First World War in Headington & Marston
Roll of Honour of All Saints’ Church, Highfield

Arthur WESTELL (1890–1918)

Arthur Westell or Westall was born in New Headington in 1890, the son of Richard George Westell (born in St Ebbe’s/ New Hinksey in 1860/1, registered Oxford district first quarter of 1861) and Fanny Cross (born in Barton and baptised with her twin brother Felix at St Andrew’s Church on 28 August 1864).

His parents were married at St Andrew’s Church on 12 September 1887 and had ten children:

• Gertrude Agnes Westell, known as Gertie (born in New Headington on 8 December 1888 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 27 January 1889)
• Arthur Westell (born in Headington on 9 August 1890 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 14 September 1890)
• Harriet Kate Westell, known as Katie (born in Headington on 4 February 1892 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 27 March 1892)
• George Richard Westell (born in Headington on 19 February 1894 and baptised privately via St Andrew’s Church on 8 March 1894; died age 5 and buried at Headington Cemetery on 12 April 1894)
• William Richard Westell (born in Headington in 1895, registered third quarter)
• Elsie Westell (born in St Clement’s, Oxford in October 1896 and baptised at St Clement’s Church on 25 October 1896)
• Frederick George Westell, known as George (born in New Headington on 17 May 1899 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 2 July 1899)
• Aubrey J. Westell (born at Oxford Terrace, New Headington on 6 January 1901 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 10 March 1901)
• Florence Ethel Westell (born at Oxford Terrace, New Headington on 16 February 1903 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 5 April 1903)
• Nellie Irene Westell (born in New Headington on 17 January 1905 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 9 April 1905).

Arthur’s father grew up in St Ebbe’s, where his widowed mother was a laundress; and Harriet’s mother was also a laundress in Barton, while her father was a messenger. By 1881 Harriet (16) had joined her mother in laundry work, and the family was living at Windmill Hill (Bayswater Road).

Following their marrage in 1887, Arthur’s parents moved to New Headington. The 1891 census shows them living at 31 New High Street with Gertrude (2) and Arthur himself (aged 7 months). His father was a butcher/slaughterman and his mother was a laundress working in her own home.

The family was living in St Clement’s around in the mid-1890s, with their addressed specified at the time of Elsie’s baptism in 1896 as 49 St Clement’s Street; but by 1901 they were back up in Headington, living at the present 17 Bateman Street (then 4 Oxford Terrace, East Street). They now had seven children: Gertie (12), Arthur (10), Katie (9), William (8), Elsie (6), George (2), and Aubrey (3 months).

By 1909 they had moved around the corner to 3 Gardiner Street (then called South Street, and taken into All Saints’ parish in 1911). Arthur’s mother continued working as a laundress there, but died at the age of 45 and was buried in Headington Cemetery on 19 June 1909.

By the time of the 1911 census Arthur was 20 and had moved to Rickmansworth, where he was boarding with the Higgs family at Stocker’s Lodge and working as a domestic gardener. His father, now a widower was still living at 3 Gardiner Street in New Headington with Gertrude (22), Kate (19), Elsie (14), George (10), Florrie 7), and Nellie (5). Gertrude had taken over her mother’s home laundry, where she employed her younger sister Kate; and Elsie (14) went out to work as a nursemaid. Arthur’s two missing brothers were staying with relations: William (15) was with his uncle and aunt, Charles & Elizabeth Coppock, at Ingleside in Headington Quarry and working as a jeweller’s errand boy, and Aubrey (5) was with his widowed maternal grandmother, Mrs Elizabeth Cross, in St Andrew’s Road.

Arthur’s father died at the age of 54, and was buried in Headington Cemetery on 2 June 1915.

In the First World War Arthur Westell served as a Rifleman in the 12th Battalion of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps (Service No. R/5075). He died in France in France at the age of 27 on 27 March 1918.

He was buried at Rouy-Le-Petit Churchyard (at the north-east side of the old church), and is listed on the Roll of Honour of All Saints’ Church, Highfield.

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Postscript

Arthur’s siblings

• Gertrude Agnes Westell (born 1889) married Aubrey E. Gurden (a cook, and later a master confectioner) at All Saints’ Church on 20 December 1913. Their three children were born in Windmill Road and baptised at All Saints’ Church: Jessie Gertrude Gurden (born in 1915 and baptised on 21 November 1915); Audrey Joan Gurden (born on 18 March 1922 and baptised on 23 April 1922); and Hilary Mary Gurden (born on 16 November 1924 and baptised on 28 December 1924).
• Elsie Westell (born 1896) married Job Merry at All Saints’ Church on 3 June 1922. She was then living at 31 Gardiner Street. The birth of their son Leslie G. Merry was registered in the Headington district in the first quarter of 1929.
• Aubrey J. Westell (born 1901) married Elsie R. East in the Headington registration district in the second quarter of 1925. The birth of their son Ernest O. R. East was registered in the Headington district in the fourth quarter of 1927.
• Florence Ethel Westell (born 1903) married William Higgs in the Headington registration district in the first quarter of 1931. They had three children whose births were registered in the Hatfield registration district: David W. Rayner (first quarter of 1931), Marion I. Rayner (first quarter of 1936), and Eileen M. Rayner (first quarter of 1938).
• Nellie Westell (born 1905) married Harry C. Rayner in the Headington registration district in the first quarter of 1928.