PLUCKLEY - Kent Fallen

PLUCKLEY 

The Great War 

1914 – 1919 

1

BASSETT A 

Private TF/ 260093 Alfred Thomas BASSETT. 9 th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (RSR). 

Formerly 5 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Tuesday 7 th August 1917 age 27 

years. Born Pluckley. Enlisted Ashford. Son of Mr J and Mrs M Bassett of Brickworks Cottages, 

Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, Etaples, France. Grave 

reference XXV.L.3A. 

Alfred enlisted into the 5 th Buffs as a Territorial Force soldier in 1911 and served with the Ashford 

(H) Company. He attended the Drill Hall in Newtown Road, Ashford once a week.Upon the 

outbreak of war Alfred volunteered for overseas service and went to India with the 5 th Buffs. 

Returning home in 1916 he was transferred into the Royal Sussex Regiment. At this time the 9 th 

RSR was in need of urgent drafts to replace heavy casualties. Alfred had 4 brothers also serving 

in the colours (3 in France, 1 in India). 

2

The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – 

Brickworks, Pluckley 

Private 211792 Sidney Arthur BASSETT. 23 rd Rifle Brigade. 

The 1901 census gives – 

40, Brickyard Cottages, Pluckley 

John BASSETT 44 Brickyard Labourer Tonbridge 

Mary 43 Egerton 

Sydney A 21 Brickyard Clay Digger Egerton 

Hennrietta 19 Pluckley 

George 18 Clay Digger Pluckley 

Beatrice 16 Pluckley 

John 13 Pluckley 

Alfred Thomas 11 Pluckley 

Albert E 9 Pluckley 

Percy 8 Pluckley 

Ada 5 Pluckley 

Winnifred 3 Pluckley 

Alfred died of wounds at a Base Hospital in Etaples. It is not known exactly what happened to him 

but it’s a pretty good bet he was wounded on the battlefield and recovered through the medical 

evacuation chain to a Base Hospital near to the French Re-enforcement ports. 

3

BRYANT C 

Private 327937 Charles Ernest BRYANT. 1 st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Formerly 

(31357) Suffolk Regiment. Died Sunday 8 th July 1917 aged 23 years. Born Pluckley. Enlisted 

Maidstone. Son of George and Charlotte Bryant of Providence Place, Goudhurst, Kent. Formerly 

Victoria Cottages, Lambden Road, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Mendighem Military 

Cemetery, Poperinghe, Belgium. Grave reference I.F.16. 

Charles name also appears on the Sutton Valence civic war memorial near Maidstone. 


Victoria Cottages, Lambden Road, Pluckley 

George BRYANT 36 Wagoner on Farm Rolvenden 

Charlotte 36 Rolvenden 

Edith 14 Great Chart 

George 10 Pluckley 

Charles 8 Pluckley 

Ethel 4 Pluckley 

Bertha 2 Pluckley 

4

CHECKSFIELD F 

Sergeant T/240552 Frederick Horace CHECKSFIELD. 1 st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent 

Regiment). Died Wednesday 8 th May 1918 aged 21 years. Born Throwley. Enlisted Ashford. 

Resided Pluckley. Son of Alfred and Susan Checksfield of Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Born 

Throwley Kent. Buried in the Nine Elms British Cemetery, Poperinghe, Belgium. Grave reference 

XIV.E.13. 

Frederick was a professional soldier and was serving in the Buffs before the outbreak of war. On 

23 April 1918 the 1 st Buffs moved into Ramparts at Ypres. The Germans responded by firing 

masses of gas shells at the ramparts. 22 men were caught in the open and received terrible 

internal wounds from gassing. On 26 April 1918 the 1 st Buffs withdrew from the frontline leaving 

the Yorks & Lancs Regiment on outpost duty. After the withdrawal the enemy advanced very 

quickly but were stopped at the ramparts by the Yorks & Lancs men. The month of May 1918 was 

a terrible one for the 1 st Buffs with many men dying from gas poisoning. 119 casualties were 

gassed in the area of Ypres and many died of their injuries in the most appalling way. Men 

literally drowned in their own body fluids! It seems very likely that poor Frederick was one of these 

casualties. 


Monday Bois, Little Chart 

Sergeant T/240552 Frederick Horace CHECKSFIELD. 1 st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent 

Regiment). 

5

CLARK W 

Private 235112 Walter Josiah CLARK. 17 th Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment) formerly 

(458) 5 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Wednesday 8 th May 1918 aged 31 

years. Born Pluckley. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Pluckley. Son of Sidney and Naomi Clark of 5, 

Dering Terrace, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Husband of Elsie Bertha Clark of 27, Bowness Road, 

Catford, London. Walter has no known grave. His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, 

Zonnebeke, Belgium. Panel reference 31/34/162/162A/163A. 

Walter joined the 5 th Buffs as a territorial soldier in 1911. Before the outbreak of war he was 

employed by Mr P Collins at the Dering Arms Hotel, Pluckley. Upon the outbreak of war Walter 

proceeded with the 5 th Buffs to India. In 1915 he returned home (time expired). Upon rejoining his 

battalion Walter went to Mesopotamia and returned from there in January 1917. At this time he 

married his wife in Pluckley. In February 1917 he was transferred to the King’s Regiment and 

went to France. He met with his death a year later whilst still serving with the King’s Reiment. 


5 Dering Terrace, Pluckley 

Trooper 3652 Charles CLARK. 1 st Life Guards. 


5, Dering Terrace, Pluckley 

Sydney CLARK 52 Brickworks Clay Digger Cambridgeshire 

Naomi 48 ? 

Emily 20 Pluckley 

Walter 14 Brickworks Labourer Pluckley 

Susan 9 Pluckley 

Charlie 7 Pluckley 

6

GOODWIN E 

Private G/9372 Ernest Eli GOODWIN. 6 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in 

Action Saturday 7 th October 1916. Born Ashford. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Headcorn. Son of Eli 

and Mary A Goodwin of 42 Brickyard Cottages, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Ernest has no known 

grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Grave reference 5D. 


The Street, Little Chart 

Private 1023638 George Gabriel GOODWIN. Royal Army Medical Corps. 


42, Brickyard Cottages, Pluckley 

Eli GOODWIN 50 Railway Platelayer Smarden 

Mary A 48 Smarden 

William 23 Smarden 

James 18 Agricultural Labourer Pluckley 

Herbert 15 Smarden 

Ernest E 13 Smarden 

Gabriel 10 Pluckley 

Percy 7 Pluckley 

Amy 5 Pluckley 

On the 7 th October the 6 th battalion was in action fighting in the Battles of The Transloy Ridges. 

On the 1 st October the battalion was at Lonqueval in the morning. Later in the day it went into 

reserve trenches at Guedecourt. The battalion went forward under extremely heavy machine gun 

fire. About 350 men were killed, missing or wounded. Ernest was one of those killed. 

7

HOGBEN E 

Petty Officer Stoker K/9733 Edwin (Edward) E.G HOGBEN. HMS “HORNET”. Royal Navy. 

Died Tuesday 23 rd April 1918 age 25 years. Son of Abraham and Mary J Hogben of Lamden 

Road, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Formerly 3 Thorne Cottages, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Buried in 

the Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery, Thessalonika, Greece. Grave reference 1616. 

The local papers stated that Edwin fell on the 21 st April 1918 NOT the 23 rd (as recorded by the 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission). 

See George SKEER (Lost Men below) Edwin must have known him well… They probably both 

died as a consequence of one action. 

HMS Hornet was a Acheron class Destroyer completed 20 December 1911. Attached to 1 st 

Flotilla from 1911 to 1912 and the Grand Fleet from 1914 to 1916 when it was transferred to the 

3 rd Battle Flotilla. HMS Hornet was sold off in 1921. 

HMS Hornet was invlolved in rescuing survivers from HMS Argyll in October 1915 - 

“ Meanwhile, the two destroyers HMS HORNET and JACKALL appeared out of the gloom and 

made every effort to get close to the stricken ARGYLL. After several attempts, HORNET 

managed to get her stern close to ARGYLL's, where 500 of her crew had been assembled for 

abandoning ship. The rest of the crew took to the lifeboats and rowed clear of their ship”. 

“ On mountainous waves, the stern of HORNET rose and fell like an express lift against 

ARGYLL's. At times the two ships clashed violently, buckling HORNET's stern plates. There was 

a real danger of men being crushed between them, but each time the sterns passed, men made 

the jump to HORNET's deck until there were none left aboard ARGYLL”. 


3, Thorne Cottages, Pluckley 

Abraham HOGBIN 48 Stockman on Farm Boughton Malerbie 

Mary J 48 Ham, Kent 

Kate 11 Pluckley 

Edwin E.G 9 Pluckley 

8

KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN M.A 

Lieutenant Maurice Astley KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN MC. 2 nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards 

(Special Reserve). Died Monday 25 th September 1916 age 28 years. Born 1888. Son of Rev 

Reginald B and Rachel Knatchbull-Hugessen (nee Montgomery) of Pluckley, Kent. Buried in the 

Citadel New Military Cemetery, Fricourt, Somme, France. Grave reference II.C.2. 

Educated at St Aubyn’s, Rottingdean, Radley and at Balliol College, Oxford. Maurice joined the 

Royal Fusiliers as a Private soldier in October 1914. In March 1915 Maurice was commissioned 

into the Grenadier Guards. He proceeded to France and participated in offensive operations in 

and around Festubert in 1915. 

His father was for many years the Rector of Mersham village near Ashford. His father Reverend 

Reginald Knatchbull-Hugessen resided at 1, Foulis Terrace, London, SW. Knatchbull-Hugessen 

is the family name of Lord Brabourne of Newhouse, Mersham, Ashford and it believed that 

Maurice is related to the present 8 th Lord Brabourne. 

Maurice was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for courage and leadership before he tragically lost 

his life. 

The Second Battalion, Grenadier Guards attacked at 12.35 on 25 th September 1916 with the 

Ginchy – Lesboeufs Road on the right. The battalion moved forward but the assault was held up 

by uncut wire. The battalion then charged to take objective. Regimental history records high 

losses among officers and men – 351. 

9

MARCHANT P 

Private G/18129 Phillip Henry MARCHANT. 7 th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (RSR). 

Died Tuesday 9 th April 1918. Born Woodchurch. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Pluckley. Buried in the 

Senlis Communal Cemetery, Senlis-Le-Sec, France. Grave reference I.B.3. 


Pinnock, Pluckley 

Sapper 269774 Ernest Edward MARCHANT. Royal Engineers. 

MILES S 

Private L/10020 Sidney C MILES. 2 nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died as a 

POW Thursday 24 th October 1918. Born Pluckley. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Pluckley. Son of 

Alfred and Elizabeth Miles of 9 Dering Terrace, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the 

Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Hessen, Germany. Grave reference X.B.3. 

It looks like Sidney died whilst a Prisoner of War in German custody. 


Dering Terrace, Pluckley 

Private 13956 Frank MILES. 2 nd Grenadier Guards. 

Sergeant 47417 Ernest William MILES. 4 th Machine Gun Corps. 

Rifleman A/205365 George Robert MILES. 8 th King’s Royal Rifle Corps. 

Private 10020 Sidney MILES. 2 nd Buffs (East Kent Regiment). 


Pioneer WR/21161 William Daniel MILES. Royal Engineers. 


9, Dering Terrace, Pluckley 

Alfred MILES 46 Brickworks Labourer Ashford 

Elizabeth 44 

Alfred 20 Brickworks Labourer Pluckley 

Percy C.H 17 Pluckley 

Edward W 14 Pluckley 

Charles 12 Pluckley 

Frank 10 Pluckley 

Herbert 8 Pluckley 

Sydney C 3 Pluckley 

George R 2 Pluckley 

10

PILE E (brother) 

Private T/1060 Edwin Thomas PILE. 5 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 

Friday 7 th January 1916 age 23 years. Resided East View, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Son of Jesse 

and Frances Pile of 1, Thorn Cottage, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Later of 8 Churchyard, Ashford, 

Kent. Buried in the Amara War Cemetery, Amara, Iraq. Grave reference XXXI.D.5. 


Thorne Cottage, Pluckley 

Private 203593 Harry PILE. 4 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). 

Corporal 8497 Stephen Charles PILE. 3 rd Buffs (East Kent Regiment). 

Private 39648 William John PILE. 1 st S.N Hussars. 


1, Thorne Cottage, Pluckley 

Edwin PILE 55 Farm Labourer Lenham 

Jesse 48 Pluckley 

Frances 46 Wife Pluckley 

Jesse 20 Gardener Pluckley 

Frances 16 Pluckley 

George 14 General Labourer Pluckley 

Annie 11 Pluckley 

Edwin 9 Pluckley 

Walter 7 Pluckley 

Stephen 4 Pluckley 

Harry 2 Pluckley 

He was one of a band of local men who, at the suggestion of Doctor Waite and the Rector, joined 

the Territorial Force in the neighborhood. After joining Edwin went to Kamptee in India with the 5 th 

Buffs. He regularly wrote to the Rector of Pluckley about his war experiences. His last letter read - 

“The men are very determined to give a good show to Johnny Turk. We feel no fear and we are 

going onwards with a brave heart leaving the issue to God”. 

On the 6 th January 1916 a signal came from Kut saying that large numbers of Turkish troops were 

moving downstream of the River Tigris towards Sheikh Saad. An aircraft spotted the troops 

entrenching both sides of the river. The Tigris Corps of which the Buffs was part of moved to 

meet the enemy. The 5 th battalion attacked the Turk positions head on and by nightfall it became 

obvious the attack could not succeed. The next day 7 th January the Buffs alongside The Black 

Watch and The Seaforth Highlanders were again ordered to attack in strength. As the British 

moved forward under heavy fire the Turks attempted to encircle the Tigris Corps. By nightfall the 

position remained stalemate. It was later discovered that the Turks had withdrawn upstream. 

British Army casualties at Sheikh Saad were over 4,000 men. 

11

PILE G (brother) 

Private T/ 240832 George PILE. 5 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died of 

disease on Tuesday 19 th June 1917. Born Pluckley. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Pluckley. Son of 

Jesse and Frances Pile of Thorn Cottage, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Later of 8 Churchyard, 

Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Amara War Cemetery, Amara, Iraq. Grave reference XIII.H.9. 


Hawthorne Cottage, Pluckley 

















George was mentioned in the book Turkish Front 1914-1918 written by Field Marshall Lord 

Carver and published in 2003 (ISBN: 0-330-49108-3) – 

The following words were spoken by Sergeant J.W FARNOL of the 5 th Battalion, The Buffs: 

“One of our fellows, a jolly brave old chap named George PILE, had been sent back for 

ammunition and could be seen with the box struggling along with it forward. The bullets were 

striking all round. Every moment we expected him to drop but he managed to reach us, laughing 

like a “dood wallah” [whatever that was]. They [the Turks] very nearly put paid to your name that 

time Uncle some wag shouted. I don’t think that there’s a bullet made for me replied George. 

There wasn’t, for poor Uncle died a natural death at Amarah this summer, after many more 

narrow escapes of this nature”. 

George was clearly a very brave man…. 

During June 1917 the 5 th battalion was inactive from a combat point of view. It spent most of the 

time at Bakuba and Abu Kamed on the Diala River. The weather was hot and humid and the 

battalion lost many men through heat stroke. 

12

SKINNER W 

Dover Marine 

Gunner 178320 William Joseph SKINNER. 188 th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery 

(RGA). Died 8 th July 1918 aged 31 years. Born Pluckley. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Pluckley. Son 

of Edwin and Elizabeth Skinner of The Thorne, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Formerly 3 Victoria 

Cottages, Lambden Road, Pluckley Thorn, Ashford, Kent. Husband of Mary Skinner of New 

House Cottage, Lamden Road, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Born Puckley, Kent. Buried in the Hagle 

Dump Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. Grave reference I.G.6. 

William was well known in the village and was involved with the Pluckley Church Choir and 

bellringers. It is recorded that William’s father Edwin was the parish bellringer for over 50 years. 

Before the outbreak of war William was employed (7 years) as a Platelayer by the South Eastern 

and Chatham Railway Company. His name also appears on the Dover Marine War Memorial in 

Dover. 

William enlisted in October 1917 and proceeded to France on the 23 rd March 1918. William was 

killed instantly when a shell burst near him. He was struck on the forehead by a large piece of 

shrapnal. 


Hamden Cottages, Smarden 

Private 493418 Herbert John SKINNER. Royal Army Medical Corps. 

Private 203393 William James SKINNER. 4 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). 

Jennings Farm, Pluckley 

Private 51939 Frank SKINNER. Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry). 

Lamden Road, Pluckley 

Gunner 178004 Herbert Henry SKINNER. 546 th Seige Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. 

Gunner 178320 William Joseph SKINNER. 188 th Seige Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. 


Private G/8950 Frederick William SKINNER. 1 st Buffs (East Kent Regiment). 


13

Victoria Cottages, Lambden Road, Pluckley 

Edward SKINNER 52 Agricultural Labourer Pluckley 

Elizabeth 42 Benenden 

Charles E 16 Pluckley 

Ernest J 15 Pluckley 

William J 14 Agricultural Labourer Pluckley 

Amy A 12 Pluckley 

Herbert 10 Pluckley 

Florence 6 Pluckley 

Frederick 2 Pluckley 

The 188 th Siege Battery consisted four 6 inch guns. 

14

UNDERDOWN H 

Private G/10475 Harry Hubert UNDERDOWN. 1 st Battalion, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey 

Regiment). Died Wednesday 21 st February 1917 aged 21 years. Son of Edwin and Olive 

Underdown of Hodge Farm, Smarden, Kent. Enlisted Ashford. Buried in the Estaples Military 

Cemetery, Etaples, France. Grave reference XXI.H.8A. 


Hodge Farm, Smarden 

Private L/11651 George James UNDERDOWN. 1 st 

Regiment). 

Royal Fusiliers (City of London 

East View, Pluckley 

Leading C.K.S Mechanic Wallace Hubert UNDERDOWN. HMS Pembroke II, Chatham. 

Maltmans Hill, Smarden 

202545 Percey George UNDERDOWN. 4 th Royal West Kent Regiment. 

Harry was sent home from the front in December 1916 suffering from trench exposure and severe 

shell shock. He returned to his battalion in early February 1917 and lost his life shortly afterwards. 

His body was buried in Etaples on the 23 rd February 1917. 

From January to March 1917 the 1st battalion remained comparatively inactive in the Clery 

Sector. By the end of March it was in billets at Corbie. It is thought that Henry was wounded on 

The Somme in France in late 1916 and then recovered to a Base hospital at Etaples. In 

December 1916 the battalion was in the frontline at Rancourt and St Pierre Vaast Wood. 

15

WAITE J.T 

Lieutenant Joseph THORP-WAITE. 5 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 

Friday 21 st January 1916 aged 45 years. Son of Doctor and Mrs Ellen Waite. Husband of Hilda 

Mary Waite of Breeze Hill, Bowdon, Altrincham, Cheshire. Son-in-Law of Mr Smith of Swinford 

Old Manor, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Amara War Cemetery, Amara, Iraq. Grave reference 

XIX.C.2. The Buffs regimental history (Col Moody) gives the circumstances of Joseph’s death. He 

was badly wounded in action and died the same day. Captain A.G.A Adam (a Wye College man) 

was also killed in the same battle. 

Before the outbreak of war Joseph was the practising Pluckley Medical Doctor. He had spent 

many years in the West of Africa with his family before coming to Pluckley. Upon enlisting into the 

Buffs Joseph became the unit Medical Officer. It is not known how he came to serve in the Buffs 

(an infantry unit) and not the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). He was mature in age to be 

serving in the infantry as a junior officer. 

The Hanna Defile is a narrow strip of dry land between the River Tigris and the Great Suwaikiya 

Marshes. The mouth of the Hanna Lines lies upstream of the Wadi, some 8 miles towards Kut-al- 

Amara. It was the rainy season days were hot, foggy and humid and nights were below freezing. 

On the 20 th January the Turkish defences at Hanna came under heavy British artillery 

bombardment. After the bombardment the infantry moved forward to attack. The 21 st was a busy 

time for the 5 th Buffs in the frontline. The Turks rose out of their trenches and literally cut the 

attacking British infantry down. Very few British soldiers reached their objective. On the 22 nd 

January a truce was arranged and both sides recovered their killed and wounded from the 

battlefield. British losses in this action amounted to 2,700 men. 

17

WOOD E.C 

Lance Corporal G/20566 Ernest Charles WOOD. 9 th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment 

(RSR). Formerly 5 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Friday 3 rd August 1917 aged 23 years. 

Born Smarden. Enlisted Chelsea, London. Third son of James and Elizabeth Rebecca Wood of 

Forge House, Forge Hill, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Ernest has no known grave. His name appears 

on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Panel reference 20. 

Ernest enlisted into the Buffs in January 1916. A short while afterwards he was transferred into 

the Royal Sussex Regiment. In October 1916 he was promoted to Lance Corporal. In January 

1917 Ernest went to France with the 9 th R.S.R. 

His Commanding Officer wrote to his parents – 

“I have been able to appreciate the excellent way in which your son worked, and the good 

example set to his colleagues. He was one of my best N.C.O’s and a credit to his company”. 


The Forge House, Pluckley 

Sapper 185773 Harold Henry WOOD. 495 th Field Company, Royal Engineers. 

Corporal SE/5648 James William WOOD. Army Veterinary Corps. 

WOOD J.W 

Shoeing Smith Corporal SE/5648 James William WOOD. 11 th Section, Army Veterinary 

Corps (AVC). Died Influenza Saturday 28 th September 1918 age 32 years. Born Smarden. 

Enlisted Faversham. Son of Mr and Mrs James Wood of Forge House, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. 

Husband of Alice Mary Wood of 19 Victoria Avenue, Northdown, Margate, Kent. Buried in the 

Bralo British Cemetery, Greece. Grave reference 29. 


The Forge House, Pluckley 

Sapper 185773 Harold Henry WOOD. 495 th Field Company, Royal Engineers. 

Corporal SE/5648 James William WOOD. Army Veterinary Corps. 

James died in Salonika, Greece of influenza during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic. 

18

WOODCOCK F 

Private L/10465 Frank Herbert WOODCOCK. 2 nd Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent 

Regiment). Died Sunday 30 th April 1916. Born Pluckley. Enlisted Croydon Surrey. Son of Albert 

and Celia Woodcock of Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Amara War Cemetery, Amara, Iraq. 

Grave reference XXI.H.4. 


? Mount, Pluckley 

Albert WOODCOCK 48 Agricultural Labourer Bethersden 

Celia 40 Pluckley 

Nancy E 12 Little Chart 

Alfred G 9 Little Chart 

Elsie W 7 Pluckley 

Lily M 6 Pluckley 

Bertie 3 Pluckley 

Frank H 2 Pluckley 

William C 1 Pluckley 

On the 29 th April 1916 Kut fell to the Turkish Army. 8,000 officers and men surrendered on the 

orders of Major General Townshend. The Turks treated British soldiers very harshly and force 

marched them to Turkey (a distance of over 600 miles). Thousands of men died of mal-treatment 

and neglect including many Indian soldiers. Of the 226 West Kent men who past into captivity, 

only 69 survived their ordeal. Meanwhile the idiotic and egotistical General Townshend was taken 

to Constantinople in some style and spent the rest of the war under house arrest in the former 

British Embassy. He didn’t give a toss about his men who were treated appallingly. 

It would appear that Frank must have died of disease or of maltreatment at the hands of the 

Turks. 

19

LOST MEN 

BAKER A.J 

Pluckley Remount Depot 

Sergeant Major 180 Alfred (Alf) John BAKER DCM. Army Remount Service (A.R.S). 

Assistant Superintendant, Pluckley Remount Depot. Formerly (22 years) (55) 2 nd battalion, 

Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Died 17 th February 1915 aged 51 years. Born 1863 New 

Romney, Kent. Husband of Mercy Elizabeth E Baker (nee BEAN). Alf married Mercy at Ashford 

June 1903 (West Ashford 2A 1808). Alfred and Mercy resided at 204 Godinton Road, Ashford, 

Kent. Killed when he was thrown from his horse at the Pluckley railway station en route to the 

“Remount Depot”. Reported in the Kentish Express on 27 th February 1915. He fell in the road 

fracturing the case of his skull. Alfred was actually on duty when he had the accident. Alfred’s 

service records do not appear to now exist. Extensive searches at the National Archives have 

been made. The situation is made even more difficult by the fact that Alfred did not serve 

overseas and was therefore not entitled to any Great War medals. Because of this his name will 

not be on the medal index cards. There is however overwhelming evidence to support a case for 

belated commemoration. Alfred was a serving soldier and died when on duty. Buried Ashford 

Cemetery, Canterbury Road, Ashford, Kent. Grave reference – 3165. 

In 2006 we were advised by the Ministry of Defence that this case had been approved! Alf will 

soon get a new wargrave and his name shall be added to the Commonwealth War Graves Debt 

of Honour Register. A satisfactory result… 

Alfred’s wife Mercy died 15 November 1922 and her remains were interred in Alf’s grave. 

Alf was a lifelong Freemason - 

Mooltan Lodge, Mooltan, India 

Passed for membership on 1 May 1889 and raised 31 August 1889. At this time Alf was 26 years 

of age and he gave his occupation as a British Soldier. 

St George Lodge, Colombo, Ceylon (2170) 

Joined lodge 6 November 1893. His home address was given as Christchurch, Canterbury, New 

Zealand. His occupation was given as Sergeant Royal Warwickshire Regiment. 

Lord Charles Beresford Lodge, Chatham, Kent (2404) 

20

Joined 23 June 1896. Resigned 31 March 1899. 

United Lodge, Colchester, Essex (697) 

Joined Lodge 14 March 1900. Resigned December 1902. Occupation given Colour Sergeant, 

Royal Warwickshire Regiment. 

Stour Lodge, Ashford, Kent (2305) 

Joined 15 January 1914. His final entry states – Killed in Action 17 February 1915. 

On 25 th April 2006 the Ministry of Defence (Army) finally APPROVED commemoration. Alf 

got a new war headstone in 2008 thanks to our intervention. 

Alfred’s death Certificate reference is – Western Ashford/CH15/415. 

An inquest was held into Alfred’s death 18 th February 1915 by the Coroner of Kent C Duncan 

Murton. These records at Maidstone were destroyed in the 1950’s. 

Alfred was born in New Romney before coming to Ashford and working for Mr Finn (the grocer). 

Alfred served 22 years in the 2 nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment 17 of which were spent 

in India. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) by Lord Roberts in South 

Africa. He won the DCM during the Battle of Belfast (Boer war 1900-1902). It is recorded that he 

won this bravery award for rescuing an injured soldier whilst under heavy fire. In 1913 Alf was 

Drill Instructor for the Ashford Company, Kent National Reserve. When the Great War 

commenced Alfred volunteered for service overseas but was turned down due to his age. Instead 

he was enlisted into the Army Remount Service (A.R.S). Alfred was almost immediately 

appointed Assistant Superintendent of the Remount Depot at Pluckley. The Superintendant and 

Alf’s boss was Colonel Birdwood also of the Army Remount Service. 

His DCM was gazetted in the London Gazette on 27 th September 1901 (Army Order 15/02). The 

award was made for a deed during the Battle of Belfast action on the 27 th August 1900. It is also 

recorded that Alfred was wounded in action on 24 th August 1900. The 2 nd Warwickshire Regiment 

sailed on the SS Gaul on 26 th November 1899 bound for the South African Boer War. It arrived in 

the Cape on 16 th December 1899. Upon reaching South Africa the battalion was placed in the 5 th 

Division commanded by Sir Charles Warren. The Battle of Belfast was the last set piece battle of 

the war. 

Alfred’s death is not recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as a war casualty. 

His death should have been recorded as a war casualty because he was a serving soldier at the 

time of his death. The Army Remount Service was manned by experienced but elderly soldiers 

who were too old to serve overseas. It was custom for these men to use their former army ranks. 

The Army Remount Service had its own designated cap badge. The photo of Alfred shows him 

wearing a cap with this badge on it. The Remount Depots were run by the A.R.S but the vast 

majority of manpower was supplied by Army Service Corps (A.S.C) soldiers attached to the Army 

Remount Service. The Army Eastern area of command (which included Kent) had 6 Remount 

Depots staffed and run by the Army Remount Service in conjunction with the Army Service Corps 

(ASC). The personnel operating the Remount Depots were fulltime soldiers who in the main wore 

the badge of the Army Service Corps and to a lesser extent the Army Remount Service. Alfred 

Baker was a member of the Army Remount Service. These remount Depots looked after the 

horses that were used by the British army throughout Europe and the Middle East. Pluckley was 

chosen because it was in close proximity to Dover. Pluckley’s depot was located close to the 

railway line possibly near or at the site of the old brickworks. The horses were transported by train 

to Dover and then put on ferries for the sea crossing. Once in France or Belgium they were taken 

to a forward remount depot for field deployment. 

21

UK REMOUNT DEPOT’s 

Dublin 

Woolwich 

Melton Mowbray 

Arborfield Cross near Reading 

Wokingham Railway Station 

Pinckards Farm, Chiddingfold, Godalming, Surrey 

Pluckley, Kent (from 4 th August 1914) 

Brentwood, Essex 

Luton, Bedfordshire 

Market Harborough 

Kettering, Northamptonshire 

Redhill, Surrey. 

The Superintendant of the Pluckley Remount Depot was Colonel Birdwood. 

Members of the Remount Depot who attended Alf’s funeral 

Colonel Birdwood 

Major Fagfan 

Captain Littledale (Veterinary Officer) 

Farrier Major Pierce 

Sergeant Bell 

Sergeant Griffin 

Sergeant Matthews 

Corporal Hemsley 

Corporal Kemp 

Corporal Packham 

Corporal Shorter 

Canteen Orderly Wood 

Private Homewood 

Private Buss 

Private Gibson 

Private Russell 

BRAY J 

Private G/456 John William George BRAY. 6 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). 

Died 4 th August 1916 aged 32 years. Born Pluckley, Kent. Enlisted Birchington, Kent. Resided 

Stourmouth near Canterbury, Kent. Son of Mrs A.E Divers of Stourmouth near Canterbury, Kent. 

Buried in the Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Grave reference VII.E.18. 

John’s name appears on the Stourmouth War Memorial near Canterbury, Kent. 

The day that John was mortally wounded when his battalion was in action on the Pozieres Ridge. 

The Battle of Pozieres Ridge commenced on the 3 rd August 1916 and continued until the evening 

of the 4 th . The battalion objective was an enemy trench system known as Ration Trench. On the 

evening of the 4 th , the battalion withdrew to Martinsart Wood and into huts. It appears that John 

was wounded on the 3 rd August and died of wounds the next day whilst being evacuated from the 

battlefield area. 

22

BUDGEN G 

Private G/7633 George BUGDEN. 8 th Battalion, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). 

Died 29 th December 1916. Born Ulcombe near Maidstone. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Pluckley. 

George has no known grave. His name appears on the Loos Memorial, France. Panel reference 

13-15. 

There is some confusion as to this mans correct surname. It is possible that his correct surname 

is one of the following – BUDGEN, BUGDEN or BUDDEN. Over the years it appears that the 

correct spelling of George’s surname has been corrupted by various agencies and organisations. 

So much so that it is now next to impossible to confirm the correct spelling. 

The day that George died the 8 th battalion Queen’s were in billets at Mazingarbe. 

COLE C 

Private G/78 Cecil COLE. 6 th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 8 th 

October 1915. Born Crowborough, Sussex. Enlisted Maidstone, Kent. Resided Pluckley. Cecil 

has no known grave. His name appears on the Loos Memorial, France. Panel reference 95 to 97. 


North End House, Egerton 

Corporal L/5058 Herbert Reginald COLE. 9 th Lancers. 

COOK A.T 

Private 235188 Archibald Thomas COOK. 5 th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. 

Formerly (3298) The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 4 th October 1917 aged 18 years. Born 

Pluckley. Enlisted Canterbury. Son of Archibald and Clara Cook of Wheatsheaf Stores, 29, Pound 

Lane, Canterbury, Kent. Archibald has no known grave. His name appears on the Tyne Cot 

Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Panel reference 23 to 28 and 163A. 

23

DUNSTER W 

Private 27066 William DUNSTER. 2 nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Formerly 

(5282) Lincolnshire Regiment. Died 17 th January 1917. Born Beckley, East Sussex. Enlisted 

Ashford. Resided Pluckley. Brother of Ernest Dunster of Swatlands Cottage, Paddock Wood, 

Kent. Buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, France. Grave reference XXI.B.12. 

24

FOX J 


Private 34410 John FOX. 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Formerly Royal Sussex Regiment. 

Killed in action 26th April 1917. Aged 33 years. Son of Robert Henry and Mercy Ellen (nee Booth) 

Fox, of Warbleton, Sussex. IN the 1901 Census (RG 13/889 pg 13) he was a 17 year old 

Labourer and his father a chicken farmer. Buried in Cabaret-Rouge British cemetery, Souchez, 

Pas de Calais, France. Plot XV. Row J. Grave 14. 

Recorded on Warbleton civic war memorial Sussex as J FOX, Royal Sussex Regiment. 

From the The Sussex Express 18 May 1917 page 5 (in action) "Mr. R.H. FOX, Homestead Farm, 

Warbleton, has received information that his second son, Private John FOX, Suffolk Regiment, 

was killed in action on 24th April. Private Fox, who was 33 years of age, joined up to do Blue 

Cross work at the outbreak of the war, and was for some time at the Remount Depot at 

Pluckley. Later he transferred to the Suffolk Regiment, and went to France last November. He 

had been away from home for thirteen years." 

25

HILLS G.E 

Private G/43717 George Ernest HILLS. 17 th Battalion (1 st Football), Middlesex Regiment. 

Died 13 th November 1916 aged 30 years. Born Pluckley, Kent. Enlisted Purfleet, Essex. Resided 

Ashford. Son of Mrs W Hills of The Street, Egerton, Kent. Buried in the Serre Road Cemetery 

Number 2, The Somme, France. Grave reference I.F.15. 


Little Houses, Egerton 

Private 113739 Charles William HILLS. Machine Gun Corps. 

The Street, Egerton 

Private RTS/4876 Daniel HILLS. Army Remount Service, Army Service Corps. 


Barlings Hole, Egerton 

William HILLS 55 Carter on Farm Brabourne 

Elizabeth 43 Bethersden 

William 19 Carter on farm Lympne 

George 14 Labourer on farm Pluckley 

Thomas 11 Charing 

On the 7 th November 1916 the 17 th battalion was in the Redan Sector. On the 9 th it marched to 

North Camp. On the 13 th November the battalion was in action on the Redan Ridge. The 

battalion’s objective was Pendant Copse and they were supported by 2 nd South Staff’s. The 

attack was a failure because the wire remained uncut. The battalion was withdrawn to Legend 

Trench. On the 15 th November the battalion went to Mailly-Maillet and the next day marched to 

Louvencourt. It appears that George was killed in action on the Redan Ridge which was high 

ground located near the village of Beaumont Hamel in The Somme, France. 

26

HOGBEN J 

Private G/13551 James HOGBEN. 16 th (Sussex Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Sussex 

Regiment (RSR). Died 21 st September 1918. Born Sutton, Maidstone, Kent. Enlisted Maidstone. 

Resided Pluckley. James has no known grave. His name appears on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, 

France. Panel reference – 6. 

This man was probably related in some way to E.G Hogben (above). 

This Memorial bears the names of over 9,000 men who fell in the period from 8 August 1918 to 

the date of the Armistice in the Advance to Victory in Picardy and Artois, between the Somme 

and Loos, and who have no known grave. They belonged to the forces of Great Britain and 

Ireland and South Africa; the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand forces being 

commemorated on other memorials to the missing. The Memorial consists of a screen wall in 

three parts. The middle part of the screen wall is concave and carries stone panels on which 

names are carved. It is 26 feet high flanked by pylons 70 feet high. The Stone of Remembrance 

stands exactly between the pylons and behind it, in the middle of the screen, is a group in relief 

representing St George and the Dragon. The flanking parts of the screen wall are also curved and 

carry stone panels carved with names. Each of them forms the back of a roofed colonnade; and 

at the far end of each is a small building. 

Vis-en-Artois and Haucourt are villages on the straight main road from Arras to Cambrai about 10 

kilometres south-east of Arras. Within the grounds of Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, which is 

west of Haucourt on the north side of the main road, will be found the Vis-en-Artois Memorial. 

27

HOLDSTOCK E 


Driver/ Rough Rider/Nagsman RTS/4813 Edward HOLDSTOCK. 2 nd Remount Depot, Army 

Remount Service (ARS) Depot Pluckley, Kent. Army Service Corps. Formerly London 

Yeomanry. Died Royal Herbert Military Hospital, Woolwich of Asthma and Bronchitis Monday 1 st 

January 1917 aged 51 years. Born Hothfield, Kent. Enlisted Pluckley. Resided Pluckley. Son of 

William and Fanny Holdstock of 75, Christchurch Road, South Ashford, Kent. Brother of Alfred 

Holdstock, Dukes Head Public House, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Greenwich Cemetery, 

London. Grave reference 3.C.A.204. The majority of burials here were from the Herbert Hospital 

and the Brook Hospital both in Greenwich. 

Edward’s service papers record he worked in the Pluckley Remount Depot, Kent (With C/Sgt A.J 

Baker DCM). His service papers clearly show that he knew Alf Baker DCM because this was the 

person who attested him on 13 December 1914. Edward was a former Territorial Force soldier 

having served in the London Yeomanry during the South African War (Boer War) 1899-1902. 

After leaving the Territorial Force and coming to Ashford Edward worked as a Groom. He was 

obviously a skilled horseman which is the reason why he was recruited into the local Remount 

Depot at Pluckley 13 December 1914. Edward was awarded the 1914/15 Star because he served 

in France with the BEF (13 December 1914 – 10 November 1916). His service papers record he 

embarked on the SS Kingtonian at Southampton for Havre on 21 December 1914. Upon arriving 

in France Edward proceeded to his unit – 30 Remount Squadron, 5 Base Remount Depot. 

Edward left France on 3 October 1916. After leaving France Edward returned to the Pluckley 

Remount Depot near Ashford. His war service for the Great War amounted to 2 years and 20 

days. It appears that Edward suffered some kind of servious Asthma attack at the Pluckley 

Remount Depot and was taken from Pluckley to Woolwich where he susequently died. When 

Edward died his next of kin was his brother Alfred who was the Licensee of the Dukes Head in 

Hamstreet. His service papers record the circumstances of his death – 

“This man was admitted to hospital 28 December 1916 complaining of constant coughing and 

breathlessness. He stated that he had never previously been ill, but while in France the above 

symptoms commenced. On examination there was signs of Bronchitis over both lungs. Later he 

developed Charatteristie manisfestations of Bronchial Pneumonia and his general condition 

became much worse. He died on 1 st January 1917. Death was due to disease which he had 

contracted since enlistment and was aggravated by his war service”. 


75, Christchurch Road, Ashford 

Fanny HOLDSTOCK 52 Widow Hothfield 

Edward 27 Groom Hothfield 

Henry 13 Fishmongers Asst Ashford 

Ellen Mary 19 Dressmaker Hothfield 

Harriet 18 Hothfield 

The Ashford (SE&CR) Railway Works Rolls of Honour lists – 

HOLDSTOCK F Coppersmith RE 

HOLDSTOCK Henry Apprentice KFRE 

HOLDSTOCK Harry Apprentice KFRE 

HOLDSTOCK L.J Apprentice 5 th Buffs 

HOLDSTOCK R Striker 5 th Buffs 

28

KEMP G.W 

Lance Corporal 682471 George William KEMP. 22 nd (Queen’s) Battalion, London Regiment. 

Formerly (29280) 9 th Reserve Cavalry Regiment. Died 23 rd March 1918 aged 22 years. Born 

Biddenden. Enlisted Shorncliffe, Folkestone. Resided Pluckley. Son of George and Harriet Kemp 

of Orchard House, Littlechart, Ashford, Kent. Later residing “Heronden Cottages”, Tenterden, 

Kent. Buried in the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Grave reference 

III.J.31. 

Before the outbreak of war George was employed by Mr Hewson at the Elham Valley Bakery. On 

4 th January 1915 George enlisted into the 3 rd (King’s Own) Hussars. He was almost immediately 

transferred into the Royal Fusiliers and went to Gallipoli with them. On 31 st December 1915 

George returned from Gallipoli suffering from frozen feet and Rhuematism. In January 1916 

George was transferred to the 22 nd London Regiment. In June 1916 George went to France with 

his battalion. 

George was wounded in acion on the 21 st March 1918 and died of his wounds 2 days later. 

George had a brother serving in the Machine Gun Corps – Albert Edward Kemp. 


Stone Cottage, Pluckley 

Private 120247 James KEMP. 61 st Company, Machine Gun Corps. 


Park Gate Cottage, Biddenden 

George KEMP 30 Labourer Biddenden 

Margaret 30 Biddenden 

George W 5 Biddenden 

Albert Edward 2 Biddenden 

Jane 1 Biddenden 

MOORE W 

Private 38625 William MOORE. 3 rd Battalion, Essex Regiment. Formerly The Buffs (East 

Kent Regiment). Died 12 th November 1918. Born Bethersden. Enlisted Pluckley. Resided 

Pluckley. Son of Albert and Elizabeth Moore of “Mill Cottage”, Bethersden. Buried in the 

Bethersden (St Margaret) Churchyard, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Grave reference – North West 

Corner of church tower. 


Mill Cottage, Bethersden 

Lance Corporal 24779 Fred MOORE. 2 nd Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). 

Private 24734 Albert MOORE. 2 nd Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). 

Sapper 236179 Lewis MOORE. Royal Engineers. 

Wrens Nest Cottage, Bethersden 

Pioneer WR/22805 Charles MOORE. Royal Engineers. 

29


Tolney, Bethersden 

Albert MOORE 38 Stockman on farm Bethersden 

Elizabeth 40 Not Known 

Fred 16 Carter on farm Bethersden 

Lewis 10 Bethersden 

Georgina 7 Bethersden 

William 4 Bethersden 

OTTAWAY J.W 

Private G/7548 John William OTTAWAY. 6 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 

8 th March 1916 aged 40 years. Born Pluckley, Kent. Enlisted Sittingbourne, Kent. Resided Milton 

Regis, Kent. Son of Albert and Elizabeth Ottaway of Milton Regis, Sittingbourne, Kent. Husband 

of Ethel Maud Ottaway of 9, King Street, Milton Regis, Sittingbourne, Kent. Buried in the Bethune 

Town Cemetery, France. Grave reference V.A.83. 

On the 6 th March 1916 the 6 th battalion was in action all day near Givenchy. The battalion’s 

objective that day was Triangle Crater in the vicinity of the Hohenzollern Redoubt. The assault 

was held up by a barrage of bombs and from knee high mud. It appears that John must have 

been wounded on the 6 th March 1916 and died of wounds two days later whilst being treated at a 

Base Hospital located in Bethune. 

PILE E.C (brother) 

Private 27803 Edwin Charles PILE. 7 th Battalion, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry. Formerly 

(22198) Territorial Battalion. Died Wednesday 21 st August 1918 aged 19 years. Born Pluckley. 

Enlisted Ashford. Resided Sparrows Hall, Warren Lane, Ashford, Kent. Son of Mr and Mrs Pile of 

8 Churchyard, Ashford, Kent. Formerly Hawthorn Cottage, Pluckley, Kent. Edwin has no known 

grave. His name appears on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial, near Haucourt, France. Panel reference 

8. 

Edwin’s name appears on the Ashford Town War Memorial in the Memorial Gardens Ashford. 

Edwin lived in Pluckley a his life. He was a member of the church choir for many years. Before 

the outbreak of war he was employed as a Drapers Assistant at Messrs Lewis & Evenden of 

Pluckley. 

His Parents also lived at Sparrows Hall, Warren Lane, Ashford during the war. Edwin’s brother 

Amos served in the Army Service Corps. 


Sparrows Hall, Warren Lane, Ashford 

Private 27803 Edwin Charles PILE. 7 th K.S.E.J. 




30

Street, Pluckley 















The 7 th Shropshire Light Infantry was formed at Shrewsbury August 1914 (76 th Brigade, 25 th 

Division). Landed France 28 th September 1915 (76 th Brigade, 3 rd Division). Attached 8 th Brigade, 

3 rd Division on 19 th October 1915. The battalion stayed on the Western Front for the remaining 

duration of the war. 

31

PILE E.L 

Private 32210 Edward Lewis PILE. 3 rd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Died 27 th April 

1921. Son of Mrs F Pile of 18, Dunstan Avenue, Westgate-On-Sea, Margate, Kent. Buried locally 

in the Pluckley (St Nicholas) Churchyard, Pluckley, Kent. Grave reference – North Part. 

It seems inconcievable that this man’s name was not placed on the village war memorial bearing 

in mind that he is buried within 50 yards of where it stands. If that were not bad enough, Edward’s 

name appears on the Pluckley school roll of honour which now hangs inside the Pluckley parish 

church. It’s almost Unbelievable yet it is true… 


Sparrows Hall, Warren Lane, Ashford 

Private 27803 Edwin Charles PILE. 7 th K.S.E.J. 




Street, Pluckley 


32














SHUTE W.E 

Corporal 1325 Walter Ernest SHUTE. 23 rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Died 7 th September 

1918 aged 27 years. Son of Henry and Jane Shute of Bemerton, Salibury,Wiltshire. Husband of 

Rosa Annie Shute of Raywood Farm, Charing, Kent. Formerly Pivington Farm, Pluckley, Ashford, 

Kent. Buried in the Vaulx Hill Cemetery, France. Grave reference III.J.17. 

Walter enlisted in January 1915 voluntarily. He moved to France with his battalion in November 

1915. 

His Commanding Officer wrote – 

“Your husband was a great friend of mine for a long time and was loved and respected by all 

those that knew him. During the time he had been with these headquarters and previously when 

with the 2 battalions, there had been no man on the mess staff more generally respected by all 

officers of the mess than your husband”. I know well the example he has always set to the other 

men, of cheeriness and devotion to duty, often under very tiring circumstances. He was killed by 

a shell while doing some very necessary work while we were being heavily shelled”. 

Walter’s name was not placed on the Pluckley war memorial nor was it placed on Charing’s 

tribute either! 

33

SKEER G.W 

Stoker 2 nd Class K/45813 George William SKEER. HMS Hornet, Royal Navy. Died of Wounds 

at Naval Hospital Valona, Greece 30 th April 1918 aged 24 years. Born Pluckley. Son of John 

Skeer of Brogdale Road, Faversham. Formerly of Pluckley. Buried Salonika (Lembet Road) 

Cemetery, Salonica, Greece. Grave reference – 1622. 

See Edwin HOGBEN (above). George must have known Edwin who served on the same ship. 

They probably both died as a consequence of one action. 

Before the outbreak of war George was employed (4 years) as a Platelayer on the Railways. 

George joined the Royal Navy in September 1917. George had a brother who was serving with 

the Buffs in India. 

HMS Hornet was a Acheron class Destroyer completed 20 December 1911. Attached to 1 st 

Flotilla from 1911 to 1912 and the Grand Fleet from 1914 to 1916 when it was transferred to the 

3 rd Battle Flotilla. HMS Hornet was sold off in 1921. 

HMS Hornet was invlolved in rescuing survivers from HMS Argyll in October 1915 - 

“ Meanwhile, the two destroyers HMS HORNET and JACKALL appeared out of the gloom and 

made every effort to get close to the stricken ARGYLL. After several attempts, HORNET 

managed to get her stern close to ARGYLL's, where 500 of her crew had been assembled for 

abandoning ship. The rest of the crew took to the lifeboats and rowed clear of their ship”. 

“ On mountainous waves, the stern of HORNET rose and fell like an express lift against 

ARGYLL's. At times the two ships clashed violently, buckling HORNET's stern plates. There was 

a real danger of men being crushed between them, but each time the sterns passed, men made 

the jump to HORNET's deck until there were none left aboard ARGYLL”. 

34

SKINNER A.L 

Lance Sergeant Albert Edward SKINNER. 2/4 th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent 

Regiment). Formerly (1811) The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 4 th November 1917 aged 

30 years. Born Pluckley. Son of Joseph and Clara Skinner of The Street, Great Chart, Kent. 

Buried in the Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel. Grave reference G.25. 


Perches Cottage, Great Chart 

Gunner 58416 Albert William SKINNER. 77 th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. 

Sapper 196163 Christopher George SKINNER. Royal Engineers. 


Great Chart 

Joseph SKINNER 34 Bricklayer Pluckley 

Albert E 13 Pluckley 

Violet 10 Little Chart 

Isabella 8 Little Chart 

Lucy B 4 Pluckley 

Christopher 4 Pluckley 

Douglas 3 Great Chart 

35

SKINNER F 

Private G/10243 Frederick SKINNER. 6 th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent 

Regiment). Died 2 nd July 1918. Born Pluckley, Kent. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Maidstone. Son 

of Mr E Skinner of East Peckham in Kent. Husband of Mrs A.L Skinner of 135, Milton Street, 

Maidstone, Kent. Buried in the Harponville Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Grave 

reference F.9. 

Frederick’s name appears on the parish roll of honour which now hangs in the Pluckley parish 

church. It is not known how his name came to be on the roll yet his name was never placed on 

the parish war memorial… 


Brickyard Cottages, Pluckley 

Henry SKINNER 53 Brickyard Labourer (Clay) St Mary Cray, Kent 

Sarah A 43 Egerton 

Arthur 22 Brickyard Labourer St Mary Cray, Kent 

Elsie V 13 Pluckley 

Frederick 11 Pluckley 

Aubrey 9 Pluckley 

Rosie 6 Pluckley 

May A 3 Pluckley 

36

SMITH R.H 

This man is listed in Soldiers Died Great War as born in RUCKLEY, Kent?? 

Private M2/269915 Richard Henry SMITH. 402 nd Mechanical Transport (M.T) Company, 

Army Service Corps (ASC). Posted Headquarters, 1 st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Died 

15 th November 1917. Born Ruckley, Kent. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Canterbury. Buried 

Potijze Chateau Grounds Cemetery, Belgium. Grave reference I.C.62. 

The cemetery is located to the North-East of the town of Ieper. From the station turn left and drive 

along M.Fochlaan to the roundabout, turn right and go to the next roundabout. Here turn left into 

M.Haiglaan and drive to the next roundabout. Here turn right into Oude Veurnestraat, this then 

changes into Diksmuidseweg and Brugseweg. Drive along this road and continue straight over 

the traffic lights to the end of the road. At the T junction turn left (still Brugseweg) and continue 

along this road (the N313) to the village of Sint Jan. At the crossroads in the village turn right onto 

the N345 (Potijzestraat), follow along to the next crossroads and turn left into Zonnebeekseweg. 

The cemetery is located on the left hand side by the cross roads. 

Potijze was within the Allied lines during practically the whole of the First Word War and although 

subject to incessant shell fire, Potijze Chateau contained an Advanced Dressing Station. Potijze 

Chateau Grounds Cemetery was used from May 1915 to September 1918 and at the end of the 

war, consisted of Plot I. Plot II was formed after the Armistice when graves were brought in from 

isolated sites and small burial grounds to the north-east. A path separates the cemetery from 

Potijze Chateau Lawn Cemetery, used from May to December 1915, July 1917 and October 

1918. Potijze Chateau Grounds Cemetery contains 476 Commonwealth burials of the First World 

War, 111 of which are unidentified. The Lawn Cemetery contains 226 burials. Both cemeteries 

were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. 

WARDE E.J 

Corporal L/4042 Edward James WARDE. “D” Squadron, 5 th Lancers (Royal Irish). Died 26 TH 

August 1914 aged 20 years. Born Pluckley, Kent. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Upper Walmer 

near Deal, Kent. Eldest son of Edward and Alice Warde of 3, Neal’s Cottages, Dover Road, 

Upper Walmer, Deal, Kent. Buried in the Angre Communal Cemetery. Grave reference II.A.1. 

West part. 

The village of Angre is located south-west of the town of Mons on the N553. From the motorway 

E19, which runs between Mons and Valenciennes, turn off at junction 26 onto the N552 in the 

direction of Thulin/Dour. Follow the N552 to the Town of Dour and the junction with the N553, turn 

onto the N553 in the direction of Angre/Audregnies. On entering the village of Angre the road 

bears to the left and there is a junction off to the right signed Baisieux, the cemetery is by this 

junction in rue E.Cornez. The graves are located in two plots. Go through the main entrance and 

follow the left hand path along the wall, the first plot is on the left. For the second plot follow the 

same path along the wall towards the morgue and the graves are behind the first row on the right 

nearly at the end of the path. 

Angre Communal Cemetery contains 16 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, five of 

which are unidentified. They date from August 1914 and October-December 1918, and in most 

cases were brought into the cemetery after the Armistice. 

37

WHYBOURN J 

Lance Corporal G/8841 John WHYBOURN. 1 st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). 

Died 7 th April 1917 aged 29 years. Born Pluckley, Kent. Enlisted Dover. Resided Nonnington near 

Dover. Son of Mr Whybourn of Holt Street, Nonnington, Dover, Kent. Buried in the Longuenesse 

(St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France. Grave reference IV.B.50. 

The day that John died his battalion had just taken to the trenches at Loos. On the 9 th April it was 

engaged in a small raid on enemy positions south of Loos Crassier. It is recorded that John died 

of wounds. He was probably wounded in an earlier battle and recovered to a Base Hospital at St 

Omer where he subsequently succumbed to his wounds. 

38

WISE W 

Corporal G/8800 William WISE. 10 th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). 

Died 3 rd April 1918. Born Pluckley, Kent. Enlisted Maidstone. Buried in the Niederzwehren 

Cemetery, Germany. Grave reference VI.C.9. 

This man was obviously a Prisoner of War (POW) when he died. The Germans often treated 

prisoners appallingly and this is reflected in the amount of British soldiers who were killed whilst in 

their custody. 

The cemetery is located 10 kilometres south of Kassel and 2 kilometres from the main road from 

Kassel to Marburg. Approach Kassel on the A49 motorway leaving at junction Kassel 

Niederzwehren, which forms the Frankfurter Strasse. The first right hand turning leads into the 

Dittershauser Strasse. Continue on this road which becomes a narrow road at the bend. Follow 

the bend to the right, where the cemetery is clearly signposted, which leads to a small 

crossroads. Turn left at the crossroads where Niederzwehren Cemetery becomes visible from the 

roadside. The Commonwealth plots now form a separate cemetery lying beside the Russian 

cemetery. 

The cemetery was begun by the Germans in 1915 for the burial of prisoners of war who died at 

the local camp. During the war almost 3,000 Allied soldiers and civilians, including French, 

Russian and Commonwealth, were buried there In 1922-23 it was decided that the graves of 

Commonwealth servicemen who had died all over Germany should be brought together into four 

permanent cemeteries. Niederzwehren was one of those chosen and in the following four years, 

more than 1,500 graves were brought into the cemetery from 190 burial grounds in Baden, 

Bavaria, Hanover, Hesse and Saxony. There are now 1,796 First World War servicemen buried 

or commemorated in the Commonwealth plot at Niederzwehren. This total includes special 

memorials to 13 casualties buried in other cemeteries in Germany whose graves could not be 

found. The following cemeteries are among those from which graves were brought to 

Niederzwehren: BAYREUTH TOWN CEMETERY, Bavaria. 24 burials of 1918. DARMSTADT 

FOREST CEMETERY, Hesse. In use from 1915. 102 burials. DIETKIRCHEN PRISONERS OF 

WAR CEMETERY, Hesse-Nassau. 45 burials (28 of Irish regiments) of 1914-18. FREIBURG IN 

BREISGAU MAIN CEMETERY, Baden, 43 burials of 1918. GERMERSHEIM CEMETERY, 

Palatinate. 26 burials of 1915-1918. GIESSEN MILITARY CEMETERY, Hesse. 99 burials of 

1914-1919. GOTTINGEN MILITARY CEMETERY, Hanover. 88 burials of 1914-1919. HAMELN 

PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERY, Hanover. 70 burials of 1915-1918. INGOLSTADT 

CEMETERY, Bavaria. 23 burials of 1917-1918. LANGENSALZA PRISONERS OF WAR 

CEMETERIES No. 1 and No. 2, Prussian Saxony. 225 burials of 1915-1918. MAINZ MILITARY 

CEMETERY, Rhein-Hessen. 23 burials of 1915-1919. MANNHEIM MAIN CEMETERY, Baden. 

21 burials of 1916-1918. MESCHEDE PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERY, Westphalia. 49 

burials of 1917-1918. OHRDRUF PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERY, Thuringia. 107 burials of 

1915-1918. PADERBORN CEMETERY, Westphalia. 29 soldiers burials of 1914-18. 

QUEDLINBURG CENTRAL CEMETERY, Prussian Saxony. 102 burials of 1914-1918. 

SENNELAGER PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERY, Westphalia. 32 burials of 1914-1918. 

39

WOOLLEY R 

Private 12428 Robert WOOLLEY. “A” Company, 9 th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire 

Regiment. Formerly (56434) Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). Died Gallipoli 29 th November 

1915 aged 32 years. Born Pluckley. Enlisted Chatham. Resided Ashford. Son of James and Celia 

Woolley of Kingsland Cottage, Pluckley, Kent. Robert has no known grave. His name appears on 

the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey. Panel reference 35 to 37. 

Robert’s name appears on the Pluckley School Roll of Honour. It is not known why his name was 

not placed on the parish war memorial. Quite ridiculous really… 

It is thought that Robert died of illness or disease whilst on active service in Gallipoli. The 9 th 

battalion’s war diary states that conditions were appalling for the men. On the 28 th November 

1915 the weather was extremely cold and wet. Many men suffered from frost bite. The battalion 

withdrew to West Beach. 

40

PLUCKLEY PARISH 

Roll of Honour 

41

The undermentioned parish men served in the colours during the Great War 

FIDLER W SGT REKMR 

BLACKMAN J PRIVATE BUFFS 

PILE J PRIVATE R.E 

PILE J.W PRIVATE S.N.H 

BALDOCK F PRIVATE K.R.R.C 

COOPER F PRIVATE R. SUSSEX R 

SMITH J PRIVATE R.E 

LUCKHURST A 

PRIVATE 

WELLE P 

PRIVATE 

BULL W 

R.N 

MILES W.D PRIVATE THE BUFFS 

BASSETT G/C PRIVATE R.W.Sy 

CLARKE William PRIVATE BUFFS 

BRYANT C 

PRIVATE 

HAMS A PRIVATE BUFFS 

CLARKE L PRIVATE BEDFORD’s 

FARRANCE PRIVATE BEDFORD’s 

MORRIS C TROOPER R.M.C? 

CROUCHER J PRIVATE R.E 

CLIFTON K PRIVATE R.Fus 

CLIFTON E PRIVATE BUFFS 

CLIFTON F PRIVATE BUFFS 

SMITH E PRIVATE C.H 

BALDOCK A PRIVATE RAMC 

MARCHANT L PRIVATE N.R (National Reserve)? 

BULL S PRIVATE REKMR 

RALPH H PRIVATE R.E 

MILES G.R PRIVATE R.E 

SKINNER S 

PRIVATE 

BLACKMAN PRIVATE HERT’S R 

PENTECOST G L/CPL R. SUSSEX 

HOMEWOOD J L/CPL A.S.C 

MILES G PRIVATE T.R 

BASSETT J PRIVATE M.P 

SMITH J PRIVATE R. Fus 

JENNINGS W PRIVATE A.S.C 

MARTYN H 

PRIVATE 

WATERFIELD H 

PRIVATE 

FARRANCE 

42

PLUCKLEY SCHOOL 

Roll of Honour 

The undermentioned men were educated in the Pluckley Village School and 

served in the colours during the Great War 

43

WILLCOCK T 

Private T WILLCOCK. Machine Gun Section, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). The Kentish 

Express reported him wounded in the hand during April 1916. He was recovering in Bombay 

Military Hospital, India. Son of W Willcock of Dering Terrace, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Before the 

outbreak of war T Willcock was employed at the Pluckley Brick and Tile Company (Pluckley brick 

works). 

This man’s name appears on the Pluckley School Roll of Honour. 

44

PLUCKLEY - Kent Fallen

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