Albert Edward Winstone was born on 1 September 1901 in Hawthorn Grove, Penge, the youngest of the seven children of George Henry Winstone (1863-1931) and Jane Elizabeth Winstone née Reeves (1865-1929). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1901 in the Croydon registration district, Surrey.
His six siblings were: George Edwin Winstone (1884-1884), Louisa Georgina Winstone (1885-1885), Jane Frances Winstone (1887-1892), Edwin Thomas Winstone (1889-1891), William Alfred Winstone (1895-1964) and Hilda Winstone (1899-1903).
When his father completed the 1911 census return form, he was shown as aged 9 years, living at 103a Hawthorn Grove, Penge, London, SE20, with his parents and his surviving brother, William Alfred Winstone. His father described himself as a carpenter and William Alfred Winstone as a van guard.
On 17 August 1917, aged 15 years, he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class, service number J/76618, giving his occupation as a machine boy and went to the training establishment, HMS Impregnable, in Devonport, Devon. It was here that he was promoted to Boy 1st Class on 9 February 1918. After serving in various units he was eventually transferred to HMS Glatton on 31 August 1918.
He died, aged 17 years, on 17 September 1918 as a result of injuries sustained when an explosion occurred on HMS Glatton the previous day in Dover Harbour, Kent. His body was buried in Row W5, Grave 7629 in the Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery, Elmers End Road, Beckenham, BR3 4TD. His death was registered in the 4th quarter of 1918 in the Dover registration district. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
Shown as A. E. Winstone on the Penge war memorial, he is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
