Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 40A GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Early Life :
Wililam was born Stepney in London 1858, to William Martin and Caroline (nee Curtis), when they were resident at 2 New Nelson Street, Whitechapel. He appears on some censuses, first on the 1861 with two sisters Elizabeth B and Alice M in a shared apartment (tenement?) 22B Turner Street, in the shadow of Bart's Hospital. The family had increased considerably by 1871 where, resident at 60 Cotton Street, Tower Hamlets, John, Caroline and Jane had added themselves to the list of siblings. Two lodgers were recorded as Mariners, and his father had become a Shipping Agent. William, himself was now employed as a Messenger.He became a Freemason in 1887. In the records of Corinthian Lodge No. 1382 he is employed as an Engineer and resident at 60 Locksley Street., Cubitt Town, East London.
He married Emma nee Serpell of Sheviock, Cornwall. 14th Jul 1892, at Wanstead, St. Mary The Virgin With Christ Church, Essex, England.
The 1901 census shows an absence of William, but his family had moved to 121 Chestnut Avenue, West Ham. At the same premise, were Emma his wife, b. 1861, and three daughters: Violet May b.1896, Victoria Aimee b.1898 and Audrey Emma b.1901. All were born in West Ham on the 1901 census and at Forest Gate, Essex on the 1911. Also present was another Emma Serpell b.1839,
mother-in-law, described incorrectly as Aunt in 1911, who is also native of Sheviock, Conrnwall.
In 1911, aged 50, William has returned and resident at Merrifield, Belle Vue Road, Wivenhoe, living with the same family (as 1901) and working as a Marine Engineer.
Education & Career :
The following promotions have been made for good service in Auxiliary Patrol Yachts: — Temporary Eng. Sub.-Lieuts to become Engineer-Lieutenant: Seniority (gazetted) date: 14th July 1916.
Probate: MARTIN William Curtis of Wivenhoe essex marine engineer died 13 December 1919. Probate Ipswich 19 March to Emma Martin widow. Effect £687 5s. 3d.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: Not Yet Known |
- |
| Action : Post War |
Post War includes all operations in all theatres up to 31st August 1921. This excludes the campaign in Russia against the Bolsheviks. It also includes men who succombed to wounds post war and who died from various causes whilst still in the services but post war.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Corinthian No. 1382 E.C. | London |
| Joined : | Colne No. 2477 E.C. | Essex |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
1st February 1887 | 16th March 1887 | 20th April 1887 |
Joining Member of Colne Lodge, Wivenhoe on 08.03.1904, reported not appear in the Declaration Book as a Joiner, but according to the Minute Book his Mother Lodge was Corinthian No 1382 which met at Cubitt Town, later at at Clerkenwell. He was initiated and shows in Corinthian's registers and resigned from Corinthian February 1892. Record of Colne show "Died 13 Dec 1919."
He is not commemorated on a plaque at Wivenhoe Masonic Temple, with those others from Colne who are: HORE, GOODLAKE & HOUSTON.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley