H. was an orphan. His mother had died in 1889 and his father in May 1898 from heart disease. H's father had moved to Clapham when he became too ill to follow his former trade and had secured a position as a Coachman. Since his father's death H. had been living with his grandmother who had been allowed to continue living in the mews for a while. At the time of the application she was soon going to leave and live with a friend. It would not be possible for her to provide a home for H. H's brother E. was going to have to provide a home for himself and as his wages were not high he would not be in a position to assist his brother. Unless H. was to be helped by the Society he would have to enter the Workhouse. On 7 July 1898 the boy was admitted to Sunnyside Home for Boys, Frome, Somerset. He remained there until 10 July 1900 when he was transferred to Wingfield House, Home for Working Lads in the South Lambeth Road. This was not one of the Society's Homes. The case file contains correspondence relating to Wingfield House and the principles on which it was run. On 18 March 1901 H. returned to live with his grandmother. The Honorary Secretary of Wingfield House informed the Waifs and Strays' Society that H. had left them. They felt that it had been convenient for H's relatives to leave him in a Home when he was at school and had to be completely provided for, however once he was earning 8/- a week they started to induce him to stay away from the Home without permission. The family were "fairly well to do people" and it was felt that they could have contributed to the boy's support had they been pressed.
