The re-imagined story …
I was working as night porter and resting the day Mr Wardall checked in at the Albion. Polly told me he wasn’t looking well and that she expected I may be required during the night.
Polly was my sweetheart and we were saving hard to get married. We had met when we were both in service. We were ambitious and knew that we wanted more than a life of bowing and scrapping. We dreamt of opening our own little boarding house and being our own bosses, answerable only to one another.
We decided to get some experience in the hotel business before embarking upon our big adventure. It seemed to me though that there was little difference to being in service. The work was as arduous, the hours as long and there was still a lot of bowing and scrapping to be done.
It was early on in the season and only a few of the rooms were occupied. Throughout the night I kept busy with my usual tasks, alert to the bells and a possible summons to Mr Wardall’s room, but all was quiet.
The morning dawned bright and blustery with rain threatening but I followed my usual routine and took a brisk walk down by the harbour before returning to my room. I disliked working the night shift and could seldom sleep during the day, every noise in the hotel disrupted my slumber.
That day I was disturbed more than usual and eventually I rose and dressed and went down to the kitchen for a cup of tea. It was then I learned that Mr Wardall had died during the night and it was my poor Polly who discovered his body.
We left the Albion soon after that; I wasn’t sorry to go. We abandoned our boarding house dream.
Albion Hotel, Plymouth
The facts …
Military Funeral. – The Swindon Advertiser of the 28th ult. records as follows the funeral, with military honours, of one who was known to many in this district, to which he is also related: – The funeral of Mr James Haydon Wardall, nephew of Mr J. Haydon, took place on Tuesday evening.
The deceased gentleman commenced his education at the old GWR Schools at New Swindon, under Mr Braid, and completed it at Edinburgh, whether he removed in 1866. On leaving school he was apprenticed to learn the trade of an engineer under his uncle, Mr John Laverick, at Edinburgh. After his apprenticeship he entered the service of Messrs. Douglas & Grant, at Kirkcaldy, Fifeshire, where he remained for some time; afterwards coming to Swindon, where he was employed in several shops in the GWR Works. Finally he obtained the position of draughtsman under Mr S. Carlton (manager of the Locomotive Department of the GWR Works). In June, 1885, he was offered the post of principal foreman in the Fitting and Turning Shop of the Bombay, Barolda, and Central Indian Railway at Parel, which office he accepted.
During his residence at Swindon, Mr Wardall was associated with several athletic clubs, including the Swindon Drill Hall Gymnastic Society, of which he was secretary on its formation. He was a full corporal in the F (New Swindon) Company of Volunteers for several years, and after leaving Swindon joined the Volunteers in connection with the company for whom he worked in India.
Latterly, Mr Wardall was prevented by ill-health from actively following his employment, and he decided to seek the benefit of a sea voyage, and came to England. He arrived recently at Plymouth, where his illness proved fatal on April 20th.
The remains were conveyed to Swindon for interment, where his old volunteer friends resolved to accord him military honours. Long before the hour fixed for the funeral, the streets in the vicinity of the Works were lined with spectators, whose numbers were greatly increased, as the cortege passed the principal entrance, by the employees who were leaving work for the day.
A large number of volunteers assembled on parade, including the band of the battalion, numbering 32 men, one corporal, one drummer, and one fifer, from the F&G Co’s (New Swindon), under the command of Sergt. McCulloch, a total of 40; Bugle-Major J. Phillips, Armoury-Sergeant J. Westcott, 12 sergeants, five corporals, and 52 rank and file, the whole being under the command of the Sergt. Instructor of the Corps.
On leaving the residence of Mr T. Rice, 25 Gloucester Street, where the body had been removed on arrival from Plymouth, the band played Beethoven’s “Funeral March,” and the mournful procession proceeded to St Mark’s Church, via Sheppard Street, London Street, and Bristol Street.
The principal mourners, who rode in coaches, were Mr Lancelot Thomas Haydon (chief draughtsman in the Works, cousin to the deceased), Mr Thomas Butterfield Watson (uncle), Mr William Williams (Pontypridd, brother of the widow), Mr John Jones (uncle of the widow), Mr E. Jones (cousin of the widow), Mr T. Rice, and Mr F. Buckland, Mr James Haydon (uncle) was prevented from attending through illness.
Among others present were Mr J.B. Cartwright (captain of Swindon Drill Hall Gymnastic Society), Mr E. Head (sec.), Mr S. Warner, Mr H. Thomas, Mr B.J. Robinson, Mr J. Patton, Mr A.E. Murgatroyd, Mr Arthur Bowker, etc., private friends of deceased during his residence in Swindon.
The coffin, which was of polished oak, was covered with the Union Jack, and bore the deceased’s helmet and sword, which were surrounded by wreath of choice flowers, sent by Miss Wardall (sister), Mrs Thomas, old friends, styling themselves “The Boys,” the members of the Gymnasium, and others. The breast-plate was inscribed as follows:- “James Haydon Wardall, died April 20th, 1888, aged 32 years” The pall-bearers were Armoury-Sergt. Westcott, Col. Sergts Horsington and Harrod, and Sergt. W.H. Lawson.
On arrival at the church gates the firing party lined up, and the procession was met by the Vicar (the Rev. Hon. M. Ponsonby), who read the first portion of the service in the church. The band played the “Dead March” in Saul as the cortege subsequently proceeded to the Cemetery, where there was a large attendance of the public. The volunteers formed a cordon around the grave, with the firing party drawn up, and, when the body arrived, it was wheeled to the graveside and lowered into its last resting place. The service was impressively conducted by the Rev. Hon. M. Ponsonby, and at its conclusion the firing party (a full lieutenant’s escort) discharged the customary three volleys over the grave. The Volunteers were then re-formed, and marched to the Mechanics’ Institution, where they were dismissed.
The Fife Free Press Saturday May 5, 1888
Wardall James H. 32 years Albion Hotel, Plymouth burial 24th April 1888 plot E7997.
Radnor Street Cemetery burial registers.
Wardall James Haydon of Parel Bombay India died 20 April 1888 at the “Albion” hotel Plymouth Administration (with Will) London 4 February to Margaret Wardall widow Effects £140 14s