She was born as Sarah Ellen Chapman on 9 June 1879 a daughter of Charles Richard Chapman (1857-1926) and Sarah Ellen Chapman née Ledger (1856-1903). Her birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1879 in the Pancras registration district. On 29 June 1879 she was baptised at St Saviour's Church, Maple Street, St Pancras, and the baptismal register shows that the family were residing at 189 Drummond Street, Camden and that her father was a carman.
The 1881 census shows her living at 219 St John Street, Clerkenwell, with her parents. When her sister, Alice Maud Chapman (1881-1960) was baptised 12 June 1881, the baptismal register shows the family living at 241/2 Sekforde Street, Clerkenwell. and in the 1891 census she is described as a scholar residing at 8 Edward Street, Southwark, with her parents and four siblings: Alice, Rose Edith Chapman (183-1954), Annie Chapman (b.1885) and Eva Chapman (1889-1967). (Edward Street has since been renamed to Treveris Street).
On 25 December 1898 she married William Henry Thomas Fall (1879-1940) at Christ Church, Southwark. The marriage register shows her husband as a stoker living at 17 Downs Buildings, Southwark, whilst her address was recorded as 20 Downs Buildings. Her father was still described as a carman.
Their son, William Charles Thomas Fall (1899-1961), was born on 24 October 1899 and when he was baptised on 19 November 1899 at St Johns' Church, Waterloo Road, Lambeth, the baptismal register shows their address as 17 Mitre Street, Lambeth, (now called Mitre Road) and that his father was described as a labourer. When their daughter, Ellen Rose Fall (1901-1986), who was born on 23 August 1901, was baptised on 22 September 1901 at St John's Church, the baptismal records gave the same family details.
The 1901 census confirms that she was still living at 17 Mitre Street. She is shown as the head of the household with no mention of her husband, just her son and her sister Rose Chapman.
Electoral registers from 1918 to 1938 show both her and her husband listed at 4 Hopetoun Place, Zoar Street, Southwark. The 1939 England and Wales Register lists her and husband at 138 Union Street, Southwark and her husband's occupation is recorded as 'general labourer engineers'.
She died, aged 61 years, on 10 September 1940, as a result of enemy action when a bomb fell on the Ewer Street air raid shelter. Amongst the others killed was her husband.
Her name can be found on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and it is also recorded in The Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour 1939-1945 that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey. These confirm they were both living at 138 Union Street.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
