Lawrence, Albert Fletcher

Lawrence, Albert Fletcher, 1892-1968

By Joy Wood, 1995

"My Dad was born on September 20, 1892, at 5 Willow Walk, Bermondsey, the second son of Joseph and Sarah Jane Lawrence (nee Fletcher). It was in the registration district of St Olave Southwark, in the sub-district of Saint Mary Magdalen in the County of London. His father's occupation is noted as a Leather Finisher. His living Grandparents at that time would have been Elizabeth Lawrence (nee Lowe) and John Fletcher. His elder brother, Joseph Henry Lawrence, would possibly have not been more than two years of age. His next sister was to be Ida Elizabeth Lawrence, born October 11, 1893; then George Sydney Lawrence, Oct-Dec. 1896; Frank Edward Lawrence, December 21, 1898; Clara Ethel Lawrence, December 29, 1900; Arthur Leonard Lawrence, December 25, 1903; and Robert Edwin Lawrence, December 1905.

Bert often remarked how he had almost been born a 'Cockney', as he was born in the south of London, almost within distance of the Bow Bells. Various addresses are given for him during his childhood: Lewisham (where his mother's sister, Annie [Mrs Joseph Tullett] lived; Blackheath, Bermondsey - Aunt Ida said that they went to Elementary Schools, separate ones for the boys and girls. Whilst in Lewisham, Aunt Ida said she went to a private school and they went to a Presbyterian Sunday School. Bert later went to Monnow Road Higher Grade School when he lived in Bermondsey, and at the age of 12 he won a Junior County Scholarship at an exam, Oct-Nov 1904, from 1494 candidates. So he went to St Olave's and St Saviours Grammar School from 1905-1907. At age 14, he won the first prize in Physics. The prize was a book, Westward Ho, which later went into the possession of his son, 'Jack'.

Bert received his Junior Certificate at St Olave's in December 1906. He was evidently a good pupil and enjoyed his school life and I had heard him remark how he would walk through Bermondsey to his School in his uniform and be plagued by the local youths, but as he was a very able fighter they left him alone and other School boys often accompanied him for safety. He was very proud to be a pupil of this School and until his death he remained an enthusiastic 'Old Boy' of the School. We have a photo of him playing in a Fife Band. Aunt Clara stated that he was in St Olave's Choir and wore a white gown and mortar board. She also stated that he was in Southwark Cathedral Choir - although we had not heard of this. She remembers him playing Christmas songs and hymns on the piano. Only he was allowed in the parlour to play the piano but she used to sit and listen to him. Aunt Ida had thought he also played the violin.

He apparently was friendly with his cousin Harry Fletcher Junior, which was a form a rivalry as to who went to the better School. Harry Fletcher went to Shooters Hill College. Bert was unhappy when he had to leave School to go to Germany with his family, as he had expected to stay at School and go on to university. His son Jack said that Bert was going to school as the Tower Bridge was being built. It amused him how all the horse manure used to roll down when they lifted the Bridge for the shipping. Clara explained how her father had belonged to the Conservative Club and they went to parties there - Jack said Dad and his friends had - full of mischief - got hold of a banner and they draped it on the balcony and wrecked one of the meetings.

The school had organised a boxing match with gloves. Bert won and told his son Jack that if felt 'exhilarating' and a 'triumph'. About 1908, Bert went with his family to Germany. His father Joseph had been offered a job as a Manager of a large leather factory in Kripp near Remargen. A wealthy Jew, a Mr Hintermeyer, who is noted as having a factory in Bermondsey, owned the factory in Kripp. His daughter had married a Count. Mr Hintermeyer sent Joseph Lawrence to rescue the operation. Joseph took his family and three or four men by boat via Holland. Kripp was a little village on the Rhine River - they had a three-storey house and garden, which was usual for the area, and cobblestone streets. They were very comfortable.

They were only there about 18 months. the Aunts believed that Joseph had trouble with the Count and wanted to get out. As he was under contract for 10 years, they had to leave quietly and leave most of their possessions behind. My father Bert was able to speak the 'street' German and he had a friend, a George Breuer, son of an Adolph. Whilst working in the factory he had an accident with the machinery and hurt his arm and he was in a German hospital for a while. He spoke of how he did not like it as it was run by the nuns and they could not speak English. His father often used to take the family on the ferry across the Rhine to visit Linz. In later years on different occasions, my cousin Barbara and I visited Kripp and found it had not changed so very much after all the years. The name of the factory was Lederfabrik. One memory of those times is that Bert had a German Fishing Licence.

When the family returned to London it was probably late 1909 or 1910. Bert's father, Joseph Lawrence, decided to go to America to see about migrating there. The family, in the meantime, lived at 48 Senegal Road, Bermondsey. Bert worked for tanners called Bevingtons - they were the only big factory left in Bermondsey, the others had left. There was a statue to Colonel Bevington in Bermondsey. He had friends in Rolls Road who rode motor bikes. Alf Perrin was one. He also joined the King's Royal Rifles where he met a Tom Hall. In the King's Royal Rifles they all used to ride push bikes, and when they rode in the lanes they used to ride one behind the other. Evidently it was hilarious if one was besides the hedges on the side of the road, as one would see a row of heads moving along. On the side of each bike was a scabbard to hold a gun. Dad was very proud of the fact that he rode his bike to Brighton.

Tom Hall, who fought as a Drummer Boy in the Boer War when he was only 12 years of age (he used his brother's Birth Certificate), lived at 52 Senegal Road, Bermondsey, and was married to Mary (nee O'Brien), who was our mother Honora's eldest sister. Tom asked Bert to coach him for an exam he had to do to get into the Police Force and that is how Bert met my mother 'Norah' when he was visiting Tom and Mary. In later years they used to joke about 'underneath the arches' especially when that song was sung. (I wonder if these arches were the ones formed by the overhead railway line that passed through Bermondsey. The train ran on a very high brick wall and arches had been cut through to let the traffic through - and there were also little places built within the wall, probably used as small factories, offices or shops. I think my Mum and Dad must have done some of their 'courting' in these arches.)

Marj remembers that Dad and Mum used to meet at Tottenham Court Road, London, and how Mum loved to go to Hampton Court. They also spoke of Crystal Palace and Mum had some jewellery pieces bought there. Jack had a postcard Folkestone/Margate on it - so maybe they visited there.

Published by Ash Long

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