"I love Minnie Vosper"
This name is on the St Mark's War Memorial, Kennington Oval, London SE11
This identification is somewhat tentative in that there is no specific information that ties the records of this soldier Edward Warren with St Mark's. However, in the Soldiers Died in the First World War 1914-1919 database this E. Warren is the only one with explicit links to Lambeth.
(Edward Warren)
(Warren, Edward)
Service no S/10344
Rifleman, Rifle Brigade, 9th Battalion
Died age 22 on 25 September 1915
Son of the late James and Alice Warren.
Remembered at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, Belgium, and at St Mark's Church, London SE11
Information from the 1911 census and from the British Army WWI Service Records 1914-1920
Edward Warren, a printer working for a newspaper, was one of 7 children of James and Alice Warren. By 1911 Alice was a widow aged 52 and working as a monthly nurse. She lived at 44 Ethelm Street, New Cut, London SE1 with three of her children:
Kate Warren, 20, a tin box maker
Edward Warren, 18, printer, whose name is on the war memorial
Annie Warren, 15, who, like Edward, worked in newspaper printing
There were 3 other children (according to the British Army Service Records): brothers James Warren, George Warren and Jack Warren, who in 1919 was in the Army and a sister, Alice Warren.
On the face of it, the Army Service Records for Warren do not contain much information about him or his death, apart from the fact that he was missing on 25 September 1915, and that that date was regarded as his date of death for official purposes. In short, his body could not be found and no one knew exactly what had happened to him. And that Edward was on the short side (5 feet 4¾ inches) and his chest measured 34 inches.
There is, however, one small distinction. I almost missed it. On the damaged and faded Discriptive Record on Enlistment, his distinguishing marks include: "I love Minnie Vosper" on his left arm. On the right arm was "I love Minnie Vosper" and a depiction of flowers.
In 1911 Minnie Vosper was a 15-year-old "infant worker" living in one room at 6 Broadwall, Stamford Street, Lambeth, with her parents and 3 siblings. Her parents, Frederick Vosper, 42, and Mary Ann Vosper, 34, were hawkers.
Warren signed up on 3 May 1915. He served a little over 4 months.