William Henry Thomas Fall was born on 9 August 1879, his birth being registered in the 3rd quarter of 1879 in the St Saviour registration district, Southwark. He was one of the seven children of Thomas Fall (1857-1935) and Bessie Louisa Fall née Wallis (1860-1930). When his parents married his father's occupation was described as a gas fitter.
On 25 November 1885 both he and his sister, Annie Dionysia Louisa Fall (1885-1886), were baptised at St Paul's Church, Lorrimer Square, Southwark. The baptismal register shows the family were living at 43 Danson Road, Southwark, (now demolished and just a small section of the road remains off Manor Place leading into Pasley Park) and their father was shown as a labourer.
On 25 December 1898 he married Sarah Ellen Chapman (1879-1940) at Christ Church, Southwark. The marriage register shows him as a stoker living at 17 Downs Buildings, Southwark, whilst her address was recorded as 20 Downs Buildings. His father was also shown as a stoker.
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 John's 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.
In the 1911 census he is described as a well borer, boarding at the home of Thomas and Elizabeth Phillips at 96 Oxford Street, Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales. Electoral registers in 1915 show him listed in one unfurnished room at the front of the first floor of 14 Price's Street, Southwark, (now called Chancel Street).
On 8 February 1915 he enlisted as a Private in the Royal Sussex Regiment, service number 5126. He was medically discharged on 8 January 1919 and was awarded a Silver War Badge, serial number B136399, that was sent to 4 Hopetoun Place, Zoar Street, Southwark. Electoral registers from 1918 to 1938 show both him and his wife listed at this address.
The 1939 England and Wales Register lists him and his wife at 138 Union Street, Southwark and his occupation is recorded as 'general labourer engineers'.
He 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 his wife.
His 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. In these he is shown as living at 138 Union Street and also as a warden in the Air Raid Precautions service.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
