KINGSNORTH - Kent Fallen

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