William Streatfield Verrells
of E. K. Cole
1893 Born at Sevenoaks, Kent
1911 Living at 11 Baythorne Street, Burdett Road, Bow, London E: Emily Mary Verrells (age 57 born London), Certified Teacher. She has been married 25 years with four children born and two are now alive. With her son William S. Verrells (age 18 born Sevenoaks), a Student.[1]
1915-19 Company Sergeant Major Instructor. RAMC and Army gymnastic Staff. France 12 months.
Verrels was a war casualty and semi-invalid, and wrote in a local newspaper of his dependence on his radio set for entertainment and of the inconvenience and expense of getting batteries recharged. Eric Kirkham Cole contacted Verrells, saying he had invented such a set.[2] Eventually they went into partnership to design and manufacture a ‘battery eliminator’.
1933 Living at 89 King's Road, West Cliff