Whilst neither of these are blood relations, having discovered that Beatrice lost her mother at the age of two and knowing of
the tragic circumstances of the death of her half-brother (who was my cousin), I couldn't help wondering, what happened to Lewis William Kerslake's daughter. When the 1921 census is published next year, we may get clues as to who brought her up.
William Clarence James Truscott was born on 24 Dec 1909 and baptised, on 10 May 1910, at
St Mark's, Ford, Plymouth. His parents had married, on 11 Mar 1909, at
The Anglican Church of Saint James the Great,
Devonport, Plymouth. Their marriage certificate shows that Willie James Truscott, Shipwright
RN, was the son of James Robert Truscott, a fitter at the
RN Dockyard, whilst Eleanor was the daughter of William Henry Warren, Pensioner
RN.
From 25 Jan 1921 to 28 Feb 1922 Willie James Truscott was assigned to
HMS Colleen depot ship at Queenstown (
Cobh), Ireland - at the same time
my grandfather was at this same establishment. Small world. Again. Although, even if they met, they'll have had no idea of a family connection in the future.
Willie James Truscott retired from the Navy on 6 Jul 1923.
There was a strong naval tradition in this family: at the time of the marriage of Eleanor Hilda Warren's parents, William Henry Warren (b. 29 Jun 1857 in Maker, Cornwall) and Jane Ann Pearce, in Stoke Damerel on 8 Nov 1882, the groom was listed as Seaman,
HMS Agincourt (1865) - which allowed me to find his naval record from a Boy on 1 Jan 1873 through until 30 Jun 1895). It also lists the bridegroom's father as a Pensioner (unlikely to be anything other than military at that time) and the bride's father, Charles Pearce, as a Seaman.
In 1939, Beatrice G Truscott was living at 91 Bonhay Road, Exeter, with the couple's two children (still living), while her husband, William C J Truscott was lodging with his uncle and aunt, Alfred C and Phyllis Warren (his mother's younger brother) at 95 Beatrice Avenue, Plymouth. William Clarence James had followed in his uncle's and grandfather's footsteps as an engine fitter.
Beatrice Gwendoline Truscott died in 1974, in Plymouth, aged 65.
William Clarence J Truscott died, also in Plymouth, in 1981, aged 71.