William Edward Masters

William Edward Masters  1876 – 1943

William was born on 25th October 1876 in Orlestone, Kent, to Charles, a gamekeeper, and Sarah Goland (née Foord). He wasn’t baptised until 27th October 1878, at the same time as his younger sister Harriet Adelaide, at St Matthew, Warehorne, with the family’s place of residence being Orlestone. 

In April 1906, he married Mary Ann Seath in Ash, and by November was working as a gamekeeper for Admiral Rice and living at Long Lane Farm. That month, he discovered a poacher on the farm, but when he attempted to search him, two other men appeared and aided the poacher. There was a struggle during which William was overpowered and hit in the eye, developing a nosebleed. The poacher was fined 30 shillings for poaching but the charge of assault was dismissed. 

The 1911 Census showed that William was still a gamekeeper and also a farmer, living at Church View (now the old bakery) on Mill Lane.

William’s War records have not currently been confirmed. William or W Masters are common names in the records and, as there appear to be no attestation papers that can be attributed to William, it is likely that these have been lost.

In 1939, William and Mary Ann were living in Tenterden, where he was a farmer. His home was given as Irrawaddy, Woodchurch, when he died on 25th December 1943 at The County Hospital in Orpington at the age of 67.