William Damant married Ellen Rampling in 1873. In 1881, they were recorded as living at the “back of Melton Road” with their four children, Kate, Rose, Charles and Lily. Ellen was widowed in 1887 and, in the 1891 census, the family lived at Pinkney’s Cottage, off Turnpike Lane. At that time, the family had increased from four to seven children, following the births of Arthur William, Frank and Walter. By 1901, Ellen and her children had moved to 6 Hackney Road and, although some of the family had left home, Charles, Frank and Walter were still there along with three more children; daughters Nellie and Eva and son Bertie.
All five of Ellen’s sons enlisted or were conscripted into the services during the war; one was rejected as “being not likely to become a proficient soldier”, one was captured and became a prisoner of war, one was wounded and discharged, and the other two came through without any reported harm.