AXHORN, William

William was born 1889 in Newport to Elizabeth. On the 8th December 1913 he married Emma CRAWFORD in Toronto, Canada.

Adopted son of Dick & Sarah MANNING & living at 36A South Street in Ventnor. He had one daughter, Frances, born 5th October 1914. William's mother died in 1901, his father was believed to be Frank AXHORN. William aka Frank, a stableman, who was a passenger on the SS Ausonia from Southampton to Portland, Maine arriving 13 March 1913.

William attested for service with the Royal Artillery on 8th March 1906 when he gave his age as 18 & his trade as Labourer. He was 5ft 4in tall, with a dark complexion, blue eyes & brown hair. He had various operation scars as identifying marks. His papers record his marriage & the birth of his daughter.

William, aged 35, was listed as Missing Presumed Killed in Action on the 12th of November 1914 & is Commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the Missing together with 54,574 of his First World War comrades.

William is also commemorated on the County & Ventnor War Memorials.