Edward Woonacott was born on 14 January 1889, one of the five children of James Wonnacott (1867-1924 and Lavina Thomas Wonnacott née Beavis (1857-1924). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1889 in the Holborn Registration District, London.
He was shown as aged 2 years on the census that was undertaken on 5 April 1891. He was living in three rooms within 138 Cleveland Road, St Pancras, London, with his parents and his sister, Gertrude Lavinia Woonacott (1890-1981). His father was described as a fishmonger's manager.
British Postal Service Appointment Books show that in February 1908 he was appointed as a postman in London's North Western District and this was confirmed in the London Gazette dated 3 April 1908. In October 1909 was promoted to the grade of postman I in London's Western District Office.
He was described as aged 22 years and G.P.O. postman on the census return form completed by his father on 2 April 1911. He was living in a three roomed apartment within 20 Victoria Road, Kentish Town, London, with his parents and his brother, Albert Edward Wonnacott (1896-1982) - a worker at a chemical manufacturer. His father listed himself as a fish fryer at a fish restaurant and claimed that his wife had given birth to five children but that only four were still alive.
On 22 November 1911 he married Ellen Elizabeth Cook at St Paul's Church, St John's Hill, Battersea, London, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 22 years, a bachelor and a postman, living at 154 St John's Hill, Battersea, the son of James Wonnacott, a fish fryer, whilst his wife was described as aged 22 years and a spinster who was residing at the same address, the daughter of Thomas Cook, a greengrocer.
They went on to have three children, Edward Sidney Wonnacott (1912-2000) who was born on 22 September 1912; Violet Irene Wonnacott (1915-2008), born 12 December 1915 and John Edward Wonnacott (1918-1992), born 12 October 1918. When their first son was baptised on 3 November 1912, the family were living at 106 Chapter Road, Willesden Green and when their daughter was baptised on 9 January 1916 they were residing at 45 Victoria Road, Kentish Town.
He joined the 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, service number 266096, before being transferred to the 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, service number 41632. He died of his wounds, aged 29 years, on 26 July 1918 at the 27th Field Ambulance and was , at the Caëstre Military Cemetery, Rue Yves Baron, 59190 Caëstre, France.
Royal Mail records confirm his date of birth and show that a Post Office gratuity of £102-13s-4d was sent to his widow on 1 October 1918. His army effects totalling £8-5s-11d were sent to his widow on 30 October 1918 and she was granted administration of his estate that totalled £195-0s-0d when she was living at 45 Victoria Road, Kentish Town. She was also granted a £9-10s-0d war gratuity on 6 December 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'WONNACOTT, E.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the , on the and on the .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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