This name is on the St Mark's War Memorial, Kennington Oval, London SE11
(Francis Matthew Stembridge)
(Stembridge, Francis Matthew)
Service no 201717
Private, Northamptonshire Regiment, 6th Battalion
Killed in action age 25 on 5 April 1918
Husband of Sarah Ann Howard (formerly Stembridge), of 114, Dorset Rd., Clapham Rd., London.
Remembered at Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France and at St Mark's Church, London SE11
Information from the 1911 census
In 1911, before he was married, carpenter Francis Matthew Stembridge was living with his family at 2 Rupert Terrace, London Road, Mitcham. Father and son worked as carpenters for a firework factory. Francis, 52, was from Crewkerne, Somerset; Evelyn, 40, was born in New Cross, south-east London.
There were seven children in the family:
Francis Stembridge, 18, carpenter
Gladys Stembridge, 16, a shirt finisher
Lilian Stembridge, 14, "out of work"
Albert Stembridge, 12
William Stembridge, 9
Sidney Stembridge, 9
Mabel Stembridge, 4, born in Camberwell
All but Mabel were born in Walworth.
British Army Service Records
Joined: 1 April 1916 at White City
Address: 42 Jubilee Place, Chelsea
Age: 25 years and 55 days
Occupation: carpenter
Born: Walworth
Height: 5 feet 6 and a quarter inches
Weight: 182 pounds (13 stone) - noted as "rather obese"
Chest: 40 inches + 4 and a half inches expansion
Distinguishing marks: mole on shoulder blade, scar on spine
NOK: Sarah Ann (aka Ellen) - Address (later) Richmond Terrace, Clapham Road
Posted 7 April 1916
Transferred 15 April 1916
Conduct:
forfeits 6 days page (absence) 22 May 1916
Sentenced to 112 days detention "when under orders for overseas deserting HM Forces from 7/7/1916 to 16/7/16"
Forfeits 10 days pay for absence 17/7/17
Posted 8 August1917
Missing 5 April 1918
Wife notified 6 May 1918
Wife remarried (Mrs. S. A. Howard) and moved to 114 Dorset Road
Letter in file:
"Sir
I have a form from you to fill up for a widows pension. As my husband is missing I am sorry but I cannot bring myself to do this until I know definitely that he is killed, as I have a strong presentiment that he is a prisoner.
Yours respectfully
E. Stembridge
(reply was sent 16 April - year?)
On a subsequent pension form - each instance of "widow" has been crossed through and "wife" substituted, and "(missing)" added to Francis's name - possibly all in deference to Mrs. Stembridge's feelings.