David Albert (Bertie) JACOBS (1892-1969)

So, by 1901 Emma JACOBS (nee Brown) and her 4 children were living with George ROBINSON in Acton, West London. Also living there is Phyllis May ROBINSON. She is listed as the daughter of George ROBINSON and almost certainly Emma was her mother. Research indicates that Phyllis was born on 1st April 1900 but the birth does not seem to have been registered.
It does seem likely that Emma was living with, or at least knew, George ROBINSON as early as July 1899. In any event, Emma and George eventually married, but not until 27 December 1911 and in Camden; presumably so as not to attract the attention of nosy neighbours!

After primary school David Albert JACOBS attended Acton & Chiswick Polytechnic. The Victoria County History of Middlesex (at British History Online) records that: "Acton and Chiswick Polytechnic was formed in 1899, when Middlesex C.C. took over the school of art. After more rooms had been added in 1908 it was the largest polytechnic in Middlesex, supported also by the two U.D.C.s [Urban District Councils] and attended in 1909 by 2,282 students, including 571 at branch classes in Acton and Chiswick."

By 1911 Emma's first two children - Philip Maurice and Morris Arthur were no longer living at home: Philip was working as a Shop Assistant in a China and Hardware shop in Bournemouth and Morris was a Butcher in Putney. David Albert (Bertie) was still living at home but had left school in 1908 and was working as a Mercantile Clerk. Ellen Dorothy was also living at home and was working as a Domestic Nurse. Phyllis May, who was 11 years old, was recorded as still being at school.

The next we hear of David Albert JACOBS is during the First World War. He enlisted with the 3rd Battalion, City of London Regiment, Royal Fusiliers, in November 1915 and was posted to Macedonia/Salonika. (See the Wikipedia article on the Macedonia front.) Two years later he was selected for officer training and studied at Pirbright until March 1918. Upon graduation he was commissioned into the Royal Berkshire Regiment and immediately embarked for France.

(to be continued...)