Edna Elsie Athya

Edna Elsie Athya was born on August 17, 1899, in Blackheath, London, England. She was the daughter of Edwin Athya and Eliza Ann Greenwood and one of five siblings: Catherine “Gertrude” Athya, John Athya, and twins Nellie Helen Eva Athya and Marjorie Harriet Mary Athya. Edwin Athya, Edna’s father, hailed from Scotland. Edna is my husband’s 2nd cousin twice removed, with their nearest common ancestors being Isaac Athya and Janet Graham, his 3rd great-grandparents.

It is believed that the woman in the photo below is Edna.

Photo used with permission of Sarah (Fox) Simpson

When Gertrude was born in 1896 and John in 1898, the Athya family lived on Crossingham Road in Lewisham, London. By the time Edna was born, they had moved to Coleraine Road in Blackheath, a community approximately two miles from Lewisham. The Morning Post in London announced Edna’s birth on August 23, 1899: “Births. ATHYA.—On the 17th inst., at The Oaks, Coleraine-road, Blackheath, the wife of Edwin Athya, of a daughter.” Her father paid six shillings to the newspaper to have Edna included in the Births section that day.

In the early 1900s, Edna’s father faced financial difficulties with his timber brokerage business at Gracechurch Street in London, leading to bankruptcy court. The Times in London reported that Edwin “attributed his insolvency to losses through bad debts and through a large purchase of timber by one of his late partners.”

By 1901, the Athya family had moved to 94 Breakspears Road located in the civil parish of Deptford St. Paul in London, to a house consisting of fewer than five rooms. At two years old, Edna was the youngest in the home. Despite his financial difficulties, Edna’s father, Edwin, continued to be self-employed as a timber broker. The household included a 19-year-old domestic servant/nurse named Alice Cox.

In 1911, the Athya family resided at 90 Moring Road, Tooting SW located in the civil parish of Wandsworth in London, to a house consisting of seven rooms, not including the scullery, landing, lobby, closet, or bathroom. Tragically, Edna’s sister, Gertrude, passed away at the age of 14 on January 1, 1911. The census record reflected this loss, noting that out of five children born to the marriage, four were still living. Edna’s father continued his work as a timber merchant. 

On May 9 or 19, 1915, the Bishop of Kingston-upon-Thames conducted a confirmation ceremony at St. Leonard’s Church in Streatham, where Edna, aged 15, was confirmed. The confirmation was presided over by the incumbent Reverend E. Brook Jackson. Edna received her first communion on May 30 of the same year.

This register records the confirmation date as May 9

This register records the confirmation date as May 19

Edna enlisted in the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) during World War I in October 1918, stationed at Mayfair, a well-known area in London. She held the rank of MRR and likely served as a Motor Transport Driver. Edna’s service card listed her air force trade as Tracer. Edna was discharged on November 5, 1918, and demobilized on September 5, 1919 at Battersea SU, which could have been a demobilization center or facility in Battersea. Battersea is an area located on the south bank of the River Thames in the London Borough of Wandsworth. Edna was 20 years old at the time, with a height of 5 feet 3.5 inches, a medium build, grey eyes, and fair hair. Her work during enlistment was noted as satisfactory, and she received several medals for her service, including the Victory Medal, the British War Medal for World War I, and the Women’s Royal Naval Service medal.

Edna’s military service card

Edna’s Certificate of Discharge on Demobilization, UK, WWI,
Women’s Royal Air Force Service Records, September 5, 1919

Edna listed her next of kin as Mrs. Athya of 12 Baldwin Crescent in Camberwell, London. The 1921 London electoral register for Southwark, Camberwell, confirms that Edna’s parents lived at that address.

According to the 1921 census, Edna was a 21-year-old single woman, born in 1899 in Blackheath, London. She resided at 188 Portsdown Road, in the Maida Vale ward of Paddington, Middlesex. Edna was marked as a boarder in the household and listed her occupation as “Dress Design Film Work,” working for herself from home as a film student. Her roommate, Marion Bentham, also 21 years old, was the head of the household and worked as a file clerk. The home consisted of four rooms.

In the years 1923, 1924, and 1925, the Kensington and Chelsea electoral registers recorded Edna’s address as 53 Elgin Crescent in London. The 1925 British Phone Book confirmed she lived at that address. This home was in the Kensington and Chelsea area of West London, specifically in the Notting Hill neighborhood.

In the fall of 1925, Edna married Joseph John Greenlaw (parents unknown) in Marylebone, London, England. By 1929, the couple was residing at Beverley and 14 Upper Montague Street in the Parish of Dunsfold, Surrey, England. From 1930 to 1932, Edna and Joseph lived at 13 Upper George Street in the West Finsbury Ward of London.

Edna passed away at the age of 34 (cause unknown) on October 1, 1933, at her residence, 1 Acacia Gardens, St. John’s Wood, Middlesex. Following her death, the administration (probate) of her estate was granted to her husband on March 29, 1934, in London. The total value of her estate, referred to as effects, was £109 10s. 9d. Today, the approximate value of Edna’s estate would be $15,112.18 in US dollars. There is no evidence to suggest that Edna had any children.

References

• Battersea; https://www.britannica.com/place/Battersea. 
• Births, Evening Express, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, April 13, 1896.
• Births, Liverpool Mercury, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, April 30, 1898.
• Births, Marriages, and Deaths, The Morning Post, London, Greater London, England, August 23, 1899.
• Catherine G. Athya, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837–1915.
• Catherine Gertrude Athya, England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837–1915.
• Census, Deptford St. Paul, London, England, 1901.
• Census, Paddington, London, England, 1921.
• Census, Wandsworth, Streatham, London, England, 1911.
• Edna Athya, England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916–2005.
• Edna Athya, Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, Electoral Registers, 1889–1970 (1923, 1924, 1925).
• Edna Athya, Lambeth, St. Leonard, Streatham: Streatham High Road, London, England, Church of England Confirmation Records, 1838–1923 (1915).
• Edna Athya, London, England, Church of England Confirmation Records, 1838–1923 (1915).
• Edna Elsie Athya, UK, WWI, Women’s Royal Air Force Service Records, 1918–1920.
• Edna Elsie Athya, Web: UK, Women’s Royal Naval Service Index, 1917–1919 (1918).
• Edna Greenlaw, England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1966, 1973–1995.
• Edna Greenlaw, Guildford, Surrey, England, Electoral Registers, 1832–1962 (1929).
• Edna Greenlaw, Islington, Finsbury, London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832–1965 (1931).
• Edna Greenlaw, Westminster, London, England, Electoral Registers, 1902–1970, Register of Electors St. Marylebone, 1930.
• Edna Greenlaw, Westminster, St. Marylebone, London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832–1965 (1932).
• Edwin Athya, City of London, London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832–1965 (1900).
• Elsie Athya, London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 (1921).
• In RE Athya, The Times, London, England, May 8, 1900.
• Joseph John Greenlaw, England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1995 (1954).
• Marjorie Harriett Mary Athya and Helen Eva Athya, p. 444, London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813–1923.
• Meetings of Creditors, The Morning Post, London, England, May 7, 1900.
• Miss Edna Athya, British Phone Book, 1925.
• Property valuation, 53 Elgin Crescent, The Move Market; https://themovemarket.com/tools/propertyprices/53-elgin-crescent-london-w11-2ju.
• The Bankruptcy Acts, 1883 and 1890: Receiving Orders, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, London, England, April 28, 1900.
• Women’s Royal Naval Service; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Royal_Naval_Service.