Arthur Fisher Ongley (1874-1915)

Post date: Aug 28, 2015 10:18:24 AM

Arthur was born in Wateringbury in 1874 a member of the extended Ongley family who at the time of the 1881 census lived in Wateringbury Street (now Tonbridge Road ) near to the Queen's Head. In 1881 he was described as a "scholar" which probably meant he went to Wateringbury School. His grandmother was head of the family and he lived with his 4 siblings, parents, aunt and uncle in a household of 9 people. His father, Fredrick, was described as a Master Tailor, Baker and Parish Clerk. By 1891 the family had expanded and he had 8 siblings and they were living in Folkestone. By 1901 Arthur was a tailor had married the previously married Annie Constable and they were living in Folkestone with his step children. They had their own daughter May in 1902 and by 1911 had moved to Ramsgate.

Arthur joined R.A.S.C. in which he held the rank of "Pioneer" (Service number SS/15577) serving on the Western Front where he died on 2nd October, 1915.

He is not recorded on the Wateringbury War Memorial given he had left Wateringbury many years before the war although some members of the Ongley family were still in the same house in 1911. Surprisingly he is also not included in the school memorial.