Sapper James William Atkins

James who was born on the 3rd of May 1891 at Newington in Kent, was the fourth child of Emily Matthews and George Atkins. His parents had met and married on the 20th of September 1885 at Borden in Kent. The 1891 Census reveals that the Emily and George were living at Wormdale farm in Newington in Kent. George was employed as a labourer.

The 1901 Census reveals that Atkins family were living at 3 Clarks Cottages in Kennington with 8 of their younger Children. 40-year-old George was still employed as a labourer.

0n the 7th of December in 1896, James and his sister Elizabeth attended Springfield School. The school register reveals that the Atkins family at 64 Crinworth Road in Lambeth, their father George was employed at the local gas works.

In July 1910, James's eldest sister 21-year-old Florence married John Beadon in Southwark.

The 1911 Census reveals that Emily and George had been married for 26 years with the couple having 12 children, who had all survived childhood. Emily and George resided at 11 Valentine’s Row in Blackfriars with ten of their younger children in 5 rooms. Twenty-year-old James was employed as a labourer at a local builder’s yard.

0n the 24th of June 1917, James married Rebecca Jeanette Smith at St Peter’s Church in Kennington Lane in Vauxhall. 0n the marriage register, 26-year-old James describes his occupation as a porter.

James's elder brother Frederick who had enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment was killed in action on the 16th of June 1915 in France.

James enlisted in the Royal Engineers as a sapper, his service record is not available through Ancestry. James died on the 4th of July 1920 and was buried at Streatham Park Cemetery.