Clothier family, c. 1915
Photo and notes below kindly provided by Peter Hannah.
The person seated is Edwin Joseph Clothier (1865-1926) and his wife Sarah Ann (Bryant) (1868-1941) At the back left to right is Percy Edwin (1889-1970) Daisey Beatrice (1891-1982) George Godfrey (1893-1978) and Walter Cecil (1895-1982). Sitting front middle is Harry Robert (1901-1958).
Edwin Joseph
Also known as Ted, worked for Mitcham Gas Works for 34 years from 1892 to his death in 1926. In 1911 he was the Foreman in the Carbonising Dept and at the time of his death he was the Superintendent of the Carbonising Dept. He died 3 weeks after a fall at the gas works when he fell down a man hole, the cover had been removed and he hadn’t noticed. His obituary was contained in the Gas Works magazine. He was also heavily involved in Mitcham Wanderers F.C where he was the Vice President. The historian of the current club Tooting & Mitcham Utd confirmed that a lot of the gas works staff were involved with Mitcham wanderers.Edwin Joseph also appears in the Gas Works photograph on Merton Memories. He is the bottom middle photograph headed “Engineering Staff Group” and is seated front left of the 4 men.
An inquest was held into the death of Edwin Joseph due to the accident 3 weeks previously. The newspaper article stated that “they were one of the best known and respected families in Mitcham”.
Percy Edwin
The 1911 Census shows that he was an Inspector (Gas Meter) and Pre Payment Supervisor at Mitcham Gas Works. In the First World War he joined the Royal Engineers, No. 162808 was awarded Victory & British Medals.Daisey Beatrice
She married Richard Cooper (1895-1982) He worked for Mitcham Gas Works for 48 years, working his way up to Chief Inspector. He served in the Signals Regiment in India during the 1st WW. He was also the Captain of Mitcham Wanderers F.C. Daisey, on the 1911 Census worked for Pascalls & Co as a Confectionary worker.George Godfrey
The 1911 Census confirms he was a Fitters Mate, later to become a Fitter and worked for them until his retirement in the late 1950’s.. 1st WW he joined the 2/5th Bat. East Surrey Regiment, No. 2686, promoted to Corporal before he lost his leg and was discharged. He received the Silver War Badge, which he can be seen wearing in the Merton Heritage photograph of Mitcham Wanderers 1920/21 team photograph. He is on the right wearing a suit jacket with his hair parted in the middle.
See also George Godfrey Clothier.Walter Cecil
The 1911 Census, when he was 15, confirms he was a Bakers Assistant, however his father’s obituary in 1926 confirmed that all the sons worked at that time at the Gas Works. When he joined is unknown. In the attached photo he is the one in uniform, he also joined the East Surrey Regiment, a private No. 200356 and was awarded the Victory & British Medals.Harry Robert
The youngest so not sure if he signed up for the war. He was a Valve Room Attendant at the Gas Works.Sarah Ann Clothier (Bryant)
Her brother James, on the 1911 Census, was an Automatic Slot Gas Collector at the Gas Works.
Related posts:
Mitcham History Notes 