In April 1911, William Browning, aged 39, was a railway platelayer living at Hardington Marsh.

Birth

William was born at North Stoneham near Southampton on 6 March 1872. His father, Alfred, began his working life as a farm labourer and then joined the railway as a labourer. His mother, Jane, was the daughter of a farm labourer.

Royal Navy career

William served in the Royal Navy from 1 August 1887 to 27 July 1896.

While he was serving in the Navy, his father, Alfred, died in 1890, aged 41.

Marriage

William married while in the Navy. On 7 January 1893, he married Rosanna Shearing at Portsmouth.

Their first child was born at Eastleigh on 14 September 1893.

Post Navy adjustment

After William left the Navy, he and his family lived near Southampton.

They lived at St Denys in October 1898 (where their second child was born) and at Bitterne by March 1901.

At Bitterne, William, his wife, and two children lodged with a hairdresser in the High Street. William’s occupation was “Hire Carter.”

New railway career

Within the next few years, William joined the railway.

Yeovil

William and his family were at Yeovil by September 1905, living in Mudford Road.[1] By November 1908, they lived at 10 Reckleford Hill.[2]

William’s son, Thomas George, was born in Yeovil on 30 October 1908.

Hardington

In November 1908, William and his family moved to Hardington, where they lived at 1 Railway Cottages.[3] They stayed in the parish until at least March 1913.

When they came, William and Rosanna had four children. They had another two at Hardington: Ellen Eliza Jane, born on 18 November 1910, and Daisy Winifred, born on 28 January 1913.

Winsham

In 1916, William enlisted in the army while living at Hazelwood Cottage, Winsham. On 30 May 1916, one day after becoming a Lance Corporal, he embarked for France. The following year, he was promoted to Corporal.

After the war, William returned to being a platelayer. The 1921 census recorded his place of work as Chard Junction.

By this time, his address was Church Street, Winsham.

Eastleigh

By September 1939, William had retired from the railway, and he and his wife lived at 234 Southampton Road, Eastleigh.

Death

Rosanna died in the Winchester district in 1948, aged 75; William died in the Chard district in 1963, aged 91.

Children

William and Rosanna had three sons and three daughters. According to the 1911 census, they also had another child who died.

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.