Died
22 October 1961
Born
December 1894
Sources
Ancestry
Barrow News
Cumbria BMD
Place
Walks
Themes
Company Sergeant Major William Ernest Waters
Company Sergeant Major William Ernest Waters 4th Batt KORL (200153 & 3701016) and Home Guard
William Waters may have been something of a “Poster Boy” for the Home Guard: there is a well-known painting of him in the Dock Museum, painted by Eric Kennington (1943), famous for many portraits during WW2. [© Reproduced by kind permission of the Dock Museum] Trescatheric and Hughes (Countryside Publications) 1979, say that “Waters was one of the first Barrovians to respond to Eden’s call on 14 May 1940 for volunteers to form a local defence force, later named the Home Guard.” (p44). He was in the 1st County of Lancaster (Barrow) Battalion Home Guard.
In
Loving Memory of
WILLIAM ERNEST WATERS
DIED 22ND OCT. 1961
AGED 66 YEARS
GRACE WATERS
DIED 23RD JULY 1987
AGED 93 YEARS
The Barrow News 27 October 1961 had an obituary:
‘BILL’ WAS TYPICAL MEMBER OF HOME GUARD
The man who had his portrait painted by a war artist as a typical Home Guard of the 1939-45 war, Mr. William Ernest Waters died at his home in Barrow on Sunday. He lived at 47 Fell Street, Barrow, and had been in ill-health for some years and it was this that caused his retirement in 1947. Mr. Waters, known widely as “Bill”, served with the 4th King’s Own during the 1914-18 war, and was in France for 3½ years. Because of his skill with a rifle he became a sniper. “Bill” worked for 18 years with Barrow Corporation electricity Department and the North Western Electricity Board until his retirement. He was one of the first Home Guard recruits for the 1939-45 war and served as a sergeant-major. It was during this period that he was chosen to have his portrait painted by an official war artist as a typical member of the Home Guard. The painting now hangs In the Barrow Public Library. Mr. Waters was for some years a member of the Barrow Fur and Feather Society, and bred rabbits and budgerigars. He was also a keen photographer. He leaves a widow and three married sons. One son is in New Zealand, another has a painting and decorating business in Barrow, and a third works for Vickers-Armstrongs in the South of England.
The funeral service was held in St Mark’s Church, Wednesday, prior to interment at Barrow Cemetery. It was conducted by the Vicar, the Rev. I. K. W. Savile, who also officiated at the graveside.
There follows a list of mourners, bearers, and senders of floral tributes.
William married Grace Kirby on 18 Feb 1919 @ St Marks; and he died 22/10/1961, aged 66 years. Grace died on 23 July 1987, aged 93 years.
Ancestry has a very full record for his WW1 service. His Attestation Papers (dated 6 February 1913, but also stamped 5 Jan 1921,) when he signed up for a four year stint in the Territorial Force, state that he was born in Askam. He was living at 6 Harris St, Askam, and is a Sampler at Roanhead Mines. His age is given as 18 years 2 months. He joined the 4th Bn. King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment (KORL), Regt. No. 200153 (ex-1807). He ended up going to France in May 1915, returning home in March 1920. His war was not without its troubles: on 11 September 1916 he was admitted to a Field Hospital for 3 days with shell shock; again on 26 September, rejoining the Battalion on 11 October 1916. From 26 January to 2 February 1917 he undertook a Sniping course. He did get into trouble once: on 29 Dec 1918 he overstayed his depot leave until 15.00hrs on 2 Jan 1919. He was “Severely Reprimanded”.
He rejoined the Territorials after the war. In July 1924, confusingly, his date of birth is given as 7 December 1895. He is living at 47 Back Dalton Road, Barrow, and is semi-skilled (electrics). He and Grace have 3 children: Robert (DoB 22 Jan 1920); William (DoB 14 June 1922), and Joseph (DoB 25 December 1924). On yet another form, his date of birth is 17 December 1895, and the family is living at 23 Crelling (sic) Street.
NB His birth is registered in Q4 1894.
1901 Census
It is a puzzle where William was at the time of this Census. Fanny Waters (27) is living with her father Williams (sic) and her brothers Charles W. Waters (25), a mechanics labourer, born Askam; and Thomas F. Waters (20), stationary engine driver, born Askam.
1911 Census
William Ernest Waters is living at 6 Harris Street, Askam in Furness, aged 16, and is an Iron Ore Sampler (Roanhead), born Dalton-in-Furness. Others in the household are mother (or aunt?) Fanny Waters (37), Single, born Dalton, and her father William Waters (64), widower, Stationery Engineman at Iron Ore Mines, born Ulverston.
1939 Register
Living at 47 Fell Street William E Waters (DoB 11 Dec 1894) Plumbing Jointer (Heavy Work); Grace Waters (DoB 12 April 1896) Unpaid Domestic Duties; Robert Waters (DoB 22 Jan 1920) Apprentice House Painter. Two records are redacted. NB Fell Street is probably the same place as Back Dalton Road, the name given in the 1924 document.
