ALBERT JAMES DRUCE (BORN 1893)
Albert James Druce was born on 14th June 1893 at 6 Berwick Street, Battersea. He was the second of four children. The eldest was a girl, Kate Amelia Druce, born in 1890. The other two children were Reginald Charles Druce, born in 1895 and Frederick William Druce, born in 1899.
After leaving school, Albert served an apprenticeship as an engineer and toolmaker. During the First World War years, he worked for Thornycroft (now Vosper Thornycroft) the company which made engines for buses and lorries. The company was based in Hampshire. Albert then worked for Ross (optical instrument makers) of Clapham. He married Drusilla Ada Kenwright at The Church of The Ascension, Lavender Hill, in the parish of Battersea, on 12th April 1917. Albert's occupation at the time of his marriage to Drusilla was that of an engineer (journeyman) as evidenced by the marriage certicicate. His father's occupation at this time was that of a boiler inspector. Drusilla was a daughter of Edward Kenwright (sculptor) and Jane Coe who are pictured below on the occasion of their diamond wedding anniversary on 26th August 1928. The family lived at 158 Lavender Hill.
Albert then worked for the Candy Filter Company based at Hanwell, Middlesex between 1923 and 1958. His occupation was that of a waterworks engineer (foreman).
Albert and Drusilla had two children, namely, Ada Drusilla (my aunt), born on 4th February 1918 at the hospital in Bolingbroke Grove and Albert Edward (my father), born on 13th April 1922 at the same hospital. The family lived at 14 Marjorie Grove, just off Clapham Common. Below, is a present day photograph of the house.
The family moved from Marjorie Grove to Fairfield Avenue, Whitton, Twickenham, Middlesex in 1936.