Lilian (Lily) Frances Webster
22 December 1883-1952
Lily Webster
Elizabeth Amelia Webster (nee Aburn) with her four daughters at Ashleigh.
Back Row L to R: May, Lilian, Elizabeth (seated).
Seated in front: Ethel and Rosaline.
Photo: Ernest Webster, 1903
Lilian Frances Webster was born in Bethnal Green, Middlesex, England on the 22 December 1883. She was the fifth child and second daughter of William James Webster (1853-1928) and Elizabeth Amelia Aburn (1853-1938). Her parents had married in 1874 in Whitechapel in England. The name 'Frances' is the same as one of Elizabeth's sisters (Lily's aunt), Frances Aburn (7 March 1857 - 14 March 1928) who emigrated to Australia in about 1869.
Days after the First World War broke out, Lily married Charles Thomas Southwick on the 12th September 1914 at Stratford, Essex. Less than nine months later her husband was killed in action. Lily did not remarry.
(L to R) Henry Braine, Rosaline Webster, William James Webster,
Charles Thomas Southwick, Elizabeth Webster nee Aburn, unknown child,
Lily Webster.
Taken about 1914, possilby when Henry Braine returned to
England to marry Rosaline.
Charles Thomas Southwick was born on the 27 February 1887 in Kinson, Dorset, the son of Charles Southwick (c1853-1935) and his wife Mary Annie Southwick nee Harland (c1855 - 1935). Both parents were school teachers and after his secondary education, young Charles became the Assistant Master at the Vineyard School in Richmond, Surrey.
It is said that Charles had a fine baritone voice. He sang in the Petersham Choir in Richmond, The Chelsea Choir in Sydney Street and later in St Peter’s, Bayswater (possibly now known as St Peter’s Notting Hill). It also recorded that he was a member of Queen’s Hall Choir. Prior to its destruction in World War II Queen's Hall was London’s premier concert venue and home to "The Proms".
Charles Southwick joined the 13th County of London Battalion in 1907 (later known as 13th Princess Louise Kensington Battalion). The 13th Battalion was formed in about 1908 with the amalgamation of the Kensington Rifles (the 4th Middlesex Volunteer Rifle Corps) and the 2nd Middlesex Volunteer Rifle Corps. Charles volunteered for overseas service in August 1914 and was sent to France in November.
In the attack on Auber’s Ridge on 9 May 1915 Sergeant Southwick’s platoon reached the second German trench where his glasses were broken by flying shrapnel. He volunteered for the dangerous task of returning to the English lines with a message requesting reinforcements and disappeared. The bodies of soldiers killed that day were never recovered. His name is commemorated on Panel 10 of the Ploegsteert Memorial in Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. He was posthumously awarded the campaign medal known as the 1914 Star (and presumably the British War Medal and Victory Medal). His 1914 Star was sold with a group of medals at auction in February 1998.
At the time of her husband’s death Lily’s address was given as 1 Monkhams Terrace, Woodford Wells, Essex, England.
Old postcard showing Monkhams Lane, Woodford
In 1950 Lily visited Australia and spent much of her time travelling. In Tasmania she stayed with her sister Ethel Violet Webster. In Western Australia three Webster sisters were united "after 36 years". These were Lily, Rosaline Braine (nee Webster) and May Ittner of Seattle. May was accompanied by her daughter Ruth. Lily, May and Ruth stayed at the Cottesloe residence ("High Beach") of Rosaline.
May Ittner, Rosaline Braine & Lily Southwick
Boonooloo Road, Kalamunda, Western Australia
Photo: Ruth Ittner, 1950
During her 1950 overseas trip Lily used the address of her sister in law, Bobby (Athelis Deborah) Webster (nee Kesteven). This was "Blue Tiles" in Birchington, Kent. The address of the property today (2012) is Daryngton Avenue, Minnis Bay.
Lily died on the 22nd of February 1952 in Sussex. Her residence was given as Oak Tree Cottage, Northiam, Sussex.
Note:
The intention of this page is to document the life of Lilian Frances Southwick. However more information has been found on her husband than on Lily herself. If you can help correct the imbalance, please contact us using the feedback button below.
References:
Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
Baker, Chris The Long, Long Trail The British Army in the Great War webpage 'The Battle of Aubers' Accessed February 2012
Commonwealth War Graves Commission 'Casualty details: SOUTHWICK, CHARLES THOMAS' Accessed February 2012
Dix Noonan Webb Ltd Lot Details Lot 644, 25 Feb 98 CAMPAIGN GROUPS AND PAIRS Accessed February 2012
Kearay, Terance (nd) Title unknown (Chapter Six). Available at Open Windows Learning website
Kearay, Terence (nd) The Rifle Corps Volunteers: The Kensingtons, 1900- 1920. Available at Open Windows Learning website
Kearay, Terence (nd) Rifle Corps: The Volunteers, 1859 -1920. Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment. Open Windows Learning website
Ruvigny and Raineval, Melville Amadeus Henry Douglas Heddle de La Caillemotte de Massue de Ruvigny, 9th marquis of (1916) The Roll of Honour: a Biographical Record of Members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who fell in the Great War 1914-1918 Facsimile edition, Uckfield, England : Naval & Military Press
The West Australian (1 July 1950 p19) 'Reunion after 36 years' Perth WA Acessed via Trove
One page in the series The Websters of Ashleigh