Subject

Member of the ARP/Civil Defence Services - stretcher bearer.

Andrew Behan has kindly provided this research: Albert William Mears was born on 5 January 1909 at 11 Flint Avenue, Bromley by Bow, Poplar, the youngest of the five children of Albert Mears (1875-1947) and Lydia Lucy Mears née Grubb (1872-1947). His father was a journeyman packing case maker. The 1911 census and electoral registers up to 1932 confirms that the family was still living at this address. 

In 1932 he married Edith Maud Rendle in Poplar and they had five children, Albert Ernest Mears (1933-1985), Ronald William Mears (1934-2005), James E. Mears (born 1935), Amy M. Mears (born 1937) and Michael John Mears (13 July 1939 - 2001). 

The 1934 electoral register shows them living at 285 High Street, Poplar, but these registers from 1935 onward and the 1939 England and Wales Register states that they were living at 5 Melbourne Buildings, Oceana Close, Poplar. The latter register also shows his occupation as a Constructional Builder's Labourer. 

He was also an A.R.P. Stretcher Bearer and died, aged 31 years, on 18 September 1940 when a high explosive bomb fell on Saunders Ness Road School, Isle of Dogs, London, E.14, that was being used as Auxiliary Fire Service Sub Station No.35U. He is also commemorated in the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour, located near St. George's Chapel in Westminster Abbey.