Archibald John Wade

Archibald John was the youngest son of Josiah Frederick Wade and his second wife Mary Ann Wade (née Swain). His father Josiah was born in Southwick, London, in 1851, the son of Edward and Richindia Wade. In 1871 he was working as a baker and living in Blackfriars Road, Christchurch, Surrey, with his father who was also a baker, his step-mother Lucy and his sister Richindia. Josiah married first Elizabeth Buckman at St Philip Lambeth in 1879. They had at least three children: Harriet Elizabeth, Flora and Jane who may have died in infancy. In 1881 Josiah (29) and Elizabeth (26) were living in Lambeth with their daughter Harriet (under 1 year). Elizabeth died aged 29 in 1884 shortly after the birth of their third daughter Jane. Josiah married secondly Mary Ann Swain (b. Canterbury 1865) in 1886. They had at least seven children born between 1887 and 1910: William Josiah (born the same day as his half-sister Flora), Edward John, Albert George, Ernest Walter b. Woolwich 25 October 1891 bap. Deptford St Mark 19 November 1891, Adeline Annie and Archibald John b. 27 October 1897 prob. bap. Rayne All Saints, Essex, 16 January 1910. In 1891 Josiah (39), a baker, and Mary Ann (25) were living at Evelyn Buildings, New Cross Road, Deptford, Kent, with their four sons Charles (5), William (3), Edward (2) and Albert (1). Also in the household was Josiah's sister, Richindia Wade, a housemaid. Josiah's daughters by his first marriage were with relatives at the time of the 1891 Census: Harriet (Hatty) in Lambeth with her maternal uncle and aunt, James and Elizabeth Buckman, while Flora was in New Cross, Kent, a visitor in the home of John and Mary Reid; Mary was the mother of Josiah's second wife, Mary Ann. By 1901 Mary was living at 41 Hill Street, Woolwich, and listed as head of household. Only four of her children were in the home on the night of the census: Charles, Ernest (9), Adeline (5) and Archibald (3). Also in the home was Mary Ann's widowed mother, Mary A Reid. Josiah Frederick (49) was an inmate at Plumstead, Woolwich, a workhouse. In addition to the staff, the census recorded 605 pauper inmates and 44 casual inmates, although the record did not describe which category of inmate each person was. Josiah Frederick died in 1902 (reg. Woolwich) and his widow Mary Ann married Edward Thomas Haynes in 1903 (reg. Woolwich). By 1911 Edward, a cowman on a farm, and Mary Ann were living in Wales at Primrose Cottages, Fairwater, Cardiff. Of Mary Ann's children, only Archibald was living with them. Archibald was a student at the Society of the Sacred Mission's college at Kelham from September 1915 until he enlisted in May 1916. His brother, Ernest Walter, served in the Royal Sussex Regiment (931 Sergeant). He enlisted on 19 January 1910 when he was 18 years old. He was awarded the Military Medal and Bar, winning the Military Medal for 'repairing telephone wires in the Loos sector under continual fire on March 8th & 9th 1916.' Ernest survived the war.