Williams Family Tree

Margaret Wells suggests that David Webster lost his legs in WW2, and was divorced by Brenda Fielder.

Ivor Fielder says David Webster lost his legs in Operation Market Garden and was hospitalised, dying a couple of years later. Brenda may have divorced him, he wasn't sure.

There is a scurrilous tale (and I cannot recall who related it) that far from dying in hospital, David Webster, having lost his legs, ran off with his nurse, and that is why the hospital advised Brenda to divorce him. I have no idea whether there is any shred of truth in this.

From the Ivor Fielder conversation source (and he was pretty confident of this):

David Charles Webster: The Germans first amputated his legs. Two further amputation operations were needed after he returned to Britain. He could climb stairs using just his arms. There was some estrangement with Brenda, and David was to be sent to a military hospital for the mentally ill. The hospital advised Brenda to divorce him.

This is the only birth of a David C Webster anywhere near the right time to marry Brenda.
Births Mar 1916 (>99%)
Webster David C Wood Hackney 1b 695

Is this the right one? It has the right name and approximately the right date of birth.

Civil Registration event: Death
Name: WEBSTER, David Charles
Registration District: Great Yarmouth
County: Norfolk
Year of Registration: 1998
Month of Registration: October
Date of Birth: 9 January 1916
District No: 6361B
Reg No: B65B
Ent No: 027
DOR: 1098

In which case, this looks like the same chap:

Surname First name(s) Mother District Vol Page
Births Mar 1916 (>99%)
Webster David C Wood Hackney 1b 695

That's the only David C Webster in 1915-1919, and he's born at the right time and place.

There are lots of Webster-wood children around then, but only this one in Hackney:
Births Sep 1913 (>99%)
Webster Ivy M Wood Hackney 1b 791

So here is a very suggestive possible marriage:

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Jun 1907 (>99%)
BAKER Charles Osman Hackney 1b 805
EVANS Charles Robert Hackney 1b 805
MCGRATH Mary Hackney 1b 805
WEBSTER David Charles Hackney 1b 805
WOOD Emma Charlotte Hackney 1b 805

So the couple named their son after his father. And here they are in 1911 with another daughter:

Person: WEBSTER, David Charles
Address: 80 Glenarm St N E
census search results 1911 address search redefine current search
Name Relation Condition/
Yrs married Sex Age Birth
Year Occupation Where Born Original
census
image
WEBSTER, David Charles Head Married M 26 1885 Hall Keepr Walworth London VIEW
WEBSTER, Emma Wife Married 4 years F 23 1888 Old Ford London VIEW
WEBSTER, Emma Daughter Single F 2 1909 Clapton London VIEW

That's good enough for me! I'm filling it all in.

Phone between Ivor Fielder and EJW, 25 nov 2010:

The Photo is of Brenda Fielder's first Wedding. Don't know who the corporal is. Then Maisie, Ivor Fielder, DCWebster, Brenda Fielder, Bery, Jimmy.

Beryl was a friend of Brenda's from school. Ivor can't recall ever meeting her again after the wedding. Brenda went to Lady Hollies School in Hackney - was that Lady Eleanor Holles School? It was in Hackney until 1935.

DC Webster was in a reserved occupation - making aircraft? - in Hounslow. He ony came home from there on weekends. He volunteered for the army.

DCW had 2 sisters. His father was dead by 1942. His mother and 2 sisters were bombed in the blitz, one very badly hurt, but Ivor thinks they survived the war. Ivor saw their destroyed flat, the steel windowframe completely bent and the door blown off.

DCW was high up in the boy scouts before the war.

Ivor says DCW was older than Brenda, but is sceptical about a 1916 birth.