KENNINGTON - Kent Fallen

ROYAL NAVY
COULTER H.R
Boy 1 st Class J/27718 Henry Robert COULTER. H.M.S “Goliath”, Royal Navy. Died Gallipoli,
Turkey on the 13 th May 1915 aged only 16 years. Son of Frederick and Frances Lucy Coulter of
“Forestmere”, Kennington. Henry has no known grave. His name appears on the Chatham Naval
Memorial, Chatham, Kent. Panel reference 10.
The CWGC wrongly list Henry’s age as 18 years yet records his rank as a Boy 1 st Class!
This ship was a “Canopus” class battleship built 25 th March 1898. The Ship was sunk on 13 th May
by enemy torpedo attack (by the Turkish Destroyer “Mauvenet”) in the Mediterranean off Morto
Bay near Gallipoli, Turkey. The ship’s captain was Captain T.L Shelford. There were 180
survivors but 570 men tragically lost their lives (including Henry).
HIGGINS A.E
Private CH/1462(S) Albert Edward HIGGINS, Chatham Division, 1 st Royal Marines Battalion,
Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI). Died 28 th April 1917. Born Willesborough. Born 23 rd
October 1888. Step son of Charles and Sarah Burton of Vicarage Road, Kennington, Ashford,
Kent. Albert has no known grave. His name appears on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. Panel
reference Bay 1.
Albert enlisted into the Royal Marines at Chatham in January 1916 and was sent straight to RM
Deal, Kent on 7 th February 1916 where he completed his basic training. From Deal he was sent to
the Chatham Battalion, Royal Marines arriving there on 18 July 1916. He remained at Chatham
until 31 December 1916 when he was posted overseas on active service.
The 1901 Kennington Census gives –
Albert HIGGINS 12 Willesborough.
Albert was probably killed somewhere near the village of Gavrelle in France.
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