Introduction
William Browning was a railway platelayer at Hardington Marsh from 1908 to about 1913. He came originally from North Stoneham, where his father worked as a railway labourer. He adopted a career in the railway industry after previously serving in the Royal Navy. Following his time at Hardington, he lived at Winsham before eventually returning to Hampshire. During the First World War, he served with the Somerset Light Infantry and later with the Royal Engineers.
Birth
William was born at North Stoneham, near Southampton, on 6 March 1872, the second of nine children born to Alfred and Jane Browing. Alfred, his father, began his working life as a farm labourer before becoming a railway labourer. Jane, his mother, was the daughter of a farm labourer.
Royal Navy career
On 1 August 1887, at the age of fifteen, William enlisted in the Royal Navy, serving until 27 July 1896.
While he was in the Navy, his father, Alfred, died in 1890 at the age of 41. His early death left his widow with seven children to care for, as William and his sister, Elizabeth, had already left home.
Marriage
While still in the Navy, William married Rosanna Shearing at Portsmouth on 7 January 1893. Their first child was born at Eastleigh on 14 September 1893.
Post-Navy adjustment
After leaving the Navy, William and his family settled near Southampton.
They lived at St Denys in October 1898, where their second child was born, and by March 1901, they were residing at Bitterne, where their third child was born.
While living at Bitterne, the family lodged with a hairdresser in the High Street. According to the 1901 census, William’s occupation was “Hire Carter.”
New railway career
Within the next few years, William joined the railway.
Yeovil
By September 1905, William and his family had moved to Yeovil, where they lived in Mudford Road.[1] By November 1908, they lived at 10 Reckleford Hill.[2]
Their son, Thomas George, was born in Yeovil on 30 October 1908.
Hardington
In November 1908, the family moved to Hardington, where they lived at 1 Railway Cottages.[3] They remained in the parish until at least March 1913.[4]
At the time of their arrival, William and Rosanna had four children, and they had two more at Hardington: Ellen Eliza Jane, born on 18 November 1910, and Daisy Winifred, born on 28 January 1913.
Winsham and the First World War
After leaving Hardington, the family moved to Winsham, where they lived at Hazelwood Cottage. On 4 August 1915, at the age of 43, William enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry. On 6 April 1916, he transferred to the Royal Engineers. On 29 May 1916, he was promoted to Lance Corporal and embarked for France the next day. The following year, he was promoted to Corporal.
After the war, William returned to his position as a platelayer. The 1921 census recorded his address as Church Street, Winsham, and his workplace as Chard Junction.
Eastleigh
By September 1939, William had retired from the railway, and he and Rosanna lived at 234 Southampton Road, Eastleigh.
Death
Rosanna died in the Winchester district in 1948, at the age of 75, while William died in the Chard district in 1963 at the age of 91.
Children
William and Rosanna had three sons and three daughters.[5]
References
[1] Reckleford School admissions register. The register states that William’s son, William Charles, previously attended South Perrott School.
[2] Holy Trinity, Yeovil, baptism register.
[3] Hardington School admissions register.
[4] Pendomer baptism register.
[5] According to the 1911 census, they had a seventh child who had died by that time.
