Frederick John Wunderling was born on 21 June 1914, the sixth of the eight children of William Frederick John Wunderling (1879-1946) and Eliza Ann Wunderling née Brady (1878-1927). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1914 in the Shoreditch Registration District, London. On 12 July 1914 he was baptised at St John the Baptist Church, Hoxton, Middlesex (now Greater London), where in the baptismal register his date of birth was confirmed, that his family were shown as living at 9 Allerton Street, Hoxton and that his father was a carman.
His seven siblings were: Rose Louisa Wunderling (1904-1980); Elsie Ellen Wunderling (1906-1931); Henry Dudley Valentine Wunderling (1907-1939); Alfred Wunderling (1909-1940); Maud Charlotte Wunderling (1912-1913); George Albert Wonderling (1915-1987) and Louisa Mary Elizabeth Wonderling (1921-1921).
His father was of German descent and during World War One the family changed their surname to Wonderling and in the census compiled on 19 June 1921 he is shown as Frederick Wonderling, aged 7 years and in whole-time education, still living in three rooms at 9 Allerton Street, Hoxton, with his parents and his six surviving siblings: Rose Louisa Wonderling - a button maker employed by George Brook & Co at 53 St Leonard Street, London EC; Elsie Ellen Wonderling - a tailoress working for Lookwood & Bradley at 128 Old Street, London, EC; Henry Dudley Valentine Wonderling - a grocer's assistant at George Carter & Co at Nile Street, Hoxton, London, N1; Alfred Wonderling - in whole-time education; George Albert Wonderling (1915-1987) - in whole-time education and Louisa Mary Elizabeth Wonderling (1921-1921). His father showed himself as an out of work carman having last been employed by W & H Cooper of 176 Brady Street, Bethnal Green, London N.
In the 1937 electoral register he is listed with other members of his family at 43 Castlefrank House, Hoxton Street, London, N1. He is shown as both an absent voter and a naval or military voter.
During World War Two he served in the army ending his service as a Company Sergeant Major in the 1st Battalion, The Glasgow Highlanders (Highland Light Infantry), service number 6550848 and was discharged on 21 November 1945. He was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Africa Star, the France and Germany Star and the 1939-1945 War Medal. On 23 December 1948 these were sent to him at 23 Bardwell Street, London, N7.
He married Violet Gladys Francis (1908-1964) on 15 June 1945 in the Islington Registration District, London and they had three children: Margaret R. Wonderling (b.1946) and twin sons - Brian Leonard Wonderling (1948-1972) and Frederick George Wonderling (1948-2021) who were born on 25 October 1948.
Electoral registers in 1953 and 1954 show him, his wife and his brother, George Albert Wonderling, listed at 101 Crouch Hill Court, Sparsholt Road, London, N19.
He was listed on the electoral registers from 1960 to 1970 at 6 Southgate Court, Downham Road, London, N1.
Following the death of his wife on 4 March 1964, that was registered in the 1st quarter of 1964 in the Islington Registration District, he married Mabel Rose Crosswell (1914-1990) in the 3rd quarter of 1967, again in the Islington Registration District.
Telephone directories in 1971 list him at 85 Citizen House, Harvist Estate, London, N7.
He died in the Moorgate tube disaster, his death being registered, aged 60 years, in the 2nd quarter of 1975 in the London City Registration District. His body was in the London Borough of Islington and the , also in the London Borough of Islington, of which the .
Probate records confirm that he had lived at 85 Citizen House, Harvist Estate, Hornsey Road, London, N7 and had died on 28 February 1975. Probate was granted on 14 April 1975 and his effects totalled £5,772.
He is shown as 'WONDERLING, FREDERICK' on the Moorgate tube disaster memorial in Finsbury Square, London, EC2.
In October 2025 we were contacted by Frederick John Wonderling's granddaughter, Samantha Wonderling, the daughter of Frederick George Wonderling, who advised that when her grandparents were living at 101 Crouch Hill Court, in addition to their three children: Margaret, Brian and Frederick, her grandmother's disabled brother Charles Leonard Francis (1922-1950) who was known as Charlie, was also residing at that address.
She also stated that her grandmother, Violet, was buried when she died. She confirmed that when her uncle, Brian Leonard Wonderling, passed away at the age of 23 years he too was buried with her and that when her grandfather, Frederick John Wonderling died he was cremated and his ashes were interned in the grave they now all share which is located on Joint Road at Finchley Cemetery. Her aunt Margaret R. Wonderling moved to the USA when she was around 18 years old.
We are grateful that Samantha Wonderling also shared a photograph showing Frederick John Wonderling, his wife and their three children, Margaret and twins Frederick and Brian.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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