Archibald Robert Wishart was the third of four children of James Wishart, a stevedore from the Shetland Islands, and his wife, Eleazar Hope. Born on 18 April 1897 in Custom House, Essex, Archibald grew up at 8 Leslie Road before moving to 1 Fife Road in Tidal Basin East shortly after the turn of the century. His father had left the docks and ran his own grocery business until his untimely death in 1910, after which Eleazor took over the day-to-day running of the shop.

Regrettably, Archibald’s service papers have not survived, however, based on his service number, it appears he may have enlisted in the spring of 1915 when he joined the Royal Field Artillery – eventually leaving for France later in the year on 26 November. By the end of the war, he had reached the rank of acting sergeant and returned to Essex after demobilisation where he became a constable in the Metropolitan Police on 23 February 1920.

On 1 June 1921, he married Ellen Maud Hall in West Ham, and three daughters were born of the marriage. The family moved to Lewisham shortly afterwards, initially living at 17 Burnt Ash Hill and then 50 Woodyates Road thirteen years later.

Archibald’s life came to an abrupt end during the Blitz when he was killed in an air raid that took place on the night of 20 April 1941. He is buried in Hither Green Cemetery.

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