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- [S75] Other Researchers - Stephen Clowes.
William, in what appears to be typical Worrall style had three wives.
- [S75] Other Researchers - Stephen Clowes.
“Bill “ Worrall was sent off to sea in 1916 at the age of 14. After WW1 Minnie and son William Arthur lived in Albany Mansions, Battersea next door to Roberta Burstall mother of Beryl, later to be William's first wife. They were married in 1924. I do not know when Bill left the navy but he took the civil service entrance exams and got a job in the probate office at Somerset House. The couple's first home was a flat, 100 Philbeach Gardens, Earls Court. (purely by chance my Mum and her best friend from the WRENS Greta Labastoir lived in the flat next door 30+ years later) they then moved to Teddington where first son Christopher arrived in December 1927. My Mum was born in September 1931. Beryl became ill and sea air was prescribed so the family moved to Worthing in 1933 but it was a brain tumor and she died in May 1936. Her twin sister, Ruby, lived a most adventurous life until she was about 90…”kismet Hardy”
- [S75] Other Researchers - Stephen Clowes.
After Beryl’s death Bill met Eileen Baker “Bunny” through mutual friends in Worthing and they married in 1937. They moved to Croydon in 1938 to reduce the time Bill spent commuting up to London for work. My Mum’s notes tell the next part of the story - see document Veronica Worrall's Account.
- [S75] Other Researchers - Stephen Clowes.
From 1943 – 45 Bill was on the Atlantic convoys between Greenock and New York on the “Queen Mary” taking German POW’s to the US and bringing American troops over here. After VJ day he served on the MVT. “Aquitania” returning British troops and POW’s to the UK from the Far East. He was demobbed in 1946. Apart from a few days in 1943 he had not seen his family for two years. He asked Bunny for a divorce which was granted in 1946.
At some point Bill must have returned to London because his third wife was the sister of a fellow Royal Navy reservist and drinking buddy called Geoff Donald. They were regulars at the ”Black Lion” Old Church Street, Chelsea. Isobel Donald, “Babs”, had married a chiropodist called Mr Mathews at the start of WW2 but they were divorced by the end of it. Bill and Babs were married in Chelsea in March 1952. Bill became probate registrar for East Sussex and he and Babs moved to Brighton in 1958. By the time I knew them they lived in Lewes, Sussex where Babs was a senior physiotherapist at the hospital. On one visit I had German measles and Bill bought me my first watch to take my mind off it. He died aged 65 in Nov. 1967. Babs continued to live in Lewes in a cottage built in the castle walls until she died in Nov. 1985.
My Mum says that Bill never mentioned the other half of Albert Edward’s family and that she would never have known had it not been for Minnie telling her in later life.
- [S1] Certificate, Marriage.
Married Minnie in Belfast.
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The Genealogy Zone
1902 - 1967 (65 years)
, d. 31 Oct 1940, West London Hospital, London, England 
