Walter Wakley was born on 4 October 1883 in Clapham, Surrey, the fifth of the eight children of Albert Wakley (1852-1915) and Sophia Wakley née Watson (1855-1923). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1883 in the Lambeth registration district and his father was a stonemason.
In the 1891 census he is shown as a scholar, living at 8 Triangle Place, Clapham, with his parents and six siblings: Albert John Wakley (1876-1918), Ernest Wakley (1877-1934), William Wakley (1879-1946), Sidney Wakley (b.1881), Gertrude Sophia Wakley (1885-1892) and Edgar Marcus Wakley (1888-1917). He was still at this address in the 1901 census with his parents and brothers, Sidney and Edgar. His occupation was recorded as a stonemason as were his father and brother, Sidney.
On 3 April 1904 he married Margaret Milne (1883-1949) at St James' Church, Clapham, where in the marriage register he is described as a mason and both their addresses were recorded as 55 Park Crescent, Clapham. (Park Crescent was subsequently renamed as Clapham Crescent, London, SW4).
He described himself as a stonemason in the 1911 census living at 52 Park Crescent, Clapham, with his wife and two children: Bert Wakley (1908-1996) and Alfred Henry Wakley (1910-1984). They had three other children: Frank Walter Wakley (1911-1998), Annie Margaret Wakley (b.12 March 1916) and William Walter Wakley (1917-2002). Electoral registers from 1923 to 1935 show him and his family living at 45 Park Place, London, SW4. (Park Place was subsequently divided and renamed as Holwood Place and St Alphonsus Road, London, SW4).
As a foreman stonemason employed on the construction of 55 Broadway, London, SW1, he was chosen to lay a foundation stone at the site on 13 September 1928.
Electoral registers in 1935 list him and his family at 76 Park Place, London, SW4 and from 1937 at 140 St Alphonsus Road, London, SW4. The 1939 England and Wales Register confirms him at this address where he was listed as a stonemason fixer, together with his wife and family including William Walter Wakley who was shown as a motor cycle fitter and his daughter, Annie, who was recorded as a dressmaker. His son, Frank Walter Wakley, a stonemason's labourer, was shown as a married man living with his wife, Winifred M. Wakley, next door at 138 St. Alphonsus Road.
He died, aged 58 years, his death being registered in the 1st quarter of 1942 in the Wandsworth registration district.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
