The brother’s parents, William And Annie Mason were living in Brook Street in Kettering before moving to Leicester, he was working as a Bricklayer. William was originally from Colwell in Herefordshire and Annie was from Malvern in Worcestershire.
By the 1891 Census the couple were living at Victoria Avenue in Knighton with their five children, William John born in 1881 and Edward born in 1883 while their parents were living in Kettering, James born 1886, Alfred George born 1888 and Ethel born in 1891. Two more children were to follow before the next Census, Arthur born 1892 and Oliver Reginald born in 1894. All the children would go on to work in Shoe Manufacturing trade.
The family later moved to 253 Avenue Road Extension and by 1911 only Ethel, Arthur and Oliver were still living at home. The family did have a boarder living with them, Thomas Cave, who on 13/5/1915 married Ethel. He was the older brother of George and James Cave also commemorated on the St Michael & All Angels War Memorial.
The oldest son, William married Lilian Bostock on 10/6/1905, she was the older sister of Clarence Bostock, who is also on the same memorial. The couple moved to 87 Danvers Road and had a son, William Edward born 30/4/1906. William worked as a Tramways Motorman. William was the first man on the War Memorial to die when he was killed in Action on 27/12/1914 aged 33. He is buried in Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richenbourg- L’Avoue in France and his inscription reads ‘Until We Meet Again’.
Five months after Williams death James was Killed in Action on 28/5/1915 aged 29, he is remembered on the Helles Memorial, near Sedd el Bah,r in Turkey, which is on the tip of the Gallipoli peninsula overlooking the Dardanelles. It is the main Commonwealth battle memorial for the Gallipoli Campaign.
The following year youngest son, Oliver was also Killed in Action on 25/9/1916 aged 20. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, on the Somme in France.
