KINGSNORTH - Kent Fallen

KINGSNORTH
The Great War
1914 – 1919
1

BINGHAM G.W
Private G/25960 George William BINGHAM. 11 th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent
Regiment). Formerly (9741) The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 28 th September 1917 aged
30 years. Born Kingsnorth March 1887. Son of William and Hannah Bingham (nee Hills) of
Houghton Cottage, Steed’s Lane, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Godewaersvelde
British Cemetery, Belgium. Grave reference I.J.9.
George’s father William was born at Hornash House, Shadoxhurst in September 1853. His
mother Hannah was born locally at Kingsnorth in 1856. They had 12 children! – Edith Jane,
Alfred, Minnie, Kate, Fanny, Ernest, George, Grace, William, Annie, Alice, Agnes.
The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives –
Houghton Cottage, Kingsnorth
Private 9740 Ernest BINGHAM. 1 st Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
Gunner William BINGHAM. 109 th Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
The 1901 census gives –
Hougton Cottage, Kingsnorth
William BINGHAM 49 Farm Servant Shadoxhurst
Hannah 44 Kingsnorth
Alfred 24 Kingsnorth
Fanny 18 Shadoxhurst
Ernest 16 Farm Servant Kingsnorth
George 14 Kingsnorth
Grace 12 Kingsnorth
William 10 Kingsnorth
Annie 8 Kingsnorth
Alice 6 Kingsnorth
Agnes 4 Kingsnorth
In the Kingsnorth Churchyard there are at least 3 Bingham’s buried there –
Harold BINGHAM 22 nd September 1942
Ada May
12 th March 1992 (aged 86 years)
Jesse
4 th April 1943 (aged 68 years)
On the 20 th September 1917 the 11 th West Kent’s were in action near Gheluvelt along the ridge
beyond Basseville Brook known to the British as Tower Hamlets. The attack was made with the
Hampshire Regiment. First objective was a line behind Java Trench. Second objective was a line
behind Basseville and Beck Trenches. The final objective was Tower Trench behind Tower
Hamlets. Enemy machine guns checked the advance and many men were cut down trying to dig
in. The battalion’s objectives were consolidated at considerable cost in terms of human life. The
Commanding Officer Colonel Corfe was badly wounded in this fierce fighting. The next day (22 nd
September) another attack was made this time led by the 20 th Durham Light Infantry. George was
probably mortally wounded on the 20 th September 1917 at Tower Hamlets and died of his
wounds a few days later.
2

BOULDING F.T
Rifleman 14/40175 Frank Thomas BOULDING. 14 th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. Died
Thursday 7 th June 1917 aged 27 years. Son of Mr Edward and Harriet Boulding of Mill Hill,
Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Lone Tree Cemetery, Mesen, Belgium. Grave reference
II.B.8.
The 1901 Census gives –
Near The Mill, Kingsnorth
Edward BOULDING 48 Farm Servant Bonnington
Harriet 36 Great Chart
Frank T 11 Kingsnorth
Edith A 6 Kingsnorth
3

BURT G.W
Private 213961 George William BURT. 25 th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Died Thursday 25 th
March 1919 aged 20 years. Son of William and Louisa Burt of Stumble Farm Cottage, Kingsnorth,
Ashford, Kent. Buried locally in the Kingsnorth (St Michael) Churchyard, Kingsnorth, Ashford,
Kent. Grave reference – South of churchyard.
George’s grave lies in dense undergrowth and weeds (aren’t the insects and reptiles lucky)!
4

CLARK A.J
Private L/8489 Albert James CLARK. 2 nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died
Monday 3 rd May 1915 aged 27 years. Born High Halden. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided
Willesborogh. Son of Charles Clark of Bond Cottages, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Albert has no
known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Panel
reference 12 and 14.
In the Kingsnorth Churchyard there are a number of CLARK’s buried –
Leslie Arthur CLARK 10 th April 1914 – 1 st May 1981
Doris Eileen 8 th June 1916 – 27 th September 2003
Gloria May Rose 12 th May 1939 – 26 th October 1946
On the 28 th April 1915 the 2 nd battalion Buffs took over frontline trenches at Verlorenhoek,
Belgium. The battalion’s commanding officer Lt Col A.D Geddes was killed by a shell that burst
near the battalion headquarters. The day that Albert was killed the battalion was still in the
trenches at Verlorenhoek. The 2 nd battalion were finally relieved at 1900 hours on the 3 rd May
1915. On the 4 th May 1915 the battalion was moved out of the line to a wood north of the
Vlamertinghe-Poperinghe Road.
5

FURLEY G.F (brother)
Private 808603 George Frederick FURLEY. 31 st Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Alberta
Regiment). Formerly 137 th Battalion. Died Thursday 8 th November 1917 aged 41 years. Born
31 st December 1875 at Heydor, Lincolnshire. Eldest son of Reverand Henry and Helen Mary
Furley of of Mount Sandford, Southborough, Kent. Formerly The Rectory, Kingsnorth, Ashford,
Kent. Buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. Grave reference XXII.G.20A.
George’s father Henry Furley was the Rector of Kingsnorth for many years.
Educated at Tonbridge School, Tonbridge, Kent from 1892 until 1894 (School House). His name
appears on the Tonbridge School Roll of Honour which was published after the war.
George emigrated to Canada in 1903 and became a Farmer at Virden, Manitober. He suffered
from a slight shortening of his right leg following an earlier accident in which he broke his hip.
George volunteered for overseas service with the Canadian Army on the 16 th February 1916.
George went to the front in early 1917. He was very badly wounded in the arm by a shrapnel
shell and died apparently on the same day at a Casualty Clearing Station.
The 1901 Census gives –
The Rectory, Kingsnorth
Henry FURLEY 59 Reverand Canterbury
Elizabeth 52 Norwood, London
John 23 Articled Clerk Northampton
Agnes M 21 Northampton
Margaret H 17 Littlehampton
Helen F 15 Littlehampton
As well as losing his brother Robert, George also had an uncle killed –
Major Bernard Edward FURLEY, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 13 th October 1915.
6

FURLEY R.B (brother)
Second Lieutenant Robert Basil FURLEY. 1 st (Bucks) Battalion, Oxfordshire and
Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (OBLI). Formerly 16 th Battalion, London Regiment. Died
Tuesday 25 th January 1916 aged 27 years. Youngest son of the Reverand Henry Furley of Mount
Sandford, Southborough, Kent. Formerly The Rectory, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the
Hebuterne Military Cemetery, France. Grave reference I.A.10.
Robert’s father Henry Furley was the Rector of Kingsnorth for many years.
Educated South East Agricultural College in Wye from 1909 until 1911. His name also appears
on the Wye College War Memorial at Wye.
On the outbreak of war Robert enlisted in the 16 th London Regiment (Queen’s Westminsters) and
received his commission in the summer of 1915. He went out to France on the 5 th January 1916
and 20 days later was hit in the forhead by a snipers bullet. At the time he was killed he was
observing enemy positions from a captured trench.
7

The 1901 Census gives –
The Rectory, Kingsnorth
Henry FURLEY 59 Reverand Canterbury
Elizabeth 52 Norwood, London
John 23 Articled Clerk Northampton
Agnes M 21 Northampton
Margaret H 17 Littlehampton
Helen F 15 Littlehampton
8

GAUNT G
Gunner 115659 George GAUNT. 1 st Reinforcing Siege Depot, Royal Garrison Artillery
(RGA). Died Wednesday 19 th November 1919 aged 21 years. Born Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent.
Son of Albert and Ellen Gaunt of Pound Cottages, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Buried locally in the
Kingsnorth (St Michael) Churchyard, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Grave reference – South East
corner of graveyard. The grass here is thankfully being cut (as of June 2005)!
Prior to the outbreak of war George was employed as a milkman.
Enlisted Ashford 12 December 1915 (Royal Garrison Artillery). Mobilised 11 May 1916. Admitted
Shorncliffe Military Hospital, Folkestone, Kent 1 May 1917 suffering from headaches and general
malaise.
Discharged unfit for further service 6 July 1917 with diabetes. Awarded a war pension (60%
disability).
The 1901 census gives –
Pound Green, Kingsnorth
Albert GAUNT 36 Farm Servant Hothfield
Ellen 34 Wilesborough
Elsie 9 Kingsnorth
Hettie 6 Kingsnorth
George 3 Kingsnorth
Henry 27 Rail Works Ashford
9

HAMILTON N.B
Captain Norman Butler HAMILTON. 5 th Battalion, (King’s Own) Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Died Wednesday 24 th July 1918. Resided Finn Farm, Finn Farm Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent.
Buried in the Post Office Rifles Cemetery, Festubert. France. Grave reference III.F.23.
The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives –
Finn Farm House, Kingsnorth
Captain Norman Butler HAMILTON. King’s Own (Royal Lancashire’s).
Festubert was occupied by Commonwealth forces in October 1914 and on 23-24 November, the
Indian Corps repulsed a German attack. The Battle of Festubert (15-25 May 1915) resulted in a
short advance which left the village somewhat less exposed than it had been, and from then until
9 April 1918 and the beginning of the Battle of the Lys, this sector was quiet. Festubert was held
by the 55th (West Lancashire) Division against the German assault, and successive attacks
lasting through the month were repelled by the 1st and other Divisions. It remained an outpost for
Commonwealth forces until the final advance began in September 1918. Post Office Rifles
Cemetery was used in April-June 1915, before and during the Battles of Aubers Ridge and
Festubert; it then contained 40 graves, of which 38 belonged to the London Regiment (chiefly the
8th Battalion). It was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the
surrounding battlefields, and in particular from the part of the line defended by the 55th Division in
April 1918. The cemetery now contains 400 First World War burials, 272 of which are
unidentified. The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.
HILLS H
Private G/8466 Herbert HILLS. 8 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died
Wednesday 16 th August 1916. Born Kingsnorth. Buried in the Corbie Communal Cemetery
Extension, Corbie, Somme, France. Grave reference Plot 2, Row A, Grave 111.
There are at least 4 members of the HILLS family buried in the Kingsnorth Churchyard.
The day that Herbert lost his life the 8 th battalion were at Bernafay Wood on the Somme, France.
The battalion was involved in a major attack on the 18 th August 1916. There is no reference to
any attack the day that Herbert died which probably means that he was wounded at an earlier
date and died of his wounds on 16 th August 1916.
10

LANGSDON W.T
Flight Cadet 60158 Walter Thomas LANGSDON. 46 th Training Depot Station, Royal Air
Force (RAF). Formerly 53 rd (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Died Tuesday 11 th March
1919 aged 20 years. Resided Manor House, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Son of Walter and Emily
Langsdon of Stone Cottage, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Buried locally in the Kingsnorth (St
Michael) Churchyard, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Grave reference – North of Church. His grave
lies in dense undergrowth and weeds most of the summer (aren’t the insects and reptiles lucky)!
The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives –
Manor House, Kingsnorth
Cadet 60158 Walter Thomas LANGSDON. 53 rd (Reserve), Royal Fusiliers.
Walter was probably killed in a UK training flying accident.
46 th Reserve Squadron, Royal Air Force was based at Doncaster in Yorkshire. On the 31 st May
1917 it became 46 th Training Squadron. On the 15 th July 1918 whilst at Catterick in Yorkshire it
was disbanded and merged with 52 nd Training Squadron to finally become the 46 th Training Depot
Station, Royal Air Force. In July 1919 it was stationed at South Carlton.
11

PLUMRIDGE E
Lance Corporal 330435 Edward PLUMRIDGE. 8 th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. Died
Thursday 19 th April 1917. Born Kingsnorth. Resided Maidenhead, Berkshire. Buried in the Gaza
War Cemetery, Palestine, (Israel). Grave reference XXI.G.6.
The 8 th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment were attached to the 54 th Division.
Gaza was bombarded by French warships in April 1915. At the end of March 1917, it was
attacked and surrounded by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the First Battle of Gaza, but the
attack was broken off when Turkish reinforcements appeared. The Second Battle of Gaza, 17-19
April, left the Turks in possession and the Third Battle of Gaza, begun on 27 October, ended with
the capture of the ruined and deserted city on 7 November. Casualty clearing stations arrived
later that month and general and stationary hospitals in 1918. Some of the earliest burials were
made by the troops that captured the city. About two-thirds of the total were brought into the
cemetery from the battlefields after the Armistice. The remainder were made by medical units
during the occupation. During the Second World War, Gaza was an Australian hospital base, and
the AIF Headquarters were posted there. Among the military hospitals in Gaza were 2/1st
Australian General Hospital, 2/6th Australian General Hospital, 8th Australian Special Hospital,
and from July 1943 until May 1945, 91 British General Hospital. There was a Royal Air Force
aerodrome at Gaza, which was considerably developed from 1941 onwards. Gaza War Cemetery
contains 3,217 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 781 of them unidentified. Second
World War burials number 210. There are also 30 post war burials and 234 war graves of other
nationalities.
POST I.F
Bombardier 28320 Ivor Francis POST. 5 th Mountain Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA).
Died Wednesday 10 th March 1915 aged 25 years. Born Mersham. Resided Swamp Cottage,
Kingsnorth. Son of Herbert and Frances Mary Post of 14 Hamilton Road, Willesborough, Ashford,
Kent. Formerly (1901) Swamp Cottage, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Ivor has no known grave. His
name appears on the Le Touret Memorial, Le Touret, France. Panel reference 1.
The Kingsnorth Parish Roll of Honour in the parish church lists: Bombardier G POST – Killed.
The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives –
Swamp Cottage, Kingsnorth
Private Algernon Reginald POST. Grenadier Guards.
Private Leonard POST. Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps.
The 1901 Census gives –
Swamp Cottage, Kingsnorth
Herbert POST 41 Railway Labourer Bonnington
Frances M 39 Woodchurch
Mabel May 14 Ruckinge
Leonard 12 Cattle Boy Ruckinge
Ivor 11 Mersham
Ernest 10 Mersham
Algernon 6 Kingsnorth
Violet 1 Kingsnorth
Margaret 2 months Kingsnorth
12

SHORTER A
Private G/21588 Aaron SHORTER. 7 th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died 1 st May 1918.
Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Vine Cottage, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the
Niederzwehren Cemetery, Germany. Grave reference IV.L.2.
The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives –
Vine Cottage, Kingsnorth
Private G/21588 Aaron SHORTER. 7 th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.
Aaron must have been captured by the Germans and sent to a prisoner of war camp in Germany
where he subsequently died. The 7 th Royal Sussex was attached to the 18 th (Eastern) Division
throughout the war.
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.
13

SINDEN H.A
Private 11744 Hubert Arthur SINDEN. 1 st Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent
Regiment). Died Tuesday 20 th June 1916 aged 27 years. Born Kingsnorth. Enlisted Ashford. Son
of James and Catherine Sinden of Washford Farm, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Husband of Ellen
Sinden. Buried in the Faubourg D’amiens Cemetery, Arras, France. Grave reference I.D.58.
The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives –
Washford Farm, Kingsnorth
Driver 195449 Harold SINDEN. 2 nd (Lancashire) Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Sapper 540774 Leslie James SINDEN. 12 th Division, Royal Engineers.
The 1901 census gives –
Washford Farm, Kingsnorth
James SINDEN 30 Farm Servant Great Chart
Catherine 28 Tenterden
Leslie 6 Kingsnorth
Harold 4 Kingsnorth
Jane 53 Widow Mersham
Mary 22 Laundress Great Chart
Hubert 12 Kingsnorth
The 1 st West Kent’s were attached to the 5 th Division.
14

LOST MEN
BINGHAM C.H
Private L/9057 Charles Henry BINGHAM, 2 nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
Died Sunday 14 th February 1915 aged 29 years. Born Kingsnorth. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided
2, Nicholls Cottages, Beaver Road, Ashford. Son of Henry and Harriet Bingham of 10 Millbank,
Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Charles has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin
Gate) Memorial in Leper Belgium. Panel reference 12 and 14.
Before the outbreak of war, Charles worked for the Permanent Way Department of the SE&CR
Company. He spent his time checking the condition of the rails in and around Ashford.
Charles was a professional soldier having completed over 6 year’s army service before he was
killed. He went to France with his battalion shortly after the outbreak of war.
It appears that Charles was killed in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. The day that Charles died his
battalion was in action all day near the St Eloi-Ypres Road. His commanding officer at this time
was Col Geddes who was killed a few days later in the same area.
15

BINGHAM F.J
Private G/4710 Frank John BINGHAM. 8 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died
5 th January 1917 aged 27 years. Born Ashford. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Faversham.
Youngest son of Mr George Bingham of Faversham, Kent late of Boughton. Grandson of Mr
Richard Bingham of Rose Cottage, Sticketts Lane, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Husband of R
Abbott (formerly Bingham) of White Hill, Selling, Faversham, Kent. Buried in the Philosophe
British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, France. Grave reference II.G.6.
This man is recorded wrongly by the CWGC as being named E.J Bingham.
Frank enlisted in the Army in November 1914 shortly after the outbreak of war. At the time he
enlisted he was employed at Davington Court in Faversham. He went to France with his battalion
in August 1915. Frank was badly wounded in the leg during the Battle of Loos in September
1915. He returned to France in May 1916 and was killed the following January. He left a widow
and one child.
The Ashford Absentee Voters List for 1918 gives –
Houghton Cottage, Kingsnorth
Private 9740 Ernest BINGHAM. 1 st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
Gunner William BINGHAM. 109 Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (R.G.A).
The cemetery was started in August 1915. In 1916 it was taken over by the 16th (Irish) Division,
who held the Loos Salient at the time, and many of their dead were brought back to the cemetery
from the front line. Succeeding divisions used the cemetery until October 1918, and men of the
same Division, and often the same battalion, were buried side by side. After the Armistice, many
isolated graves from the Loos battlefield were brought into the cemetery, including those of 41
men of the 9th Black Watch. There are now 1,996 Commonwealth burials of the First World War
in the cemetery, 277 of them unidentified. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
16

CORNWELL C.W
Private 9354 Charles Walter CORNWELL. 3 rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (London Regiment).
Died 24 th May 1915. Resided Kingsnorth. Enlisted Southend, Essex. Charles has no known
grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Panel reference
6 and 8.
The 3 rd Royal Fusiliers was attached to the 50 th Division.
The Menin Gate is one of four memorials to the missing in Belgian Flanders which cover the area
known as the Ypres Salient. Broadly speaking, the Salient stretched from Langemarck in the
north to the northern edge in Ploegsteert Wood in the south, but it varied in area and shape
throughout the war. The Salient was formed during the First Battle of Ypres in October and
November 1914, when a small British Expeditionary Force succeeded in securing the town before
the onset of winter, pushing the German forces back to the Passchendaele Ridge. The Second
Battle of Ypres began in April 1915 when the Germans released poison gas into the Allied lines
north of Ypres. This was the first time gas had been used by either side and the violence of the
attack forced an Allied withdrawal and a shortening of the line of defence. There was little more
significant activity on this front until 1917, when in the Third Battle of Ypres an offensive was
mounted by Commonwealth forces to divert German attention from a weakened French front
further south. The initial attempt in June to dislodge the Germans from the Messines Ridge was a
complete success, but the main assault north-eastward, which began at the end of July, quickly
became a dogged struggle against determined opposition and the rapidly deteriorating weather.
The campaign finally came to a close in November with the capture of Passchendaele. The
German offensive of March 1918 met with some initial success, but was eventually checked and
repulsed in a combined effort by the Allies in September. The battles of the Ypres Salient claimed
many lives on both sides and it quickly became clear that the commemoration of members of the
Commonwealth forces with no known grave would have to be divided between several different
sites. The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who
passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates those of all Commonwealth
nations (except New Zealand) who died in the Salient, in the case of United Kingdom casualties
before 16 August 1917. Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that
date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by
Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. Other New Zealand casualties
are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British
Cemetery. The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000
officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield
with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer in July 1927.
CROUCHER A
Corporal 318900 Alfred CROUCHER. 3/2 nd (London) Heavy Brigade, Royal Garrison
Artillery (RGA). Died 15 th May 1917 aged 44 years. Born Kingsnorth. Son of George Croucher of
Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Husband of C Croucher of 9 Miranda Road, Highgate, London. Buried
in the City of London Cemetery, London. Grave reference 235.35A (A/C Screen Wall).
Alfred served in the South African (Boer) War of 1899-1902. Upon the outbreak of the Great War
Alfred gallantly volunteered for overseas service. He was wounded in France and recovered to
the UK where he subsequently succumbed to his wounds.
It seems odd that Alfred’s name was not placed on the village tribute inside the church.
17

GOLDUP W.J
Gunner 38193 William John GOLDUP. 36 th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA).
Died 21 ST May 1917 aged 23 years. Born Kingsnorth. Brother of Mrs Bushell of Victoria Avenue,
Hythe, Kent. Eldest son of Mr W Goldup of South Willesborough, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the
Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, France. Grave reference I.H.9.
William had two brothers serving in the colours – Private A.E Goldup who was killed in Iraq 17 th
December 1916 and Private J.T Goldup (Buffs) who lost both his legs at Ypres on 19 th June 1915
–
Private T/240366 Albert Edward GOLDUP. 5 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
Died 17 th December 1916. Born Ashford. Resided Ashford. Brother of Mrs Bushell of Victoria
Avenue, Hythe, Kent. Son of Mrs W Goldup of South Willesborough, Ashford, Kent. Albert has no
known grave. His name appears on the Basra Memorial, Iraq. Panel reference 6.
Albert has no Ashford area tribute. His name does not appear on the Willesborough war memorial
or on the Ashford war memorial.
18

HEAD P
Lance Corporal G/15344 Percy HEAD. 21 st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Died 16 th
September 1916 aged 28 years. Born Kingsnorth. Husband of Florence Elizabeth Head of 32,
Newport Road, Aldershot, Hampshire. Buried in the Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe,
France. Grave reference I.E.34.
The 21 st Middlesex Regiment was attached to 121 st Brigade, 40 th Division. On 3 rd November 1916
it arrived at Neuvillette from Estree-Wamin. On the 5 th September it marched to Candas. On 15 th
September the battalion was at Bonnieres.
LILLY C
Private G/11723 Charles Lilly. 1 st Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).
Formerly Rifle Brigade (1899-1902). Died 22nd July 1916 aged 31 years. Born Kingsnorth.
Enlisted Maidstone. Resided Barnfield, Charing. Second son of Charles Lilly of “Barnfield”,
Charing, Kent. Charles has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial,
Somme, France. Panel reference 11C.
Charles was an experienced soldier having served in the Boer Wars of 1899-1902. He rejoined
the army on the outbreak of war and was married shortly before he was killed.
On the 20 th July 1916, the 1 st battalion was in High Wood on the Somme. On the 22 nd July the
battalion was in action all day attacking the enemy at Wood Lane. The attack was bought to a
stand still by heavy German machine gun fire. On the 23 rd July 1916 the battalion withdrew to
Pommiers Redoubt.
19

NORTON A.D
Private 3895 Alfred Donald NORTON. 6 th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent
Regiment). Died 27 March 1915. Aged 19 years. Born and resided Plaxtol, Sevenoaks, Kent.
Enlisted Ramsgate, Isle of Thanet, Kent. Son of William J. and Louisa M. Norton of Grange
Cottage, Plaxtol, Kent. Buried Plaxtol, Sevenoaks, Kent Churchyard. Commemorated on the
Plaxtol, Kent, civic war memorial.
Places of birth etcetera as shown above are as recorded in/on SDGW. It would appear likely that
Alfred’s place of birth is amongst the numerous SDGW recorded error’s, and that he was in fact
probably a native of Kingsnorth, Kent. Unfortunately the census entry does not say which
Kingsnorth i.e. near Ashford or on the Isle of Grain. At the time of the 1901 census the Norton
family resided at The Spout, Plaxtol. Head of the house was 34 year old Bethersden, Ashford,
Kent, native William J. Norton who was employed as a Coachman (Domestic). His 30 year old
wife was a native of Wychling, Kent, in much the same way as the entry for her son Alfred, the
census entry does not say which Wychling i.e. near Sittingbourne or Chislehurst. It would appear
that Alfred was born Kingsnorth, Ashford, as there was a matching birth registered in the West
Ashford District during the first quarter of 1896.
PILBEAM W.A
Sapper 13556 William Arnold PILBEAM. 2 nd Field Company, Royal Engineers (RE).
Formerly 1 st Sussex, Royal Engineers (Territorial Force). Died 6 th October 1915 aged 32
years. Born Maidstone. Enlisted Tonbridge 15 March 1904. Resided Dover. Son of Jane
Elizabeth Judges of 2, Noahs Ark Road, Tower Hamlets, Dover, Kent. Formerly 12 Wyndham
Road, Tower Hamlets, Dover, Kent. Nephew of Miss A Pilbeam of Chart Road, Kingsnorth,
Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois-Grenier, France. Grave reference
M.22.
His service papers dated 1914 give this information about next of kin - Half Brother of Frederick
Judges (23) and Kate Ann (26) and Maryline Mary (24).
According to his military service papers, prior to the outbreak of war William was an Engine Driver
(Road) woking for the South Eastern & Chatham Railway. His name doesn’t appear on the Dover
Marine Railway Memorial. Obviously a forgotten man in this respect. He served in the Terrotorial
Force R.E from 1904 onwards before the outbreak of war which explains why he volunteered for
war service with the Royal Engineers. He ended his Territorial Force engagement 14 March
1912.
William landed France 5 November 1914.
Entitled to the 1914 Star, BWM, Victory Medal.
Miss A Pilbeam of Kingsnorth was William’s recorded next of kin.
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POWELL W.J
Bombardier 23881 William James POWELL. 20 th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
(RGA). Died 25 th September 1915 aged 31 years. Born Kingsnorth. Son of Mr Horatio and Isabel
Powell of 1, Autumn Cottage, Sevington, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Hop Store Cemetery,
Ypres, Belgium. Grave reference Plot 1, Row B, Grave 9.
Educated at Ruckinge School. William was killed by a shell in Gallipoli, Turkey. Upon leaving
school he went to work in the Ashford Railway Yards for the South Eastern and Chatham Railway
Company in the Permanent Way Department. He became a Police Constable in the Metropolitan
Police (London) in 1912.
The 1901 census gives –
Bank Cottage, Sevington
George POWELL 50 Farm Servant Dover
Sarah R 20 Dover
William J 17 Farm Labourer Ruckinge
The 1901 census states William was from Ruckinge not Kingsnorth which is given on Soldiers
Died Great War.
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STANLEY A.H
Private L/9566 Albert Harold STANLEY. 2 nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died
12 th April 1915 aged 23 years. Born Kingsnorth. Son of Frederick and Elizabeth Mary Stanley of
Selling, Near Faversham, Kent. Albert has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres
(Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Panel reference 12 and 14.
On the 10 th April 1915 the 2 nd Buffs marched from St Eloi to Zonnebeke and releived the French
153 rd Regiment. The Buffs held frontline trenches on the Broodseinde cross-roads where enemy
trenches were in close proximity (5 feet)! The Germans placed a large trench mortar close to the
line and proceeded to fire on the Buffs trenches. The mortar fire was very accurate and caused
many casualties amoungst the Buffs. About 30 men were killed and 70 wounded.
SWAFFER R.J
Private 24558 Robert John SWAFFER. 2 nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Died
Sunday 5 th August 1917 aged 28 years. Born Kingsnorth. Enlisted Ashford. Son of Harry and
Harriet Swaffer of Beaver Road, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery,
France. Grave reference IV.A.53.
The 1901 census gives –
Beaver Lane, Ashford
Harry SWAFFER 48 Jobbing Carpenter Great Chart
Harriet 47 Great Chart
Rose 27 Great Chart
Fanny 16 Kingsnorth
Alfred 14 Kingsnorth
Robert 12 Kingsnorth
May (G/Daughter) 1 Kingsnorth
The Swaffer family are a well known and long established Ashford family. There are quite a few
Swaffer’s buried in the churchyard at Great Chart including Maurice Swaffer who passed away
quite recently.
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TUTT F
Private G/5495 Frederick (Freddie) TUTT. 7 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
Died 1 st July 1916 (first day of the Battle of The Somme). Born Kingsnorth. Enlisted Dover.
Resided Great Chart. Son of James and Elizabeth Tutt of Mill Lane, Great Chart, Ashford, Kent.
Frederick has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Panel reference 5D.
The 1901 census gives –
Mill Lane, Great Chart
James TUTT 45 Farm Labourer Great Chart
Elizabeth 42 Woodchurch
Freddie 12 Kingsnorth
Elsie 9 Kingsnorth
John 7 Kingsnorth
Beatrice 5 Kingsnorth
Fred 2 Ashford
Walter 5m Great Chart
On the 1 st July 1916 the 7 th Buffs (55 th Brigade) were holding the line at Carnoy. It’s part in the
great Somme offensive was an enemy trench 200 yards north of the Montauban-Fricourt Road.
The 7 th Buffs went forward alongside 7 th Queen’s and 7 th West Kent’s. The Buffs were given the
difficult job of clearing the Carnoy Craters in front of Fricourt. This was achieved after 6 hours
fierce fighting. The battalion then assaulted Pommiers Trench. On the first day of the Battle of the
Somme the 7 th Buffs lost 50 men killed and a further 150 men wounded some seriously who went
on to lose their lives. The battalion remained in the frontline until 5 th July 1916 when it marched to
Bronfay Wood.
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TUTT T
Private S/10403 Thomas TUTT. “B” Company, 1 st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent
Regiment). Died 15 th September 1916. Born Kingsnorth. Resided Great Chart. Thomas has no
known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, The Somme, France. Panel reference
5D.
Before the outbreak of war Thomas was employed at the Great Chart Post Office for 5 years. He
was educated at the British School in Ashford.
The exact circumstances of Thomas’s death was reported in detail in the Kentish Express- He
was shot through the heart after his battalion started to advance towards the enemy. He was
carried away that night and buried somewhere behind the line. His photograph in the Kentish
Express shows Thomas wearing a German helmet that he took off a dead German Officer shortly
before he himself was killed.
On the 15 th September 1916 the 1 st Buffs attacked the enemy at what was known as the
Quadrilateral. They were used to support the 8 th Bedfordshire Regiment. They advanced at 6.35
am under extremely heavy machine gun fire. On the 19 th September the battalion withdrew to
Morlancourt having sustained very heavy casualties.
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VELVICK C.E
Private T/4461 Charles Edward VELVICK. 2/4 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
Died of disease 7 th February 1916. Born Staplehurst, Kent. Resided Willesborough. Enlisted
Deal. Son of Charles and Mary Jane Velvick of 3, Lees Road, Willesborough, Ashford, Kent.
Formerly Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Dover (St James) Cemetery, Dover, Kent.
This burial plot in Dover was used obstensively by the Western Heights Military Hospital in Dover.
There are also quite a few men buried here from the Citadel which was used as a Buffs training
depot. Both the 3 rd and 9 th battalion’s Buffs were stationed here during the Great War. Charles is
buried in a plot near to another Ashford man - Alfred SOUTHERN who is from Aldington –
Private S/10394 Alfred Richard SOUTHERN. 3 rd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
Died 20 th February 1915.
The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives –
94 Albemarle Road, Willesborough
2208 Nelson Alfred VELVICK. Royal Marine Engineers.
Woodbury Cottages, Tenterden
Private Percy Edward VELVICK. Royal Welsh Regiment.
Prestonden Row, Tenterten
Private 54378 Thomas James VELVICK. 17 th Welsh Regiment.
The 1901 Census gives –
Near The Church, Kingsnorth
Charles VELVICK 37 Cattleman Farm Tenterden
Mary Jane 34 Canterbury
Charles E 8 Staplehurst
Elizabeth 5 Tenterden
In 1896 E VELVICK was living at 34, Christchurch Road, Ashford.
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