Lives of the First World War

Supplement to the London Gazette, 17 October 1919 showing Theodore's award of the Belgium Croix de Guerre. This was awarded for his service with the RMA Siege Train.

Theodore at the marriage of his daughter, Shirley, at the Holy Trinity Church, Fareham, Hampshire. This is the earliest photograph we have of Theodore, mainly because his wife, Rosa, had a clear out and threw away whatever photographs they had.

Theodore ran away from home to join the Royal Marine Artillery, lying about his age to get in. The year of his birth on his birth certificate is 1894, but on his service record it is given as 1893.

Obtained by his son, Stanley

Wedding of Shirley McArdle and John Skeldon on 28/03/1960 at Holy Trinity church, Fareham. Left to right: Michael Skeldon (John's elder brother), Edna Skeldon (nee Wormington, John and Michael's mother), James Skeldon (John and Michael's father), John Skeldon, Shirley McArdle (Theodore and Rosa's daughter), Theodore McArdle, Rosa McArdle (nee Horton, Theodore's wife), Freda Skeldon (nee MacNaughton, Michael's wife). Edna's brother, John, died in a prisoner of war camp in Germany in 1919. His Lives of the First World War page is https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/lifestory/4883127 (Private John Henry Charles Wormington, Northumberland Fusiliers, Service #75711)

Shirley is the daughter of Theodore and Rosa. Shows their address and that by 1934 Theodore was a constable in the Royal Marine Police.

Shirley McArdle & John Skeldon's marriage certificate. Shows Theodore and Rosa's address in 1960.

Email from the Royal Marines Museum listing the medals that they have for Theodore. His son, Stanley, gave them to the Museum on his death.

Shows Theodore as a sergeant in the Royal Marine Police and the family living in police quarters in Haslar Gunboat yard. The 'officially closed' entry at the bottom of the page is probably for their daughter (my mother), Shirley.

Passenger list showing Rosa (Theodore's wife) and son Stanley returning from Malta. Also shows them still in Ward Road. They had been in Malta because Theodore was serving in the Mediterranean Fleet on HMS Curacoa.

This is the Guardhouse at the entrance to Haslar Gunboat Yard where Theodore worked. The accommodation the family lived in is on the opposite side of the road that is shown in front of the Guardhouse. This photograph was taken years after the war and shows it in a poor state or repair.