Thiepval Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Waylin Charles Chaplin was born at Coggeshell, Essex in 1877, the only known son of Thomas and Emily Phoebe Chaplin. Aged 23 years, he was married at St Mary and Holy Trinity Church, Stratford, Bow, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, August 5th 1900, to Mary Ann Rentcome, born May 29th 1880 at Bromley By Bow. Mary Ann’s parents, coal miner, Alfred Rentcome and his wife Eliza had taken her to the north east when she was not yet a year old. In 1881 they were living as boarders at Railway Street, Esh, County Durham, however, they had returned to Bromley by 1886.
After their marriage Waylin and Mary Ann settled at 75, High Street, Bow, where Waylin was employed as a bricklayer and over the next ten years their family grew with the birth of their children, Emily Elizabeth Phoebe, September 20th 1902, Thomas 1905 and Emma Henrietta, April 9th 1906 all at Bow, London, where they remained until 1908 before migrating to the north east, their son Alfred was born January 5th 1909 at Quebec, County Durham. In 1911 they were living at 11, Front Street, Waylin was employed at New Houses as a bricklayer. Daughter Amy was born during the 1st quarter 1914.
When war was declared with Germany in 1914 he was one of the first to enlist at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland in January 1915, declaring erroneously that he was born at Cornsay, County Durham, and assigned as Private 139 to the newly formed 27th (4th Tyneside Irish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. After initial training close to home they joined the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division at Ripon, Yorkshire, in June 1915 and then moved to Salisbury Plain in August for final training. As part of the British Expeditionary Force they proceeded to France in January 1916 where they division concentrated at La Crosse near St Omer. Following a period of trench familiarisation the division moved to the Somme participating during the opening battle at Albert, July 1st-13th 1916, including the capture of Scots and Sausage Redoubts.
Having risen rapidly through the ranks the now Lance Sergeant 27/139 Waylin Charles Chaplin is deemed to have died July 1st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,337 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, commemorating servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme, between 1915 and 1918, who have no known grave. He was 39 years of age.
His widow received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their children also his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Mary Ann Chaplin nee Rentcome did not re-marry and returned to Essex where her death is recorded during the 1st quarter 1928, district of Colchester.
Her daughter Emily E.P. Chaplin was married, September 8th 1928 at St. Mary and Holy Trinity Church, Stratford Bow, to William Bertrand Ames, born September 21st 1906. In 1939 they were living at 159, Ilchester Road, Barking, he was employed as an iron moulder. Emily Elizabeth Phoebe Ames nee Chaplin died at Barking, Greater London in 1974, aged 72 years.
Thomas Chaplin married Margaret Duguid with whom he had a daughter. He died, aged 60 years, March 6th 1965 at Hairmyers Hospital, East Kilbride, Scotland.
Emma Henrietta Chaplin married at St. Mary and Holy Trinity Church, Stratford Bow, December 25th 1927, to Ernest Smith, born November 1st 1904. In 1939 they were living at 34, Edwards Road, Stepney, he was employed as a shoe manufacturer’s general clerk. Emma Henrietta Smith nee Chaplin died February 24th 1950 in Essex, aged 43 years.
Alfred Chaplin does not appear to have married. In 1939 he was employed as a rope slicer (mine), living at 12, Single Row, North Seaton, Northumberland. He died in 1984 registered at Northumberland, aged 75 years.
Details as regards Amy Chaplin as yet unknown
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Waylin Charles Chaplin is remembered as W. Chaplain at Cornsay on C116.01 and as possibly Fred Chaplin at Quebec on Q2.06
