London 25th Regt

Robert Efford (from passport photo)

Robert was born in 1890 and baptised at St. Paul Bow Common on the 21st Oct 1890, the son of Alfred George Efford, a dock worker, later a marker, and Jessie Paine. He married Amelia Ann Dixon on the 26th December 1915 in All Saints, Islington.

In the 1901 & 1911 censuses he is living with his uncle & aunt George & Ellen Paine. In 1911 he is a calves head scolder, the same as his uncle. On marriage and also enlistment he describes himself as a butcher. He died in 1934.

Photo - Robert is back right behind his wife, wife's sister on the left, sister's husband/boyfriend behind her at left rear.

He is twice mentioned in the Battalion magazine 'The Londoner' :-

[Feb 1917 - V.1 No.4 page 81]
Second Battalion Notes
The 2/25th gave a concert at -- on Dec. 9, the chair being taken by R.S.M. Clevely. The artists contributing in various ways
were Cyclists Efford, .....

[April-June 1919 - V.3 No.4 page 109]
Personal
The following further draft of nine unfits let us on the 2nd April for transfer, as sick, to the Home Establishment, none of them being eligible for demobilisation. Ptes. R.A. Efford ....

Pension Record
Enlisted - 24 June 1916
             - 27 Dec 1916 (date service reckons from) Posted to Kings Royal Rifles #30991
             - 2 Jan 1917 - To 110 Training Res. Battn.
                N.B. The pension record dates don't quite add up here as according to the
                         Battalion magazine The Londoner of Feb 1917 he was with the 2/25th London Bn.
             - 17 Mar 1917 - Transferred to 1/25th London Regt - #742491
Service - Home 27 Dec 1916 to 17 Mar 1917
            - India 18 Mar 1917 to 29 Apr 1919 - Embarked Devonport per S.S. ??
                        2 Apr 1919 Certified unfit to remain in India.
                       Departed India at Bombay 9 Apr 1919 per S.S. Nestor
            - Home 30 Apr 1919 to 12 Aug 1919
2 Overseas Chevrons issued 21 Sep 1918
Date of discharge - 12 Aug 1919 - 33 Cumberland St, Islington.