Ada Elizabeth West was the wife of Charles Herbert West and the mother of Ralph M West (born c1893 ), Alan Herbert Mainwaring West (born 1897) and Brenda Mainwaring West (born 1900). 

 

She was born Ada Elizabeth Mainwaring in Brighton around 1864 and appears on the 1871 census of England and Wales living at (what looks like) 14 West Street, Brighton.  The household comprised George Mainwaring (head, married, aged 42, working as a builder), his wife Elizabeth (aged 41) and their four children: George F Mainwaring (aged 14), Harry Mainwaring (aged 11), Ada Elizabeth (aged six) and Ernest E Mainwaring (aged four).  There was also a servant in the house – 18 year old Sarah A Thompson.  George senior had been born in Benenden, Kent but his wife and all of their children had been born in Brighton.

 

When the 1881 census was taken, Ada was in Bolney village, Sussex and is noted as visitor at Manor House, the home of Richard Hamshar, a farmer of 1100 acres and employer of 28 labourers and nine boys.  Ada is recorded as a 16 year old scholar.  Her connection with this family is unclear but she was possibly friendly with one Richard Hamshar’s youngest daughter Margaret who, at 15, was certainly of a similar age.

The 1891 census notes Ada as a twenty six year old living back at home with her parents and brother Harry.  The family was now living at 6 Albany Villas, Hove and comprised George (head, married, aged 62, noted as a retired surveyor), his 61 year old wife Elizabeth, Harry (aged 31, a surveyor like his father) and Elizabeth, who as no occupation noted against her name.  There were also two servants: Ellen Buss (aged 21, working as a cook) and Fanny B Thomas (aged 20, a housemaid).

 

The following year, Ada married Charles Herbert West, the marriage registered in the Steyning district of Sussex in December 1892.

 

By the time the 1901 census was taken, Ada had the three children noted above and was living at 2 York Villas, Brighton.  Her husband Charles was 39 in 1901 and is noted as an “assessor and Collector Hall Tax”. All three of Ada’s children were born in Brighton.

 

I am unsure when Ada’s connection with Sussex 54 VAD began or indeed what her connection with Chailey was.  It is possible that the family moved there – or close by – at some time after 1901.  Her name appears in Nurse Oliver’s album and in a 1914 newspaper article which lists a number of Sussex 54 personnel.  She appears in the photo above on the back row, second from left.

 

Ada's two sons Ralph and Alan both served during the First World War and Alan was killed in a bomb accident in Mesopotamia in January 1918.

 

 

Sources and Acknowledgements

 

• 1871 Census of England and Wales
• 1881 Census of England and Wales
• 1891 Census of England and Wales
• 1901 Census of England and Wales
• England and Wales, Civil Registration Index: 1837-1983
• Newspaper article, undated, source unknown