My Great x3 Half Uncle Walter (1880 - 1913) was a private in the marines, and a young half brother of my Great Great Grandmother Emma Wright (nee Bennett) (1871 - 1944).
Walter was born on 29th August 1880, in Exeter, Devon, to James Clapperton (about 44), a Scottish veteran of the Crimean War and a draper's porter, and Sarah Ann Clapperton (formerly Bennett, nee Andrews) (about 36), a housewife.
I cannot find a record of marriage between Sarah Ann and James Clapperton, though they would live for years as husband and wife.
On 15th October 1880, Walter was baptised in St Sidwell's, Exeter.
Walter had two old half siblings from his mother's first marriage to railway labourer James Bennett, who died after an accident at work:
- William 1868 - 1942 (73)
- Emma 1871 - 1944 (73)
Walter was the fourth of eight full siblings (four boys, four girls):
- James 1874 - 1936 (61)
- George Henry 1876 - 1952 (75)
- Albert 1878 - 1878 (2 months)
- Walter John 1880 - 1913 (32)
- Lily/Lillian Maude 1882 -
- Minnie 1884 -
- Ada 1886 - 1888 (1 year and 9 months)
- Florence 'Florrie' Mabel 1889 -
1881 Census:
On the evening of 11th April 1888, Walter's younger sister Ada was tragically killed - knocked down by a tram.
Ada was only a toddler, out of her mother's sight for barely a minute, while she fetched water from the house next door, and watched over by older brother George, aged only eleven. In a passing moment Walter, aged eight, left the front door open, going out to play with friends. Little Ada ran out, just when a tram came pass. The tram-driver braked suddenly, but too late.
I am sure this stayed with Walter his whole life.
From the Western Times on 17th April 1888:
1891 Census:
George's parents' relationship fell apart around 1898. They had been living apart for fifteen months, when James was charged with assaulting Sarah in 1899. By then, Sarah was living with her future husband, stone mason William Luscombe.
Walter (9537) served as a private in the Royal Marines Light Infantry: Plymouth Division for thirteen years, from 1898 to 1911. Walter enlisted on 28th December 1898, aged eighteen.
The fair Clapperton colour came through: Walter had blue eyes, light brown hair and was 5'8''.
His character and abilities were repeatedly given as 'good' and 'very good'.
Walter's ships and the dates he served on them:
- Vivid (Barracks at Devonport) 31st March 1900 - 30th April 1901
- Gibraltar 11th November 1901 - 13th December 1901
 |
| HSM Gibraltar (1892) |
- Terpsichore 14th December 1901 - 25th April 1904
 |
| HMS Terpsichore |
- Cambridge 10th September 1904 - 15th December 1904
- Hussar 4th January 1905 - 8th September 1905
- Cornwallis 27th February 1906 - 18th September 1906
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| HMS Cornwallis (1915) |
- C... [I cannot read] 1st May 1907 - 14th April 1909
- Doris 14th May 1909 - 13th September 1909
- Emerald 14th September 1909 - 4th October 1909
- C... [I cannot read. Same as three above] 28th June 1910 - 1st August 1910
- Impregnable 11th January 1911 - 14th August 1911
1901 Census:
1911 Census:
On 16th November 1911, Walter was invalided out of the Marines.
Afterwards, Walter worked as a barman for Messrs Clive Bros of Joy Street, Barnstaple.
On 1st April 1913, Walter passed away, aged thirty-two.
At the time of his death, he was living at 3 Summerland Street, Barnstaple, the home of his older brother George and his sister-in-law Minnie.
His funeral took place at 3:45pm on 5th April 1913, at Holy Trinity Church, Barnstaple.
From the North Devon Herald of 10th April 1913:
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