28/10/1884 –22/02/1948
Half Finnish; worked in variety of jobs including page boy, platelayer, hotel manager and gardener
Relatives
Plot 1057 William Ernest Astrand (1882-1948)
William was born 28 October 1884 at Long Stratton, Norfolk, the son of Martin Astrand, born in Finland, and his wife Harriet (née Ganney), born in Middlesex. He was baptised 23 May 1886 at Stratton St Michael. His father’s occupation was given as “coachman”.
In 1891 the family had moved to the London area and were living in Balham New Road, Streatham. Ernest had three older brothers, an older sister and a younger brother. His father’s occupation was then given as “gardener”.
The 1901 census shows the Astrands at 47, Fernlea Road, Streatham. Martin was a self-employed jobbing gardener and his nationality was shown as “Finnish subject” with a marginal note “Russ”. (Finland was a Russian territory at this time.) William Ernest, aged 16, was a “Page (domestic)”.
On 2 April 1904 William was taken on by the London, Brighton and South Coast railway company, working at their Battersea Wharf station. He was earning 19 shillings a week, which rose to £1 the next year.
On 17 December 1904 he married Elizabeth Golding (née Hewitt) a widow eight years his senior, at St Mary’s, Balham. His occupation was given as “porter”.
He resigned from the LBSC company 29 September 1907 and by April 1911 he was living with Elizabeth and their sons Ernest (b.1906) and Frederick (b.1908) at 6, Spencer Cottages, Christchurch Road, Mortlake. His occupation was given as “hotel waiter”.
By the time his daughter Violet Isabel was born 22 May 1914 the family were living at 13, Thornton Road, East Sheen and William was giving his name as Ernest William. According to the baptismal register at St Mary’s, Balham, he was by then a hotel manager.
Son Ernest (Ernie) died aged only 14 in 1920 and is commemorated on this memorial.
Despite his apparent promotion to hotel manager in 1914, by 1921 Ernest was back working on the railways, employed as a platelayer by the London Metropolitan Company at Whitechapel. He, Elizabeth, Frederick and Violet were living in two rooms at 74, Albion Road, Hounslow.
The 1928 Electoral Register for Berkhamsted shows Elizabeth and Ernest William at “Lodge at Chalet”. As that register is in alphabetical order of surname, not by street, it is impossible to say whereabouts this was.
By 1929 they were living at 27, Greenway West but in the 1939 Register they resided in Shrublands Avenue and William was working as a private gardener, his father’s occupation. He died in early 1948 aged 64.
Elizabeth Ann survived him until 1954 and is buried here with him.