Hildenborough - Kent Fallen

Hildenborough
The Hildenborough civic war memorial was designed by Henry Philip Burke
Downing, (1865-1947) F.R.I.B.A., F.S.A., who was a well known arts and
crafts designer, and it is very similar to another memorial of his at Merton,
London. The carver of the Hildenborough civic war memorial and also that at
Merton, was Ware, Hertfordshire native Nathaniel Hitch (1845-1938) who
described himself as an “Architectural Sculptor and Modeller.” During their
respective careers the designer and sculptor also worked jointly on many
other projects, notably in places of worship in London and the Home
Counties. The war memorial weighing six and a half tons was erected on a
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piece of land which had been kindly given specifically for the purpose, by Mrs.
Henry Hills of Bourne Place, Nizels Lane, Hildenborough. It is located at the
road junction of Noble Tree Road and Tonbridge Road, Foxbush,
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. At the unveiling and dedication of the war
memorial which took place on Tuesday 5 October 1920, amongst the large
gathering were some of the relatives and friends of the thirty seven men
whose names are inscribed on it. In addition to the relatives, were a number
of invited dignitaries, including many ex-servicemen and the choir of St.
John’s parish church, Hildenborough. Colonel Fiennes S.W. Cornwallis, T.D.
was the first person to address the assembled large crowd, and then unveiled
the war memorial. The Right Reverend John Harmer, D.D. who was the
Bishop of the Diocese of Rochester, after dedicating the memorial then gave
his address, and prayers were said by the Vicar of Hildenborough, the
Reverend James Stone who was also Rural Dean of Tonbridge. Prayers and a
blessing were also given by the Reverend Edwin Henry Wells of the
Hildenborough United Methodists chapel. The names of the Great War
fallen, thirty seven in number are inscribed on the side panels of the base
stone. Following the Second World War, the names of sixteen local men who
had lost their lives were then added at the base of the memorial. Over the
intervening years since October 1920, due to the ravages of time, and
doubtless in more recent years the pollution generated by passing traffic, had
resulted in the war memorial deteriorating into a unacceptable state which
did not reflect well on the parish of Hildenborough, and was patently not a
worthy tribute to the honoured names of those local victims of war whose
names are inscribed upon it. Thankfully since 2006 Hildenborough Parish
Council and others, started to rectify the situation regarding the sad state of
Hildenborough civic war memorial, which included raising funds and other
work. The work involved eventually led to the war memorial being restored to
the firms’ usual high standard by Burlite Limited, The Stone Shop, East
Farleigh, Maidstone, Kent, which has an envied wealth of experience in
refurbishing war memorials. The civic war memorial is now maintained
under a bequest by Kent County Council, but Hildenborough Parish Council
has undertaken to look after the borders surrounding the war memorial.
Unfortunately as with almost every other location in Kent, not all of the
victims of war are commemorated on the civic war memorial, and all of those
which we have located thus far who are not commemorated on it, have been
added below in the categories of “Lost Men” or “Lost Casualties” On the
column of the war memorial is engraved, LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS, and on
the base stone are the following simple poignant inscription, and the prayer:-
REMEMBER THE COMRADES WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE
GREAT WAR 1914-1919
GRANT THEM O LORD ETERNAL REST; LET LIGH PERPETUAL SHINE
UPON THEM.
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The Great War
1914 -1919
AUSTEN, ALFRED WILLIAM S. Private, G/4216.
2nd Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).
Died Saturday 25 September 1915. Aged 20.
Born Yalding, Maidstone, Kent (Please see below). Enlisted Deptford, Kent.
Resided Rotherhithe, Kent.
Son of William Austen and Ellen Austen (née Taylor).
Commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 13.
At the time of the 1901 census, the Austen family resided at Mount Pleasant,
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Head of the house was 26 year old Marden,
Kent native William Austen, who was employed as a Coach Painter. Alfred has
proved to be one of the more ‘challenging’ Hildenborough casualties to identify
and research prior to adding this brief commemoration here. His Commonwealth
War Graves Commission commemoration details show him to be AUSTEN,
ALFRED WILLIAMS, probably as the result of his third initial being tagged on to
his second Christian name. On the 1901 census entry referred to above, Alfred is
shown as being a native of Yalding, Kent, but his entry in/on ‘Soldiers Died in the
Great War,’ records him as having been a native of Marden, Kent. As thousands
of census entries contain errors, as does ‘Soldiers Died in the Great War,’ his
actual place of birth could obviously be at either parish, or indeed somewhere
else in the Maidstone, Kent area. Alfred’s birth was recorded in the Maidstone,
Kent, Registration District during the first quarter of 1895. He was amongst the
62 other ranks serving in his battalion who died on Saturday 25 September 1915.
BAMBLETT, WILLIAM HENRY. Corporal, 9771.
4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, The King’s (Liverpool Regiment).
Died Monday 7 August 1916. Aged 32.
Born Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted Maidstone, Kent. Resided Tonbridge,
Kent.
Son of Emily Bamblett (née Collins) of 25, Powder Mills, Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent,
and of the late George Bamblett.
Buried Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz, Somme, France.
Grave Ref: V. O. 6.
Also commemorated on the Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent, civic war memorial.
At the time of the 1901 census, William was a Private soldier residing at the
Infantry Barracks, Maidstone, Kent. At time of the above census, William’s
parents resided at Proof House, Meopham Bank, Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent. Head
of the house was 47 year old George Bamblett who was employed as a
Gunpowder Maker. Amongst the seven children at home on the night of the
census was Charles, Herbert and Percy, who it would seem likely also served in
the army during the Great War, serving in the Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent
Regiment), Machine Gun Corps and Royal Field Artillery. All of the
aforementioned brothers thankfully survived the carnage of the Great War.
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BARDEN, BERTIE. Private, GS/62045.
26th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Bankers).
Died Wednesday 23 October 1918. Aged 26.
Born Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Son of Edwin Barden and Harriet Barden (née Evans) of 149, High Street,
Sevenoaks, Kent.
Buried Harlebeke New British Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Grave Ref: VI. D. 12.
At the time of the 1901 census, the Barden family resided at Cold Harbour,
Hildenborough. Head of the house was 55 year old Tonbridge, Kent native Edwin
Barden, who was employed as an Ordinary Estate Labourer. Bertie was a
brother of the next casualty briefly commemorated.
BARDEN, MORTIMER, Private, G/13047.
6th (Service) Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).
Died Saturday 7 October 1916.
Born and resided Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted Maidstone, Kent.
Son of Edwin Barden and Harriet Barden (née Evans) of 149, High Street,
Sevenoaks, Kent.
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 11 C.
When Mortimer enlisted in the army ‘For the Duration of the War’ on Monday 21
February 1916, he stated that he was 20 years and 8 months old, and that he
resided with his family at 4, Stone Cottages, Rising Lane, Hildenborough, Kent.
Mortimer stated that he was employed as a Gardner, and named his mother
Harriet Barden as his next of kin. Having been place on the Army Reserve,
Mortimer was mobilized on Monday 10 April 1916. Following his initial training,
Mortimer embarked for France on Friday 14 July 1916, and arrived at the 40
Infantry Base Depot, Etaples, Pas de Calais the following day. He was posted
from the 40 Infantry Base Depot to the 6th (Service) Battalion, Queen’s Own
(Royal West Kent Regiment) on Friday 21 July 1916, which he joined in the field
on Sunday 23 July, in which he then remained until his death. The 6th (Service)
Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) arrived in the Gueudecourt
sector on Wednesday 4 October 1916, in order to play its part in the ‘Battle of the
Transloy Ridges’ as part of the overall ‘Battle of the Somme,’ and moved into the
front line to the north of the village of Gueudecourt. As was the same situation
which prevailed with many of the other British battalions on the Somme in 1916
at various times resultant of high casualty rates, at Gueudecourt the 6th (Service)
Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) was barely 500 (all ranks)
strong. The initial attacks of the battle had been put back for two days, and it was
in worsening weather that the assaults on the enemy positions commenced. An
enemy position named Ration Trench was assigned to Burton’s battalion to
attack and capture. Possible due to the two day delay was a contributory factor
why German artillery activity had increased considerably over the same period.
In addition to the increased enemy shelling, an exceptionally powerful and well
positioned machine-gun defensive ring had been put in place by the Germans.
To contribute to the problems faced by the British troops was that the enemy
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trenches were screened from direct artillery observation. Having been heavily
shelled throughout the morning of Saturday 7 October 1916, the battalion had
already suffered casualties prior to going over the top at 1345 hours. More
casualties were inflicted on the battalion as it attempted to carry out its allotted
tasks, at which time most of the casualties were due to rifle and machine-gun
fire. At great cost, the officers and other ranks of “C” Company on the left flank
managed to advance a full 150 yards in the face of withering enemy fire, but
were then stopped and later withdrew at nighttime under the cover of darkness.
By the time that the remnants of the battalion were taken on by the 6th (Service)
Battalion, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment), some of the companies
of Burton’s battalion had been reduced to only fifty officers and other ranks. Of
about 500 soldiers of 6th (Service) Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent
Regiment) who had arrived at the Somme village of Gueudecourt only three days
earlier, approximately 330 became casualties on Saturday 7 October 1916. A
Captain, a Lieutenant and three Second Lieutenants were killed, as were 92
other ranks. A Captain and four Second Lieutenants were wounded, in addition
to which were at least 185 other ranks. Following his death, Mortimer was initialy
posted as ‘Missing,’ but his date of death was later accepted by the Army Council
for officially purposes as having occurred on or after 7 October 1916. When
Mortimer’s mother filled in Army Form W.5080 on Monday 1 September 1919, in
order to obtain his memorial plaque (aka Dead Mans Penny) and
Commemoration Scroll, his parents were still residing at 4, Stone Cottages,
Rising Lane, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
BATCHELOR, HORACE. Boy 1st Class, J/28285.
Royal Navy, H.M.S. "Formidable."
Died Friday 1 January 1915. Aged 17.
Born Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent Monday 31 January 1898.
Son of Alfred Batchelor and Esther Batchelor (née Martin) of 20, New Houses,
Powder Mills, Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent.
Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel 10, as shown above,
and on the Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent, civic war memorial.
Horace was baptised at the parish church of St. Mary’s Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent
on Sunday 1 May 1898. Horace’s Royal Navy Service Sheet shows that prior to
his enlistment he was employed as Errand Boy, and that he had enlisted in the
Royal Navy at Chatham, Kent, on 31 January 1916 for a twelve year
engagement. For an obvious reason the date is wrong, it being a year after
Horace had died. The Service Sheet also shows that he had initially served on
H.M.S. Powerful from Sunday 4 November 1912. Having served on H.M.S.
Crescent and at H.M.S. Pembroke the Chatham, Kent naval barracks, Horace
joined the crew of the 15,000 ton battleship H.M.S. Formidable on Sunday 20
December 1914. H.M.S. Formidable on which Horace was still serving at the time
of his death, was launched at Portsmouth on Thursday 17 November 1898, and
served in the Mediterranean Fleet until April 1908, when she was transferred to
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the Channel Fleet. In 1912 she formed part of the 5th Battle Squadron, which
consisted of eight battleships and two cruisers, and she was serving with this
squadron at the commencement of the Great War. H.M.S. Formidable departed
from Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, on Wednesday 30 December 1914 to
take part in a firing exercise off coast of Portland, Dorset. At 0200 hours on
Friday 1 January 1915, she was hit by two torpedoes fired from the German
submarine U-24, which was the very first underwater attack at night. The U-24
was commanded by 32 year old Kapitänleutnant, Rudolf Schneider who was in
command of the U-Boat from Saturday 1 August 1914 to Saturday 3 June 1916.
The first torpedo hit the number one boiler port side; a second explosion caused
the ship to list heavily to starboard. Huge waves thirty feet high lashed the
stricken ship, with strong winds, rain and hail, sinking it in less than two hours,
approximately 20 miles off Start Point. Various data checked show differences in
the actual numbers who survived the sinking, but it appears to be approximately
200 from her complement of 780. The U-24 has the dubious distinction of being
the very first U-boat to attack an unarmed merchant ship without warning, it being
the SS Admiral Ganteaume, which was torpedoed on Monday 26 October 1914,
but fortunately she had stayed afloat and was later safely towed to port. The
submarine U-24 survived the Great War, and having surrendered to the allied
powers, it was eventually broken up at Swansea, Wales in 1922.
Kapitänleutnant, Rudolf Schneider died in the North Sea on Saturday 13 October
1917, during very stormy weather he was lost overboard from the conning tower
of U-87. One of his crew managed to bring him back on board but it was too late.
He was subsequently buried at sea between the Shetland Isles and Norway.
Kapitänleutnant Freiherr Rudolf von Speth-Schülzburg, the Second in Command
took over the command of the U-87, but he too lost his life when the U-87 was
sunk in the Irish Sea on Christmas Day 1917 with the loss of all 44 hands.
BATCHELOR, SIDNEY. Private, 35950.
"A" Company, No.2 Section, 41st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry).
Died Saturday 20 July 1918. Aged 21.
Born Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted and resided Harlesden, Middlesex.
Son of Annie Laura Batchelor (née West) of 22, Powder Mills, Leigh, Tonbridge,
Kent, and of the late George Benjamin Batchelor.
Buried La Clytte Military Cemetery, De Klijte, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Grave Ref: IV. F. 13.
Also commemorated on the Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent, civic war memorial.
Formerly, Private, 24825, 6th (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London
Regiment). Sidney was born at Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent on Tuesday 17 November
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1896. He was baptised at the parish church of St. Mary’s Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent
on Sunday 7 February 1897. At the time of the 1901 census the Batchelor family
resided at Powder Mills, Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent, and the census enumerator
recorded Sidney’s father, a 44 year old native of Leigh as being the head of the
house, and employed as a Gate Keeper at the Gunpowder Factory. Sidney’s
parents married in 1877, and had a number of children prior to his birth. Sidney
enlisted in the army ‘For the Duration of the War’ on Saturday 11 December
1915, at which time he stated that he was 19 years and 23 days old, employed
as a Painter, and that he was residing with his sister Mrs. Mary Martin at 50,
Acton Lane, Harlesden, London. NW. He named his mother Annie Batchelor of
Powder Mills, Tonbridge, Kent as being his next of kin. Having been placed on
the Army Reserve, Sidney was mobilized and attested to serve in the Royal
Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) on Tuesday 8 February 1916. Amongst the
various personal possessions which Sidney took with him when he was
mobilized, was a Holy Bible which had been awarded him by Hildenborough
Sunday School in 1906. He initially served in the 6th (Reserve) Battalion of the
regiment at the Duke of Yorks School, Dover, Kent, which was at Dover from
August 1914 until late 1917. Whilst serving at Dover, Sidney qualified in Musketry
as a 2nd Class Shot on Wednesday 19 April 1916. On the completion of his
training at Dover, Sidney transferred to serve as a Private in the Machine Gun
Corps (Infantry) on Friday 12 May 1916, and carried out his training at the
Machine Gun Corps depot and training centre, Belton Park, Grantham,
Lincolnshire. On the completion of his training at Grantham and service in
England, Sidney was posted to France for service with the British Expeditionary
Force and sailed from Folkestone, Kent on Wednesday 26 July 1916, arriving at
Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas de Calais the same day. From Boulogne-sur-Mer, he
went to the Machine Gun Corps Base Depot at Camiers, Pas de Calais. From the
Machine Gun Corps Base Depot at Camiers, Sidney was posted to serve in the
43rd Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) on Thursday 27 July which he
eventually joined in the field on Thursday 24 August 1916. He was granted leave
to the United Kingdom from Tuesday 13 November 1917 until Tuesday 27
November 1917. Sidney later served again at the Machine Gun Corps Base
Depot at Camiers, from where he was posted to serve in the 25th Battalion,
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), which he joined in the field on Saturday 20 April
1918. He had only been serving in the 25th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps
(Infantry), for a few days when he was wounded on Friday 26 April 1918; his
wounding appears to have been only fairly minor in nature. He was serving in the
aforementioned battalion when he received a more serious gunshot wound to his
shin on Thursday 2 May 1918, for which he was received treatment at the 2nd
Australian Casualty Clearing Station at which time was located at the hamlet of
La Kreule, to the north of Hazebrouck, Nord, France, which had come back from
Outtersteene, Nord, near the Belgian border ahead of the German advance the
previous month. On the completion of the treatment for his wounding, Percy’s
final posting was to the 41st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), which he
joined in the field on Friday 24 May 1918, in which he then remained until he was
killed in action on Saturday 20 July 1918.
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BOYS, JOHN. Private, TF/241322.
1st/5th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.
Attached to the 13th (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.
Died Sunday 24 March 1918. Aged 36.
Born Godmersham, Ashford, Kent. Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent.
Son of William Kennett Boys and the late Margaret Jane Boys (née Dixon).
Husband of Maud Florence Boys (née Pierson) of 2, Park Terrace,
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, Somme, France. Grave Ref: V.H.5.
Formerly Private 12758, and 6039 Royal Sussex Regiment. At the time of the
1891 census the Boys family resided in part of "Little Olantigh Farmhouse,"
Crundale, Ashford, Kent, and ten years later resided at Hermitage, Wye, Ashford,
Kent. Head of the house was 53 year old Godmersham, Ashford, Kent native
William Kennett Boys, who was a Timber and Wood Dealer and an Employer.
John was recorded by the census enumerator as being employed as a Grocers
Assistant on the relevant 1901 census entry. His marriage to Maud Florence
Pierson was recorded in the East Ashford, Kent, Registration District during the
third quarter of 1910. When the 1911 census was conducted, John was recorded
by the census enumerator as being the head of the house at 9, Oak Street, Deal,
Kent. He was trading as an Own Account Confectioner, assisted by his wife who
was a 31 year old native of Plaistow, Essex. Also recorded as residing at home
on the night of the census was John’s 2 month old son John Robert Boys who
was born at Deal.
BROWN, PHILIP WILTON. Lance Corporal, P/754.
16th (Service) Battalion, Rifle Brigade.
Died Thursday 31 May 1917. Aged 32.
Born Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted Holborn, Middlesex. Resided
Clerkenwell, London.
Son of William Henry Brown and the late Caroline Rose Brown (née Beames).
Husband of Edith Sophia Brown (née Brown) of 47, Amwell Street, Islington,
London, EC1.
Buried Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, Vlamertinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Grave Ref: VII. D. 6.
Philip married Miss Edith Sophia Brown the 22 year old daughter of Henry
Brown, on Saturday 12 June 1909 at the parish church of St. Mark, Myddelton
Square, Islington, London. At the time of his marriage Philip was a 24 year old
Shop Assistant residing at 80, Farringdon Road Buildings, Islington. Miss Edith
Sophia Brown resided at 68, Corporation Buildings, Farringdon Road, Islington.
At the time of the 1911 census Philip was recorded as being a Shop Assistant
and the head of the house at 63, Corporation Buildings, Farringdon Road,
Islington, where he resided with his wife and year old son Philip Lesley Brown.
Philip (senior) was numbered amongst the 3 other ranks deaths which were
suffered by the 16th (Service) Battalion, Rifle Brigade on Thursday 31 May 1917.
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BUSS, HAROLD. Driver, 168882.
9th Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery.
Died Wednesday 28 March 1917. Aged 22.
Born, enlisted and resided Tonbridge, Kent.
Son of Thomas Buss and Isabella Buss (née Harbour) of 1, Hereford Villas,
Hilden Park Road, Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France.
Grave Ref: II. L. 3.
At the time of the 1901 census, the Buss family resided a Donald Villa, London
Road, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Head of the house was 40 year old
Maidstone, Kent native Thomas Buss, who was employed as a Domestic Groom.
When the 1911 census was conducted, the family was still residing Donald Villa,
London Road, Hildenborough, at which time Harold was recorded by the census
enumerator as being employed as a Leather Cutter.
CARD, THOMAS WILLIAM. Private, T/242847.
1st/5th (Territorial Force) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
Died Thursday 15 February 1917.
Born and resided Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. Grave Ref: XXI. M. 10.
Formerly Private, 2093, 4th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal
West Kent Regiment), and Private, 6071, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). At the
time of the 1911 census, the then 23 year old Thomas was recorded by the
census enumerator as residing as a boarder at Wiffins, Nizels Hoath,
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent, and was employed as a Domestic Gardner.
Head of the house was 72 year old Seal, Sevenoaks, Kent native James Hodge,
who was employed as a General Labourer.
CHALLEN, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS. Lance Corporal, 3902.
No.1 Platoon, “A” Company, 12th Battalion, Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
Died between 19 August1916 and 22 August 1916. Aged 25.
Born Hildenborough, Kent. Enlisted and resided Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Eldest son of George Challen and Blanch Margretta Challen (née Blaxall) of Fern
Bank, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Somme, France, and on
the Australian National War Memorial. Panel 65.
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William was born at Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent on Tuesday 11 August
1891. He was christened at the parish church of St. John the Evangelist,
Hildenborough, on Monday 7 May 1906. At the time of the 1901 census, the
Challen family resided at Fern Bank, Hildenborough. Head of the house was 43
year old Mid Lavant, Sussex native George Challen, who was employed as a
Cricket Ball maker. A former pupil of Hildenborough National School,
Hildenborough, on leaving school William was employed in the village before
going to work in London. He then emigrated to Hobart, Tasmania, Australia in
1914. Prior to enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force at Claremont, Hobart,
Tasmania, Australia on Wednesday 25 August 1915. William had been employed
as a Footman on the staff of the Rt Hon. Sir William Ellison-Macartney, K.C.M.G.,
the Governor General of Tasmania, from Saturday 4 April 1914, who had
presented William with an engraved gold wrist watch. At the time of enlisting in
the Australian Imperial Force, Williams’ address for correspondence was the
Commercial Bank of Australia, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. On the completion of
his basic army training which was carried out at Melbourne, Victoria, William
embarked from Melbourne, on Wednesday 24 November 1915, onboard the
9028 ton ship R.M.S. Orontes, in a draft of the 12th Battalion, Australian Infantry,
A.I.F. 12th Reinforcements, at which time he was an Acting Corporal. He was
taken on the strength of the battalion at Serapeum, Egypt on 17 March 1916 and
reverted to Private. On Wednesday 29 March 1916, William sailed from
Alexandria, Egypt on the SS Corsican, which arrived at the French port of
Marseilles on Wednesday 5 April 1916. He was appointed a Lance Corporal on
Wednesday 26 July 1916. Nine months after leaving Australia, William fell at
Mouquet Farm ‘Mucky Duck Farm,’ Pozières, during the ‘Battle of the Somme
1916.’ Amongst the soldiers that had sailed on the same voyage from Melbourne
with William, was Private (later Serjeant) Stanley Robert McDougall, V.C., M.M.,
who was a Blacksmith by trade from Hobart, Tasmania who amazingly survived
the Great War, and died in Scotsdale, Tasmania on Sunday 7 July 1968, two
weeks before his seventy eighth birthday. Following his death. Williams’s family
received several letters of condolence, one of which was from Captain Newland,
his Company Commander who wrote to Mrs. Blanch Challen the following, “The
company in which he was a member attacked successfully, and captured a line
of enemy trench, and it was during that time that he was holding the position that
he was killed outright by the enemy’s fire. The position that we occupied gave us
very little shelter, and before we had time to put it into order we were subjected to
considerable shelling. It is only with the assistance that can be rendered by those
with the soldierly spirit, as displayed by Corpl. Challen can we hope for the
successes we have met with being continued.” One of the soldiers who had been
serving with William wrote, “On 22 Aug. they were ordered to charge enemy
trenches, and Challen reached them in safety, but whilst holding the same he
was shot in the head by a sniper.” During November and December 1916, via the
Australian Red Cross Society, several soldiers who had been serving with
William and that had witnessed his death, wrote statements which whilst
basically very similar, but varied re cause of death which ranged from being killed
by a sniper to a shell. All statements were consistent when stating that he was
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killed instantly when he was hit in the head, whilst he was standing with a group
of men in the trenches at Pozières. The informants also added that following his
death, William was buried in a shell hole just outside the trenches. The request
for the information had been requested by Miss E. Bailie of Tingewick House
Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. On Tuesday 29 November 1921, Williams’
mother was sent an Australian Department of Defence Nearest Female
Relatives’ Badge. The badge reads "Issued by the Department of Defence. To
women of Australia. For duty done." The 9028 ton ship R.M.S. Orontes on which
William sailed from Melbourne was launched in 1902, and had one funnel, and
she is not to be confused two-funnel P & O ship of the same name which was
launched in 1929, as the transcriber of these brief commemorations has noted
that some record sources unfortunately do confuse the two vessels. It should
also be noted that the R.M.S. Orontes is not listed as one of the 74 ships, which
were taken over by Australia's Commonwealth Government for use as
troopships during the Great War, but she is on a list of a further 39 Royal Mail
vessels which were chartered by the Commonwealth on an occasional basis for
that purpose. In October 1916 the ship was formally taken over by the British
Admiralty and converted for use as a troopship.
CORKE, WILLIAM MAY. Private, G/13159.
7th (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.
Died Tuesday 20 November 1917. Aged 40.
Born and enlisted Tonbridge, Kent.
Husband of Caroline Sarah Kate Corke (née Collins) of 117, Shipbourne Road,
Tonbridge, Kent.
Commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Nord, France. Panel 7.
At the time of the 1901 census, the Corke family resided at Shipbourne Road,
Tonbridge, Kent. William was recorded as being the head of the house, and
employed as a Sawyer Labourer in a Saw Mill. When the 1911 census was
conducted, the Corke family resided at 23, Dernier Road, Tonbridge, Kent, by
which time 33 year old William was employed as a Timber Porter. It seems odd
that William’s 19 year old sailor son, who was also named William May Corke, is
not commemorated on the Hildenborough civic war memorial, as he died whilst
serving on board H.M.S. Defence on Wednesday 31 May 1916. Able Seaman
William Cooke has been briefly commemorated as one of the ‘Lost Men.’ On the
1911 census entry above, William (junior) was recorded as being employed as
an Errand Boy.
FULLER, HENRY (HARRY) WILLIAM. Private, L/9582.
"A" Company, 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).
Died Sunday 28 May 1916. Aged 25.
Born and resided Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent.
Son of Henry James Fuller and Esther Fuller (née Nye) of School Cottages,
London Road, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Alexandra (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Grave Ref: D. 14.
11

Henry (junior) was christened at the parish church of St. John the Evangelist,
Hildenborough on Sunday 26 July 1891. At the time of the 1901 census, the
Fuller family resided at School Cottages, London Road, Hildenborough. Head of
the house was 39 year old Hildenborough native Henry James Fuller, who was
employed as a Stone Quarryman. Possibly it was to avoid confusion between
father and son, that Henry (junior) was known to all and sundry as Harry. The
Fuller family was still residing at the above address when the 1911 census was
carried out, at which time 19 year old Henry (junior) was employed as a Domestic
Gardner. A month after the 1911 census, he enlisted in the army as a regular
soldier for 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve on Wednesday 3
May 1911, at which time he stated that he was 19 years and 11 months old, and
employed as a Gardner. Prior to his enlistment the army had obtained favourable
reports from the Vicar of Hildenborough, the Reverend James Stowe who said
that he had known Harry for 10 years, and from Archibald Ireland the Gardner
Bailiff of Nizells, Hildenborough who had employed him for 4 years prior to Harry
leaving to advance himself. Harry had served in England, Ireland, and India
before the Great War during the course of which he had been awarded a Good
Conduct Badge. Harry died at the 1,040 bed No.15 General Hospital, Royal Army
Medical Corps, Alexandra, Egypt on Sunday 28 May 1916. The hospital were
harry died was often referred to as the Abbassia Hospital, as before being taken
over by the Royal Army Medical Corps in April 1915 and commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Ellison Rhodes James, F.R.C.S., R.A.M.C., it had
been the Abbassieh Secondary School. Amongst the five Fuller children which
were recorded by the enumerator as being at home on the night of the census,
all of whom were Hildenborough natives was 8 year old John. When Henry
James Fuller filled in the requisite Army Form W.5080 on Wednesday 18 June
1919, in order to obtain Harry’s memorial plaque (aka Dead Mans Penny) and
Commemoration Scroll, the then Sergeant, 242831, John Fuller was serving in
India with The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). In addition to the medals awarded for
his service during the Great War, John was also a recipient of the India General
Service Medal with the clasp for the North West Frontier. Lieutenant-Colonel
(Retd) Herbert Ellison Rhodes James, C.B., C.M.G., O.B.E., F.R.C.S., R.A.M.C.,
died at Charing Cross Hospital, London on Wednesday 9 August 1939, aged 81.
GAINSFORD, ALBERT VICTOR. Sapper, 343481.
47th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company, Railway Operating Division,
Royal Engineers.
Died Thursday 18 July 1918. Aged 31.
Born St. Stephens, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted and resided Royal Tunbridge
Wells, Kent.
Son of William Gainsford and Mary Ann Gainsford (née Read) of 59, Springfield
Road, Southborough, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
Husband of Laura Gainsford (née Mills) of 75, Auckland Road, Royal Tunbridge
Wells, Kent.
Buried Ligny-St. Flochel British Cemetery, Averdoingt, Pas de Calais, France.
Grave Ref: I. F. 8.
12

Also commemorated on the South Eastern & Chatham Railway Company war
memorial at the Marine Railway Station, Dover, Kent.
At the time of the 1891 census, the Gainsford family resided at 1, New Wharf,
Tonbridge, Kent. Head of the house was William Gainsford, who was employed
as a Brewers Drayman. Formerly Private, L/7412, Queen’s Own (Royal West
Kent Regiment), and Corporal/Acting Sergeant, 4155, Machine Gun Corps, also
Sapper, WR/6809 & WR/125021 & WR/126683, Railway Operating Division,
Royal Engineers. Albert enlisted in the army as a regular soldier for 3 years with
the Colours and 9 years in the Reserve on Monday 23 November 1903. When he
enlisted, Albert stated that he was 18 years old and employed as a Grocer.
Having been attested to serve in the Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment),
as he had requested, he served at the Regimental Depot at Maidstone, Kent until
being posted to serve in the 1st Battalion of his regiment on Saturday 20
February 1904. Albert remained in the 1st Battalion until his transfer to the
Reserve on Thursday 22 November 1906 on the completion of his engagement
with the Colours, during the course of which he had served at Malta from
Wednesday 6 April 1904 until Wednesday 24 October 1906, whilst serving at
Malta he qualified as a Mounted Infantryman on Sunday 30 April 1905, and had
been awarded a Good Conduct Badge on Tuesday 21 November 1905. After
leaving the army, it would appear to be the case that at some point in time, Albert
had decided to change from his former civilian employment of a Grocer, as he
was appointed to be a Postman employed by the General Post Office at Royal
Tunbridge Wells, Kent in 1908. He was later employed by the South Eastern &
Chatham Railway Company, with which he had been employed as a Shunter
immediately prior to the Great War. At the commencement of the Great War
Albert was immediately recalled to the Colours and mobilized, being posted to
serve in the 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) on
Thursday 6 August 1914. He was posted to serve in France with the British
Expeditionary Force on Friday 14 August 1914, but was evacuated back to
England on 26 August 1914, doubtless the result of having been wounded. Albert
married Miss Laura Gainsford Mills at Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent on
Wednesday 31 March 1915. On Wednesday 21 April 1915 Albert was serving in
the 1st Battalion when he was promoted to the rank of Corporal and returned to
the Western Front, but even quicker than had been the case the previous year,
Albert was again evacuated back to England on Friday 30 April 1915 having
suffered a gunshot wound to an arm on Tuesday 27 April, and poised by gas.
Having recovered sufficiently from his wounding, Albert was transferred to serve
in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) at
Chatham, Kent as a Corporal on Thursday 3 June 1915. He retained his rank on
being transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on New Years Day 1916, and was
posted to serve in France with the British Expeditionary Force as a Corporal in
the Machine Gun Corps on Tuesday 8 February 1916. Albert was transferred to
the Royal Engineers, Railway Operating Division, as a Corporal/Acting Sergeant
on Sunday 10 February 1918, and reverted to the rank of Sapper the following
day, he signed a form agreeing to his reduction in rank and corresponding pay
differential in respect of same on Saturday 16 February. Albert died at the 7th
13

Casualty Clearing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps, Ligny-St. Flochel,
Averdoingt, Pas de Calais, France of a bomb wound to the chest. The cemetery
where Albert is at rest was started at the beginning of April 1918, when the 7th
Casualty Clearing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps came back from the village
of Tincques, Pas de Calais, ahead of the continuing German advance which
resulted from their Spring Offensive, it contains 632 Commonwealth burials of the
Great War, in addition to which are 46 German soldiers war graves. Albert was
amongst the 18,957 Railwaymen of Great Britain and Ireland who lost their lives
during the Great War, all of whom were remembered at a service in their memory
which was held at St. Pauls Cathedral, London on Wednesday 14 May 1919,
which commenced at 1430 hours, that H.M. The King and other members of the
Royal Family attended, as did the Lord Mayor of London and other dignitaries.
GROOMBRIDGE, GEORGE. Private, 7290.
90th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry).
Died Saturday 10 July 1916. Aged 19.
Born Southborough, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Enlisted Eastbourne, Sussex.
Resided Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Son of George Groombridge and Florence Louise Groombridge (née Margery) of
Meopham Park Cottage, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Pier and Face 5 C and 12 C.
Formerly Private, G/8012, Royal Sussex Regiment. George (junior) was
christened at the parish church of St. John the Evangelist, Hildenborough on
Sunday 9 August 1896. At the time of the 1901 census, the Groombridge family
resided at 1, Honnington Cottages, Vauxhall Lane, Southborough, Royal
Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Head of the house was 29 year old Ashurst, Kent native
George Groombridge (senior), who was employed as an Agricultural Labourer.
When the 1911 census was conducted, the family resided at Lodge House,
Hawden Farm, near Powder Mills, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent, by which
time 14 year old George (junior) was employed as a Farm Lad.
14

HAINES, ARTHUR ERNEST. Driver, T4/108192.
18th Reserve Park, Army Service Corps.
Died Thursday 11 July 1918. Aged 45.
Born Hertfordshire. Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent. Resided Hildenborough,
Tonbridge, Kent.
Husband of Mary Ann Haines (née Rees) of 9 & 10, Avoca Cottages,
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried St. John Churchyard, Hildenborough, Kent. Grave Ref: North-East part.
Arthur married Rhosmarket, Pembrokeshire native Miss Ann Rees, at the Holy
Trinity Church, Croydon, Surrey, on Christmas Eve 1898. Their daughter Laura
Annie Haines was born at 56, Commercial Road, Pimlico on Saturday 28 March
1903. At the time of the 1901 census, the Haines family resided at Woodcocks,
Shipbourne, Tonbridge, Kent. Head of the house was Arthur, who was recorded
by the census enumerator as being an Own Account Coal Merchant, but is
recorded devoid of the Christian name Arthur; which might be indicative that he
was probably known by all and sundry as Ernest, or simply an error by the
enumerator. The Hildenborough address shown above where Arthur’s widow
resided following his death, was also the same one which Arthur gave as his
home address when he enlisted in the army on Monday 7 June 1915. Prior to
enlisting Arthur had been employed as a Carman. Following his basic and
specialized army trade training, Arthur embarked from Southampton on Friday 17
September 1915 for service on the Western Front, and arrived at the French port
of Harve the following day. Along with the rest of his unit, Arthur made a number
of moves during his time spent on the Western Front. On Tuesday 21 May 1918
15

he was admitted to the 5th Australian Field Hospital suffering with Diarrhea,
where he remained as a patient for only a day before being transferred to the 61
Casualty Clearing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps, which was also known as
the South Midland Casualty Clearing Station that was located at the Somme
village Vignacourt, and from where another move was made to the 46 Stationary
Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps, at which time Arthur was suffering from
Nephritis. On Thursday 27 June 1918 Arthur was evacuated back to England,
and eventually ended up as a patient at the Napsbury Military Hospital, St
Albans, Hertfordshire, where he was diagnosed as suffering from Nephritis and
Septicemia. Arthur died at Napsbury Hospital at 1945 hours on Thursday 11 July
1918. Following his death, at the specific request of his widow, Arthur’s body was
recovered back to Hildenborough for burial in the Churchyard of St. John the
Evangelist.
HOUGHAM, BERTRAM WILLIAM. M.C. Captain.
3rd Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).
Attached to the 5th (Service) Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment.
Died Friday 6 September 1918. Aged 22.
Born Faversham, Kent.
Only son of Bertram Larkin Hougham and Genia Bella Hougham (née Smith) of
Hilden Cottage, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
Grave Ref: IV. M. 11.
At the time of the 1901 census, the Hougham family resided at Wickhambreaux
House, The Mall, Faversham, Kent. Head of the house was 30 year old Dover,
Kent native Bertram Larkin Hougham, who was employed as a Bank Clerk.
When the 1911 census was conducted, the family was residing at South Lawn,
London Road, Tonbridge, Kent, and Bertram Larkin Hougham was a Bank
Manager employed by the National Provincial and Union Bank of England, Ltd.
Between 1910 and Christmas 1913, Bertram (junior) was a pupil at Canterbury
College, and on leaving Canterbury he went to Paris, France, where he remained
for a five months studying French. On his return from Paris, the then 17 year old
Bertram was employed by the National Provincial and Union Bank of England,
Ltd. at its Tonbridge branch which his father managed. On Thursday 17
December 1914, Bertram enlisted in The Inns of Court Training Corps, and
trained at Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire. He served as Lance Corporal, 2393 in
“C” and “K” Companies. From the O.T.C. he was commissioned (on probation)
on Sunday 13 June 1915, in the Special Reserve of the Queens Own (Royal
West Kent Regiment. In May 1916 he was posted to the 6th (Service) Battalion,
Royal Berkshire Regiment, and was serving in the battalion when he was
wounded which necessitated his evacuation the England in November 1916.
Following the treatment for his wounding, Bertram returned to the Western Front
in January 1917 and rejoined the 6th (Service) Battalion, Royal Berkshire
Regiment in the field. On Sunday 1 July 1917, Bertram was promoted to the rank
of Lieutenant in the Special Reserve, Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment.
He was appointed a Company Commander and Temporary Captain whilst still
16

serving with Royal Berkshire Regiment on Tuesday 26 March 1918. Bertram was
killed by shrapnel just as his Company entered the village of Nurlu, Somme,
France, and was buried in the British Military Cemetery close to the ruined
church. The ruined church at Nurlu was later rebuilt by the local Architect Louis-
Michel-Clément Faille, who was responsible for much reconstruction in the
eastern Somme département after the Great War. Following his death, Bertram’s
father received a number of letters of condolence, including one from his
Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Thomas Goodland, D.S.O. who
wrote:- "I think he was generally loved by every one in the Battalion, and
although perhaps quiet and unassuming outwardly, I knew his personality made
itself felt. His gallantry in action was always marked, and especially during this
glorious battle he has always led his men with the greatest of courage and dash.
For his splendid work during the operations near Meaulte and Becordel and
Carnoy, August 22nd to 28th, I have recommended him for the Military Cross,
and it is a great disappointment to me to know that he has not lived to receive it."
A Subaltern who had served in the same Company of the 5th (Service) Battalion
wrote:- "To know him was to like him. To live with and work under him was to
learn how cheery and lovable a man he was and how true a gentleman."
Bertram’s former Company Commander in the 6th (Service) Battalion, Royal
Berkshire Regiment wrote:-"His intense keenness and thought for his men
endeared him to them all." The Chaplain of the 5th (Service) Battalion, Royal
Berkshire Regiment wrote:- "I miss him very much, as I could always depend on
his sympathy and help in my work." Notification of the award of the Military Cross
to Bertram was published in The London Gazette dated Saturday 1 February
1919, which was later presented to his father who was residing at Deal, Kent.
Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension, where Bertram is now at rest was
begun by the 48th (South Midland) Division in March 1917, used by the Germans
in 1918, and resumed by Australian units in September 1918. At the Armistice it
contained 177 graves, which are now in Plots I and II. It was then enlarged when
graves were brought in from the battlefields north and east of Peronne, one being
that of Bertram from Nurlu. On the completion of his military service, and having
survived the Great War, Bertram’s former Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-
Colonel Henry Thomas Goodland, D.S.O. worked tirelessly for several years on
behalf of the Imperial War Graves Commission.
HUMPHREY, FREDERICK. Private, 21034.
16th (Service) Battalion, Manchester Regiment.
Died Thursday 2 August 1917.
Born Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent. Resided Stokeon-Trent,
Staffordshire.
Commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 53.
Formerly Private, G/19315, Middlesex Regiment. The only Frederick Humphrey
born in Hildenborough that has been located by the transcriber of these brief
commemorations was the son of John Humphrey and Mary Humphrey. John was
recorded on the 1881 census as being a Grocer and Master Draper residing at
London Road, Hildenborough, and who employed staff. By the time of the 1901
17

census, the family was recorded as still living at London Road, Hildenborough,
but with widowed Mary Humphrey as the head of the house. A 57 year old native
of Limpsfield, Surrey, it would appear that following her husbands’ death she had
carried on the family business, as Mary was recorded as being a Grocer and
Draper employing staff. The then 32 year old Frederick was recorded as living on
his own means. When the 1911 census was conducted, Frederick was residing
at 2, Joan Villas, London Road, Hildenborough. Head of the house was
Fredericks’ 40 year old sister Edith Humphrey, who was also a native of
Hildenborough, and living on her own means. If the census entries for Frederick
are correct, and if he is the casualty who is commemorated on the Hildenborough
civic war memorial, it would mean that at the time of his death he was
approximately 48 years of age at the time of his death. Whilst not unheard of, but
for a British other rank serving in an infantry regiment at the front during the
Great War it would have been quite unusual. At various times the transcriber of
these brief commemorations has noted instances where Great War era
servicemen (primarily soldiers), who had stated a lower age at the time of
enlisting, in much the same way, albeit in reverse of the much larger number of
underage enlistments by young men.
HUMPHREY, GILBERT STANLEY. Private, G/15793.
1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
Died Thursday 3 May 1917.
Born Tandridge Priory, Tandridge, Surrey. Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent. Resided
Hildenborough, Kent.
Son of Mr. G. Humphrey of The Lodge, Kingsmead, Matfield, Paddock Wood,
Kent.
Buried Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Pas de Calais, France.
Grave Ref: I. O. 19.
Gilbert’s birth was recorded in the Godstone, Surrey, Registration District during
the second quarter of 1897. His year of birth matches an entry on the 1901
census of a 4 year old Gilbert Humphrey who was a native of Tandridge, Surrey.
Gilbert was recorded by the census enumerator as being a visitor at The Floats,
Edenbridge, Kent. Head of the house was Limpsfield, Surrey native James
Reynolds, who was employed as a General Labourer. George was amongst
seven members of the Humphrey family who were visiting, the parents being 34
year old Thomas G. Humphrey and 33 year old Sarah Humphrey. It would seem
likely that the census entry is probably erroneous, as good match was found
when checking marriage entries for the possible parents of Gilbert. The marriage
of a George Thomas Humphrey to Sarah Hannah Richards was recorded in the
Godstone, Surrey, Registration District during the first quarter of 1890, and as
such Gilbert’s father Mr. G. Humphrey; as shown on his Commonwealth War
Graves Commission commemoration details is probably George Thomas
Humphrey. Gilbert’s death was amongst those of three other ranks which were
suffered by the 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) on Thursday 3 May
1917, when he and Harry Filmer from Sittingbourne were both killed in action.
18

JENNER, HORACE JOHN. Private, 49238.
7th (Service) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
Died Wednesday 24 April 1918.
Born Shipbourne, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted Maidstone, Kent. Resided
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Son of Charles Jenner and Harriett Jenner (née Coomber).
Commemorated on the Pozières Memorial, Somme, France. Panel 28.
Horace was christened at the parish church of St. Giles, Shipbourne, Tonbridge,
Kent on Sunday 21 May 1899. At the time of the 1901 census, the Jenner family
resided at Nut-tree Green, Shipbourne, Tonbridge, Kent. Head of the house was
31 year old Shipbourne, Kent native Charles Jenner, who was employed as an
Agricultural Labourer. When the 1911 census was conducted, the family was
residing at Grenadier Cottages, Hildenborough, at which time Horace’s father
was still the head of the house and employed as an Agricultural Labourer. On the
day before Horace was killed in action at the Somme village of Villers-
Bretonneux which is approximately 10 miles to the east of the town of Amiens,
the 7th (Service) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment was billeted at the village of
Boutillerie on the south east outskirts of Amiens. Specialist training was being
carried out in preparation for the following days action, and a reinforcement of 9
officers joined battalion. Having temporarily left the battalion and returned to
England on Wednesday16 April, the Commanding Officer; Lieutenant-Colonel
Arthur Ernest Percival, D.S.O., M.C. (later Lieutenant-General C.B., D.S.O. &
Bar, O.B.E., M.C., OSt.J., D.L.), returned from England and resumed command
of battalion. On Wednesday 24 April, the battalion was ordered to "stand to" at
0400 hours. It moved up to line by stages throughout the day and took up
position just to the south of the village of Cachy which is situated on the D168
road, some 9 miles to the southeast of Amines, and near Villers-Bretonneux
where Horace fell. The battalion was ordered to carryout a counter attack at 1000
hours. From information received the enemy had penetrated the defenses to a
depth of approximately 2000 yards on a wide frontage. The battalion was formed
up in position for attack with the Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) on
right of the battalion and Australians on the left. It was an intensely dark night
when the battalion moved forward to the assault, and encountered slight enemy
opposition for first 1000 yards. When battalion on our right was held up by heavy
machine gun fire, the reserve Company of the 7th (Service) Battalion,
Bedfordshire Regiment was ordered forward at this stage, and having been
reinforced the assault was continued and the final objective was eventually
reached in spite of the fierce German opposition encountered, and with two
exposed flanks. The left company of Horace’s battalion was ordered to withdraw
in order to conform with the line of the battalion on its left flank. With the right
flank of the battalion still remaining exposed, Second Lieutenant William Tysoe
who was a former Private in the Northamptonshire Regiment, and the sole officer
remaining skillfully reorganised the line in addition too which he sent in very clear
reports as to the situation as it was known to him. As a result of the information
supplied by Second Lieutenant Tysoe, a section of the 54th Machine Gun
Company was ordered forward to cover the exposed right flank, which was only a
19

weak line that was being formed by headquarters personnel. Throughout the
whole of Wednesday 24 April, Second Lieutenant Tysoe and the soldiers he
commanded successfully held the line, which had included repulsing an enemy
attack on his right flank, which was launched following a heavy bombardment, at
which time the frontage held by the battalion extended for 1100 yards. At
approximately 2200 hours the battalion was relieved by French Colonial troops,
and marched to bivouacs in support in rear of the original battalion line. During
this action the battalion took in excess of 200 prisoners. Many enemy dead were
observed on the captured ground, and 5 enemy machine guns were captured
during this action, all of which were handed over to the French on the battalion
being relived. The relevant war diary entry records:- “Throughout the action
2/Lt.Tysoe displayed the greatest gallantry and leadership & the success of this
difficult operation was largely due to his efforts. The bearing of all ranks was
most commendable, and deserving of the highest praise.” The original casualty
roll for the 7th (Service) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment on the day that Horace
fell showed 3 officers and 13 other ranks deaths, 7 officers and 105 other ranks
were wounded, and 70 missing, but sadly the revised figure which had included
several of those who had initially been posted as missing, resulted in a total of 54
other ranks deaths. Second Lieutenant William Tysoe was subsequently
promoted, and during the course of the Great War which he survived, he was
awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and Military Cross, Mentioned in
Despatches, and was also decorated by the French with the Croix de Guerre.
KEEN, A.E. As commemorated on the Hildenborough civic war memorial has
proved to be one of the more difficult casualties to positively identify, and as such
the following soldier is only arguably the best match. It should be noted that
whilst the following casualty is the sole matching Great War casualty that is
commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, others were
located who are not correctly commemorated by the Commission, e.g. Christian
and/or surname errors etcetera:-
KEEN, ARTHUR EDWIN. Gunner, 209705.
27th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
Died Friday 12 July 1918. Aged 19.
Born Plumstead, Kent. Enlisted Woolwich, Kent.
Son of Edwin Keen and Emily Keen of 222, Maxey Road, Plumstead, Kent.
Buried Plumstead Cemetery, Cemetery Road (off Wickham Lane), Abbey Wood,
London, SE2 0NS. Grave Ref: M. 737.
At the time of the 1901 census, the Keen family resided at 165, Maxey Road,
Plumstead, Kent. Head of the house was 31 year old Plumstead, Kent native
Edwin Keen, who was employed as a ganger on the railway. When the 1911
census was conducted, the Keen family had moved to reside at 222, Maxey
Road, Plumstead, where Arthur’s grandfather; 70 year old London native and
Army Pensioner John Keen who was a widower, was recorded by the census
enumerator as being the head of the house. Arthur has a Medal Index Card entry
indicative of him having served abroad on active service, but unfortunately no
date of commencement of same, or addition details are shown on it.
20

LUCAS, ARTHUR. Stoker 1st Class, SS/117036.
Royal Navy, H.M.S. "Strongbow."
Died Wednesday 17 October 1917. Aged 21.
Born Southborough, Tonbridge, Kent Sunday 12 July 1896.
Son of George Lucas and the late Martha Lucas of Hilden Cottage, London
Road, Tonbridge, Kent.
Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel 24, as shown above.
At the time of the 1911 census, the Lucas family resided at Lower Cottage,
Wadhurst, Sussex. Head of the house was 54 year old Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent
native George Lucas, who was widowed and employed as a Farm Labourer, as
was the then 16 year old Arthur. H.M.S. Strongbow on which Arthur was serving
when he lost his life which was being commanded by Lieutenant-Commander
Edward Brooke, D.S.O., R.N. when she left Lerwick, Shetland on Monday 15
October 1917 accompanied by her sister ship, the 994 ton Admiralty Moon class
destroyer H.M.S. Mary Rose, which was commanded by Lieutenant-Commander
Charles Leonard Fox, R.N. of South Kensington, London, which were
accompanied by the two armed trawlers, H.M.S. Elise and H.M.S. P. Fannon,
escorting an eastbound convoy. Shortly before midday the following day the two
destroyers separated, with H.M.S. Mary Rose going ahead to meet an
approaching westbound convoy near Marsten, Norway. H.M.S. Strongbow was
ordered to continue with the eastbound convoy and superintend its dispersal,
following which to then rejoin H.M.S. Mary Rose at sea. Later in the afternoon
Henry’s ship left Marsten as part of the Shetland bound convoy of twelve
merchantmen, which was comprised 2 British, 1 Belgian, 1 Danish, 5 Norwegian
and 3 Swedish vessels, in addition to which were the 2 armed trawlers. H.M.S.
Strongbow joined the convoy after dark, but neither of the destroyers
Commanding Officers were able to get into touch with the other. During a
subsequent Admiralty Board of Enquirey into the events of Wednesday 17
October 1917, Lieutenant-Commander Brooke stated that he had attempted to
communicate with the H.M.S. Mary Rose several times during the night but
having got no response; he therefore took station somewhere on the port quarter
of the convoy, which was spread to the north and north-west of his ship. At 0600
hours on the morning of Wednesday 17 October, the Shetland bound convoy
was intercepted by the two German 4,400 ton minelaying cruisers SMS Bremse
and the SMS Brummer, approximately 65 miles to the east of Lerwick. H.M.S.
Strongbow was just astern of the convoy and H.M.S. Mary Rose was about 7
miles in front of it. In conditions of poor visibility at no more than 4000 yards,
those on watch on H.M.S. Strongbow mistook the German ships for British
cruisers, which was how they had evidently been rigged to give that impression.
H.M.S. Strongbow challenged the enemy cruisers several times, but without
getting a satisfactory answer. The officer of the watch, Lieutenant James,
realised immediately that the unidentified ships were German vessels, and sent
below to call Lieutenant-Commander Brooke. By this time the SMS Brummer had
closed to within 3000 yards and opened up on H.M.S. Strongbow with
21

devastating accurate fire, which resulted in knocking out the main steam pipe
and wireless of H.M.S. Strongbow. Just prior to being crippled, H.M.S.
Strongbow had been attempting to transmit a warning, but the German cruisers
had successfully jammed the signal as they did with all similar efforts by the
allied ships. Lieutenant James, who had been sent by Lieutenant-Commander
Brooke to the wireless office, found it wrecked by a shell and the operator killed,
and on his return to the bridge he found it wrecked, the Captain badly wounded
and the Quartermaster killed. Lieutenant-Commander Brooke was hit in the leg
by a shell splinter, but continued in command, and not allowing anybody to
attempt to leave the stricken ship until he was absolutely certain that every
confidential book and paper had been destroyed, and that the enemy would not
get possession of anything useful from his ship. When he was satisfied that his
orders had been carried out, he then ordered that the ship should be sunk, and
told those who were still alive that they should save themselves. H.M.S.
Strongbow was abandoned and she sank beneath the waves at about 0930
hours with the loss of 47 Officers and men, after the two German ships had made
three separate attacks against her. Following the sinking of H.M.S. Strongbow,
the SMS Bremse and SMS Brummer then turned their attention to the
merchantmen in the convoy and quickly sank four of them. H.M.S. Mary Rose
had heard the firing astern of her, and immediately turned back, at which time
Lieutenant-Commander Fox and his crew suspected that the convoy was under
attack from a German U-boat. As soon as the pair of German cruisers were
sighted Lieutenant-Commander Fox quickly ascertained the true gravity of the
situation, despite which without a moments hesitation he approached the enemy
ships at high speed, and at about 0620 hours the gunners of H.M.S. Mary Rose
opened fire at a distance which was estimated at between 6000 and 7000 yards.
When he was at a distance of about only approximately 2000 yards from the
enemy cruisers, Lieutenant-Commander Fox order the helm hard over, and the
German gunners got the range of the destroyer as she was on the turn. After that
the end for H.M.S. Mary Rose came very quickly as the result of the accurate
gunfire from the German ships. H.M.S. Mary Rose sank in a very short time
taking with her most of her compliment of 88 officers and ratings, including
Lieutenant-Commander Fox, who was last seen swimming in the water just
before his ship went down. A few ratings with one of the officer, Sub-Lieutenant
Freeman managed to escape on a Carley raft. The Germans then subjected all
of the boats and rafts to a period of indiscriminate shelling which resulted in the
loss of many lives, although this was disputed in later reports. The Captain of the
armed trawler H.M.S. Elise managed to keep his small vessel out of the fire of
the German cruisers, and returned to the scene of the engagement as soon as it
was feasible, where H.M.S. Elise picked up a number of survivors, amongst them
was Lieutenant-Commander Brooke and the party from H.M.S. Strongbow. Sub-
Lieutenant Freeman and the men from H.M.S Mary Rose eventually reached the
Norwegian coast near Bergen, where the lighthouse keepers took them in and
fed them and attended to their injuries. In total, approximately 250 lives were lost
as the result of the successful attack by the SMS Bremse and SMS Brummer on
Wednesday 17 October 1917. Only 10 crew from H.M.S. Mary Rose and 45 from
22

H.M.S. Strongbow survived the sinking of the two ships, including Lieutenant-
Commander Edward Brooke, D.S.O., R.N. who died of pneumonia on Monday 10
February 1919, and is at rest at Almondbury Cemetery, Huddersfield, Yorkshire.
In addition to H.M.S. Elise, the other armed trawler H.M.S. P. Fannon, and three
of the merchantmen managed to escape, but a total of nine of the convoy ships
perished. Although there were strong British forces in the North Sea in the area
at the time of the action, but no word of it was received until 1550 hours on the
day of the engagement. As they had not been in a position to intercept the SMS
Bremse and the SMS Brummer, both of the German cruisers had been able to
return to their home port in safety.
MacKNEY, OSWALD MOSELEY. Serjeant, 207375.
10th (Service) Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment.
Died Tuesday 28 May 1918. Aged 31.
Born Redhill, Surrey. Enlisted Winchester, Hampshire. Resided Gosport,
Hampshire.
Son of John MacKney and Fanny Elizabeth MacKney (née Sutton) of “The
Limes,” Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Husband of Hannah MacKney (née Cumpusty) of Gosport, Hampshire.
Buried Chambrecy British Cemetery, Marne, France. Grave Ref: VI. B. 9.
Also commemorated on the Great War village tribute which is located in the
parish church of St. Augustine's, Northbourne, Deal, Kent.
At the time of the 1901 census, the then 13 year old Oswald, and his 11 year old
brother Frank Denne MacKney were boarders at 42, Fengate Hill, Reigate,
Surrey. Head of the house was 36 year old Redhill, Surrey native George
Vosper, who was employed as a Tailor Cutter. When the 1911 census was
conducted, the address recorded by the census enumerator for the MacKney
family was 24, and 26, and 28, Fife Road, Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey. Head of
the house was 49 year old Northbourne, Deal Kent native John MacKney, who
was a Linen Draper employing several members of shop and domestic staff,
several of whom also resided at the same address. Oswald was recorded by the
census enumerator as being employed as a Gents Outfitters Assistant. By the
time that Oswald married 24 year old Miss Hannah Cumpusty at the parish
church of Christ Church, Gosport, Hampshire on Tuesday 29 April 1914, his
father John MacKney appears to have made a career change, as he was
recorded by the registrar as being a Farmer. Oswald was recorded by the
registrar as being a Gents Hosier, and as residing at 38, Goldstone Villas, Hove,
Sussex. Hannah, the daughter of Shipwright Edward Cumpusty was recorded as
being a resident of 5, Brune Terrace, Gosport, Hampshire. Witnesses to the
marriage were Edward Cumpusty and Frank Denne MacKney. Oswald’s Medal
Card Entry shows that an official application for his medals was submitted on
Wednesday 11 May 1921, but unfortunately the name and address of the
applicant is not shown, but as his next of kin it would follow that the application
had been submitted by his widow Hannah MacKney.
23

MARTIN, A. Arguably the following casualty is the best match, although the
transcriber has only based same on the relevant ‘Kent’ entry in/on ‘Soldiers Died
in the Great War,’ which is known to contain thousands of various types of errors.
MARTIN, ARTHUR. Private, 67249.
2/2nd (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).
Died Saturday 28 September 1918.
Born Millwall, London. Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent. Resided Sevenoaks, Kent.
Buried Valenciennes (St. Roch) Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.
Grave Ref: V. F. 14.
Formerly Private, 17233, 29th Training Reserve Battalion, and Private, 67249,
Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).
MARTIN, FREDERICK. Acting Bombardier, 115749.
2nd/1st (North Midland) Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Died Sunday 22 July 1917. Aged 35.
Born Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted London. Resided Reynolda,
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Son of Joseph Martin and Mary Martin (née Upperton) of Hildenborough,
Tonbridge, Kent.
Husband of Hester Martin of Vine Cottage, St. Catherine's Road, Long Melford,
Suffolk.
Buried Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Grave Ref: III. A. 19.
At the time of the 1901 census, the Martin family resided at Mansers Farm,
Nizels Lane, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Head of the house was 46 year old
Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent native Joseph Martin (senior), who was employed
as a Domestic Gardener. Frederick arrived at Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. on
Monday 17 March 1913 on board the “Carpathia” which had sailed from
Liverpool, at which time he was a Gardener at Bourne Place Gardens,
Tonbridge, Kent, which was also the same address shown for his parents when
the 1911 census was conducted. Frederick’s final destination was Great Hills,
Marion, Massachusetts where his friend George Holliday lived. He spent one
year in Massachusetts in the beautiful Buzzard's Bay section, and another in
Pennsylvania, pursuing his work of landscape, gardening and horticultural
designing. He has been at Reynolda Winston-Salem, North Carolina since 1915
where he was employed as the Head Gardener for Mrs. R.J. Reynolds at
Reynolda House. In 1915 Frederick made another journey from Liverpool to
America, and arrived at New York on board the 24,563 ton White Star ship
“Adriatic” on Thursday 2 September 1915, his final destination being 2, Conway
Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which was probably his home address. In
order to serve in the Great War, Frederick sailed from New York on board the
9,851 ton Cunard Line ship “Pannonia,” which arrived at the Port of London on
Wednesday 16 August 1916. On Tuesday 21 August 1917, Frederick’s widow
was residing at Montrose, Pennsylvania, when she wrote the following letter to
Mrs. R.J. Reynolds, Reynolda House, Reynolda Winston-Salem, North Carolina:-
“Dear Madam, It is just a week ago that I received the news of the overwhelming
24

sorrow that has befallen me. There is not much to tell. He was killed in action on
July 22nd. He had been wounded the day before but had been of great
assistance to the officers in looking after those poor fellows who were more
wounded than he was. Though slightly wounded went into action next day to
meet his death. It was a great shock to me for I had the day before received two
letters from him. Letters full of hope, cheer and saying how he would make up to
me when the war was over for the past years of separation and anxiety. If only a
year could roll back how gladly I would brave the submarines to go with him, for
in nearly every letter he was wishing I was with him but can only hope it is for the
best. I cannot yet realize he has gone but I know when I go back to Philadelphia
and England, I shall have some bad days to go through. I do not know yet what I
shall do but am writing the British Consul for a passport to England, but of course
they may not be able to let me go. His major writes me that his death was
instantaneous and that he died a hero’s death, that is as it may be but I know that
I have been called upon to give up a life that was very dear and precious to me. I
hope that Mr. Reynolds is better for the visit to Atlantic City and that the children
and yourself are well. Please tell Lizzie I will answer her kind letter soon. With
best wishes Believe me yours sincerely H. Martin.” Frederick is not to be
confused with the Frederick Martin who is buried at, and commemorated on the
civic war memorial at the village of Long Melford, Babergh, Suffolk (or Melford,
as it is known locally), which is where Hester Martin later resided.
MARTIN, JOSEPH. Serjeant, 22253.
130th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Died Thursday 1 November 1917.
Born and resided Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted Woolwich, Kent.
Son of Joseph Martin and Mary Martin (née Upperton) of Hildenborough,
Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery, Kemmel, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium. Grave Ref: III. G. 12.
Joseph was a brother of fellow Royal Garrison Artillery Non Commissioned
Officer Frederick Martin who is the casualty briefly commemorated above, and
for additional details appertaining to the Martin family please also see Frederick’s
commemoration. The cemetery where Joseph is at rest was commenced in
January 1917, and Plots I to III were made by field ambulances and fighting units
which were located in the area before the middle of January 1918.
MEADE, CYRIL. Second Lieutenant.
2/5th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Died Thursday 5 April 1917. Aged 20.
Born and resided Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Son of Charles Frederick Meade and Wilhelmina Elizabeth Meade (née Schmidt)
of 10, Beltring Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
Buried Vermand Communal Cemetery, Aisne, France.
Grave Ref: Civilian Section 1.
25

At the time of the 1911 census, the Meade family resided at 1, Park Terrace,
Mount Pleasant, Hildenborough, Kent. Head of the house was 39 year old
Godalming, Surrey native Charles Frederick Meade, who was a Brewers Agent
and Shopkeeper. Cyril’s mother who was a 37 year old native of Commercial
Road, London, was recorded by the census enumerator as being an Assisting in
shop Off License. Cyril was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 4th
(City of Bristol) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) on
Monday 4 September 1916. Cyril’s parents were still residing at 10, Beltring
Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, when his father submitted an application to
be furnished with the war medals of his lat son on Tuesday 28 February 1922,
and when Cyril’s mother died on Sunday 21 September 1924.
PAINTON-JONES, E. As he is commemorated on the Hildenborough civic war
memorial, is in remembrance of the following local Hildenborough casualty:-
PAINTON-JONES, THOMAS EDWARD. Captain.
1/6th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Rifles).
Died Friday 15 September 1916. Aged 39.
Born Tadley, Hampshire. Resided Hildenborough, Kent.
Son of William Jones and Martha Elizabeth Jones (née Painton).
Husband of Emily Annie Painton-Jones of Hill Brow, London Road,
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 9 D,
and on the Smarden, Ashford, Kent parish tribute which is in the form of a
memorial plaque on the exterior of the parish church of St. Michael, as shown
above, also on the Tadley, Hampshire civic war memorial at the parish church of
St. Paul’s, and on the Welshpool, Powys, Wales civic war memorial, which is
located within the curtilage of the parish church of St. Mary’s.
The marriage of Thomas’ parents was recorded in the Brighton, Sussex,
Registration District during the first quarter of 1875. Thomas was born at Tadley,
Hampshire on Sunday 18 March 1877. He was educated at Oswestry High
School, Church Street, Oswestry, Shropshire, at which time the Jones family
resided at Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, Wales. Thomas enlisted in the 49th
(Montgomeryshire) Company, 9th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry on Thursday 4
January 1900, at which time he stated that he was 22 years old and was a Tailor.
When he enlisted in the 9th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, Thomas was in
partnership with James Niven, trading as Niven & Jones (Tailors & Drapers) of
Broad Street, Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, Wales. After being attested as
Private, 8386, Edward served with the 49th (Montgomeryshire) Company, 9th
Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry during the Second the Boer War from April 1900,
until being discharged as a Sergeant on Saturday 26 April 1902 at
Johannesburg, South Africa. For his services during the Second Boer War,
Edward was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with the clasps Cape
Colony, Transvaal, and Wittebergen, he also received the King's South Africa
Medal with both the date bars 1901 & 1902. At the time of volunteering for
26

military service during the Great War, Thomas was residing at with his wife at Hill
Brow, London Road, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. He was commissioned as
a Second Lieutenant in the 1/6th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment
(Rifles) on Tuesday 23 March 1915, details of which were published in The
London Gazette dated Friday 23 April 1915. On Tuesday 12 September 1916,
Thomas’ battalion moved to Black Wood, and two days later moved forward to
Bazentin-le-Grand, and from there assembled in Worcester Trench. On the day
that Thomas fell during an attack on High Wood, his battalion suffered heavy
casualties during the advance, during the course of which an enemy position
named ‘Cough Drop’ was captured and consolidated. For several years, Thomas’
maternal grandfather Thomas Painton was a Brick & Tile maker at Tadley,
Hampshire. It was noted whist carrying out the research on the family, that on
almost all documentation the family name is recorded as being Jones as
opposed to Painton-Jones. Thomas’ widow also later resided at 6, Madeley
Road, Ealing, London, W5, and 331, Van Der Walt Street, Pretoria, South Africa.
PARKER, WILLIAM GEORGE. Private, GS/60759.
8th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).
Died Thursday 30 August 1917.
Born Hartfield, Sussex. Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent. Resided Hildenborough,
Tonbridge, Kent.
Son of William Parker and Harriett Parker.
Buried Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy-le-Preux, Pas de Calais, France.
Grave Ref: I. L. 4.
Formerly Private, 15604, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). William
(junior) was christened in the parish church of St. Mary the Virgin, Hartfield,
Sussex on 30 October 1881. At the time of the 1891 census, the Parker family
resided at Gillham Lane, Forest Row, Sussex. Head of the house was 35 year
old Buxted, Sussex native William Parker (senior), who was employed as a
Cowman. When the 1901 census was conducted, William (junior) was living as a
boarder with 62 year old Egerton Ashford, Kent native Matilda Pearson, who was
a widow and the head of the house at Spring Villas, Lyminster, Littlehampton,
Sussex. William was recorded by the census enumerator as being employed as
a Domestic Gardner.
PORTER, JAMES HERBERT. Driver, 97339.
29th Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery.
Died at sea Friday 23 October 1915.
Born Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted Bromley, Kent. Resided Hildenborough,
Tonbridge, Kent.
Son of James Porter and the late Sarah Ann Porter (née Hayesman).
Commemorated on the Mikra Memorial, Kalamaria, Greece, as shown above.
At the time of the 1881 census, the Porter family resided at Mill Lane, Leigh,
Tonbridge, Kent. Head of the house was 52 year old Tonbridge, Kent native
27

James Porter (senior), who was employed as an Agricultural Labourer. Specific
mention has been made here of the 1881 census entry for the Porter family
because James was recorded by the census enumerator as being 1 year old,
and if correct it would probably be indicative of Mill Lane, Leigh, being his actual
place of birth, and also that he was about 35 year of age when he died. The
same address for the family was also entered on the 1891 census. No clear entry
on the 1901 census was located for James (junior), and as the transcriber of
these brief commemorations has noted other men ‘missing’ from the 1901
census, who are subsequently found to have been serving in South Africa during
the Second Boer War, although simply supposition on the part of the transcriber
and should therefore be viewed as such, it might be that James had been in the
army at the time of the census, and during the Great War he was serving as a
recalled army reservist. When the 1911 census was conducted, James was
residing as a boarder at 19, Consort Street, Miskin, Mountain Ash, Glamorgan,
Wales, employed as a Haulier below ground at a Colliery, and was recorded as
being married. Late in the afternoon of 19 October 1915, H.M. Transport the
7,057 SS Marquette commanded by Captain John Bell Findlay, had set off from
Alexandria, Egypt on a routine mission to Salonika, Greece, and was escorted for
4 days by the French Destroyer, "Tirailleur." On board the SS Marquette were 22
officers and 588 other ranks of the 29th Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal
Field Artillery with its vehicles and animals. Also on board were 8 officers and 86
other ranks of the New Zealand Medical Corps, plus 36 female nurses. The ship
was also carrying the equipment and stores of the No.1 New Zealand Stationary
Hospital, In addition to the military personnel, the SS Marquette had a ship's
compliment of 95, making a total of 741 persons on board when she left
Alexandria. Her departure in a convoy from the port was not run of the mill, as
she had been given a rousing send off with cheers and songs by British and
French sailors manning several warships which were in port. The first of the
setbacks on the voyage occurred when a fault in her steering gear caused the
ship to suddenly swing round. A fire in a case on the deck later caused a further
diversion until it was safely jettisoned overboard. At dusk the SS Marquette was
joined by its escort and the portholes were blacked out. The passengers and
crew carried out lifeboat drills, as there were rumours of enemy U-boats in the
area. On the evening of the fourth day the escort, the French destroyer
"Tirailleur." left the convoy. At 0915 hours on Friday 23 October 1915, off
Platanona Point in the Aegean Sea, the SS Marquette was hit by a torpedo on
her forward starboard side, which had been fired from the German U-boat U-35
that was commanded by 35 year old Korvettenkapitän Waldemar Kophamel.
Having immediately signalled that she had been struck by a torpedo, the stricken
ship began to list to port, but righted herself, and then began to sink by the bow,
and sank in thirteen minutes with a heavy loss of 167 lives, one of whom was
James. Part of the inscription on the Mikra Memorial, Kalamaria, Greece, reads: -
“To the glory of God and in reverent memory of the dead are inscribed her the
names of one hundred and thirty five nurses officers and men of the United
Kingdom and New Zealand drowned in the 'Marquette' transport torpedoed on
the 23rd October 1915.”
28

ROBINSON, CHARLES. Private, D/2754.
7th Dragoon Guards (Princess Royal’s).
Died Monday 12 August 1918.
Born Rye, Sussex. Enlisted Canterbury, Kent. Resided Tonbridge, Kent.
Son of Harriet Robinson of 12, Powder Mills, Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent, and the late
George Robinson.
Buried Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Somme, France.
Grave Ref: XIX. BB. 4.
Also commemorated on the Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent civic war memorial.
At the time of the 1901 census, the Robinson family resided at Gunpowder Mills
Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent. Head of the house was 54 year old Wicken,
Northamptonshire native George Robinson, who was employed as a Domestic
Groom. The then 14 year old Charles was employed as an Apprentice at a
Cabinet Works. It was noticed by the transcriber of these brief commemorations,
that unfortunately Charles is not commemorated on the 7th Dragoon Guards
(Princess Royal’s), Great War memorial plaque which is located in Norwich
Cathedral, Norwich Norfolk.
SKINNER, JAMES. Private, G/18841.
9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.
Died Sunday 24 March 1918.
Born Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent.
Son of Albert Skinner and Sabrina Skinner (née Cook).
Buried Rosieres British Cemetery, Somme, France. Grave Ref: 28.
At the time of the 1911 census, the Skinner family resided at Elses Cottage,
Weald, Sevenoaks, Kent. Head of the house was Hildenborough, Tonbridge,
Kent native Albert Skinner who was employed as a Horseman on a Farm.
SMYTHE, FREDERICK CHARLES. Private, 225754.
1st (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).
Died Monday 19 August 1918.
Born Privett, Alton, Hampshire. Enlisted and resided Brighton, Sussex.
Son of the late William and Agness Smythe (née Button) of Hove, Sussex.
Husband of Mrs. Smythe of Thrift Cottage, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, Nord, France.
Grave Ref: I. E. 35.
Formerly Private, 40, Cyclist Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, and Private,
Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). At the time of the 1901 census, the
Smythe family resided at 48, New Town Road, Hove, Sussex. Head of the house
was 72 year old Ufford, Suffolk native William Smythe, who was a retired
Gardner and a widower. It was noted that only Fredericks’ service in the Royal
Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), and the 1st (City of London) Battalion,
London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) was recorded on his Medal Index Card, which
would tend to be indicative that his service in the Royal Sussex Regiment, had
been in either the 1/6th or 2/6th (Cyclist), (Territorial Force) Battalions, prior to
having been posted overseas on active service.
29

STEWART, B. As commemorated on the Hildenborough civic war memorial has
proved to be one of the more difficult casualties to positively identify, and as such
the following officer is only arguably the best match, as he is the sole Great War
Commonwealth casualty which was located with a (tenuous) ‘Kent’ connection:-
STEWART, BERTRAND. Captain.
West Kent Yeomanry (Queen's Own), attached to the Intelligence Corps.
Died Saturday 12 September 1914. Aged 41.
Born London Thursday 1 October 1872.
Only son of Charles Stewart and Eva Stewart of Achara, Appin, Argyllshire,
Scotland, and of 38, Eaton Place, London.
Husband of Daphne Priaulx Stewart of Queen's Gate Gardens, London.
Buried Braine Communal Cemetery, Aisne, France. Grave Ref: A. 3.
Also commemorated at Eton College, Berkshire, and on the Great War memorial
plaque Christ Church College, Oxford, also in the chancel of St. Adamnan's
Episcopal Church, Duror of Appin, Argyll, Scotland which is in memory of “Capt.
Bertrand Stewart, West Kent Yeomanry. Brought from the graveyard in France.”
It being Bernard’s original grave marker. A memorial stone in remembrance of
Bernard located in Castle Stalker, Argyll, Scotland, was erected by his father.
Bertrand was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford until 1892. In October
1897 he was admitted as a Solicitor, becoming a member of the firm of Markby,
Stewart and Co. of 57 Coleman Street, London EC. On Tuesday 15 February
1898, Bertram was admitted as a Freeman of the City of London. During the
Second Boer War (1899-1902), Bertrand had served as a Private in the ranks of
The Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry, seeing action at Cape Colony, Orange
River and the Transvaal. On Tuesday 1 August 1905 he married Daphne, the
daughter of Colonel Osmond Priaulx of The Mount, Guernsey, Channel Islands
and they set up home at Queen's Gate Gardens, London. He was commissioned
as a Second Lieutenant in the regiment 1906, and served in “C” Squadron, Royal
Tunbridge Wells. During the years leading up to the Great War, Bertrand, by then
a Lieutenant in the Yeomanry, discretely let it be known to the Head of the Secret
Service; Commander Mansfield Smith-Cumming, (usually known as ‘C’), that he
was willing to join the people who were gathering information for the suspected
preparations for war in Germany. Bernard’s offer to ‘spy’ was taken up by the
British Secret Service, and whilst he was travelling in Germany, Bertrand was
arrested in the city of Bremen on Wednesday 2 August 1911 and charged with
30

espionage. It was claimed that he had been attempting to learn something about
the secrets of German military and naval defences in the North Sea and the
dockyards; he was picked up after documents had been passed to him in a
restaurant in the city, which he was still reading in the rest room of the restaurant
when he was arrested. His trial before the Supreme Court of the German Empire
at Leipzig began on Wednesday 31 January 1912 and was held in camera. After
4 days he was found guilty and sentenced to detention in a fortress for 3 years
and 6 months but this was soon reduced by 4 months because he had already
been in prison for a considerable time. He was imprisoned at the fortress of Glatz
until May 1913, when his release was ordered as an act of clemency by H.M.
The Kaiser on the occasion of H.M. King George V's visit to Berlin, when a
daughter of H.M. The Kaiser, Victoria Louise married Prince Ernest Augustus,
Duke of Cumberland. In August 1913, Bernard was promoted to the rank of
Captain in the West Kent Yeomanry (Queen's Own). Shortly after the
commencement of the Great War, Bernard was appointed to the Intelligence
Department on the Staff of Major General Allenby and left for France with the
Cavalry Division. Sadly, his war service was of only a short duration, because he
was killed in action near the small town of Braisne on Saturday 12 September
1914, when the town was captured by dismounted units of the 1st Cavalry
Brigade when fighting a delaying action. In the book From Mons to Ypres with
General French which was written by Frederick Coleman in 1917, it contains a
chapter With the British at the Battle of the Marne, which describes the fighting
near Braisne, and Frederick describes how he moved down a slope, and in front
of him lay the town of Braisne and the crossing of the River Vesle. Frederick
wrote, “On the bank by the way lay the dead body of Bertrand Stewart of the
Intelligence who had taken a rifle and gone down to lend a hand. Beyond him a
wounded trooper sat propped against a milestone gasping with pain.” Amongst
the many letters of condolence which were sent to Bertrand's family following his
death was one from Rheims, which was dated Wednesday 16 September 1914,
and had been written by someone who had served with Bernard. Part of the letter
said, “I was with him at the time, and must tell you I am certain it was the death
he would have chosen painless and sudden, and doing his duty. A patrol of ours
was attacked entering the village of Braisne and the supporting party retired.
Captain Stewart at once jumped up, and putting himself at their head rallied them
and took them to the assistance of those cut off. I was sent back for
reinforcements and on my return had got back to within a few yards of his side
when the end came. Those who, like myself, worked with him had become very
fond of him, and his memory as an English officer will remain with us. He was
buried in the village cemetery at Braisne, near to where he fell.” Amongst the
replies which Charles Stewart sent to those offering their sympathy was the
following; “Sincere thanks for kind sympathy. My son died as he could have
wished. God rest his soul. I have just heard from an eye witness source that two
or three Uhlans fell under his sword before the fatal bullet reached him.” Bernard
has the unfortunate distinction of being the first member serving in the Territorial
Force to be killed in the Great War. Following his death the officers and other
ranks of the West Kent Yeomanry (Queen's Own), presented his widow with a
31

onze tablet commemorating his service. Various commentators have made
mention that it is possible that Bernard’s exploits in Germany was the basis for
the rather shadowy character in Erskine Childers' "Riddle of the Sands." To this
day an annual prize for an essay is still awarded in remembrance of Bernard,
which is ‘The Bertrand Stewart Prize’ and consists of a sum of £70 devoted
annually as a prize for the best paper on some military subject, the study or
discussion of which would tend to increase' the efficiency of Her Majesty's
Services. The subject of the essay for each year is published in the Army.
Quarterly and in Admiralty Fleet Orders. The right to compete is limited to British
subjects who have served, or who are actually serving, as Officers or in other
ranks or ratings of Her Majesty's Forces. The term “Her Majesty's Forces "
includes the Navy and the Royal Marines, the Regular Army The Special
Reserve, The Territorial Army, The Militia and the Royal Air Force, and also the
Naval, Military and Air Forces of India, the Dominions and Crown Colonies. One
of the recipients of ‘The Bertrand Stewart Prize’ was John Enoch Powell, M.B.E.,
M.P.(1912 –1998), the politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, linguist, soldier,
and the one time youngest Brigadier in the British army at the time.
STREATER, ARTHUR AUGUSTUS. Pioneer, 359342.
5th Foreway Company, Royal Engineers.
Died Thursday 23 May 1918. Aged 42.
Born Brighton, Sussex. Enlisted Sevenoaks, Kent. Resided Hildenborough,
Tonbridge, Kent.
Son of the late Obadiah Streater and the late Louisa Streater (née Gilbert).
Husband of Elizabeth (Bessie) Streater (née Bassett) of Laburnam Cottage,
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas de Calais, France.
Grave Ref: IX. A. 78.
At the time of the 1901 census, Arthur resided at Chipstead Lane, Riverhead,
Sevenoaks, Kent. Head of the house was 30 year old Royal Tunbridge Wells,
32

Kent native William Rute Fagg, who was employed as a Journeyman Tailor.
Arthur was recorded by the census enumerator as being a 25 year old
Journeyman Bread Baker. He enlisted in the army ‘For the Duration of the War’
on Friday 10 December 1915, at which time he stated that he was 39 years and
11 months old, and employed as an Assurance Agent residing at ‘The Nest,”
Knockholt, Sevenoaks, Kent. He named his brother; Stanley Rollings Streater of
107, Philbeach Gardens, Kennington, London, SW5 as being his next of kin.
Having been assessed as being medically B1 category, Arthur was placed on the
Army Reserve until being mobilized on Monday 3 April 1916 for Garrison Service
Abroad. He was remobilized and re-attested on Tuesday 10 October 1916, and
posted to serve as a Private, 252141, in the 2/5th (Territorial Force) Battalion,
Essex Regiment on Tuesday 17 October. Arthur married Miss Elizabeth Bassett
at the parish church of St. John, Hildenborough, Kent on Saturday 15 December
1917. He was posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion, Essex Regiment (for record
purposes) on Wednesday 2 January 1918, for service with the British
Expeditionary Force and sailed from Folkestone, Kent on Saturday 5 January
1918 disembarking at Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas de Calais the same day. From
Boulogne-sur-Mer, Arthur travelled to the 8 Infantry Base Depot at the French
town of Le Havre, from where he was transferred to serve in the 5th Army
Tramway Company, Royal Engineers on Friday 18 January, and was allotted the
new regimental number 359342. On Saturday 16 March, Arthur was transferred
to the 5th Foreway Company, Royal Engineers. Having been feeling unwell for a
month but not complaining, Arthur eventually reported sick on Saturday 11 May
1918, and was admitted to the 109 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
on Wednesday 15 May, where he was quickly diagnosed as suffering from a
congested left lung, and was transferred to the 3 Australian Casualty Clearing
Station later the same day. The following day Arthur was transferred to “The
Dublin” 83 General Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps at Boulogne-sur-Mer,
where he died of an acute inflammation of the left kidney whilst he was receiving
treatment as a patient there on Thursday 23 May 1918, and his wife was notified
of his death 4 days later.
YOUNG, ALBERT. Private, 389054.
818th Divisional Employment Company, Labour Corps.
Died Wednesday 20 November 1918.
Born and resided Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted Woolwich.
Son of Ellen Jane Young of 4, Leigh Road, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent, and
the late Thomas R Young.
Buried Kirechkoi-Hortakoi Military Cemetery, Exochi, Greece. Grave Ref: 478.
At the time of the 1901 census, the Young family resided at Leigh Road,
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Head of the house was 49 year old Speldhurst,
Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent native Ellen Jane Young, who was a widow. Albert
was recorded as being 8 years old by the census enumerator, which if correct
would be indicative of him having been approximately 25 years of age at the time
of his death. He was formerly Private, 17th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers,
and Private, G/17032, 12th (Reserve) Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent
33

Regiment), also Private, 58667, 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment.
Albert enlisted in the army on Tuesday 29 February 1916, at which time he
stated that he was 23 years and 7 days old, and that he was employed as a
Groom. He was attested to serve in the 17th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own)
Lancers on Saturday 4 March 1916, and initially served in “D” Squadron, 8th
Reserve Cavalry Regiment, which was affiliated to the 16th (The Queen’s)
Lancers and the 17th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers, at Curragh Camp,
County Kildare, Ireland. It would seem likely that Albert was attested to serve in
the cavalry based on him having said that he was employed as a Groom when
he had enlisted. Only three days after going to Curragh Camp he was transferred
to serve in the 12th (Reserve) Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent
Regiment), doubtless due to the fact that it had been come to light that Albert had
in fact been employed as a Tailor and not a Groom. He later served in the 3rd
(Reserve) Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), at Chatham,
Kent. On Saturday 20 October 1916 Albert was transferred to the 3rd (Reserve)
Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. He was posted to serve in the Mediterranean
Expeditionary Force, and sailed from Southampton on Wednesday 8 November
1916, and arrived at Salonica on Sunday 19 November 1916. He joined the 2nd
Battalion, Cheshire Regiment in the field at Salonica on Sunday 3 December
1916. Whilst he was serving at Salonica, Albert suffered several bouts of Malaria,
and during the course of a stay in hospital it was noted by one of the Doctors that
he had flat feet, which resulted in him being reclassified and medically
downgraded. As the result of being reclassified, Albert was transferred to serve in
the 818th Divisional Employment Company, Labour Corps with effect from
Thursday 4 October 1917. Albert died of Malaria at the 80th Central Hospital,
Salonica, Greece on Wednesday 20 November 1918, having been admitted as a
patient there since Tuesday 5 November 1918, prior to which he had been
receiving treatment at the 26th Casualty Clearing Station. Following his death,
Albert was laid to rest at the Kirechkoi-Hortakoi Military Cemetery the following
day; where his funeral was conducted by the Reverend, Frank Augustine
Whitehead, M.A., C.F. Albert was a brother of David Young who is the next
casualty briefly commemorated below.
YOUNG, DAVID. Private, 200958.
2nd/4th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).
Died Thursday 19 April 1917.
Born Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent. Resided Tonbridge, Kent.
Son of Ellen Jane Young of 4, Leigh Road, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent, and
the late Thomas R Young.
Commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel. Panel 41.
At the time of the 1901 census referred to above at the brief commemoration of
David’s brother Albert; David was recorded by the census enumerator as being a
16 year Stockman on a Farm. When the 1911 census was conducted, David was
recorded by the census enumerator as being employed as a Cricket Ball Maker.
The then 18 year old Albert was recorded as being employed as a Shop
Assistant at an Outfitters.
34

The Great War
1914 -1919
Lost Men
BAKER, ALICK LUTHER. Private, 26507.
9th (Service) Battalion, King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment).
Died Friday 25 October 1918. Aged 35.
Born Lydlinch, Sturminster Newton, Dorset. Enlisted St. Albans, Hertfordshire.
Resided Welwyn, Hertfordshire.
Son of John Baker of Lydlinch, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, and the late Fanny
Baker (née Chaffey).
Husband of Kate Baker of Mountains, Hildenborough, Kent.
Buried Mikra War Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece. Grave Ref: 665.
Formally Private, 25604, 9th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Northamptonshire
Regiment. Alick married Miss Kate Wheeler at the parish church of St. Stephens,
Tonbridge, Kent on Saturday 7 August 1909. At the time of the 1911 census,
Alick resided at Brocks Cottages, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, and was employed as
an Estate Carpenter, his 24 year old wife Kate was recorded by the census
enumerator as being a native of Matfield, Kent. Alick enlisted in the army ‘For the
Duration of the War’ on Saturday 29 January 1916, at which time he stated that
he was 32 years and 8 months old, and employed as a Carpenter. Having been
placed on the Army Reserve, Alick was mobilized on Monday 5 June 1916.
Having completed his basic army training in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion,
Northamptonshire Regiment and initially serving at home, Alick was posted to
serve in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from Saturday 4 November
1916, on which date he sailed from Devonport, and arrived at Salonica on
Thursday 16 November 1916, for service in the 9th (Service) Battalion, King's
Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), which had been serving at Salonica since
October 1915. At Salonica Alick had received a number of bout of dental
treatment, and following one treatment he was transferred to the No.2 Base
Depot on Wednesday 11 April 1917, and served in the 2nd Entrenching Battalion
for a short period of time from Tuesday 24 April 1917, until he rejoined the 9th
(Service) Battalion, King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) in the field on
Thursday 3 May 1917. On Friday 19 October 1917 Alick was seen at a Field
Ambulance where his condition was not diagnosed, and the following day he was
admitted to the 31 Casualty Clearing Station, but still not diagnosed. Another
move was made on Sunday 21 October, going to the 29th General Hospital
where he was suspected to be suffering from Malaria. Between October 1917
and October 1918, Alick received medical treatment at a number of different
medical facilities in Greece. His last hospital admission was to the 63rd General
Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps, Greece on Friday 4 October 1918, at which
time he was diagnosed as suffering with Influenza. He died at 0400 hours of
Broncho-Pneumonia at the 63rd General Hospital, on Friday 25 October 1918.
His funeral was conducted by the Reverend H.J. Kenyon C.F. Having previously
received a telegram saying that he was dangerously ill, then five days after he
35

had died Kate Baker received another telegram informing her of Alick’s death, at
which time she was still residing at Brocks Cottages, Welwyn, Hertfordshire.
Following Alick’s death and prior to residing at Hildenborough, his widow resided
at South Hartfield House, Colemans Hatch, Sussex, which would tend to suggest
that she was in the employ of Reginald John Thornton Hildyard D.S.O. of the
Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). General Sir Reginald John Thornton
Hildyard, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. was born on Monday 11 December 1876, and
died on Wednesday 29 September 1965 at the age of 88, having served in the
Second Boer War and the Great War.
BAKER, GUY TALBOT. Lieutenant.
"D" Company, 1st/5th (Weald of Kent) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment),
(Territorial Force).
Died Friday 7 January 1916. Aged 19.
Born Marylebone, London.
Son of Sidney Herbert Baker and Helen Gertrude Baker (née Long) of Poul Hurst
Brenchley, Paddock Wood, Kent.
36

Buried Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. Grave Ref: XXXI. B. 1.
Commemorated on the Brenchley, Kent civic war memorial, and on a grave in St.
John’s Churchyard, Hildenborough, Kent, as shown in the photograph above,
also on the Radclive-cum-Chackmore, Berkshire civic war memorial, and on
Great War memorial plaque which is located in the parish church of St. John the
Evangelist, Radclive-cum-Chackmore, Berkshire.
Guy’s birth was recorded in the Marylebone, London, Registration District during
the fourth quarter of 1896, and he was baptised on Saturday 18 December 1897
at the parish church of St. Mark, Hamilton Terrace, Marylebone, London. At the
time of his baptism, the Baker family resided at 25, Hamilton Terrace,
Marylebone, (near to the church), and Guy’s father was a Surveyor. By the time
of the 1901 census, 42 year old Londoner Sidney Herbert Baker had made
career change, as he was involved with the brewing trade, and was employing
staff at which time he was the head of the house at Hildenborough, Kent. Guy
was educated at Rugby School, Warwickshire. He was commissioned as a
Second Lieutenant in the 1st/5th (Weald of Kent) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent
Regiment), (Territorial Force) on Saturday 15 August 1914, details of which were
published in The London Gazette dated Friday 25 September 1914. Guy was
also posted to serve in the Mesopotamian war theatre in September 1914. On
Friday 4 January 1916, the 5th (Weald of Kent) Battalion, (Territorial Force), The
Buffs (East Kent Regiment) was at Ali-el-Gharbi. The battalion moved up the
river Tigris towards Sheikh Sa'ad, which is about 20 miles downstream of Kut-al-
Amara, with all surplus stores being carried by river barges The battalion only
marched about eight miles due to the prevailing inclement weather conditions,
combined with the terrain encountered by the battalion. During the day it was
extremely hot, but at nightime the temperature dropped to below freezing, and
rations at the time consisted mainly of bully beef and hard tack biscuits. On
Thursday 6 January the march was resumed and enemy outposts were reached,
and engagements with the enemy commenced shortly after midday, fortunately
however casualties to the battalion were light. On Friday 7 January 1916 the
‘Battle of Sheikh Sa'ad’ was fought, at a point where the Turkish Army had
established a camp which held approximately 4000 troops. During the battle, the
1st/5th (Territorial Force) Battalion advanced towards the enemy, but as with the
other units also attacking the entrenched Ottoman forces during the battle, it did
so without the help of supporting artillery, it being in stark contrast to the
opposition, as the battalion came under extremely heavy artillery bombardment.
As the day wore on the battalion started to suffer increasing casualties, which
included the death of the battalion Adjutant, 24 year old Lieutenant Hugh S.
Marchant, from Matfield, Paddock Wood, Kent. In addition to the loss of the
Adjutant, the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel J. M. Munn-Mace was
wounded as was Major Eric Clarke. Thomas was one of the thirty seven other
ranks in his battalion who were killed in action at Sheikh Sa'ad on Friday 7
January 1916. Despite the Turkish forces which were encamped at Sheikh Sa'ad
being in clearly an advantageous position, at the end of the day the position
remained stalemate. Under the cover of darkness, several intelligence gathering
patrols were sent out from various British and Empire units, all of which on
37

eturning to their lines reported that the enemy forces had by that time withdrawn
further up the Tigris. The Turkish commander General Nur-Ud-Din had taken the
decision to make the move, which a number of commentators have referred to as
having been carried out very quietly, and probably swiftly. No one knew why the
Turkish commander had made the strange decision to move his forces from
Sheikh Sa'ad,’ but as the result of same he was sacked was only a few days later
on January 10 being replaced by Khalil Pasha. The month before the ‘Battle of
Sheikh Sa'ad’ was fought, General Nur-Ud-Din when commanding the besieging
force at Kut-al-Amara had attempted to offer General Sir Charles Townshend
immediate terms of surrender. He sent one of his Staff Captains under a white
flag, with a personal letter outlining his demand which was rebuffed, and the
Turkish Captain was sent back with a scathing retort written by General
Townshend. As all the 37 members of the 1st/5th (Territorial Force) Battalion
who died on 7 January 1916 at Sheikh Sa'ad, are recorded as having been killed
in action, perhaps they way that they lost their lives could in truth be described as
being fortunate. British casualties at Sheikh Sa'ad were over 4000. The provision
of adequate medical capacity and supplies had not been high on the list of
priorities for the limited transport from Basra, and the under equipped Field
Ambulances struggled to cope. The Meerut Division had capacity to cope with
250 casualties, but was faced with thousands. More than 1000 wounded men
were still lying out in the open, with barely first-aid administered to them, eleven
days after the cessation of the fighting and the Turkish departure. Of these,
approximately 100 were also suffering from Dysentery, and many of those who
had been wounded during the ‘Battle of Sheikh Sa'ad,’ later succumbed to their
woundings. In 1920 Miss Minnie Sylvia Baker, who was an older sister of Guy,
submitted an application to the War Office for her to receive the 1914/15 Star,
War Medal and Victory Medal in respect of Guy’s service during the Great War,
at which time her contact address was at The Imperial Institute, South
Kensington, London, SW7. The contact address for later correspondence was via
Messer Webster & Webster, 2, New Square, Lincolns Inn Fields, London, WC2.
The photograph above in St. John’s Churchyard, Hildenborough, Kent, was
kindly provided for inclusion on this website by Susan F. who is a prolific
contributor of memorial photographs, and information from the west Kent area.
CLARK, ARCHIE FERGUSON. Drummer, 5409.
2nd Battalion, Scots Guards.
Died Friday 12 March 1915. Aged 25.
Born Hertford, Hertfordshire. Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent.
Son of Donald Clark and Isabella Clark of Hillcrest, Hildenborough, Tonbridge,
Kent.
Buried Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France.
Grave Ref: XVI. AA. 30.
Archie’s birth was recorded in the Hertford, Hertfordshire, Registration District
during the second quarter of 1890. At the time of the 1891 census, the Clark
family resided at London Road Barracks, Hertford, Hertfordshire. Head of the
house was 37 year old Colour Sergeant, Donald Clark, who was serving in the
38

infantry and was a native of Scotland. Specific reference to this census entry has
been made here, because at the time Archie was only a year old, and it would
therefore seem likely that he had been born at the Barracks, and a true ‘Barrack
Brat,’ who was destined from birth to follow in his fathers footsteps. The 1901
census entry for the family records Archie’s mother; 38 year old Isabella Clark,
who was a native of Glasgow as being the head of the house, at 20, Barracks,
Hertford, Hertfordshire. At which time her husband was serving in the 4th
Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in South Africa, it being the period of the
Second Boer War (1899-1902). Unfortunately, the transcriber of these brief
commemorations has not been able to access Archie’s army service papers, but
his regimental number is that of a soldier who enlisted in the Scots Guards in
1904. In view of his year of birth and army enlistment, it would seem fairly certain
that he had enlisted in the Scots Guards as a Drummer Boy. When the 1911
census was conducted, Archie was serving as a Drummer in the 2nd Battalion,
Scots Guards in London. He was serving as a Drummer in the same battalion
when the Great War commenced, and was stationed at the Tower of London.
The battalion joined the 20th Brigade, 7th Division at Lyndhurst, Hampshire when
it was formed in September 1914. Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Richard
George Ireland Bolton, the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards embarked on the SS
Lake Michigan and SS Cestrian at the port of Southampton, Hampshire on
Monday 5 October 1914 and landed Zeebrugge, Belgium on Wednesday 7
October 1914. As was the same situation with all of the other formations serving
with the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front during the early stages
of the Great War, of operational necessity Archie’s battalion was forced to make
a number of moves of location. Although by 1915 the situation was not so
fraught, numerous moves were still being made by both sides in the conflict. On
Sunday 7 March 1915, the battalion had arrived at Estaires in the Nord region of
France, and took up positions in Cameron Lane near Pont du Hem on
Wednesday 10 March. The following day the battalion advanced towards
breastworks running from Pont Logy towards Fauquissart. On the day that Archie
lost his life, the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards took part in a costly attack near
Moulin du Piètre. On Saturday 13 March the battalion withdrew back to Cameron
Lane, where it was revealed that the battalion had suffered a casualty roll
numbering 192 officers and other ranks killed, wounded or missing.
CORKE, WILLIAM MAY. Able Seaman, J/35409.
Royal Navy, H.M.S. "Defence."
Died Wednesday 31 May 1916. Aged 19.
Born Tonbridge, Kent Sunday 21 February 1897.
Son of Caroline Corke of 117, Shipbourne Road, Tonbridge, Kent, and the late
Private William Corke.
Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. Panel 11.
Please also see the brief commemoration of William’s father, William May Corke
(senior) who is commemorated on the Hildenborough civic war memorial.
39

The 14,800 ton Royal Navy Minotaur class armoured cruiser H.M.S. "Defence"
on which William was serving at the time of his death, was commisioned on 9
February 1909 and was initially assigned to the Home Fleet, and then went to
serve in the China Station in 1912. In 1913 she became the flagship of First
Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean. After duty at the Dardanelles, she was
sent to the South Atlantic in September 1914 to join the squadron commanded
by Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher "Kit" George Francis Maurice Cradock K.C.V.O.,
C.B., R.N. She was later ordered to join the squadron of Rear-Admiral Archibald
Peile Stoddart, C.B., R.N. on the east coast of South America (before she
managed to join with Rear-Admiral Cradock), a decision of which Rear-Admiral
Cradock was totally unaware. Recalled to home waters, William’s ship became
the flagship of the First Cruiser Squadron which was commanded by Rear-
Admiral Sir Robert Keith Arbuthnot, K.C.B., M.V.O. At the Battle of Jutland on
Wednesday 31 May 1916, H.M.S. "Defence" led her squadron ahead of the
battle fleet, when she became engaged with the light scouting forces of the
German High Seas Fleet. She damaged and brought to a stop SMS Wiesbaden
but as she closed to finish off the crippled cruiser, she came within the range of
the German battle fleet. Smothered in fire from the battle cruiser SMS Derfflinger
and four battleships, and her forward magazine exploded, flashing along the
passageways and setting off the others. There were no survivors of her loss.
HEAD, GEORGE. Private, G/13671.
6th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
Died Thursday 3 May 1917. Aged 25.
Born Sandhurst, Kent. Enlisted Ashford, Kent. Resided Brenchley, Kent.
Son of George Head and Elizabeth Head (née Hardy) of 2, Council Cottages,
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France. Bay 2, and on
the Brenchley, Kent, civic war memorial.
At the time of the 1911 census, the Head family resided at The Knowle Cottage,
Brenchley, Kent. Head of the house was 49 year old Benenden, Kent native
George Head (senior), who was employed as a Waggoner on a Farm. The then
18 year old George (junior) was recorded by the census enumerator as being
employed as a Waggoners Mate on a Farm. Formerly Private, 1631, 2nd/5th
(Territorial Force) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Having enlisted in
the army on Wednesday 2 September 1914, exactly two years later George was
awarded a Good Conduct Badge. Resultant of a medical examination which was
conducted on Wednesday 5 January 1916, George was deemed unfit for active
service due to problems with his teeth. It is not clear if at the time of his posting to
the 6th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) on Saturday 30
December 1916, George’s health problem had been dealt with, or if due to
wartime necessity the army chose to ignore it. Initially George was numbered
amongst the members of his battalion who were posted as ‘Missing’ on Thursday
3 May 1917, but subsequently that date was accepted by the Army Council for
official purposes as being the date of his death. At the action fought at Monchyle-Preux,
Pas de Calais on Thursday 3 May 1917, during the ‘Third Battle of the
40

Scarpe’, George’s battalion suffered at least 376 casualties amongst its officers
and other ranks, they being a combination of killed, wounded and missing. The
battalion having spent the preceding night waiting in shell holes for zero hour
which had been set for 0345 hours, with "A" Company on the right flank, "B”
Company on the left, with "C” Company supporting, and the officers and men of
"D” Company behind those of "B” Company the battalion formed up ready to take
part in the days attack. Exactly at the agreed time the British artillery commenced
firing as a prelude too, and in support of the battalion, who as with the gunners
also left their start area on time as ordered and set off into total darkness, as the
battalion pressed on every effort was made to keep communication with them,
Second Lieutenant McAuley, the battalion signaling officer along with two of the
battalion signalers and two orderlies, went forward to establish an advanced H.Q.
in what was known as Devil's Trench, but he later returned at 0430 hours and
reported that no communication had been possible. A fairly early indication
however that all was apparently going well, was when two German prisoners
were sent back down the line from the battalion, but at that time nothing definite
could be ascertained, even later on when daylight came, gunfire and snipers
made it hard to get any news of how matters were proceeding; but at dusk it was
discovered that the battalion had already suffered a substantial number of
casualties, and that despite the sacrifices being made by the battalion of all ranks
the line in their front was practically as before. With the growing concern of the
continuous loss of officers at the time which was so serious that Second
Lieutenant’s Seago and Sowter were sent for from the detail camp and, arriving
about 2200 hours, and very quickly were sent forward to reorganize the remnants
of the devastated battalion. Part of the objective allotted the battalion on the
morning of Thursday 3 May 1917 had been a spot called Keeling Copse, and it
was found after the battalion had taken stock of its significant losses, that Second
Lieutenant’s P. A. Cockeram and Norman O.F. Gunther with about 40 men and a
Lewis gun had actually got there, only to then realize that they were completely
isolated with the enemy infantry having reformed its line behind them, and both
sides being their original trenches, the result being that three lines of Germans
intervened between this handful of men and their comrades, nothing daunted
however, they held their own all day during which time they accounted for many
of the enemy soldiery surrounding them. Under the cover of darkness when night
fell, and by then having expended every cartridge and bomb they possessed,
they gallantly fought their way back again, breaking through one line after
another, until at last the two subalterns and thirteen of the men with them were
able to report themselves to battalion Head Quarters. The casualties in this
terrible action were Second Lieutenant’s John H. Dinsmore and Harold V.
Hardey-Mason killed, and Captain John B Kitchin died of wounds; Captain
McDermott and Second Lieutenant’s Williams and H.G. Nesbitt wounded;
Second Lieutenant’s Charles Warnington, Athol Kirkpatrick, H.W. Evans and
R.L.F. Forster, Lieutenant’s K.L. James, Grant, King and Wills posted as missing
of whom the first five were found to have been killed; 25 other ranks were also
killed, plus 128 wounded and in addition to which 207 were initially reported as
being missing, but ultimately many were later found to have lost their lives during
41

and resulting from the attack of 2 and 3 May 1917. About 0200 hours on 4 May
the remnant was relieved and got back, on the following day what remained of
the battalion was reorganized into two companies each of which consisted of
only two platoons, No 1 Company had Second Lieutenant Stevens in command,
with Second Lieutenant’s Sowter, Seago and Sankey under him; No 2 Company
was commanded by Captain Carter, assisted by the intrepid Second Lieutenant’s
Gunther and Cockeram. Following a later debriefing meeting to see if lessons
could be learned from the attack of 3/4 May by the battalion a few things became
obvious, the main points raised being that it was a pity that “the ground was quite
unknown to the battalion which had not held the same position previously, and
that the orders to attack came so late that there was no time for systematic
reconnaissance,” also that the early part of the engagement had been
undertaken in the dark. Those surviving members of the battalion who were not
in the hands of the medical teams left Monchy-le-Preux and were then rested in
nearby Arras for a mere 48 hours, and then underwent a further ten days in the
trenches before being relieved on Thursday 17 May when the battalion moved to
Duisans. Both Second Lieutenant’s Cockeram and Gunther received the Military
Cross for their gallant conduct on 3/4 May 1917, but it is sad to have to add that
Norman Gunther, who was an attached officer of the Royal East Kent Yeomanry
was killed shortly afterwards, with the cruel irony of his death occurring within half
a mile of Keeling Copse when gallantly defending a trench the Germans were
attacking, although not strictly speaking a “Buff,” we have included a
commemoration to the brave 19 year old subaltern on this roll of honour
alongside the 396 members of the regiment, who have no known grave that are
commemorated on the Arras Memorial, some of whom died with him. Second
Lieutenant Cockeram M.C. later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps as an
Observer, on one occasion whilst a member of 48 Squadron based at
Bertangles, he and his pilot Captain H.C. Sootheran flying a Bristol BF2b shot
down an enemy aircraft, and despite numerous encounters with enemy aircraft
and being subjected on numerous occasions to anti-aircraft fire both of the Royal
Flying Corps officers thankfully survived the Great War.
HICKMAN, ARTHUR. Private, G/62936.
7th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).
Died Thursday 3 January 1918.
Born Compton. Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent. Resided Hildenborough, Tonbridge,
Kent.
Buried Honnechy British Cemetery, Nord, France. Grave Ref: I. A. 27.
Formerly Private, 39339, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Places of
birth, enlistment and residence as shown above for Arthur, are as recorded in/on
‘Soldiers Died in the Great War.’ Compton is possibly the parish in Surrey, which
is located about 2 miles north-west of Godalming, and 4 miles west by south of
the county town of Guildford. Unfortunately no ‘good’ data matches of any sort
have been located for Arthur by the transcriber of these brief commemorations.
42

JELLEY, WILLIAM (Ted) EDWIN. Private, G/25213.
11th (Service) Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) (Lewisham).
Died Tuesday 31 July 1917. Aged 20.
Born Coldharbour Farm, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Enlisted Canterbury,
Kent. Resided Falconhurst Farm, Bonnington, Ashford, Kent.
Son of Edwin Jelley and Fanny Mary Kezia Jelley (née Booker) of Horton Green
Farm, Ruckinge, Ashford, Kent.
Commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 45,
as shown above, and on Great War memorial plaque which is located in the
parish church of St. Rumwolds, Bonnington, Ashford, Kent.
William was born at Coldharbour Farm, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent on 4
September 1896. At 4.30am Fanny Sarah Jelley had made her entrance into the
world, followed three hours later by her twin brother William Edwin; they being a
new brother and sister for Rose and Annie, at which time Edwin Jelley was
employed as the Farm Bailiff. William was killed by enemy shellfire, and was
buried in a British Military Cemetery near the village of St. Éloi to the south of
Ypres, Belgium, but his grave was probably later destroyed by shelling.
RYE, WILLIAM ELLINGHAM. Private, 60701.
"D" Company, 8th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).
Died Monday 9 April 1917. Aged 22.
Born Hildenborough, Kent. Enlisted Hove, Sussex. Resided Brighton, Sussex.
Son of George Rye and Alice Mary Rye (née Ellingham) of “Shirley Villa,” 33,
Vale Road, Southborough, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 3, and on
the Southborough, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent civic war memorial.
Formerly Private, G/2676, Royal Sussex Regiment. At the time of the 1901
census, the Rye family resided at 35, Vale Road, Southborough, Royal
Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Head of the house was 34 year old Leigh, Tonbridge,
Kent native George Rye, who was employed as a Cricket Ball Maker. William
enlisted in the army for 1 year with the Colours on Saturday 5 September 1914.
At the time of his enlistment, William stated that he was 20 years and 1 month
old, and employed as a Drapers Assistant. He also said that he had completed
his 3 year Apprenticeship with C.F. Irish (Drapers) of High Street, Tunbridge
Wells, Kent in February 1913. C.F. Irish had Drapers shops at 31 & 33, High
Street, Tunbridge Wells, and at 82, High Street, Tunbridge Wells, and possibly
William had been at various times employed at both establishments. On the day
of his enlistment, William joined the Royal Sussex Regiment at the Regimental
Depot, Chichester. On 9 September 1914 he was posted to the 3rd (Reserve)
Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment at Dover, Kent. Having completed his basic
army training, William was transferred to the 10th (Reserve) Battalion, Royal
Sussex Regiment on Saturday 31 October 1914, and was appointed a (paid)
Lance Corporal on Wednesday 11 November 1914. Promotion to the rank of
43

Corporal came quickly as William was promoted to the rank on Tuesday 1
December 1914, and he was posted back to serve as a Corporal in the 3rd
(Reserve) Battalion on Thursday 4 February 1915. Unfortunately having got into
a bit of bother, it was as a Private that William was discharged from the army on
Wednesday 30 June 1915. Thus far it has not been possible to ascertain when it
was that William had reenlisted in the army.
SCOTT, CHARLES WILLIAM. Private, TF/266397.
1st/1st Kent Cyclist Battalion, Army Cyclist Corps.
Died Monday 11 November 1918.
Born Sevenoaks Weald, Kent. (Please see below). Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent.
Eldest son of William H. Scott and Emily Scott of Noah’s Ark, Kemsing,
Sevenoaks, Kent.
Commemorated on the Kirkee, India 1914-1918 Memorial. Face 11, and on the
Kemsing, Sevenoaks, Kent civic war memorial.
Charles was a victim of the world wide Influenza pandemic, which ultimately
claimed more lives than the Great War. Recorded in/on ‘Soldiers Died in the
Great War’ as having been born Sevenoaks Weald, Sevenoaks, Kent, but on the
1901 census when the family resided at Noah’s Ark, Kemsing, Kent, he is shown
as being a 14 year old native of Hildenborough, Kent. The other five children of
William and Emily Scott were recorded by the census enumerator as Kemsing
natives. The youngest of the Scott brothers also died in the Great War, he being:-
SCOTT, ARTHUR ERNEST. M.M. Private, G/23885.
6th (Service) Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment.
Died Saturday 7 September 1918. Aged 20.
Born Kemsing, Kent. Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent. Resided Seal, Sevenoaks, Kent.
Buried Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
Grave Ref: III. O. 38.
Arthur had been wounded in action and evacuated back to the United Kingdom,
and after recovering Arthur returned to France in December 1917. He was
awarded the Military Medal in March 1918. Another of the Scott brothers, William;
was wounded but fortunately he survived the Great War.
Post Great War Casualty
CUNLIFFE, GORDON. Captain.
Hertfordshire Yeomanry.
Died Monday 23 February 1920.
Born Hildenborough, Kent 1892.
Son of Lady Evelyn Cunliffe (née Duff-Gordon) of Ayot House, Ayot St.
Lawrence, Hertfordshire, and of the late Sir Roger Cunliffe J.P.
Buried St. John Churchyard, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Grave Ref: North of the church Section O. Grave 785.
Commemorated on a private memorial plaque in the parish church of St.
Lawrence, at the village of Ayot St. Lawrence, Hertfordshire.
44

The Second World War
1939 – 1945
ABEL, RICHARD JOHN FREDERICK. Captain, 140800.
4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, Royal Armoured Corps.
Died Sunday 11 June 1944. Aged 33.
Born Shortlands, Kent. Resided Kent.
Son of John Harold Abel and Winifred Annie Abel (née Heath) of Crofton,
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Bayeux War Cemetery, Calvados, France. Grave Ref: XIV. F. 2.
Also commemorated on the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards Memorial, Rue du
Maréchal Montgomery, Creully, Calvados, France, and on the Lloyds of London
Second World War Memorial, also on the Creully Club Roll of Honour.
At the time of the 1911 census, the Abel family resided at 50, Ravensbourne
Avenue, Shortlands, Bromley, Kent. Head of the house was 27 year old
Barnsbury, London, native John Harold Abel, who was a Cardboard Box Maker
and an Employer. Richard was recorded by the census enumerator as being 3
months old. He was educated at Sherbourne School, Dorset from 1924. On
Saturday 20 July 1940, Richard was given an emergency commission in the
4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, Royal Armoured Corps. He was promoted to a
Lieutenant on Tuesday 20 January 1942, and to an Acting/Captain on Thursday
6 August 1942. Richard’s regiment took part in the D-Day landings with 69
Brigade, 50 Division. From Thursday 8 to Monday 12 June 1944, his regiment
took part in the fighting on POINT 103 (Hill 103) with 8th Armoured Brigade,
during which time heavy enemy attacks were beaten off by infantry with Brigade
support. The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards alongside the 6th Battalion, Green
Howards, launched an attack east of the village of Cristot which is approximately
9 miles from the town of Caen. Near Les Hauts Vents, the British met with strong
resistance against elements of the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend.
German machine guns and anti tanks fire caused heavy losses in the British
soldiers’ ranks, which had to pull back. It was during the engagement at Cristot
that three members of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, who had been taken
prisoner, were shot dead by their captors; one was wounded, and another
tortured. Richard’s Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemoration
details show his date of death as 19 June 1944, which unfortunately is incorrect,
and the transcriber of these brief commemorations has taken the liberty of adding
the correct date as shown above. The Creully Club was established for all those
who served in the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards with the purpose of renewing
old comradeships, and also to remember former friends who were killed in action.
Pilgrimages are also held and there are visits to the Regimental Memorial at
Creully, Normandy each year, and there have also been visits to the Regimental
Memorials at Oostham, Belgium and Elst, Holland. The Creully Club has an
excellent website, which also made a reference to the Commonwealth War
Graves Commission date error appertaining to Richards’ death, it being very
welcome confirmation of the transcribers’ findings regarding same.
45

CHAPMAN, R. W. No clear trace at this time.
ELMORE, JOHN DENIS. Lieutenant, 311273.
The Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps.
Died Thursday 19 April 1945. Aged 21.
Born China. Resided Kent.
Son of John Elmore and Norah Delhi Elmore of Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany. Grave Ref: 3. G. 12.
Accompanied by his parents; 53 year old John Elmore and 36 year old Norah
Delhi Elmore, John (junior) travelled from Shanghai, China to London on board
the 11,198 ton Blue Funnel Line ship Hector, which arrived at the Port of London
on Wednesday 6 November 1929, at which time the destination of the Elmore
family was 91, Bishopsgate, London, EC. John was initially educated at Yardley
Court Boys Preparatory School, Tonbridge, Kent, prior to going on to Tonbridge
School. He was a keen sportsman, but excelled at cricket, and had played cricket
for Tonbridge School, which had included playing in a match that was played at
Lords Cricket Ground against Clifton College on Saturday 27 July 1942. He was
commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Armoured Corps on Sunday
13 February 1944, details of which were published in a Supplement to The
London Gazette dated Friday 24 March 1944.
FIELD, LEON JOHN GEORGE. Sergeant, 611676.
9 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
Died Tuesday 31 August 1943. Aged 26.
Son of Leon Thomas Stephen Field and Emily Field (née Higginson) of
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Panel 149.
Leon’s birth was recorded in the Guildford, Surrey, Registration District during the
first quarter of 1917. He was amongst the 8 crew members of Lancaster bomber
ED551 WS-M, which was being flown by 23 year old Warrant Officer, Gilbert
Eric Hall, R.A.F (V.R.) of Appleton, Cheshire, when it took off from R.A.F.
Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire at 0008 hours on Tuesday 31 August 1943. The
bomber was in a R.A.F. Bomber Command force of 660 aircraft which was
comprised of 297 Lancasters, 185 Halifaxes, 107 Stirlings, 57 Wellingtons, and
14 Mosquitos which were tasked to carry out a double attack on
Mönchengladbach and the nearby town of Rheydt. The plan was for the
Pathfinders to mark Mönchengladbach with target indicators first, and two
minutes later, to mark Rheydt. Visibility over the target area was good, and the
Oboe-assisted marking of both targets was described in Bomber Command's
records as 'a model' of good Pathfinder marking. The bombing was very
concentrated with little creepback. The result was that around half of the
buildings in both towns were damaged or destroyed with the main railway station
in Rheydt being particularly hard hit. Lancaster ED551 WS-M was lost without
trace, and all of the crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. The
bomber was one of 25 aircraft which were lost during the successful
Mönchengladbach and Rheydt operation on 30/31 31 August 1943.
46

MASCALL, A. No trace at this time.
PARIS, IVOR RAY STANLEY. Sergeant (Wireless Op./Air Gunner), 1388902.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 27 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
Died Wednesday 26 July 1944. Aged 20.
Son of William Joseph Paris and Rosa Leah Cecilia Paris (née Paris) of
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Le Petit Lac Cemetery, Oran, Algeria.
Grave Ref: Plot E. Row C. Grave 26.
Ivor’s birth was recorded in the Tonbridge, Kent, Registration District during the
first quarter of 1924. The cemetery where Ivor is at rest is on the south-east of
Oran, over two miles from the centre, and the name is derived from a lake which
was once in the area. The cemetery was originally a large war cemetery, formed
early in 1945 by the Americans, for the burial of all Allied servicemen. After 1945
all but the Commonwealth burials (`Commonwealth' including foreigners who
were serving in the Commonwealth forces) were removed, but in 1950 the
French re-opened the cemetery as a French National Cemetery. The
Commonwealth Plot is still in its original site about 200 yards from the entrance.
It is a small cemetery containing casualties of different nationalities, including
nearly 200 British burials, 15 Canadian, 5 Australian and small numbers of New
Zealand, South African, Indian, West African, Belgian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish
and Yugoslavian casualties.
REES, WILLIAM HAROLD CAREY. D.S.C. Lieutenant.
Royal Navy, H.M.S. Coventry. (D43).
Died Monday 14 September 1942. Aged 30.
Son of the late Alfred Ernest Carey Rees, M.B. and Ellen Ann Rees (née Stock).
Husband of Rosemary Kate Arnold Rees (née Piercy).
Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Panel 62, Column 1.
William was born at Marylebone, London on Sunday 25 February 1912, at which
time his parents resided at 63, Upper Gloucester Place, Regents Park, London,
NW. William married Rosemary Kate Arnold Piercy at the parish church of St.
John, Hildenborough, Kent on Saturday 22 June 1940, the ceremony being
conducted by the Reverend Ernest William Emerson Fraser, A.K.C., (1904-2003)
who had been the Vicar of St. John, Hildenborough since the previous year, and
remained as the incumbent until 1951. On the day that William lost his life, the
4,190 ton Royal Navy C class light cruiser H.M.S. Coventry suffered heavy
damage and caught fire in the Eastern Mediterranean, north-west of Alexandria,
Egypt, when she was attacked by German Ju-87 Stuka dive-bombers whilst
participating in Operation Agreement which was codename for the Raid on
Tobruk. The stricken ship was eventually sunk by H.M.S. Zulu. The
announcement of the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to William for his
gallantry whilst serving on H.M.S. Coventry was published in a Supplement of
The London Gazette on Tuesday 11 November 1941. William’s father died in
London on Friday 3 May 1912, and his mother died in London on Thursday 9
May 1912, possibly their dates of death being indicative of some traumatic event.
47

RUDD, NORMAN REGINALD. Trooper, 7941500.
50th Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.
Died Saturday 18 December 1943. Aged 22.
Born and resided Kent.
Son of Reginald Harry Rudd and Maisie Violet Rudd (née Lawes) of Tonbridge,
Kent.
Buried Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy. Plot XIV. Row E. Grave 27.
Norman’s birth was recoded in the Greenwich, Registration District during the
second quarter of 1921. Thanks are due to the late P. Browning for kindly
providing the above photograph for inclusion on this website.
SCOTT, ERNEST IAN. Flying Officer, 157913.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
78 Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force.
Died Thursday 17 August 1944.
Commemorated on the Alamein Memorial, Egypt. Column 279.
78 Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force in which Ernest was serving at the
time of his death, was formed at R.A.F. Ein-Shemer, Egypt from a nucleus
provided by No.3 (C) Operational Training Unit in the United Kingdom on
Wednesday 1 February 1944, in order to train General Reconnaissance crews in
the use of ASV and the Leigh Light, it continuing until Thursday 28 June 1945,
when flying ceased. 78 Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force was finally
disbanding on Monday 23 July 1945. Ernest was numbered amongst the crew of
a 78 Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force, Wellington bomber (probably
HF237), which was lost over the Mediterranean on Thursday 17 August 1944.
48

SCOTT, NORMAN STANLEY. Flight Sergeant (Air Bomber), 1399603.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 462 Squadron, (Royal Australian Air Force).
Died Saturday 6 January 1945. Aged 21.
Son of William Geoffrey Scott and Vesta Albine Scott of Hildenborough,
Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Hotton War Cemetery, Hotton, Luxembourg, Belgium. Grave Ref: VI. B. 6.
Norman was serving as the Bomb Aimer on Halifax bomber MZ469 Z5-N, which
was being flown by 26 year old Pilot Officer Mervyn Walter Rohrlach of Kimba,
South Australia, which took off from R.A.F. Foulsham, Norfolk, at 1619 hours on
Saturday 6 January 1945, to carry out a window operation over the Ruhr. 12
aircraft from 462 Squadron, (Royal Australian Air Force) took part in the mission;
Norman’s was the only one which failed to return from the mission, having
crashed at approximately 1730 hours at Harigmont, Luxembourg, Belgium. The
aircraft suffered a huge impact which left a hole in the floor forward of the
Wireless Operator and below the Pilot. All the crew were killed with the exception
of Flight Sergeant (later Warrant Officer) Douglas Lawrence (R.A.A.F.), who was
captured by German soldiers about two hours after the crash. The then Warrant
Officer Douglas Lawrence, later reported “While flying over Belgium I was
dropping window. The next thing I know is there was a large hole apposite the
position of the Wireless Operator and the A/c was out of control. I put on my
chute and stood up to speak to the Pilot (the Intercom had been knocked out) but
I never so much as saw him. What happened next I don’t know, but I regained
consciousness in mid air. My chute was already open and I saw no one. The
aircraft crashed near Janelle in Belgium. After attempting to pin point myself for
two hours, I was picked up by German soldiers. I believe I was blown out with all
the others still inside and that they were all killed. Liberated by Americans on
29/4/45.” Douglas also said that there was no flack, and no fighters were seen.
Those who were killed are at rest in adjacent graves at the Hotton War
Cemetery, Luxembourg, Belgium.
SPENDER, ERNEST HERBERT. Leading Stoker, P/KX 106174.
Royal Navy, H.M. Submarine Stonehenge.
Died Monday 20 March 1944. Aged 30.
Son of Ernest Spender and Winifred M. Spender of Tonbridge, Kent.
Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Panel 85, Column 3.
Built by Cammell Lairds Ltd. of Liverpool, Lancashire, H.M. Submarine
Stonehenge was commissioned on 11 June 1943, when she was commanded of
Lieutenant David S.M. Verschoyle-Campbell, D.S.C. R.N., at which time he
became the youngest officer in the Royal Navy to be given command of a
submarine. Following one patrol in the North Sea in September 1943, Ernest’s
submarine left the United Kingdom for service in the Far East, and was stationed
at Trincomalee, Ceylon with the Fourth Submarine Flotilla, arriving at Colombo,
Ceylon on Sunday 16 January 1944. H.M. Submarine Stonehenge sailed from
Trincomalee engaged on her first war patrol in the Far East theatre of war on
Tuesday 1 February 1944. On Saturday 5 February 1944, she sank a small
Japanese transport by gunfire with about 80 Japanese troops on board, and after
49

various other operations off the northern coast of the island of Sumatra, during
which time she was unsuccessfully attacked by a number of Japanese Navy antisubmarine
vessels, she torpedoed and sank, the Japanese auxiliary warship
‘Chocko Maru’ of approximately 7,000 tons, off the coast of Penang on Saturday
12 February 1944. The submarine then returned to Trincomalee on Friday 18
February, and after a week’s rest for the crew H.M. Submarine Stonehenge
sailed again on Friday 25 February, in order to undertake more patrols in the
area of the Malacca Straits. The submarine failed to return from that patrol, and
in so doing, she gained the unenviable distinction of becoming the first Royal
Navy submarine to be lost in the war against Japan. Although not certain, it is
thought that the submarine was lost after she had struck a mine between
Northern Sumatra and the Nicobar Islands. The commander of H.M. S/M
Stonehenge, 23 year old Lieutenant, David S.M. Verschoyle-Campbell, D.S.O.,
D.S.C., and Bar, R.N. was the son of Major-General William Henry McNeile
Verschoyle-Campbell, C.I.E., O.B.E., and Ethel Mary Verschoyle-Campbell (née
Pilkington) of Baily, Co. Dublin, Republic of Ireland, and the husband of Merle
Davos Verschoyle-Campbell (née Bain). All of the submarines compliment were
presumed to have been lost in the sinking.
TERRY, PETER. Sergeant (Pilot), 1803366.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Died Thursday 24 August 1944. Aged 21.
Son of Alfred Terry and Dorothy Terry (née Smith) of Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Bari War Cemetery, Italy. Grave Ref: Plot XV. Row A. Grave 2.
Peter’s birth was recorded in the Tonbridge, Kent, Registration District during the
third quarter of 1923.
VEITCH, STANLEY. Sergeant Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 976141.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 207 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
Died Sunday 22 June 1941. Aged 22.
Son of Joseph Veitch and Nora Veitch (née Brack) of Fulwell, Sunderland,
County Durham.
Buried Mere Knolls Cemetery, Torver Crescent, Sunderland, County Durham.
Grave Ref: Ward 12.B.B. Grave 1269.
Stanley’s birth was recorded in the Sunderland, Durham, Registration District
during the second quarter of 1919, and his death was recorded in the
Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, Registration District during the second
quarter of 1941. On Sunday 22 June 1941, 7 Avro Manchester bombers of 207
Squadron, Royal Air Force took off from R.A.F Waddington, Lincolnshire, all of
which were detailed to bomb the docks at Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas de Calais,
which is the largest port in France. Each Manchester carried 12x500lb general
purpose bombs and they took off early in the morning between 0100 hours and
0142hours, one of which was L7314 EMY-Y which was being flown by 25 year
old Flying Officer (Pilot) John Douglas George Withers, D.F.C. of Bromley, Kent.
Stanley was one of the 7 crew of the bomber. Approximately three hours later,
only 6 of the Manchesters returned safely to R.A.F Waddington. The squadron
50

operations record book records the fate of L7314 EMY-Y which was the missing
aircraft:- “It was learnt that an aircraft that had been shot down by a Beaufighter
at approximately 0155 hours near Wollaston, Northamptonshire, was our missing
Manchester L7314 (‘Y’). Traces of five bodies were found and the identity tag of
Sgt James. The aircraft was outward bound on track at about 6000 ft. It crashed
in flames after the attack and some of the bombs exploded.” The night-fighter
involved was from 25 Squadron, Royal Air Force which was based at R.A.F.
Wittering, Peterborough, Northamptonshire. The relevant Accident Record Card
(Air Ministry Form 1180), notes that the pilot of the Beaufighter had been
convinced that the aircraft which he had intercepted was hostile, and that this
had resulted in his failure to correctly identify it. He had been influenced by the
sector controller who had informed him that a bandit was in vicinity, and
subsequently a portion of the blame went to ground control for the part they
played in the identification process. Within the sector concerned it had in fact
been busy with nighttime intruder activity, during which time another Beaufighter
from 25 Squadron, Royal Air Force had shot down a German Junkers Ju88 nightfighter
near the town of Market Deeping, Lincolnshire. Stanley was the sole
member of the crew which was removed to his home town for burial, and the
remainder are at rest at Newport Cemetery, Newport Road, Lincolnshire, which
adjoins St. Nicholas Churchyard. N.B. Stanley is the sole Second World War
Veitch casualty who is shown with the first initial S, who is commemorated by the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It should also be pointed out that the
transcriber of these brief commemorations, has thus far been unable to find a
tangible connection with Stanley to Hildenborough, but at many other times whilst
carrying out researches, casualties who have been noted as having no apparent
connection with the location concerned, are subsequently found to have a
connection, albeit often it being only tenuous, and the might be applicable here.
WHETTON, CYRIL FREDERICK. Lance Corporal, T/202449.
Royal Army Service Corps.
Died Sunday 9 March 1943. Aged 32.
Born Hertfordshire. Resided Kent.
Son of Charles Thomas Whetton and Alice Lillian Whetton (née Hall).
Husband of Patricia M. Whetton (née Hardy) of New Southgate, Middlesex.
Buried Tripoli War Cemetery, Libya. Grave Ref: Plot 6. Row D. Grave 17.
Cyril’s birth was recorded in the Watford, Hertfordshire, Registration District
during the third quarter of 1912.
WILLIAMS, HORACE EDWARD WALTER. Private, 5389637.
6th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
Died Saturday 6 May 1944. Aged 31.
Born and resided Kent.
Son of Fred Williams and Amelia Williams (née Golding) of Tonbridge, Kent.
Husband of Winifred May Williams (née King) of Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar. Grave Ref: 4. G. 23.
51

WINSER, TREVOR ERNEST. Corporal, S/154859.
Royal Army Service Corps.
Died Monday 7 December 1942. Aged 26.
Born and resided Kent.
Son of Ernest Winser and Louise Winser (née Barnes).
Husband of Joyce Winser (née Bromage) of Tonbridge, Kent.
Commemorated on Brookwood Memorial, Surrey. Panel 16. Column 1.
Trevor’s birth was recorded in the Cranbrook, Kent, Registration District during
the first quarter of 1916.
The Second World War
1939 – 1945
Lost Casualties
FURNEAUX, FRANK WILLIAM. Aircraftman 2nd Class, 933787.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Died Friday 14 March 1941. Aged 30.
Born Clapham, London.
Son of James William Furneaux and Caroline Emma Louisa Furneaux (née
Sendall).
Husband of Phyllis Cora Furneaux (née Lawrance) of 4, London Road,
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried St. John Churchyard, Hildenborough. Grave Ref: Grave 251.
At the time of the 1911 census the Furneaux family was residing at 50, Shandon
Road, Clapham, London, SW. Head of the house was Franks’ grandfather, 60
year old Islington, London native James Henry Furneaux, who was a Fancy Box
Manufacturer and an Employer. Hoxton, London native James William Furneaux
aged 34, was recorded by the census enumerator as being employed as a Fancy
52

Box Manufacturer, which might be indicative of him having been employed by his
father. In view of Franks’ age it would seem likely that 50, Shandon Road,
Clapham, London, SW, was his actual place of birth. Franks’ marriage to Phyllis
Cora Lawrance was recorded in the Lambeth, Surrey, Registration District during
the second quarter of 1937. His death was recorded in the Tonbridge, Kent,
Registration District during the first quarter of 1941.
HOOD, HAROLD TOM. Civilian casualty.
Died Tuesday 13 June 1944. Aged 33.
Husband of Ethel M. Hood (née King) of Plaisance, London Road,
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Commemorated in the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour, located near St.
George's Chapel in Westminster Abbey, London.
Harold’s birth was recorded in the Lewisham, London, Registration District during
the second quarter of 1911. His marriage to Ethel M. King was recorded in the
Lewisham, London, Registration District during the third quarter of 1935. He died
at Dorchester, Dorset as the result of enemy action where he is at rest.
LAWRENCE, JOAN MARJORY DURBAN.
Died Wednesday 18 December 1940. Aged 29.
Daughter of Samuel Durban Shearing and Alice Margaret (Madge) Durban
Shearing (née Sloan) of “Sundial,” Cooden Beach, Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex.
Wife of Squadron Leader John Kempton Lawrence, R.A.F. of Mansers,
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Joan’s was born in Enfield, and her birth was recorded in the Edmonton, London,
Registration District during the first quarter of 1909, as Joan M. D'artan Shearing.
At the time of the 1911 census, the Shearing family resided at Station House,
Royal Tunbridge Wells, Pembury, Kent. Head of the house was Joan’s 35 year
old father Samuel D'artan Shearing, who was a (British Subject) native of South
Africa, and a Stock Jobber at the London Stock Exchange. The marriage of Joan,
to John Kempton Lawrence was recorded in the Marylebone, London,
Registration District during the second quarter of 1935. John Kempton Lawrence
was a former member of the Reserve of Air Force Officers, in which he had been
given a commission as a Pilot Officer on probation on Wednesday 25 June 1930.
He had relinquished his commission on joining the Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, and being granted a R.A.F. (V.R.). commission (General Duties
Branch) on Sunday 5 February 1939, with seniority effective from Christmas Day
1931, details of which were published in The London Gazette dated Tuesday 4
July 1939. Joan was traveling as a passenger onboard the unescorted 10,116
ton Blue Star Line Ltd ship SS Napier Star, when the ship was attacked sunk by
a torpedo fired from the German uboat U-100 at 2020 hours, south of Iceland,
whilst the ship was on a voyage from Liverpool to New Zealand with 8,200 tons
of general cargo. Of the ships 82 crew and 17 passengers, only 15 survived the
sinking, including 3 of the other female passengers, all of whom who were picked
up by the 3,406 ton Swedish merchant ship Vaalaren, and were all landed safely
at the port of Liverpool on Monday 23 December. When the SS Napier Star was
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sunk, she was being commanded by 49 year old Master William Walsh of
Waterford, Irish Republic who was lost in the sinking. The uboat U-100 was
commanded by 28 year old Flensburg native, Kapitänleutnant Joachim Schepke,
who perished when the U-100 was sunk at 0318 hours on Monday 17 March
1941 to the southeast of Iceland, after being rammed and depth charged by the
Royal Navy destroyers H.M.S. Walker and H.M.S. Vanoc. On Monday 5 April
1943 the Vaalaren, which had rescued the survivors of the sinking of the SS
Napier Star, was lost with all 38 hands when she was sunk by the German uboat
U-229. N.B. Whilst the transcriber of these brief commemorations was carrying
out the researches, it was noted that depending on what data sources are
checked, Joan’s family maiden surname is variously recorded as being Shearing,
Durban-Shearing, D'artan Shearing, D'Urban Shearing, D'Artan Shearing and
D'Lbeban Shearing. It would seem likely that at some point in time, the family had
simply used the names Durban Shearing in an attempt to avoid confusion. The
simplification of the surnames had possibly taken place after Samuel had settled
in the United Kingdom. It was also noted that in 1910, whilst he was a tenant of
the City of London Real Property Co, Ltd, at Throgmorton Avenue in the City of
London, Joan’s father was simply recorded as being Samuel Durban.
MATTHEWS, CECIL WALTER. Leading Stoker, C/KX 89456.
Royal Navy, H.M.S. Ulster.
Died Tuesday 22 January 1946. Aged 27.
Son of Lilian Matthews.
Husband of Joan E. Matthews (née Bridges) of Hildenborough, Kent.
Buried St. John Churchyard, Hildenborough, Kent. Grave Ref: Grave 345.
Cecil’s marriage to Joan E. Bridges was recorded in the Tonbridge, Kent,
Registration District during the fourth quarter of 1940. His death was recorded in
the Tonbridge, Kent, Registration District during the first quarter of 1946.
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McLAREN, ROBERT DUNCAN. D.F.C. Squadron Leader (Pilot), 73003.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
1409 (Meteorological) Flight, Royal Air Force.
Died Tuesday 27 February 1945. Aged 27.
Son of Duncan McLaren and Frances McLaren of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Husband of Joyce Catherine McLaren (née Hunter) of Hildenborough, Kent.
Buried Rheinberg War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
Grave Ref: 18. D. 24.
Commemorated on page 608 of the Canadian Second World War Book of
Remembrance, and at the Trinity College Boys School, Toronto, Canada.
Robert was born in Toronto on Tuesday 28 August 1917. He was educated at the
Trinity College School, Toronto, Canada, and entered the Junior School at the
age of eleven. By his final year in 1933-34 he had become a member of the Fifth
Form, Captain of the Middleside football team and of the Middleside cricket team,
as well as being a valuable player on the Middleside hockey team. Leaving the
School in June 1934, he later went to England to study aeronautical engineering
with the De Havilland Aircraft Company. Whilst studying with the De Havilland
Aircraft Company at Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Robert obtained his Great Britain,
Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificate on Thursday 8 August 1935, at the Herts. &
Essex Aero Club, flying a D.H. Moth. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve in September 1939, and received his commission as a Pilot Officer in
1940 while he was stationed at R.A.F. Prestwick, Scotland. His marriage to
Joyce Catherine Hunter was recorded in the Surrey North Eastern, Registration
District during the first quarter of 1940. Robert’s rank was confirmed as a Flying
Officer R.A.F. (V.R.) on Wednesday 11 September 1940; and as a Flight
Lieutenant on Thursday 11 September 1941. He served as an instructor in
Canada from 1941 to June 1943, during which time he was promoted to the rank
of Flight Lieutenant. Robert returned to serve in the United Kingdom in July 1943,
having delivered Dakota FD939. Having returned to the United Kingdom, he was
then attached to the Meteorological Flight, R.A.F. where he flew Mosquitoes, and
was promoted to a Squadron Leader in 1944. He was awarded an immediate
Distinguished Flying Cross in November 1944, for his distinguished and gallant
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service and the vital part he had played in the sinking of the 52,600 ton German
battleship Tirpitz on Sunday 12 November 1944. On Tuesday 27 February 1945,
crewed with Flying Officer, Joseph Arthur Laurent Lymburner, D.F.C. & Bar,
R.C.A.F. as his Observer/Navigator, Robert took off from R.A.F. Wyton, St. Ives,
Cambridgeshire, flying Mosquito XVI NS731 “H” to carry out a weather
reconnaissance sortie to Mainz, Germany. The Mosquito was attacked by three
enemy fighter aircraft and was then hit by flak. Robert skillfully crash-landed the
badly damaged Mosquito, but it caught fire and exploded and he was killed.
Following the crash, Joseph Lymburner was captured and initially treated for his
injuries in a German hospital, but he only remained in Germany for a short time,
as on Thursday 22 March he was repatriated back to England, having been
liberated during the Allied advance. Of necessity, Robert’s work at that time was
secret, but it was later learned that he was a leading member of a small group of
picked experts who explored the actual weather conditions over Germany prior to
the attacks which were carried out by R.A.F. Bomber Command. Details of
Robert’s death were later revealed by Joseph Lymburner, who stated that they
had been sent on reconnaissance over Germany on Tuesday 27 February 1945
over Mainz, and they were suddenly attacked by fighters and one engine was put
out of action. Joseph thought they should jump but ‘Bob’ climbed above the
clouds and tried to get home with his information. Losing their course, they came
down beneath the clouds into a heavy concentration of anti-aircraft fire. The
plane crashed and ‘Bob’ was killed instantly, though Joseph was miraculously
thrown clear. Unfortunately the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
erroneously commemorates Robert, as serving in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force
at the time of his death and not the 1409 (Meteorological) Flight, Royal Air Force.
MORRISON, KENNETH SINCLAIR. Civilian casualty.
Died Monday 15 February 1943. Aged 56.
Born Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Lancashire.
Son of the late John Morrison and Elizabeth Morrison.
Husband of P. M. Morrison of Hill Brow, Watts Cross, Hildenborough, Kent.
Buried Hong Kong Cemetery, China.
Commemorated in the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour, located near St.
George's Chapel in Westminster Abbey, London.
Kenneth died whilst interred by the Japanese, and had been employed by Reiss
Barclay & Co, prior to the surrender of Hong Kong on Christmas Day 1941.
PETTIT, HELENA ELIZA. Civilian casualty.
Died Thursday 17 October 1940. Aged 61.
Daughter of Frederick Turner and Mary Ann Turner (née Saunders).
Wife of Henry Edward Pettit of Riverhill Garage, London Road, Hildenborough,
Tonbridge, Kent.
Commemorated in the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour, located near St.
George's Chapel in Westminster Abbey, London.
Helena was born in Southwark, Surrey on Monday 14 April 1879. Aged 16, she
married 18 year old Horselydown, Southwark, Surrey native, Henry Edward Pettit
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at the parish church of St. Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey Street, Southwark,
Surrey on Sunday 8 March 1896. When the 1911 census was conducted, the
Pettit family resided at 15, Drummond Road, Bermondsey, London. Head of the
house was 33 year old Bermondsey native Henry Edward Pettit, who was
employed as Lavatory Attendant by the Borough Council. Helena died at her
home Riverhill Garage, London Road, Hildenborough, Kent. At the time of her
death, Helena’s husband was employed as a Wharf Labourer. The death of 88
year old Henry Edward Pettit was recorded in the Tonbridge, Kent Registration
District during the fourth quarter of 1965.
RHODES, GEORGE HENRY. Corporal, T/10694070.
Royal Army Service Corps.
Died Thursday 21 September 1944. Aged 33.
Born North London. Resided Middlesex.
Son of Caroline Mary Rhodes (née Spooner) and the late George Albert Rhodes.
Husband of Vera Gwendoline Rhodes (née Smart) of Hildenborough, Kent.
Buried St. Oedenrode Roman Catholic Churchyard, Netherlands.
Grave Ref: Grave 27.
The marriage of George to Vera Gwendoline Smart was recorded in the
Brentford, Middlesex, Registration District during the third quarter of 1937.
ROWE, DONALD JAMES. Flight Lieutenant (Pilot Instructor), 49203.
Royal Air Force.
Died Tuesday 13 November 1945. Aged 23.
Only child of Arthur James Rowe and Margaret Ruth Rowe of Hildenborough,
Tonbridge, Kent.
Husband of Pauline Rhoda Rowe (née Vanbergen) of “Bassetts,” Hildenborough,
Tonbridge, Kent.
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Buried St. John Churchyard, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent. Grave Ref: 353.
Donald’s marriage to Pauline Rhoda Vanbergen was recorded in the Tonbridge,
Kent Registration District during the third quarter of 1944.
SMITH, ARTHUR EDWARD. Lance Corporal, 6406491.
9th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.
Died Tuesday 14 November 1944. Aged 30.
Born London. Resided London SE.
Son of Herbert Sidney Smith and Annie Jemima Smith.
Husband of Irene Bertha Smith of Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar. Grave Ref: 7. A. 13.
STAGLES, STANLEY GORDON. Signalman, 2343572.
Royal Corps of Signals.
Died Sunday 15 October 1944. Aged 28.
Born and resided Lincolnshire.
Son of John James Stagles and Alice Stagles (née Harrison).
Husband of Alfreda M. Stagles (née Thorne) of Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Mierlo War Cemetery, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. Grave Ref: VIII. E. 7.
Commemorated on the Moulton Grammar School, Lincolnshire, Second World
War memorial plaque.
Stanley’s birth was recorded in the Spalding, Lincolnshire, Registration District
during the fourth quarter of 1915. The marriage of Stanley and Alfreda was
recorded in the Tonbridge, Kent, Registration District during the first quarter of
1944. The cemetery where Stanley is now at rest was started in the spring of
1945 when graves were brought in from the surrounding district, most of them
being casualties of September-November 1944. At that time the main fighting
was concerned with clearing the region south and west of the river Maas and
with opening up the Scheldt Estuary further west.
WILLIAMS, GEOFFREY OLIVER. Sergeant, 918480.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
Died Saturday 1 November 1941. Aged 21.
Son of Austin Lougher Williams and Fanny Selina Williams (née Gale) of
Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Panel 55.
Geoffrey had possibly previously cheated death on Monday 29 September 1941,
when Whitley bomber Z6474 MH-A was taking off from R.A.F. Dishforth,
Yorkshire at 2255 hours, taking part in a bombing raid on Stettin, Germany, when
the port engine cut out. Unable to properly climb away, the pilot; 25 year old
Sergeant (Pilot) Charles Allen Guan, R.A.A.F. of Cronulla, New South Wales,
Australia, successfully force-landed the stricken bomber near Marton-Le-Moor,
Harrogate, Yorkshire approximately a mile from the airfield, but the aircraft
caught fire after the crash landing, the crew scrambled clear with only one man
being slightly injured, and the aircraft later burnt out. Charles Guan was the pilot
of Whitley Z9220 MH-V when it took off from R.A.F. Dishforth at 1738 hours on
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Friday 31 October 1941, taking part in a raid on the Blohm & Voss shipyards at
Hamburg, Germany, with Geoffrey amongst the 5 man crew. The Whitley failed
to return to R.A.F. Dishforth from the raid on Hamburg. A wireless transmission
message from the aircraft calling for help was received and logged at 0032 hours
on Saturday 1 November, and the last known fix position of the bomber was over
the North Sea approximately 165 miles east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire.
Although the reason for the loss of the Whitley is still unclear, it was presumed
that the aircraft was missing as a result of enemy action. On Monday 10
November 1941 a dinghy belonging to Z9220 was picked up in the North Sea by
a trawler, some 17 miles east of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The dinghy contained
the body of one crew member of the aircraft who could not be identified. The
remaining missing members were not located and it was later concluded that
they had lost their lives at sea. As Germany's principal seaport and major
industrial location, Hamburg, the second largest city of the German Reich was
the target of multiple bombing raids that commenced on Tuesday 18 June 1940.
Geoffrey’s father; Austin Lougher Williams who was a native of St. Lythans,
Glamorgan, Wales, had served in the Coldstream Guards during the Great War.
WOOLLEY, ROBERT ARTHUR. Flight Sergeant (Pilot), 1805285.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 629 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
Died Friday 23 June 1944. Aged 20.
Son of Jack Woolley and Emily Woolley (née Walls) of Hildenborough,
Tonbridge, Kent.
Buried Belloy Churchyard, Oise, France. Grave Ref: Collective grave.
Robert’s birth was recorded in the Tonbridge, Kent, Registration District during
the first quarter of 1924. Robert was the pilot of Lancaster bomber LM102 UM-
Z2 which took off at 2222 hours on Thursday 22 June 1944 from R.A.F.
Wickenby, Lincolnshire, and was in a force of 221 aircraft which was comprised
of 111 Lancasters, 100 Halifaxes, and 10 Mosquitos of Numbers 1, 4 and 8
Groups, R.A.F. Bomber Command, which were taking part in attacks on the
railway yards at Laon, Aisne, France and Rheims, Champagne-Ardenne, France.
4 Halifaxes lost from the Laon raid and 4 Lancasters from the Rheims raid. One
of the Lancasters lost during the Rheims raid was Robert’s, which had been
delivered to his squadron the previous month, and had a total 59 hours when it
was lost. The bombing at both targets on the night of 22/23 June 1944 was
successful. Lancaster bomber LM102 UM-Z2 crashed at Belloy, Oise, France,
where all of the seven member of its crew were buried in the churchyard of St.
George, Belloy, France on Saturday 24 June 1944, and are at rest near the
entrance gate of the churchyard. The average age of the bombers crew was 22,
and by June 1944 it was quite unusual to have a crew which was comprised of a
Flight Sergeant and 6 Sergeants. Another member of the crew who died was
also a ‘Kent casualty,’ 22 year old Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Herbert John Browne, was the husband of Maureen Olive Browne of Erith, Kent.
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Hopefully the following ‘pairs’ of photographs of the commemoration panels
in remembrance of the fallen on the Hildenborough, Kent civic war memorial,
is arguably the best and easiest way to illustrate the stark difference, pre and
post the professional cleaning and refurbishment of the war memorial.
Since thanks are due to Clive Maier for providing the original photographs
for inclusion on this website, and yet again we also have to thank Susan F.
who is a prolific provider of photographs of war memorials for this site. Susan
photographed the Hildenborough civic war memorial, after it had been
cleaned and refurbished. Whilst doubtless Gordon Newton the Managing
Director, and his team at Burlite Limited, The Stone Shop, East Farleigh,
Maidstone, Kent, have been thanked by Hildenborough Parish Council for
the superb work on the civic war memorial, it seemed only right to add a
simply thank you of our own to ALL who been involved in the restoration.
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Photograph by Clive Maier
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Photograph by Clive Maier
Hildenborough Tuesday 5 October 1920
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