William John Makepeace was born on 29 May 1880 in Marylebone, Middlesex (now Greater London), the third of the five children of George Makepeace (1848-1891) and Mary Ann Makepeace, née Gould (1852-1932). In his early years he was called John William Makepeace and his birth was registered as such in the 3rd quarter of 1880 in the Marylebone Registration District. He was baptised on 25 July 1880 at St. Mary’s Church, Bryanston Square, Marylebone where the baptismal register confirms his date of birth, that his family were living at 1 Crawford Street, Marylebone and that his father was a grocer.
In the 1881 census he is shown as John William Makepeace, aged 10 months and living at 1-2 Crawford Street, Marylebone, above an antique furniture shop, with his parents and two elder brothers: Henry George Makepeace (1873-1913) and Ernest Edward Makepeace (1877-1935).
When the 1891 census was undertaken he was recorded as John Wm. Makepeace, aged 10 years and a scholar residing in four rooms at 1 Miles Buildings, Carlisle Street, Marylebone, with his widowed mother and four siblings: Henry George Makepeace - a photographer's assistant; Ernest Edward Makepeace - a page boy at a club; Arthur Stephen Makepeace (1883-1926) - a scholar and George Albert Makepeace (1887-1955) - a scholar, together with two boarders.
His widowed mother was remarried to a Thomas O'Callaghan in the 4th quarter of 1893 in the Marylebone Registration District and in October 1898 he was appointed as a Postman in London West.
The 1901 census shows him as John W. Makepeace, aged 20 years and a postman, still living in four rooms at 1 Miles Buildings, with his mother and three brothers: Ernest Edward Makepeace - a club/porter; Arthur Stephen Makepeace - a serving machine mechanic and George Albert Makepeace - at school
When his mother completed her 1911 census return form she record her son as William J. Makepeace, aged 30 years, single and postman. The form shows that the family had moved to a seven roomed property at 28 Milton Road, Hanwell, Middlesex (now Greater London). His mother was now again recorded as a widow and three of his brothers were also residing at the house: Ernest Edward Makepeace was a club servant: Arthur Stephen Makepeace was a house labourer at the British Museum and George Albert Makepeace was an attendant at the British Museum.
In early 1916 he originally enlisted as William John Makepeace in the 8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), service number 5585, in Harrow, Middlesex, but it was in the 1st/9th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) that he entered France on 16 July 1916. His service number was 7610.
He was killed in action on 9 October 1916, aged 36 years, and as he has no known grave is commemorated on Pier and Face 9.C of the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Rue de l'Ancre, 80300 Thiepval, France. On 1 March 1917 all London Regiment servicemen's numbers were changed to six digits and although he had already died his records were amended to show a new service number, 393691. Probate records show that his address at the time of his death was 90 Vaughan Road, Harrow, Middlesex (now Greater London) and that administration of his estate was granted to his mother on 15 July 1917. His effects totalled £155-2s-10d. She also received his army effects of £2-10s-2d on 17 November 1917 and a war gratuity of £3-0s-0d on 19 November 1919.
He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'MAKEPEACE, W. J.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website, on the A Street Near You website, on the London WW1 Memorial website, on the Royal British Legion's Every One Remembered website and on page 246 of the Post Office Fellowship of Remembrance's Book of Remembrance 1914-1920.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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