Research Forum

Dead Man's Penny WW1
published by Pat Hase on Sun, 18/10/2020 - 11:04

This photograph has been posted on our Facebook Group and I'm curious about Walter Charles WISEMAN and his family.

"Dead Man's Penny" of Walter Charles Wiseman of Weston-super-Mare. Killed in action 25th May 1918. These unique items were issued to the next of kin of each person killed in The First World War. Very, very heavy heavy bronze memorial plaque.

I have tried to find out more about Walter Charles WISEMAN 1893-1918. He was in the 2nd Bat Essex Regiment and is not on the Grove Park Memorial. Although born in Weston it seems that his parents travelled around quite a bit and his father had different occupations. His father is listed as:

Lecturer when he married in 1889 in Swansea,
Various Entertainer in 1891 in Swindon
Musician in 1894 in Farnham, Hampshire
Photographer in 1901 & 1911 in Bexley Heath, Kent

Don't think his family were in Weston for very long!

What were they doing in Weston-super-Mare?

Do you have one commemorating a member of your family?

Comments ..

Submitted by gricharduk on Thu, 22/10/2020 - 14:20

There is a Walter Wiseman, born 1893 at Weston, listed in the 1911 census working as an assistant at a restaurant in 2B, New Road, Woolwich. The restaurant owner is a George Collins.

In the 1901 census, he is listed as living with his grandmother, Lucy Wiseman, a retired school teacher, at 88a Albert Road, Portishead.

Walter is listed, with some biographical details, in the Bexley Roll of Honour:

https://www.bexley.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2020-07/Bexley-Borough-WW1-Roll-of-Honour_0.pdf

I hope this helps,

Richard