arthur ernest mallandain + kate alice willmott
Arthur Ernest was born at 70 Lynedoch Street in Shoreditch on 3 May 1894, the eldest child of Arthur Mallandain and Elizabeth Webster. He was baptised on 27 May at St Leonard, Shoreditch. He was still living with his family at the time of the 1911 Census and reported his occupation as an Electrical Engineering Learner.
Two years later, Arthur enlisted in the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Stratford. He was 19 years old and listed his occupation as Fitters Mate. His Attestation papers note that he had previously enlisted and served in the Royal Sussex Regiment but was ‘discharged as an eldest son to support his father.’ Arthur must have enlisted at an early age as his father, Arthur, died in 1911. Arthur Ernest was described as 5’ 5” tall, 130lbs with blue eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion. He had numerous tattoss including a tombstone with ‘In Loving Memory of a dear Father’ on his left forearm.
He was attested and posted to the 35th Battalion as a Driver but one week later he left his unit and was declared ‘Absent without Leave’. He rejoined voluntarily on 4 October and was convicted of desertion ten days later but his military records do not include any explanation for his desertion or why he chose to return. He remained in detention for one month before being discharged as unfit due to his conviction.
Arthur married Kate Alice Willmott at St Columba in Haggerston on 10 July 1920 with his sister Joanna acting as a witness to the ceremony along with Kate’s brother Arthur. The marriage registration lists their addresses as the Mallandain home at 25 Lynedoch Street but it appears Arthur gave up his engineering studies as his occupation was listed as Upholsterer. Kate was born in Shoreditch on 26 February 1896, the daughter of William Arthur Willmott and Kate Ellen Campbell.
Arthur and Kate had three children but only two survived infancy. Arthur Ernest was born in Shoreditch on 7 February 1921. He never married and died in Loughton, Essex in 2001. Charles Alexander John was born in Shoreditch in 1923 but sadly died only one year later. Lilian Margaret was born in Shoreditch on 18 November 1924. She married American serviceman Samuel Monce in Hackney in 1953 and returned with him to the United States. They settled in Samuel’s hometown of Erlanger, Kentucky and had four sons.
In 1939, Arthur, Kate and their two children were living at 69 Mintern Street in Shoredicth and Arthur was working as an Upholsterer while Kate worked as a Gown Presser. The 1939 Register notes that although his surname was Mallandain, he was ‘known as’ Webster but there is no other information to explain why he was using his mother’s maiden name.
Arthur died in Epping, Essex in 1972 and Kate died in Essex in 1982 at the age of 96 years. Their son Arthur died in Loughton, Essex in 2001 and daughter Lilian died in Edgewood, Kentucky on 18 April 2017.