Private William Robert Lintill

Born in Stanwell in April 1876, William was the son of innkeeper, John Lintill and his wife, Ann. The couple had four older children – Julia, Harriett, Elizabeth and John, plus 6 younger offspring – Philip, Arthur, Eva, Walter, Victor and Rose. In 1881 the family was living above the Rising Sun Inn, Stanwell where John snr was landlord. By 1891, William appears to have been working as a grocer’s assistant in Streatham High Street. He was living above the shop, in the home of his employer, Mr. Emens, with a housekeeper and two other shop employees.

By 1900 William had followed his father into the pub trade and was working as a licensed victualler. In September he married Matilda Barnes at St. Mary’s Church, Littleworth, Middlesex. The couple then shared a home on the high street in Harmondsworth with William’s brother, Arthur, who was a gardener. The 1911 census shows William as the landlord of the Sun Inn, Harmondsworth, where he lived with his wife, their two sons, William and Harold, plus his brother George, who was a fishmonger.

The family is thought to have moved to 117, Pelham Road, Wimbledon at a later date and William was then described as a shopkeeper. Following the introduction of conscription in 1916, William enlisted in the army. On October 9, 1917, he became a Private in the Royal Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport division). However his military service lasted less than a month, as he died on October 23 in the Hounslow Military hospital.

William was laid to rest at Stanwell burial ground, but is also commemorated with a monumental inscription at Wimbledon Parish Church.