Biographical notes:
Occupation: mechanic (1911), tinsmith, sheet metal worker (1939).
Addresses: At 1891 census - Church Street, Wotton Under Edge, GLS; At 1901 census - Gloster Street, Wotton Under Edge, GLS; 1915-1937 - Bear St, Wotton Under Edge, GLS; 1938-1946 - Church St, Wotton Under Edge, GLS; 1951-1957 - The Close, Wotton Under Edge, GLS; 1964-1966 - 1 School Rd, Wotton Under Edge, GLS.
Date of birth given in the 1939 register is 12 April 1891. The year is wrong & the date differs from that given by the family.
Not found in the 1911 census.
Sailed on the Amazon from Buenos Aires to Southampton arriving 3 Jun 1911.
Apparently lived in Canada for a few years, returning to England on the Tunisian which sailed from Quebec & arrived in Liverpool on 30 Jul 1914.
WWI military records not found except for the Roll of individuals entitled to the Silver War Badge. The record reads: 'Regtl. No.: 28933; Rank: Private; Name: Wathen Laurie; Unit discharged from: Somerset L. I.;No. of Badge and certificate: B22091; Date of enlistment: 31.8.14; Date of discharge: 8.10.18; Cause of discharge: para 392 XVI K.R. A.O. 265/17 (B) (L); Whether served overseas: Yes; age:27.
Pte L Wathen RAMC No.46341 appears on the back of a photogaph.
Had tinsmith business at Bear Street then 23 Church Street. Another advertisement advised: 'Mr. L Wathen is carrying on business as Tin and Sheet-metal worker at the old Foundry belonging to Mr. F. Grimes, 2, Long St., to which all enquiries should be made.' Also said to have owned a wool & yoy shop in Church St.
Travelled to Paraguay, New Zealand & Australia, arriving in Adelaide in 1926 where he visited Freda Lang nee Hunt.
Probably died in Wotton but the death was registered in Stroud.
Reference Documents:
1890 birth registration index record.
1890 birth date from family (M.S.C).
1891 census return (Frederick Wathen).
1901 census return (Frederick Wathen).
1910 passenger list Liverpool to St John NB.
1911 passenger list Beunos Aires to Southampton.
1915 electoral roll record.
1915 marriage registration index record (to Elizabeth Kinson).
1918 Silver War Badge record.
1919, 1920 electoral roll record.
1921 census return (Frederick Wathen).
1926 passenger list Southampton to Auckland.
1929, 1931,1932, 1934. 1935 electoral roll record.
1935 divorce court file.
1936, 1937 electoral roll record.
1938 marriage registration index record (to Edith Millicent Allen nee Gibbard).
1938, 1939 electoral roll record.
1939 register entry.
1946, 1951, 1957, 1964, 1966 electoral roll record.
1966 death registration index record.