1902,   d. May 1936  (Age 34 years) 
    Married 06 Sep 1924 
    Children 
     1. Christopher Richard Worrall,   b. 14 Dec 1927,   d. Apr 2001  (Age 73 years)
     2. Living
    Last Modified 4 Feb 2009 
    Family ID F531  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Eileen Baker,   b. Jul 1909,   d. Dec 1976  (Age ~ 67 years) 
    Married 1937 
    Children 
     1. Living
     2. Living
    Last Modified 4 Feb 2009 
    Family ID F547  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 Isobel Donald,   b. 1918,   d. Nov 1985  (Age 67 years) 
    Married 13 Mar 1952 
    Last Modified 4 Feb 2009 
    Family ID F551  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Midshipman William Arthur Worrall 1918
    Midshipman William Arthur Worrall 1918
    At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
    Babs and William Worrall at Arkley
    Babs and William Worrall at Arkley

    Letters At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

  • Sources 
    1. [S75] Other Researchers - Stephen Clowes.
      William, in what appears to be typical Worrall style had three wives.

    2. [S75] Other Researchers - Stephen Clowes.
      “Bill “ Worrall was sent off to sea in 1916 at the age of 14. After WW1 Minnie and son William Arthur lived in Albany Mansions, Battersea next door to Roberta Burstall mother of Beryl, later to be William's first wife. They were married in 1924. I do not know when Bill left the navy but he took the civil service entrance exams and got a job in the probate office at Somerset House. The couple's first home was a flat, 100 Philbeach Gardens, Earls Court. (purely by chance my Mum and her best friend from the WRENS Greta Labastoir lived in the flat next door 30+ years later) they then moved to Teddington where first son Christopher arrived in December 1927. My Mum was born in September 1931. Beryl became ill and sea air was prescribed so the family moved to Worthing in 1933 but it was a brain tumor and she died in May 1936. Her twin sister, Ruby, lived a most adventurous life until she was about 90…”kismet Hardy”

    3. [S75] Other Researchers - Stephen Clowes.
      After Beryl’s death Bill met Eileen Baker “Bunny” through mutual friends in Worthing and they married in 1937. They moved to Croydon in 1938 to reduce the time Bill spent commuting up to London for work. My Mum’s notes tell the next part of the story - see document Veronica Worrall's Account.

    4. [S75] Other Researchers - Stephen Clowes.
      From 1943 – 45 Bill was on the Atlantic convoys between Greenock and New York on the “Queen Mary” taking German POW’s to the US and bringing American troops over here. After VJ day he served on the MVT. “Aquitania” returning British troops and POW’s to the UK from the Far East. He was demobbed in 1946. Apart from a few days in 1943 he had not seen his family for two years. He asked Bunny for a divorce which was granted in 1946.
      At some point Bill must have returned to London because his third wife was the sister of a fellow Royal Navy reservist and drinking buddy called Geoff Donald. They were regulars at the ”Black Lion” Old Church Street, Chelsea. Isobel Donald, “Babs”, had married a chiropodist called Mr Mathews at the start of WW2 but they were divorced by the end of it. Bill and Babs were married in Chelsea in March 1952. Bill became probate registrar for East Sussex and he and Babs moved to Brighton in 1958. By the time I knew them they lived in Lewes, Sussex where Babs was a senior physiotherapist at the hospital. On one visit I had German measles and Bill bought me my first watch to take my mind off it. He died aged 65 in Nov. 1967. Babs continued to live in Lewes in a cottage built in the castle walls until she died in Nov. 1985.
      My Mum says that Bill never mentioned the other half of Albert Edward’s family and that she would never have known had it not been for Minnie telling her in later life.

    5. [S1] Certificate, Marriage.
      Married Minnie in Belfast.