William Randles is my wife’s 2nd cousin 2x removed. His parents are William Randles and Sarah J Espley. Their common ancestors are James Espley and Martha Silvester, my wife’s 3x great grandparents.
William was the sixth of eleven children born to William and Sarah. His birth is registered in Q1 of 1877 in Stone, Staffordshire.
Sometime in Q3 of 1901 William married Annie Cliff in Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire. They had two sons:-
Reginald – born in 1902
Harold – born in 1906
In the 1911 census William’s occupation is given as “steam roller driver”. He worked in that same job until his death in 1939.
I recently discovered a story in the Staffordshire Sentinel of 26 September 1939 reporting on the inquest into William’s death.
A.R.P. WORKER’S COLLAPSE
WHEN GOING ON DUTY
TUNSTALL INQUEST
A Tunstall ARP worker’s fatal collapse was the subject of an inquest conducted by the City Coroner (Mr W M Huntbach) at Tunstall, yesterday, on William Randles, aged 62, of 4, Bath Street, Tunstall, a steam-roller driver.
A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence, that death was due to coronary thrombosis.
Evidence was given that Randles had been employed as a steam-roller driver by the Stoke-on-Trent Corporation for more than 40 years. For the past seven years he had been affected by ill-health, and was recently medically advised not to undertake strenuous work. At 6.50pm last Saturday, it was stated, Randles left his home to attend to his duties as an ARP demolition and rescue worker. In the Tunstall Town Yard he was changing into his protective clothing when he suddenly collapsed in the arms of William Harvey, of 8, Darnley Street, Shelton, another ARP worker.
Randles died before the arrival of Dr Kendall, of Tunstall.
Medical evidence was given by Dr Staub, and a verdict was returned as stated.
you don't choose your family 