TENTERDEN

In January 1919 the Mayor Cllr A.R Boorman called a meeting to discuss the possibility of erecting a monument to the town’s war dead. The memorial was eventually placed on the greens

in the High Street near Borough Place. It’s four steps represent the 4 years of the Great War (although the war was officially over until 1919). The 2 side panels list 78 local men who gave

their lives for their King and country. The memorial’s architect was W. Wrigley Diggle of London son of the Tenterden mayor Cllr J.R Diggle. Lieutenant Colonel J Body (5th Buffs) unveiled the

memorial on Wednesday 26th May 1920. The Reverand J.A Babbington dedicated the monument and the Last Post was sounded by the 5th Buffs Band from Ashford. The names of those local

men who fell in the Second World War were added in 1947.

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The Great War

(1914 – 1919)

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* Under name denotes that the name also appears on St Mildred’s church plaque

AMIES T.W * Lance Corporal S/8246 Thomas W AMIES. 3rd Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died of pneumonia 1st November 1918 aged 25 years. Son of Walter and Lizzie Amies of Tenterden, Kent. Husband of Daisy M Breeds (formerly Amies) of Golden Square, Tenterden, Kent. Buried locally in the Tenterden (St Mildred’s) Cemetery, Kent. Grave reference 126.

AVERY R * Sapper 4054 Richard (Dick) AVERY. 11th Signal Company, Royal Engineers (RE). Died 7th February 1915 aged 22 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Rugby. Eldest son of Richard Avery of East Court, Tenterden. The address of “Elmdene”, Elmfield, Tenterden is also mentioned. Richard is buried locally in the St Mildred’s Church Cemetery, Tenterden, Kent. Grave reference 453. BALLARD E.F * Rifleman 593474 Ernest F BALLARD. 18th Battalion (London Irish Rifles), London Regiment. Formerly (4482) 4th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 25th March 1918. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Tenterden. Ernest has no known grave. His name appears on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. Grave reference Bay 10. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Fam Buildings, Tenterden Stoker 1st Class Frederick Albert BALLARD. HMS Sentinnel, Royal Navy. West Cross, Tenterden Sergeant Samuel BALLARD. 4th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). BARHAM A.C Private T/241584 Albert Charles BARHAM. 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died India 27th November 1917 aged 41 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Tenterden. Son of Edwin and Mary Barham of St Michael’s, Tenterden, Kent. Albert has no known grave. His name appears on the Kirkee 1914-1918 Memorial, India. Panel reference Face B. The 5th battalion was in Mesopatamia (Iraq) in 1917. Albert was probably left behind in India when the 5th Buffs moved away in 1916 perhaps on garrison duty and was killed on the North West Frontier. Alternatively, Albert may have been ill through disease and left behind in an Indian hospital where he later died. It is unclear how Albert’s body came to be lost. 5

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BEACH F * Private G/13761 Frank BEACH. 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 28th April 1917. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Tenterden. Resided Tenterden. Buried in the Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, St Omer, France. Grave reference IV.B.63. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Bells Lane, Tenterden Private 416682 Walter BEACH. 410th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps. The day that Frank died his battalion was in the vicinity of Loos in France. From 22nd April – 25th April the 1st battalion lost 3 men killed and a further 28 wounded. It appears that Frank must have been one of those wounded and he succumbed to his wounds a few days later.

BEALE A.E Private TE/1744 Albert E. BEALE. 5th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died 9th May 1915 aged 18 years. Born Hastings. Enlisted Hastings. Son of Mrs Kate Frances Beale of Tanyard House, West Cross, Tenterden, Kent. Albert has no known grave. His name appears on the Le Touret Memorial, France. Panel reference 20 and 21. On the 9th May 1915 the 5th battalion were in action on the Aubers Ridge in support trenches behind Rue Du Bois – Richebourg-L’Avoue Sector. The regimental history states that “The leading companies merely fell victim to murderous machine gun fire. Casuatly figures are given as 11 officers and 191 men. The war diary gives different figures – 230 men killed or wounded. The battalion withdrew at 1800 hours to Le Touret. Albert was one of those killed in action.

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BISHOP G Sergeant L/7812 George BISHOP. 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 2nd October 1917 aged 32 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Rolvenden. Husband of Mabel Kate Moore (Formerly Bishop) of 5, Poplar Cottages, Rolvenden, Kent. Buried the the Loos British Cemetery, Loos, France. Grave reference XX.A.27. The day that George died his battalion was in the vicinity of Mazingarbe 4 miles from Loos in France. It was not in action during the day.

BISHOP H.E * Sergeant Z/121 Henry (Harry) Edward BISHOP. South African Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (RFC). Died of disease 18th October 1917 aged 22 years. Son of Mr Albert Edward and Harriet Bishop of The Woolpack Hotel, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania, East Africa. Grave reference 4H.10. On 31st October 1917 his father was told by the authorities that Harry was suffering from Paratyphoid. It was months later that his father heard that his son had died from the disease in mid October. Before the outbreak of war Harry was a tall promising young man, by profession an electrical engineer. He worked for the Western Electrical Company based at Woolwich in London. He joined the Royal Naval Air Service and was sent to Sheerness in Kent. After six months on the Isle Of Sheppy he volunteered to go to South Africa and was sent to Walfisch Bay in German South West Africa. He returned home in 1915. On 26th December 1915 Harry set sail from Southampton to Mombassa in East Africa. Upon arriving in Mombassa he contracted malaria. When he recovered, he reported to his unit who were tasked with chasing the German Guerilla army out of Africa. This was never completely achieved. The 1901 census gives – Woolpack Hotel, High Street, Tenterden Albert BISHOP 34 Publican Yalding Harriet 36 Chatham Sidney 17 Chatham Harriet K 18 Rolvenden Henry E 6 Rolvenden Lucy M 4 Tenterden

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BLACKMAN J.S Private T/240257 James Samuel BLACKMAN. 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 21st January 1916 aged 32 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Tenterden. Son of Mrs A Blackman of St Michael’s, Tenterden, Kent. James has no known grave. His name appears on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq. Panel reference 6. The Blackman family had lived in St Michael’s for many generations and were a very well known local family. His best friend in the battalion was another Tenterden man – Dick Middleton. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Chennell Cottages, St Michaels, Tenterden Private 228825 Sims William BLACKMAN. 1st Royal Fusiliers. 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 20th January the Turkish defences at Hanna came under heavy British artillery bombardment. After the bombardment the infantry moved forward to attack. The Turks rose out of their trenches and literally cut the attacking British infantry down. Very few British soldiers reached their objective. On the 22nd 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 killed or wounded.

BODY A.J (Brother) Sergeant 1708 Arthur Judge BODY. Royal East Kent Yeomanry (Mounted Rifles) (REKMR). Died Gallipoli, Turkey 30th December 1915 aged 37 years. Born Wittersham. Resided Tenterden.. Son of William Body of Gibbet Farm, Tenterden, Kent. Husband of Sarah Upton Body. Buried in the Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey. Grave reference Sp Mem A.21. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Gibbett Farm, Tenterden Captain Thomas Howard BODY. Royal Army Medical Corps. Lieutenant Colonel John BODY was the commanding officer of the 5th Buffs. He lived at Wittersham Court, Wittersham. It is likey that he was related in some way to the Tenterden Body’s. Arthur was one of only thirty men to die in Gallipoli with the Royal East Kent Yeomanry. On the day that Arthur was killed his unit were being withdrawn from Galllipoli in Turkey to Mudros. They were evacuated from “V” Beach on the night of the 30th December 1915. Ebony Roll of Honour 1915 included these men - BODY Edward, Port Defence, Calcutta, India BODY Thomas H, RAMC BODY Harold J, REKMR BODY Arthur J, REKMR BODY Geoffrey, REKMR

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BODY E.U (Brother) Major Edward Upton BODY MC. 130th Battery, 40th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (RFA). Died 4th November 1918 aged 39 years. Son of William and Sarah Body of Gibbet Farm, Tenterden. Husband of Hilda May Body of 82, Warrior Square, Hastings, East Sussex. Buried in the Ruesnes Communal Cemetery, France. Grave reference I.A.1. Lieutenant Colonel John BODY was the commanding officer of the 5th Buffs. He lived at Wittersham Court, Wittersham. It is likey that he was related in some way to the Tenterden Body’s. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Gibbett Farm, Tenterden Captain Thomas Howard BODY. Royal Army Medical Corps. Ebony Roll of Honour 1915 included these men -

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BODY Edward, Port Defence, Calcutta, India BODY Thomas H, RAMC BODY Harold J, REKMR BODY Arthur J, REKMR BODY Geoffrey, REKMR

BUCKNOLE L.T * Sergeant 203172 Leonard Thomas BUCKNOLE. 2/4th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Formerly Kent Composite Battalion and 2/5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 6th November 1917 aged 26 years. Born 1893 Wandsworth, London. His siblings were all born in Paddington, London. Son of Edward and Louisa Bucknole. Husband of Minnie Bucknole (nee Beach) of 9, Mayor’s Place, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Beersheba War Cemetery. Grave reference G.10. Our thanks to Kim Bucknole of Sydney, Australia formerly of Tenterden for providing photos and further information. The reason why Leonard’s name appears on the Tenterden civic memorial is that his wife Minnie was Tenterden born and bred. Her 1st cousin was Albert Beach who was killed in action 24 June 1915 and is buried in Potijze Chateau Wood Cemetery, Belgium.

8 Estimated Birth

Year: abt 1893

Relation: Son Father's Name: Edward Mother's Name: Louisa

Gender: Male Where born: Paddington, London, England

Civil Parish: Newington Ecclesiastical

parish: St John

County/Island: London Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

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marriage:

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Registration

district: St Saviour Southwark

Sub-registration district: Trinity, Newington

ED, institution, or vessel: 14

Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule

number: 59

Household Members:

Name Age Edward Bucknole 42 Florence Bucknole 1 6

months Frederick Bucknole 6 Lennard Bucknole 8 Louisa Bucknole 41 Minnie Bucknole 12 Richard Bucknole 2

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Samuel Bucknole 10 William Bucknole 15

Leonard joined up in the 2/5th Buffs and was later transferred to the Kent Composite Battalion which went to Gallipoli, Turkey in August 1915. In December 1915 the Kent Composite Battalion withdrew from Gallipoli to Alexandria in Egypt where is was redesignated 2/4th Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). The 2/4th battalion Queen’s Own was then moved to Palestine where it saw considerable action.

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BURGESS J.E Private T/1939 John Ernest BURGESS. Kent Composite Battalion. Formerly “D” Company, 2/5th Battalion, (East Kent Regiment). Died Gallipoli, Turkey 21st August 1915 aged 20 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Tenterden. Son of Mrs S Venus of The Pavement, St Michael’s, Tenterden, Kent. John has no known grave. His name appears on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey. Panel reference 31. John is listed as serving with the 1/5th battalion in Gallipoli. The Buffs never served in Gallipoli as a unit therefore John could not possibly have been serving with the 1/5th Buffs when he died. His parent regiment was the 2/5th Buffs and he was in fact serving in a unit known as the KENT COMPOSITE BATTALION. This was a unit consisting of companies from other regiments – Buffs, Queen’s, Royal Sussex, Middlesex Regiment. The Kent Composite Battalion is generally known as the 2/4th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment because it was designated this name change when it left Gallipoli. A and B companies (Buffs men) were allowed to wear their Buffs cap badge whilst serving with this unit. On 17th July 1915 the battalion left Devonport on the SS Northland. They landed Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on 9th August 1915. The battalion served at C Beach, West Beach and later at Lala Baba. The battalion withdrew to Egypt on the 13th December 1915 sailing to Alexandria on the SS Haverford. Also see A.E Rhodes (below). CARPENTER G Corporal 202480 George CARPENTER. 2/4th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Formerly Kent Composite Battalion. Formerly (2083) 2/5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Palastine 19th September 1918 aged 29 years. Born Biddenden. Eldest son of George Carpenter of Tanyard Farm Cottages, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel. Grave reference J.54. Before the war George was employed by Messrs O Edwards and Son at the Tenterden Brewery. He worked in the brewery for six years before he joined up. George joined the 2/5th Battalion The Buffs in the Autumn of 1914 following the outbreak of war. He was stationed in Bedford for a short while before being sent to Egypt on 3rd June 1915 with the Kent Composite Battalion. He then went to Gallipoli in Turkey and took part in operations there. After Gallipoli George was sent to Palastine and took part in the Battle of Gaza. CARTER E.J * Private 51170 Edwin Jarvis CARTER. 12th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Formerly (TR/9/14099). Died 25th March 1918. Born Tenterden. Son of Mr Carter of Vine Cottage, Tenterden, Kent. Edwin has no known grave. His name appears on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. Panel reference Bay 4. 16

CAVEY A.E * Corporal 4308 Albert Edward CAVEY. 8th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 5th October 1915 aged 25 years. Born Maidenhead, Berks. Enlisted Canning Town, London. Son of Mr W.L Cavey of Bells Street, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Cologne Southern Cemetery, Koln, Germany. Grave reference XVII.A.21. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – High Street, Tenterden Sapper WR/503181 William Herbert CAVEY. Royal Engineers. Albert lost his life whilst in a German prisoner of war camp. CHACKSFIELD E Trooper 3888 Ernest C. CHACKSFIELD. 1st Battalion, Life Guards (Household Battalion). Died 12th October 1917 aged 20 years. Born Tenterden. Son of Walter Edgerton and Mary Chacksfield of Folly Hill, Cranbrook, Kent. Ernest has no known grave. His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Panel reference 3. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Small Hythe, Tenterden Private 23915 Alfred CHACKSFIELD. 3rd Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Private 439772 Frederick Arthur CHACKSFIELD. 572nd Agricultural Company, Labour Corps. Grove Cottages, Tenterden Sergeant Solomon Charles CHACKSFIELD. Royal West Surrey Regiment. CHACKSFIELD W.S * Private G/2827 Walter Samuel CHACKSFIELD. 8th Battalion, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 25th September 1915. Walter has no known grave. His name appears on the Loos Memorial, Loos, France. Panel reference 13 to 15. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Small Hythe, Tenterden Private 23915 Alfred CHACKSFIELD. 3rd Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Private 439772 Frederick Arthur CHACKSFIELD. 572nd Agricultural Company, Labour Corps. Grove Cottages, Tenterden Sergeant Solomon Charles CHACKSFIELD. Royal West Surrey Regiment. The 8th West Kent’s arrived in France on 29th August 1915. For the first part of September the battalion was camped at Montreuil. On the 21st September the battalion assembled ready for

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action. On 25th September 1915 the 8th West Kent’s were moved forward to Vermelles where it spent the day listening to the guns and watching wounded men returning from the nearby battlefield. After dark the battalion advanced down Lone Tree Trench and into action. The battalion pushed forward on the Lens-La Basee Road reaching Hulluch by 2300 hours.

CHECKSFIELD A * Private 42884 Arthur CHECKSFIELD. 10th Battalion, Essex Regiment. Formerly (10574) Bedfordshire Regiment. Died 26th April 1918 aged 19 years. Born Tenterden. Son of Arthur and Caroline Checksfield of The New Inn, Tenterden, Kent. Formerly “The Laurels” Tenterden. Arthur has no known grave. His name appears on the Pozieres Memorial, France. Panel reference 51 and 52. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Golden Square, Tenterden Corporal 395827 Edward CHECKSFIELD. 432nd Agricultural Coy, Labour Corps. St Michaels, Tenterden Private 439772 Frederick CHECKSFIELD. 572nd Agricultural Coy, Labour Corps. CLADD W.J No Trace CLARIS J.E Private 62759 John Ernest CLARIS. 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Formerly (37611) Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 30th December 1917. Born Ramsgate. Enlisted Tenterden. Son of Frederick and Miria Claris of Ramsgate. Husband of Louisa Alice Claris of Moat Farm, Ivychurch, New Romney, Kent. John has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, Thiepval, The Somme, France. Panel reference 8C.9A.16A.

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CLARKE H.G Private 144645 Henry (Harry) George CLARKE. 38th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment). Formerly 77th Overseas Battalion, CEF. Formerly 42nd Regiment, Smiths Falls, Ontario. Died 13th January 1918. Born 4th August 1891 in Kent. Son of Thomas and Mrs F.H Clarke of 14, St Michael’s Terrace, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Aubigny Communal Cemetery, Contay, The Somme, France. Grave reference VIII.A.28. Before the outbreak of war Henry was employed as a Labourer in Canada. He enlisted on the 27th July 1915 at Smiths Falls, Ontario. His application was not finalised until October 1915.

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COLEY H.J Private G/2481 Herbert J COLEY. 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 23rd July 1915. Born Canterbury Kent. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Canterbury. Buried in the Bailluel Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord), France. Grave reference I.C.101. During most of July 1915 the 6th battalion were in billets at the rear. These billets consisted mainly leaky barns and farm buildings. On the 31st July 1915 the battalion was moved into the frontline at Plugstreet Wood. It appears that Herbert was probably wounded in an earlier engagement somewhere near Armentieres and died of his wounds weeks later.

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COLLISON F Private G/67428 Frederick COLLISON. 6th Battalion, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 20th June 1916 or 1918. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Tenterden. Buried in the Harponville Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Grave reference C.7. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission database gives a date of death of 20th June 1918. Soldiers Died Great War gives 20th June 1916. On the 12th June 1916 the 6th West Surrey’s were in the Albert Sector on the Somme getting ready for the forthcoming major Somme offensive planned for 1st July 1916. The regimental history gives the information that the battalion did not see action until 25th June 1916. In March and April 1918 the 6th battalion was in the line South of Aveluy Wood. On the 30th June 1918 the battalion was in action in the Bouzincourt Sector (Battle of Amiens).

CROFT A * The Church roll gives - Private Arthur CROFT The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Burgess Row, Tenterden Private 204582 Albert CROFT. 4th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). CROUCH P.J Private L/8284 Percy John CROUCH. 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 24th October 1914 aged 28 years. Born Brightlingsea, Essex. Enlisted Maidstone. Son of Frederick and Sarah Crouch of Ashford Road, St Michael’s, Tenterden. Percy has no known grave. His name appears on the Le Touret Memorial, France. Panel reference 30 and 31. On the 17th October 1914 the 1st battalion moved forward into the firing line at Neuve Chapelle. During the night (17th) the battalion releived the 3rd Worcestershire’s in trenches at Illies. On the 20th October they moved out of the line into billets at Bois de Biez. The day that Percy was killed (24th) the battalion was in action north east of Neuve Chapelle. The battalion’s line lay between the La Basee and Largies Road. The regimental diary states that the battalion was under constant withering machine gun fire. By the end of the day at least 50 men lay killed and wounded (one of those killed being Percy). DAVENPORT R.G Driver 211465 Roland George DAVENPORT. 3rd Reserve Brigade. Royal Field Artillery (RFA). Died of heart failure 30th January 1921 on active service. Aged 40 years. Son of George William and Eliza Davenport. Husband of Letitia Davenport of “Silverhill Cottages”, St Michael’s, Tenterden, Kent. Buried locally in the Tenterden (St Michael) Churchyard, Tenterden, Kent. DRURY C Private C DRURY - No Trace The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Fat Ox Inn, Tenterden Private 178078 Edwin Thomas DRURY. 331st Labour Coy, Labour Corps.

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EDWARDS H.H (Pte) * Private M2/147454 Henry Harold EDWARDS. General Headquarters, 2nd Echelon, Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). Died Friday 21st February 1919 aged 21 years. Son of Henry and Emmie J Edwards of The Vine, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Estaples Military Cemetery, Estaples, France. Grave reference LXXII.C.21. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – The Vine, Tenterden Private M2/147454 Henry Harold EDWARDS. Army Service Corps.

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EGGLEDEN A.G * Private G/4880 Arthur George EGGLEDEN. 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Saturday 7th October 1916 aged 19 years. Born Paddington London. Son of Arthur and Elizabeth Eggleden of Willow Cottage, Reading Street, Tenterden, Kent. Arthur has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, The Somme, France. Panel reference 5D. Battle of The Transloy Ridge’s On the 7th October 1916 the 6th battalion was in action all day. At 13.45 the battalion came under heavy shell fire from German long range heavy guns. At 1400 hours the battalion went “over the top” into no mans land. Their attack was met with withering German machine gun fire from an unexpected quarter. The attack was held up when at least 2 companies were caught on open ground. The attack eventually ground to a halt and by the days end 347 men lay on the battlefield killed or wounded.

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FUGGLE C.E (Pte) * Private 613082 Charles Edward FUGGLE. 19th Battalion, London Regiment. Formerly (4483) 4th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Sunday 15th July 1917. Born Tenterden. Buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, Belgium (see Fuggle O.L). Grave reference XVI.F.2. FUGGLE H (Pte) Sapper 35010 Harry FUGGLE. 134th Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers (RE). Died Thursday 11th April 1918. Harry has no known grave. His name appears on the Pozieres Memorial, The Somme, France. Panel reference 10 to 13. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Battern Mount, Tenterden Sapper Harry FUGGLE. Royal Engineers.

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FUGGLE O.L (Pte) Bombardier 282439 Osman Louis FUGGLE MM. 7th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). Died Thursday 7th June 1917 aged 39 years. Born Tenterden Kent. Son of Mr O.L Fuggle. Husband of Mrs A.E Fuggle of 25 Sea View Road, Shoeburyness, Essex. Buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, Belgium. Grave reference XIII.D.1 (see C.E FUGGLE above). Osman was awarded the Military Medal (MM) for bravery in the field.

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GILBERT F.J (Pte) * Private 40174 Frederick James GILBERT. 14th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. Formerly The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 7th June 1917 aged 21 years. Son of Mrs W Gilbert of Golden Square, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailluel, France. Grave reference III.C.230. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – 1 Post Office Road, Tenterden Private 500124 Charles Henry GILBERT. 660th Agricultural Coy, Labour Corps. Frederick joined The Buffs in January 1916 and went through a course of training as a Signaller. He went to the front in March 1917. He was severely injured during the capture of the Messines Ridge and died a few hours later.

GOODMAN H.J (L/Cpl) Lance Corporal C/41 Herbert John GOODMAN. 16th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC). Died 13th April 1918. Born Brighton. Enlisted Maidstone. Herbert has no known grave. His name appears on the Ploegsteert Memorial (Plugstreet), Belgium. Panel reference 8. GOODSALL J.H (RN) * Leading Stoker K/12209 John Henry GOODSALL. H.M Submarine “K4”. Royal Navy (RN). Died Thursday 31st January 1918 aged 24 years. Son of George S. and Kate Adelaide Goodsall of 3 Peels Place, Ashford Road, Tenterden, Kent. His name appears on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Chatham, Kent. Panel reference 29. John was killed the day that H.M Submarine K4 sank in the Firth of Forth off May Island Scotland. The submarine K4 was commanded by Lt Cdr David B Stocks formerly captain of the E.2 which operated off Gallipoli. The K.4 was a part of the 12th Flotilla. It was involved in a collision with another submarine the K.6 during which the K.4 was literally cut in half. A whole series of embarrassing collisions involving numerous British submarines is now known as the Battle of May Island. The 5th Battle Squadron sent sips to pick up survivors but the vast majority were killed when destroyers passed between the survivors and cut them with their propellers. Not 1 man from the K.4 survived this appalling accident. John was mentioned in dispatches before he was killed. GOODSALL G.B (Sgt) Lance Sergeant G/13036 George Bernard GOODSALL. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Friday 12th October 1917. George has no known grave. His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Panel reference 17. On the 12th October 1917 the 6th battalion was in action all day at near Poelcappelle. The battalion’s line ran from Gloster House (or Farm) to Poellcappelle Church. At 0525 hours the British barrage started and C and D Companies moved forward. The men came under withering machine gun fire from the direction of Meunier House and The Brewery both of which were in German hands. The ground was terribly swampy and movement was extremely difficult. On the 13th October the battalion withdrew to Counter Farm having been releived from frontline trenches by the 7th Queen’s. It is recorded that 52 men were killed outright in this attack and a further 178 men were wounded. HARROW R.W (Lt) * Second Lieutenant R.W.T HARROW. 3rd Training Depot Station, Royal Air Force (RAF). Died Sunday 16th June 1918. Resided Westfields, Tenterden, Kent. Buried locally in the Tenterden (St Mildred’s) Churchyard, Tenterden, Kent. Grave reference 245. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Westfields, Tenterden Second Lieutenant William Thomas HARROW. Royal Air Force. This man was wounded in a flying accident. His family exercised their right to have him buried locally.

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HATCH J (Pte) * Private 52830 James Hatch. 22nd Company, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Transferred to (77640) 130th Company, Labour Corps. Died Monday 1st July 1918 aged 35 years. Son of Mr Henry Hatch of Collier Street, Marden, Kent. Husband of Emily Hatch of Eight Bells, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Estaples Military Cemetery, Estaples, France. Grave reference LXVI.F.36. HEAD C (Pte) * Private 493233 Charles E.M HEAD. Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). Died Tuesday 17th April 1917. Born Rawalpindi, India. Buried in the Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta. Grave reference C.XIII.2.

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HOLDSTOCK C.J Corporal 723458 Christopher James HOLDSTOCK. 24th Battalion, London Regiment Formerly (2159) 2/5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment.. Died Friday 8th June 1917 aged 20 years. Born Shoreham, Sussex. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Tenterden. Son of George Holdstock of “Dandy”, Tenterden. Christopher has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Leper, Belgium. Panel reference 52 to 54. Before the outbreak of war Christopher was employed at Great Maytham, Rolvenden. He joined up in December 1914 with The Buffs but was later transferred into the London Regiment. He left for France on 2nd September 1916. It is recorded that Christopher was instantly killed when a shell exploded nearby. His body was buried by his mates near to where he fell but this spot was not recorded meaning his grave was lost. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Sayers Yard, Tenterden Private G/75884 Bertram Howard HOLDSTOCK. 2nd Royal Fusiliers. Gunner 62108 Frank George Kemp HOLDSTOCK. Royal Garrison Artillery. Willow Tree, Tenterden Private George HOLDSTOCK. Army Service Corps. Bells Lane, Tenterden Private 12737 Harry HOLDSTOCK. 10th Royal West Surrey Regiment. Dandy Cottages, Tenterden Private 240194 Walter HOLDSTOCK. 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment).

HOLDSTOCK B.H (Pte) * Private G/75884 Bertram Howard H. HOLDSTOCK. 22nd Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).Formerly (tr/9/14962) Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died Wednesday 24th April 1918 aged 19 years. Son of Frank and Caroline Holdstock of 1 Woodbury Cottages, West Cross, Tenterden, Kent. Enlisted Hackney London. Bertram has no known grave. His name appears on the Pozieres Memorial, Pozieres, France. Panel reference 19 to 21. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Sayers Yard, Tenterden Private G/75884 Bertram Howard HOLDSTOCK. 2nd Royal Fusiliers. Gunner 62108 Frank George Kemp HOLDSTOCK. Royal Garrison Artillery. Willow Tree, Tenterden Private George HOLDSTOCK. Army Service Corps. Bells Lane, Tenterden Private 12737 Harry HOLDSTOCK. 10th Royal West Surrey Regiment. Dandy Cottages, Tenterden Private 240194 Walter HOLDSTOCK. 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). HOLDSTOCK E.S (Pte) PHOTO * Private G/4774 Ernest (Ernie) Samuel HOLDSTOCK. 2nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Tuesday 25th May 1915 aged 25 years. Born Shoreham, Sussex. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Tenterden. Son of George and Mary Ann Holdstock of Milestone Cottage, Leigh Green, Tenterden, Kent. Ernest has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Leper, Belgium. Panel reference 12 and 14. Ernest joined the 3rd battalion The Buffs in Dover on 24th December 1914. He moved to France with the 2nd battalion on 28th April 1915. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Sayers Yard, Tenterden Private G/75884 Bertram Howard HOLDSTOCK. 2nd Royal Fusiliers. Gunner 62108 Frank George Kemp HOLDSTOCK. Royal Garrison Artillery. Willow Tree, Tenterden Private George HOLDSTOCK. Army Service Corps. Bells Lane, Tenterden Private 12737 Harry HOLDSTOCK. 10th Royal West Surrey Regiment.

31Dandy Cottages, Tenterden

Private 240194 Walter HOLDSTOCK. 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). On the 24th May 1915 the Germans attacked the whole front at Wieltje to the Menin Road. The 2nd battalion was tasked with rescuing elements of the 9th Lancers who became trapped on the Menin Road. The battalion went to reinforce trenches north and south of the Menin Road. By the days end 150 men had proceeded up the Menin Road as far as Hooge. The battalion remained in the vicinity of the Menin Road until 27th May 1915. HOLDSTOCK H.H. (Pte) Private G/506 Hubert HOLDSTOCK. 6th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died Monday 3rd July 1916. Brother of Frederick Arthur Holdstock. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Maidstone. Son of Nelson and Mary J. Holdstock of 3, Field Cottages, Golden Square, Tenterden, Kent. Hubert has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, The Somme, France. Panel reference 11C. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Sayers Yard, Tenterden Private G/75884 Bertram Howard HOLDSTOCK. 2nd Royal Fusiliers. Gunner 62108 Frank George Kemp HOLDSTOCK. Royal Garrison Artillery. Willow Tree, Tenterden Private George HOLDSTOCK. Army Service Corps. Bells Lane, Tenterden Private 12737 Harry HOLDSTOCK. 10th Royal West Surrey Regiment. Dandy Cottages, Tenterden Private 240194 Walter HOLDSTOCK. 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). The day that Hubert died his battalion was in action west of Ovillers. At 0315 hours A and C companies went forward under heavy German machine gun fire. Both companies sustained heavy casualties and the attack failed. At 0700 hours the battalion withdrew and in the evening moved out of the frontline to Bouzincourt. It is recorded that the battalion lost 394 men killed or wounded on this day.

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HOLDSTOCK F.A (Pte) * Private 45624 Frederick Arthur HOLDSTOCK. 198th Company, Labour Corps. Formerly 54624 Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died Saturday 23rd March 1918 aged 26. Brother of Hubert Holdstock. Son of Nelson and Mary J. Holdstock of Golden Square, Tenterden, Kent. Brother of Hubert who also fell. Frederick has no known grave. His name appears on the Pozieres Memorial, Pozieres, France. Panel reference 14 and 15. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Sayers Yard, Tenterden Private G/75884 Bertram Howard HOLDSTOCK. 2nd Royal Fusiliers. Gunner 62108 Frank George Kemp HOLDSTOCK. Royal Garrison Artillery. Willow Tree, Tenterden Private George HOLDSTOCK. Army Service Corps. Bells Lane, Tenterden Private 12737 Harry HOLDSTOCK. 10th Royal West Surrey Regiment. Dandy Cottages, Tenterden Private 240194 Walter HOLDSTOCK. 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). HOOKER G (Pte) Private G/21441 George HOOKER. 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Friday 30th November 1917. Born Charing Kent. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Tenterden. George has no known grave. His name appears on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France. The day that George died his battalion was in the rear at Emile Camp. It was not moved to the frontline because numbers were limited through earlier losses chiefly sustained on the 12th October at Poellcappelle.

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JEFFREY F.G (L/Cpl) * listed as Fred J Jeffery

Lance Corporal 15118 Frederick George JEFFREY. 1st Battalion, Royal Munster Rifles. Formerly (2089) The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 1st July 1918 aged 39 years. Born Tenterden. Husband of Annie Jeffery of Bell’s Lane, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Couin New British Cemetery, France. Grave reference E.9. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – West Cross, Tenterden Private 203159 George JEFFREY. 7th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Sapper 121469 Hubert JEFFERY. Royal Engineers. Bells Lane, Tenterden Private 240150 Gordon JEFFERY. 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment).

Martins Farm, Tenterden Lance Corporal 9810 James Ewart JEFFREY. 1st West Yorkshire Regiment. JEFFERY G.W (Pte) * Private T/203159 George W JEFFREY. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 13th October 1917. Enlisted Tenterden. Resided Tenterden. George has no known grave. His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Panel reference 17. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – West Cross, Tenterden Private 203159 George JEFFREY. 7th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Sapper 121469 Hubert JEFFERY. Royal Engineers. Bells Lane, Tenterden Private 240150 Gordon JEFFERY. 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Martins Farm, Tenterden Lance Corporal 9810 James Ewart JEFFREY. 1st West Yorkshire Regiment. On the 12th October 1917 the 6th battalion was in action all day at near Poelcappelle. The battalion’s line ran from Gloster House (or Farm) to Poellcappelle Church. At 0525 hours the British barrage started and C and D Companies moved forward. The men came under withering machine gun fire from the direction of Meunier House and The Brewery both of which were in German hands. The ground was terribly swampy and movement was extremely difficult. On the 13th October the battalion withdrew to Counter Farm having been releived from frontline trenches by the 7th Queen’s. It is recorded that 52 men were killed outright in this attack and a further 178 men were wounded.

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KEMP G.W (Pte) Lance Corporal 682471 George William KEMP. 22nd Battalion, London Regiment. Formerly (29280) 9th Reserve Cavalry Regiment. Died Saturday 23rd March 1918 aged 22 years. Born Biddenden. Enlisted Shornecliff, Folkestone. Resided Pluckley. Son of George and Harriet Kemp of Herronden Cottages, Tenterden, Kent. It is recorded that George served in Gallipoli and was previously wounded in France before being killed. Buried in the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery, Dernancourt, France. Grave reference III.J.31. A long serving soldier. It is recorded that George served in Gallipoli, Turkey and that he was previously wounded whilst in France in 1916. Sadly the war finally caught up with him…

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KING C.J. (Pte) Private 156204 Charles KING. 47th Company, Machine Gun Corps. Formerly (3910) Royal West Kent Regiment. Died 5th September 1918 aged 22 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Maidstone. Resided Aylesford. Son of Albert James King of 4 Pretoria Cottages, Bapchild, Sittingbourne, Kent. Charles has no known grave. His name appears on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France. Panel reference – 10. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Grove Cottages, Tenterden Gunner 95042 Charles KING. Royal Field Artillery. Private 18456 Frederick KING. 11th Royal West Kent Regiment.

LATTER F.R * Captain Francis Robinson LATTER. 7th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died Thursday 3rd May 1917 aged 22 years. Son of Arthur Herbert and Ada Mary Latter of High Street, Tenterden, Kent. Francis has no known grave. His name appears on the Arras Memorial, France. Panel reference Bay 7. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – High Street, Tenterden Lieutenant Eric Arthur LATTER. Royal Air Force. On 3rd May 1917 the 7th West Kent’s were in action all day at Cherisy. The regimental history gives the circumstances of Francis’s death – D Company under Captain Latter had been detailed as “moppers up” and, moving forward behind the leaders, reached Blue Line at about 1815 hours. The company consolidated the left flank on the road leading North-East from Cherisy to Vis-en-Artois. This move was carried out by Captain Latter with much skill and care. Captain Latter set a fine example of Gallantry and devotion but was eventually overwhelmed in Cable Trench. The battalion sustained 173 casualties (22 killed outright, 55 missing and 91 men wounded). LEDGER F.J * Boy 1st Class J/31829 Frederick James LEDGER. H.M.S “Indefatigable”. Royal Navy. Died Wednesday 31st May 1916 aged only 17 years. Eldest son of Mrs A Ledger of St Michael’s, Tenterden. His mother was a widow with 6 children. Frederick has no known grave. His name appears on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Chatham, Kent. Panel reference 16. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Station Road, Tenterden Private 240799 Ernest Reginald LEDGER. 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Frederick was killed in what at that time was known as the Battle of Horn Reef. It is now referred to as the Battle of Jutland. He joined the battleship HMS Powerful at Devonport on 18th June 1914. Soon after he was transferred to HMS Indefatigable. The Indefatigable was a battle cruiser built on 28th October 1909. It was sunk by German naval gunfire in the North Sea off the Jutland Peninsular. There were 1,022 casualties and only 2 survivors. Kentish Express Report 17th June 1916 The ship was at the rear of the battle cruiser line and was engaged in a private duel with her opposite number in the German line, the German ship Von Der Tann. At 1602 hours two shells fell on her upper deck causing X magazine to explode. She hauled out of line sinking by the stern. She was then hit again on the forecastle and there followed a much larger explosion in the ship which totally destroyed her. Two survivors were rescued by a German Destroyer.

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LINK H.B Private 260303 Horace Bert LINK. 6th Battalion, Warwickshire Regiment. Formerly (2733) The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Thursday 4th October 1917 aged 23 years. Born Bethersden. Enlisted Tenterden. Son of Mr Stephen Link of Tenterden, Kent. Husband of Minnie Daisy Link of 4 Henley Cottages, Tenterden, Kent. Born Bethersden. Buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Grave reference XIII.B.29.

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MASTERS A (Sgt) * Sergeant TF/271 Aaron MASTERS. 2/5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Monday 21st May 1917 aged 38 years. Son of Frederick and Elizabeth Masters of Station Road, Tenterden, Kent. Buried locally in the Tenterden (St Mildred’s) Cemetery, Tenterden, Kent. Grave reference 402. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Station Road, Tenterden Gunner Gordon MASTERS. Royal Garrison Artillery. Gas Lane, Tenterden Private 12995 Jesse Alfred MASTERS. 2nd Grenadier Guards.

This man does not appear on SDGW. He is listed as being 5th Buffs (1st line Territorial) but it is probable that he was in fact 2/5th Buffs (Second Line Territorial). MEPHAM W Private L/9500 William Albert MEPHAM. 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died Iraq 7th May 1916 aged 23 years. Born Pembury, Kent. Enlisted Tunbridge Wells. Son of T Mepham of 8, Halls Hole Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. William has no known grave. His name appears on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq. Panel reference 29. In February 1916 the 2nd West Kent’s were in action at Butaniya, Mesopotamia. This was 2 miles from Nasiriyeh. From May 1916 onwards the battalion was in camp at Khamasiya several miles South East of Nasiriyeh. It was given the task of keeping the local arabs in order in the most trying of environmental conditions. The weather was hot and dry and water supplies were almost non existant.

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MERCER C * Private 70742 Charles MERCER. 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). Died 29th November 1918 aged 34 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Tenterden. Son of Harriet Mercer of Malt House Lane, Tenterden, Kent. Buried locally in the Tenterden (St Mildred’s) Cemetery, Tenterden, Kent. Grave reference 116. NEWICK T.W (Gnr) Private M2/118997 Thomas W NEWICK. Second Army, Mechanical Transport Company. Army Service Corps (ASC). Died Wednesday 14th June 1916 aged 37 years. Born Willesborough, Ashford, Kent. Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Newick. Husband of Minnie Newick of 149, Brecknock Road, Tuffnell Park, London. Buried in the Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery, Hazebrouck, France. Grave reference III.G.27.

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PARSONS C * Private S/1301 Charles PARSONS. 2/5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 19th November 1918. Buried locally in the Tenterden (St Mildred’s) Cemetery, Tenterden, Kent. Grave reference 364. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – 9, Peels Place, Tenterden Private 30739 Charles Alfred PARSONS. 1st East Surrey Regiment. Charles is listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as belonging to the 1/5th battalion but this was still in Iraq in November 1918. It is more likely that he was in fact serving in the second line Buffs 5th battalion the 2/5th Buffs.

PEEL C * Captain Cyril PEEL. HMS “Amphitrite”. Royal Navy (RN). Died 8th November 1918 aged 43 years. Born Trenant Park, Cornwall. Resided Heronden House, Tenterden, Kent. Son of William Henry and Hester Anne Curtees Peel. Buried at Larbert Cemetery, Larbert, Stirlingshire, Scotland. Grave reference 2.204. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Heronden, Tenterden Captain Cyril PEEL. HMS Amphitrite, Royal Navy. HMS Amphitrite did not sink the day that Cyril died. This fact may suggest that Cyril died of disease/illness or of wounds sustained in some knid of accident. PENFOLD J.T * Private TF/315144 John Thomas PENFOLD. 32nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Died 11th April 1918. Resided Tenterden. Buried in the Great Yarmouth (Gorleston) Cemetery, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Grave reference F.9.229. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Mockford Alley, Tenterden Private 117251 William Henry PENFOLD. Royal Army Medical Corps. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists John wrongly as V.T PENFOLD. PILBEAM E.H Private T/1141 Ernest H PILBEAM. 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died India 11th November 1916. Born Baldslow, Sussex. Resided Tenterden. Enlisted Tenterden. Ernest has no known grave. His name appears on the Kirkee 1914-1918 Memorial, India. Panel reference – Face B. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – High Street, Tenterden Gunner 124757 Sydney PILBEAM. 28th Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Bathford House, Limes Hill, Tenterden Gunner 210045 Reginald Horace PILBEAM. Royal Garrison Artillery. This man’s name appears on the South Eastern and Chatham Railway rolls of honour. He was employed by the Chief Engineers Department in the Ashford Railway Works. In November 1916 the 5th Buffs were on active service in Mesopotamia (Iraq). It would appear that Ernest was left behind in India when the 5th Buffs left there in 1915.

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RHODES A.E * Private T/1991 Albert Edward RHODES. Kent Composite Battalion. Formerly 2/5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).. Died Gallipoli Turkey 19th August 1915. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Tenterden. Albert has no known grave. His name appears on the Helles Memorial, Turkey. Panel reference 31. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Ashford Road, St Michael’s,Tenterden Lance Corporal 27016 Arthur RHODES. 12th East Surrey Regiment. Albert is listed as serving with the 1/5th battalion in Gallipoli. The Buffs never served in Gallipoli as a unit therefore John could not possibly have been serving with the 1/5th Buffs when he died. His parent regiment was the 2/5th Buffs and he was in fact serving in a unit known as the KENT COMPOSITE BATTALION. This was a unit consisting of companies from other regiments – Buffs, Queen’s, Royal Sussex, Middlesex Regiment. The Kent Composite Battalion is generally known as the 2/4th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment because it was re-designated this name change when it left Gallipoli. A and B companies (Buffs men) were allowed to wear their Buffs cap badge whilst serving with this unit. On 17th July 1915 the battalion left Devonport on the SS Northland. They landed Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on 9th August 1915. The battalion served at C Beach, West Beach and later at Lala Baba. The battalion withdrew on the 13th December 1915 sailing to Alexandria on the SS Haverford. See A.E Burgess (above). RUSSELL F.C * Private G/42580 Frank Charles RUSSELL. 11th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Formerly (G/25217) Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 12th May 1917 aged 28 years. Born Hurst Green. Husband of F.E Anthony (formerly Russell) of Morehall Avenue, Folkestone, Kent. Frank has no known grave. His name appears on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. Panel reference – Bay 7. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – 2 Henley Cottages,Tenterden Private 202173 Ernest George RUSSELL. 4th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). SAYERS C.F Trooper C.F SAYERS – No Trace The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Jireh Chapel House,Tenterden Private 358071 Charles Frederick SAYERS. King’s (Liverpool Regiment. Private 81147 George Hubert SAYERS. 24th Royal Fusiliers.

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SHERWOOD C Corporal C SHERWOOD Possibly this man – Lance Corporal 2546 Cyril E.W SHERWOOD. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 27 April 1916 aged 21 years. Buried Corbie Communal Cemetery, France. Grave reference I.F.17. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – High Street,Tenterden Driver 355395 Frederick SHERWOOD. 489th Coy, Army Service Corps. STOAKES A Private T/240150 Archibald STOAKES. 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Thursday 11th January 1917 aged 21 years. Born Woodchurch. Enlisted Tenterden. Son of Archibald and Emma E. Stoakes of Hudson Place, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent. Archibald has no known grave. His name appears on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq. Panel reference 6. During January 1917 the 5th Buffs were in the Sanna I Yat Lines outside of Kut in Mesopotamia (Iraq). The regimental history states that on the 11th January the battalion went into trenches and that 4 men were killed and 4 wounded that day. 2. Archibald STOAKES, born 24 Oct 1864 at 62 All Saints Street, Hastings (Sussex), census

1881 Lodger - Woodchurch Village (Kent) with the FUNNELL family, census 1891 Lodger - Mr. Hyland's Cottages, Woodchurch (Kent), census 1901 at Lower Green, Woodchurch (Kent), resided 1920 at Hudson Place, Woodchurch (Kent), occupation 1881 Bricklayer's Labourer, occupation 1891 - 1903 Bricklayer. He married Emma Eleanor GOODSELL, 30 Aug 1892 at All Saints, Woodchurch (Kent).

Children:

1. i Archibald STOAKES, born Jun 1895 in Woodchurch (Kent), baptized 21 Jul 1895 at All Saints, Woodchurch (Kent), census 1901 at Lower Green, Woodchurch (Kent), resided at Woodchurch - Enlisted at Tenterden, Private 240156 - 5th Btn. The Buffs (East Kent Regt), died 11 Jan 1917 Killed in Action - Aged 21, Commemorated at Basra Memorial - Panel 6.

ii Frederick STOAKES, born Abt 1897 in Woodchurch (Kent), baptized 14 Mar 1897 at All Saints, Woodchurch (Kent), census 1901 at Lower Green, Woodchurch (Kent).

iii Kate STOAKES, born Abt 1899 in Woodchurch (Kent), baptized 9 Apr 1899 at All Saints, Woodchurch (Kent), census 1901 at Lower Green, Woodchurch (Kent), died 1903 in Woodchurch (Kent) - Aged 4, buried 21 May 1903 at All Saints, Woodchurch (Kent).

iv Ellinor STOAKES, born Abt 1903, baptized 12 Apr 1903 at All Saints, Woodchurch (Kent).

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SWATLING H.F.S * Private G/97988 Harold Frederick Stephen SWATLING. 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Died 6th November 1918 aged 23 years. Son of Frederick and Jane Swatling of “Little Ashbourne”, Rolvenden, Ashford, Kent. Husband of Annie Swatling. Buried Berlaimont Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Grave reference: A.4. Harold’s death is recorded on Soldiers Died incorrectly as H.F STEPHEN! Same regimental number and SAME unit! Must be the same man. H.F SWATLING appears locally on Tenterden War Memorial. This set of circumstances led me to believe that STEPHEN H.F recorded on Soldiers Died Great War was a forgotten casualty! I know different now. It appears that his third christian name was wrongly recorded as his surname! Before the outbreak of war Harold was in business with his father as a steam sawyer (whatever that was).

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TIMSON M.S * Lance Corporal T/203050 Merton Stewart TIMSON. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Formerly 5th battalion. Died 16th June 1918 aged 21 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Tenterden. Son of Helen and Charles Timson of 3, Corporation Row, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Contay British Cemetery, Contay, France. Grave reference VIII.A.28. Before the war Merton was employed at Hales Place in Tenterden. He was a former Boy Scout in the Tenterden Troop. Merton joined up on 17th April 1915. First joining the 5th Buffs. He moved to France in August 1915 and returned home 1st January 1916 after having been wounded. He returned to France in April 1916 only to be wounded again in the thigh in October 1916. He died when he was hit by shrapnel after a shell exploded nearby. His commanding officer wrote that his death was instantaneous. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – 3 Corporation Row,Tenterden

Private 203050 Merton Stuart TIMSON. 7th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). 10 Mayors Place, Tenterden Lance Corporal A/200318 Charles TIMSON. 11th King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Corporal 60336 William Frank TIMSON. Royal Field Artillery. In June 1918 the 7th Buffs were in the vicinity of Lavieville and Baisieux. Throughout this period the battalion carried out protective patrols most nights. On 15th June 1918 a raid was attempted which resulted in heavy casualties. TYLER A.C * Private G/8082 Arthur Charles TYLER. 8th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 24th August 1916 aged 26 years. Born High Halden. Resided Tenterden. Only son of Mr Tyler of Leigh Green, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Abbeville Communal Cemetery, France. Grave reference III.J.19. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Dragon House, High Halden Lance Corporal 380066 Alfred Harry TYLER. 742nd Employment Coy, Labour Corps. Burne Farm, High Halden Driver 122325 Herbert Horton TYLER. 123rd Battery, Royal Field Artillery. On the 18th August 1916 the 8th Buffs were in action in Delville (Devil) Wood on the Somme. At 0245 hours the battalion plunged into what was to be known as the Battle of Delville Wood. The objective was Machine Gun House. Casualties were enormous – 330 men killed and wounded. Almost half the battalion wiped out in one day! On the 21st August another attack was made provoking heavy shelling upon Buffs trenches. The last week of August was spent resting at nearby Bray. Arthur was wounded in or near Delville Wood and died of these wounds whilst being treated at a Base Hospital in Abbeville. TAUNT A.F (brother) Private 5742 Arthur Frank TAUNT. 14th (King’s) Hussars. Died 26th October 1914. Born Northampton. Resided Tenterden. Son of Mr Taunt of Station Road, Tenterden. Arthur has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Panel reference 5. This is a strange one – the 14th Hussars were in India during 1914. In November 1915 it moved to Mesopotamia (Iraq) in the 6th (Indian) Cavalry Brigade. In May 1918 it went to Persia (Iran). Arthur’s unit detail is either wrong or he was attached to another unit that did serve in Belgium. The only explanation is that Arthur was informally attached to an undisclosed unit which was fighting in Belgium during October 1914. He may have been on leave from India when the war broke out. Instead of returning to India with his unit, he was diverted to another Hussar unit in France. On the 13th August 1916 the 10th Hussars suffered 3 casualties and the 20th Hussars lost two men. At a guess Arthur was serving with one of these Hussar units when he was killed. He probably died wearing a 14th Hussars capbadge.

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TAUNT H.J (brother) Private 2215 Herbert James TAUNT. (Queen’s Own) West Kent Yeomany (Hussars). Fighting with the 13th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Died Delville Wood 31st August 1916 aged 20 years. Enlisted Maidstone. Resided Tenterden. Son of Mr Taunt of Station Road, Tenterden, Kent. Herbert has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Panel reference 1A (West Kent Yeomanry panel) Soldiers Died Great War lists a further 12 men from the West Kent Yeomanry (including T.W Hopkins from Ashford) killed in action on the 31st August 1916. They all met their maker somewhere near Delville Wood on the Somme. The West Kent Yeomany was often referred to as the West Kent Hussars. This was an unofficial nick-name for the unit. Herbert is listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commisson as belonging to the West Kent Yeomanry when he was killed. It would now appear that Herbert was killed fighting alongside the 13th Middlesex Regiment. Most of their casualties on the 31st August 1916 are buried in Caterpiller Valley Cemetery on the Somme. Many men’s headstones show a West Kent Yeomanry capbadge. These men were in fact former members of the Queen’s Own West Kent Yeomanry. Somehow they never quite made the transition over to the Middlesex Regiment. They died as Middlesex Regiment men but their headstones show their previous unit capbadge. This is very odd… Colonel Ponsonby’s book “The West Kent and East Kent Yeomanry 1914-1918” records – “In the later half of 1916 drafts from the West Kent Yeomanry totaling 560 NCO’s and men were sent to various Regiments in France from Egypt. A large proportion going to 13th Middlesex Regiment. In February 1917 the remaining personnel joined the 2nd and 3rd line West Kent Yeomanry. The 1/1st ceased to exist. The following West Kent Yeomanry men were reported killed in action fighting with the 13th Middlesex Regiment – Bubb F.G, Bugden R.H, Clark G.T, Coulter A.J, Darby T, Dowling G.F, Ellis A.E, Fermor A.E, Gilbert C, Glover E.A, HOPKINS T.W, Ingram S, Latter A, Leary J, Lemon M.L, Lower E.T, Noakes N, Smith F.L, Smith P.C, TAUNT H.J, Turner J.S, Wonnacott Y, Wood G. The West Kent Yeomanry was at Maidstone on 4th August 1914 (South Eastern Mounted Brigade). On 24th September 1915 it dismounted and sailed from Liverpool on the SS Olympic bound for Gallipoli, Turkey. The ship reached Gallipoli on 8th October 1915 and the 1/1st Troop was attached to 42nd Division. In January 1916 the Troop was evacuated to Mudros and then to Egypt. On 1st February 1917 the troop was disbanded and was absorbed into the newly formed

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10th (Yeomanry) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). The 2nd and 3rd line Squadrons West Kent Yeomanry (2/1st 3/1st) still existed back in the UK until 1918. Herbert was killed fighting with the 13th Middlesex Regiment.

TRIBE C.C * Able Seaman LONDON Z / 1292 Charles Cecil TRIBE. Drake Battalion, Royal Naval Division (RND). Died 28th May 1916 aged 27 years. Son of Charles and Alice Tribe of Midhurst, Sussex. Husband of Margaret Tribe, 33, Lavender Hill, Tonbridge, Kent. Buried Mesnil Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Grave reference III.E.6.

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TRIVETT W.B * Private 48409 William Ben TRIVETT. 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Died 30th April 1917 aged 32 years. Born Kentisbeare, Devon. Enlisted Goudhurst. Resided Horsmonden. Son of Tom and Elizabeth Trivett of Kentisbeare, Devon. Husband of Minnie Trevett of 2, Victoria Place, West Cross, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, France. Grave reference XVIII.E.8. William’s name also appears on the nearby Horsmonden civic tribute.

VELVICK C.F Private 35270 Charles Frank VELVICK. 5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly (35141) 9th T.R Battalion. Died 11th April 1918. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Tenterden. Charles has no known grave. His name appears on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Panel reference 4. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Woodbury Cottages,Tenterden Private Percy Edward VELVICK. Royal Welsh Regiment. Prestonden Row, Tenterden Private 54378 Thomas James VELVICK. 17th Welsh Regiment.

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VELVICK P.E * Private G/25218 Percy Edward VELVICK. 3rd Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Formerly Welsh Regiment. Died 19th November 1919 aged 26 years. Husband of Mrs Velvick of “Woodbury Cottage”, Tenterden, Kent. Buried locally in the Tenterden (St Mildred’s) Cemetery. Grave reference 168. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Woodbury Cottages,Tenterden Private Percy Edward VELVICK. Royal Welsh Regiment. Prestonden Row, Tenterden Private 54378 Thomas James VELVICK. 17th Welsh Regiment.

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The 3rd Battalion was based in Maidstone and never left the UK as a unit. It was concerned with training men and supplying drafts to other battalions in the field.

WALLIS A.W * Private G/20800 Arnold Welcome WALLIS. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 3rd March 1917 aged 28 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Tenterden. Resided Tenterden. Son of Alfred and Eliza Wallis of High Street, Tenterden, Kent. Husband of Nellie Wallis of North Street, Biddenden, Kent. Buried in the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, The Somme, France. Grave reference VI.B.20. In the early part of March 1917 the 7th Buffs were in the area of the Zollern Redoubt and Miraumont. Nothing of note occurred.

WALSH H. (Lt) Lieutenant Herbert WALSH. 46 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (RFC). Died 30th December 1917. Buried Izel-Les-Hameau Communal Cemetery, France. Grave reference 2. There are only 6 Great War graves in this small cemetery. The GRO death index for the Great War gives Harold Walsh, Royal Flying Corps (RFC). 46th Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed 19th April 1916 at Brooklands by redesinating an element of 2nd Reserve Squadron. It became 46th Squadron, Royal Air Force on 1st April 1918 whilst at Filescamp Farm, France. It was disbanded 31st December 1919 at Rendcomb. The RAF Communiques 1917 gives – “28th December 1917 – 2Lt Robinson and 2Lt G.A Lambourn of 46 Squadron shot down a 2 seater in flames near Gouzeaucourt.” On the 30th December no flying took place because of poor weather. There was also a training squadron - 46 Training Squadron RFC was formed 23rd October 1916 at Doncaster Yorkshire by redesignating an element of 15th Reserve Squadron. It was redesignated 46th Training Squadron, Royal Flying Corps on 31st May 1917. An element detached and became 107 Squadron on 8th October 1917. On 15th July 1918 the squadron was disbanded at Catterick, North Yorkshire where it merged with 52 Training Squadron to become 49th Training Depot Squadron. WEAVER H.W Lance Sergeant G/803 Herbert William WEAVER. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 3rd May 1917 aged 23 years. Born Willesborough. Enlisted Tenterden. Resided Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. Only son of Mr H Weaver of Gladstone Road, South Willesborough, Ashford, Kent. Later residing Uckinghall, Ripple, Tewkesbury, Gloscestershire. Nephew of Mr J Ditton of Leigh Green, Tenterden, Kent. Herbert has no known grave. His name appears on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. Panel reference – Bay 2. On the outbreak of war Herbert was employed by Messrs Elliot and Son of Tenterden and was one of the first Ashford men to answer the call of his country in 1914. Herbert had been at the front with his battalion for over 2 years when he was killed. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Black Horse Inn, Tenterden Bombardier 182984 John Barton WEAVER. Royal Field Atillery. On the 2nd and 3rd of May 1917 the 7th Buffs were opposite the village of Cherisy preparing for an attack. The battalion’s objective was to capture an enemy position known as Keeling Copse. The attack faltered at Cable Trench that was found to contain large numbers of German soldiers. The battalion fought its way towards the Sensee River. The attacking formations fell back to their original trenches when it was determined that the attack was a failure. The regimental history records that 330 men were either killed or wounded in this attack.

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WENBOURNE W Private SS/3868 William WENBOURNE. Army Service Corps (ASC). Died 1st May 1915. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Aberdeen, Scotland. Resided Tenterden. Brother of Mr E.J Wenbourne of Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Aldershot Military Cemetery, Aldershot, Hampshire. Grave reference AF.1863. WILES F Sapper 300266 Frank WILES. 1st Canadian Army, Troops Company, Canadian Engineers. Formerly 2nd Field Troop, Canadian Egineers, Horse Show Buildings, Winnipeg, Canada. Died Canadian Hospital Eastbourne 19th March 1919 aged 34 years. Born 27th September 1884 at Tenterden, Kent. Son of Frederick and Clara Wiles of High Street, Tenterden, Kent. Brother of Percy Wiles. Buried in the Seaford Cemetery, Seaford, Sussex. Grave reference A.649. Before the outbreak of war Frank was a Carpenter. He at enlisted for overseas service on the 3rd June 1915 at Winnipeg in Canada. Frank served at Vimy Ridge in 1917 with the Canadian Army. WIILIAMS A.G * Private 80301 Alfred F.G WILLIAMS. Forestry Company, Labour Corps. Formerly (7741) Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 21st February 1920 aged 31 years. Son of Alfred and Jane Williams of Tenterden, Kent. Husband of Frances Williams of “Preston Cottage”, West Cross, Tenterden, Kent. Buried locally in the Tenterden (St Mildred’s) Cemetery. Grave reference 54. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – West Cross,Tenterden Private 80301 Alfred George WILLIAMS. Forestry Coy, Labour Corps.

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LOST MEN

The Tenterden civic war memorial is vastly incomplete. These names do not appear on the High Street tribute. A small amount do however appear on the

Church plaque. ADDISON G Private 81003 Geoffrey ADDISON. 5th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment). Died 26th/27th September 1916 aged 22 years. Born Tenterden 18th February 1916. Son of William Bragg and Edith Addison of St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly. Geoffrey has no known grave. His name appears on the Vimy Memorial to the Missing, Vimy Ridge, France. Goeffrey’s name appears on the Scilly Isles Civic War Memorial. Prior to the outbreak of war Geoffrey was working as a Farmer in Canada. He was unmarried. On 18th December 1914 Geoffrey answered to call of his mother country and voluntarily enlisted into the Canadian Army. His death is recorded by the Canadian War Graves Commission – Reference number – RG150 Accession 1992-93/166 Box 43-6.

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ADDY F Private T/1413 Frank T ADDY. 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Sunday 7th May 1916 aged 22 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Tenterden. Resided Rolvenden. Son of James Addy of Wassell Farm, Rolvendon, Kent. Buried in the Amara War Cemetery, Amara, Iraq. Grave reference XXI.F.2. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – 7, Eight Dwellings, The Layne, Rolvenden Private Driver 234063 Frank Leonard ADDY. Royal Field Artillery. 3, Eight Dwellings, The Layne, Rolvenden Private 240256 James Percy ADDY. 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). 1, East Cross Cottages, Tenterden Stoker Duncan ADDY. HMS Shannon, Royal Navy. Private 323908 George ADDY. Labour Corps. Leading Seaman J/23338 Leonard ADDY. HMS Victorious, Royal Navy. The 1901 census gives – Wassell Farm, Rolvenden James ADDY 62 Farmer Wittersham Frank T 19 Farmers son Tenterden Louisa 29 Housekeeper Chart Sutton, Kent Charles G 15 Chart Sutton The day that Frank died his battalion was near Kut in Iraq. It was reported that many men were suffering from Cholera and that quite a few had died from it. It is possible that Frank was one of these men who succumbed to the terrible environmental conditions in Mesopotamia at that time. The 5th battalion was part of the Tigris Corps a hastily organized unit tasked with lifting the disastrous siege of Kut.

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ASHDOWN A.J Private T/240581 Alfred James ASHDOWN. 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 9th March 1917. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Ashenden Cottages, Small Hythe, Tenterden. Alfred has no known grave. His name appears on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq. Panel reference – 6. Alfred came from a long established Tenterden family. It seems inconceivable that Alfred’s name was not placed on the town’s tribute… The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Ashenden Cottages, Small Hythe Private 202186 Frederick George ASHDOWN. 13th Middlesex Regiment. Private 240775 Horace Edward ASHDOWN. 4th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Private 22289 John Albert ASHDOWN. Army Veterinary Corps. Driver T/4232195 William Ernest ASHDOWN. Army Service Corps.

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AUSTEN H.G * Our sincere thanks to Victor Longhorn (a kind relative) for providing photo and giving us further information about this gallant lad. Rifleman 57422 Henry George AUSTEN. 2nd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC). Died 29th October 1918 aged 39 years. Born 12 November 1878 – Park Gate, Tenterden, Kent. Enlisted Bromley. Son of William and Mary Ann Austen (formerly Reynolds) of Park Gate, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Vis-En-Artois Memorial, France. Panel reference 9. Commemorated on the Bromley Civic War Memorial, Bromley, Kent. 1901 Census Park Gate, Tenterden, Kent 1891 Census 1 Cooper Farm Cottages, Main Road, Bromley, Kent William AUSTEN 37 Cowman Tenterden Mary A 41 Tenterden Herbert J 17 Cowman Tenterden Henry G 12 Scholar Tenterden Alice J.J 6 Scholar Bromley

Before the outbreak of war Henry was working as a Gardener at a large house in nearby Bickley near Bromley, Kent. In his spare-time Henry was a Special Constable serving in the local borough constabulary. Henry was married in 1904 but the couple had no children (poor Henry and his wife probably intended to do so but his life was cut short). Apparently Henry was a gentle soul and was well liked by all those who knew him Henry was conscripted in 1918 at the age of 39 years. As the war progressed and the casualties mounted more and more men were needed as drafts to replace casualties. . Henry was sadly killed fourteen days before the guns on the Western Front fell silent (Armistice Day 11/11/1918).

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AUSTEN P.A Corporal G/3091 Percy Alfred AUSTEN. 8th Battalion, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 19th April 1917 aged 19 years. Born Small Hythe. Resided Tenterden. Son of Fred and Mary Austen of “Cricket Field House”, Broad, Tenterden, Kent. Formerly 16 Kings Gate Lane, Wittersham, Kent. Buried in the Maroc British Cemetery. Grave reference I.Q.33. 1901 Census 16 Kings Gate Lane, Wittersham, Kent Fred AUSTEN 43 Agrigcultural Labourer Tenterden Mary 44 Tenterden Fred 15 Carter on Farm Tenterden Frank 12 Smallhythe William 10 Smallhythe Jack 9 Smallhythe Charles 6 Smallhythe Harry 5 Smallhythe Percy 3 Smallhythe Percy joined his battalion in 1915. He fought in Gallipoli, Turkey and Egypt before arriving in France. Before the outbreak of war Percy was employed by Messrs T Ive’s and Son of Tonbridge (Cricket ball makers).

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BABINGTON H.T * Private 2973 Humphrey Temple BABINGTON. 32nd Battalion, Australian Infantry (A.I.F), Died of influenza and bronchitis 1st May 1917 aged 32 years. Youngest son of the Reverend John Albert Babington, Vicar of Tenterden from 1903 onwards. Buried Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Grave reference N.48. Humphrey’s name was placed on the church tribute but not on the town’s civic tribute… Educated at Mr C.J.M Wanton’s Castle School, Tonbridge, Kent. In September 1898 he entered Tonbridge School, Kent. Humphrey’s name appears in the Tonbridge School Roll of Honour. He attended that school between 1898 and 1903 as a day boy at Manor House. His father John Babington was a former Master at Tonbridge before becoming a vicar. Upon leaving school Humphrey worked at 71, Cornhill, London as a clerk for the Bank of Australia. He left for Australia in February 1914. Upon the outbreak of war Humphrey immediately enlisted for overseas service. In March 1916 he was sent to Egypt with his regiment. In June 1917 he moved from Egypt to Marseilles. He remained at the front for nearly a year before being struck down with bronchitis. He died in France at a Casualty Clearing Station.

BARTON J.M (brother) Lance Sergeant 4066 James Miles BARTON MM. 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Died 29th November 1917 aged 26 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Staplehurst. Son of John and Helen Barton of 3, Willow Cottages, Staplehurst, Kent.. Buried in the Haringhe (Bandaghem) Miltary Cemetery, Belgium. Grave reference I.C.19. James was awarded the Military Medal (MM) for bravery in the field. James name appears on the Staplehurst war memorial. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Bells Lane, Tenterden Stoker K/23066 Harry BARTON. HMS Sentinel, Royal Navy. BARTON R (brother) Rifleman S/14154 or S/14454 Ronald BARTON DCM. 13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Died 6th November 1918 aged 23 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Goudhurst. Resided Staplehurst. Son of John and Ellen Barton of Ellen Barton of 3, Willow Cottages, Staplehurst, Kent. Buried in the Caudry British Cemetery. Grave reference IV.F.15. Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for bravery in the field. This is a very high ranking bravery decoration for other ranks just below a Victoria Cross in precedence. Ronald’s name appears on the Staplehurst war memorial. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Bells Lane, Tenterden Stoker K/23066 Harry BARTON. HMS Sentinel, Royal Navy. BASTON F Sapper 534607 Frederick BASTON. 491st Field Company, Royal Engineers (RE). Died 18th July 1917 aged 23 years. Born St Leonards, Hastings, Sussex. Son of A.E and Sophia Elizabeth Baston of Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Roclincourt Military Cemetery, France. Grave reference I.D.11. 65

BEACH A Private S/68 Albert BEACH. 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 24th July 1915. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Cranbrook. Buried in the Potijze Chateau Wood Cemetery. Grave reference C.4. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Bells Lane, Tenterden Private 416682 Walter BEACH. 410th Agricultural Coy, Labour Corps. 6 Mayors Place, Tenterden Private 241555 Frederick BEACH. 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). BEACH E. L Private L/8096 Edgar L. BEACH. 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 8th November 1914 aged 27 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Cranbrook. Son of Charles and Eliza Beach of Rectory Cottages, Cranbrook, Kent. Buried in the Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxford. Grave reference 11.16. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Bells Lane, Tenterden Private 416682 Walter BEACH. 410th Agricultural Coy, Labour Corps. 6 Mayors Place, Tenterden Private 241555 Frederick BEACH. 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment).

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BEEKEN T.H Private L/8124 Thomas Henry (Harry) BEEKEN. 2nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Friday 12th March 1915 aged 26 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Chilham Lees. Son of Mr Beeken of Chilham, Kent. Buried in the Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Kemmel, Belgium. Grave reference G.39. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – The Lees, Chilham Corporal 147107 James Frederick BEEKEN. Royal Engineers. Private 073367 Walter Frank BEEKEN. Army Service Corps. Field Cottages, Tenterden Private 59151 Arthur BEEKEN. 1st Welsh Regiment. The 2nd battalion alternated between Kemmel and Locre during March 1915. On the 12th March the battalion was in frontline trenches at Kemmel. It is recorded that a number of men were shot by a German sniper. Thomas may have been one of those men who were shot. His body was buried nearby. BELCHER E.F Sergeant 9164 Edward Francis BELCHER. 12th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Died 31st March 1918 aged 31 years. Born Kingston, Surrey. Son of Francis Belcher of Kingston-Upon-Thames. Husband of Adilena Dorathy Belcher of High Street, Tenterden, Kent. Son of Francis Belcher, of Kingston-on-Thames; husband of Adilena Dorothy Belcher, of High St., Tenterden, Kent. Native of Kingston-on-Thames. Buried Estaples Cemetery, Estaples, France. Grave reference – XXXIII.B.30.

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2. BENZ A.A Marden War Memorial * Albert was not officialy recorded as a casualty of the Great War until 2007 when we submited his case to the MoD (See his entry under Forgotten Men – Batch 3). Sergeant T/1050 Albert Arthur Benz. 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died of wounds 21st September 1918, aged 31 years. Born Stoke Newington, London 1887. Son of Sebastian Peter Benz and Mary Ann Benz, née Steel. Albert was seriously injured on 21st January 1916, receiving a gunshot wound during an attack on the Turkish lines at Umm-el-Hanna, Mesopotamia (Iraq). Three weeks later, on 10th February, he was sent back to India to recover from his injuries, but on 7th May 1916, having failed to show any improvement, he was transferred to the Regimental Depot, and returned to England. Discharged 20 February 1917 “no longer fit for war service” after serving (pre war) 4 years, 140 days. His father – a German national who came to England in the 1860s to work as a baker – died in 1897; his mother remarried the following year, and by 1901 the family were living in the village of Tenterden in Kent, where Albert’s stepfather, James Henry Clarke, worked as a gas engineer. Albert himself was for some time employed at the Staplehurst Gas Works, and afterwards worked as a labourer in the nearby village of Marden, where he married Ellen Kate Preston on 15th April 1909. Albert and Ellen lived at Howland Road, Marden and 2 Albion Road, Marden, and had two children – Mabel Louise, who was born in Marden on 7th June 1910 and baptised in Marden on 14th August 1910, and Dorothy May, who was born in Marden on 24th November 1912 and baptised in Marden on 9th February 1913. Soon after moving to Kent, Albert enlisted in the county’s Territorial Force, serving with the 1/5th (The Weald of Kent) Battalion of The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). He left the regiment at the end of his initial term of service with the Territorials, but subsequently re-enlisted at Staplehurst on 1st November 1912 at the age of 25 years 7 months, rejoining his old Battalion for a further term of 4 years. Albert attended annual training at Seaford from 27th July 1913 to 10th August 1913, and at Longmoor Camp to Salisbury in the summer of 1914. When war was declared on 4th August 1914, the 1/5th Buffs were at the Drill Hall, Ashford, as part of the Kent Brigade, Home Counties Division. The following day, Albert was promoted to Lance Corporal. Over the next few weeks, the Battalion moved to Dover, then to Canterbury, and later to Sandwich for training. Finally, the 1/5th Buffs were despatched to India, as replacements for the regular units that had been recalled to England at the outbreak of the war. The Battalion sailed from Southampton on 30th October 1914; on the same day, Albert was promoted to Corporal. After arriving in India on 3rd December 1914, the 1/5th Buffs were assigned to garrison duty in Kamptee, near Madras. Albert continued his climb through the ranks; on 8th March 1915 he was promoted to Sergeant. At the end of 1915, the 1/5th Buffs transferred to the Persian Gulf, where they were to remain for the rest of the war. The Battalion disembarked at Basra on 1st December 1915, and joined the expedition to relieve the British forces at Kut, where the 6th (Indian) Division was besieged by superior numbers of Turkish troops. However, Albert was seriously injured on 21st January 1916, receiving a gunshot wound during an attack on the Turkish lines at Umm-el-Hanna. Three weeks later, on 10th February, he was sent back to India to recover from his injuries, but on 7th May 1916, having failed to show any improvement, he was transferred to the Regimental Depot, and returned to England. Albert was posted on to the 4th (Reserve) Battalion of the Buffs on 10th October 1916, and on 20th March 1917 he was discharged from the army “in consequence of being no longer physically fit for war service. He subsequently died of these wounds just over a year later at the age of 31 years. Albert Benz is commemorated on the War Memorial in Marden, which suggests that the trustees

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of the memorial were satisfied that his death was caused by or aggravated by his war service. However, he does not appear on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s “Debt of Honour Register,” nor is he mentioned in “Soldiers Died in the Great War,” presumably because he died after being discharged. I believe there is a very strong case for Albert’s name to be added to the CWGC register. BISHOP A.E * Private 9895 Albert Edward BISHOP. 3rd Dragoon Guards (Prince of Wale’s Own). Died 6th July 1916. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Canterbury. Buried in the Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension. Grave reference Plot 1, Row B, Grave 41. Albert’s name was placed on the church tribute but not on the town’s civic tribute in the High Street… The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Homewood, Tenterden Private 298579 Arthur BISHOP. Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps. 4 East Cross Cottages, Tenterden Gunner 198732 Charles Henry BISHOP. 302nd Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. BISHOP F.J Gunner 293404 Frederick James BISHOP. 140th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). Died 27th April 1917 aged 38 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Shepherds Bush, London. Resided Thornton Heath, Surrey. Husband of Jane Bishop of 39, Mersham Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey. Buried in the Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery, British Extension. Grave reference I.F.13. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Homewood, Tenterden Private 298579 Arthur BISHOP. Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps. 4 East Cross Cottages, Tenterden Gunner 198732 Charles Henry BISHOP. 302nd Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.

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BOURNER R Private 292241 Robert BOURNER. 7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. Died 3rd May 1917 aged 30 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Aberdeen. Son of Robert and Hannah Bourner. Husband of Elizabeth Bourner of The Square, Cults, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, France. Grave reference XIX.N.14. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Bullen Farm, Tenterden Lance Corporal 240833 Edwin Arthur BOURNER. 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). BROWNING F.J Private T/240395 Frederick John BROWNING. 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 24th February 1917 aged 26 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Lamberhurst. Son of Frederick John Browning of Stuppington Cottages, Newnham, Sittingbourne, Kent. Buried in the Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. Grave reference XXIX.B.112. On the 24th February 1917 the Turkish army was in full retreat. The next few days for the 5th Buffs were strenuous and energetic ones. The regimental history goes on to say that the battalion was not engaged with the enemy during this time. BRUNGER F.J Guardsman 31711 Frederick John BRUNGER. 3rd Battallion, Grenadier Guards. Formerly (TR/10/88782) East Surrey Regiment. Died 4th November 1918 aged 19 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Watford, Herts. Son of John and Emma Brunger of Ashenden Cottages, Smallhythe, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Frasnoy Communal Cemetery. Grave reference A.22. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Cole, Small Hythe, Tenterden Private 36548 Albert Edward BRUNGER. 1st East Surrey Regiment. Private 13786 Alfred George BRUNGER. 6th Buffs (East Kent Reiment).

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BUTTON J.H Private 1649 John (Jack) Herbert BUTTON. 1/1st Royal East Kent (Mounted Rifles) Yeomanry (REKMR). Died Gallipoli Turkey Thursday 30th December 1915 aged 19 years. Son of George and Ellen Button of “Mill House”, Westwell, Kent. Buried in the Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery, Turkey. Grave reference - Sp Mem.A.8.58. In 1909 Jack went to America on a visit to his uncle Mr Herbert Button of Bonnie Brook, Cazenovie, New York. On returning to England he went to Bossenden Farm, Dunkirk, Faversham, Kent to learn farming. He was a keen member of Dunkirk Cricket Club. In January 1914 he joined the REKMR and left for Turkey on 23rd September 1915. The regiment sailed on the SS Olympic and arrived Lemnos on the 1st October. It landed at Helles on the 8th October and the regiment proceeded to Gully Farm. During the next few weeks it held frontline trenches at Fusilier Bluff. The day that Jack died his regiment was withdrawing from Gallipoli. The REKMR evacuated to Mudros from V Beach during that night (30th). It is unclear how Jack came to lose his life the day that his regiment was leaving Gallipoli.

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COCHRANE G Private L/9691 George COCHRANE. 10th Battalion, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 7th November 1918 aged 22 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Canterbury. Son of George and Mary Jane Featherstone (formerly Cochrane) of The Forge House, Chillenden, Canterbury, Kent. Buried Ecuelin Churchyard. Grave reference – South East Side. The CWGC spell his name incorrectly as COCKRANE! COLVIN D Private G/4574 Daniel COLVIN. 2nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), Died 3rd April 1915 aged 18 years. Son of Daniel Colvin of Parknook Cottage, Tenterden, Kent. Daniel has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Leper, Belgium. Panel reference 12 and 14. Daniel’s name appears on the Hawkhurst War Memorial. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Sandrock, Hawkhurst Private 204593 James COLVIN. South Staffordshire Regiment. Private G/4436 William COLVIN. 7th Buffs (East Kent Regiment).

On the 22nd February 1915 the 2nd Buffs were in the vicinity of Kemmel holding frontline trenches. The battalion remained in the Zonnebeke and St Eloi area throughout April 1915. COUCHMAN G.F Private G/21151 George Frederick COUCHMAN. 8th Battalion, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 21st March 1918 aged 20 years. Son of Charles Couchman of The Quarter, Tenterden, Kent. George has no known grave. His name appears on the Pozieres Memorial, France. Panel reference 14 and 15. On the 21st March 1918 the 8th West Kent’s found themselves under heavy enemy bombardment near Omigon (Vadencourt). CROFT C.E (brother) Private G/5375 Charles Edward CROFT. 8th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 12th July 1916 aged 21 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Bromley. Son of Mr J Croft of New Houses, Pratt’s Bottom, Chelsfield, Farnborough, Kent. Buried in the Bailleul Communal British Cemetery Extension, France. Grave reference II.E.46. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Burgess Row, Tenterden Private) 204582 Albert CROFT. 4th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). CROFT J.W (brother) Private L/10680 James William CROFT. 6th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 14th October 1917 aged 22 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Downe, Kent. Son of John Croft of New Houses, Pratt’s Bottom, Chelsfield, Farnborough, Kent. James has no known grave. His name appears on the Aras Memorial, Arras, France. Panel reference Bay 7. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Burgess Row, Tenterden Private) 204582 Albert CROFT. 4th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). CURTIS P.J Private G/20990 Percy John CURTIS. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 23rd March 1918 aged 19 years. Born Canterbury. Enlisted Hastings, Sussex. Resided Bodiam, Sussex. Son of Samuel and Jane Curtis of “Homeleigh”, Appledore Road, Tenterden, Kent. Percy has no known grave. His name appears on the Pozieres Memorial, France. Panel reference 16. On the 26th February 1918 the 7th Buffs were moved to the Liez area 3 miles North of the River Oise and 2 miles from the St Quentin Canal. On the 15th March a patrol led by Ashford man Lt C.W Jemmett moved forward to the canal and it was found the enemy held it in force. Records around this time are scarce. On the 20th March 1918 GHQ sent the message “Prepare for Action”. The next day (21st) the last great German Somme offensive started.

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DUNSTER G.H Private 21943 George Herbert DUNSTER. 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (London Regiment). Died 12th April 1917 aged 31 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Hounslow, London. Son of Ester Ann Holingsbee of “Hollinghurst”, 6, Spring Grove Road, Heston, Hounslow, Middlesex. Buried in the Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-Les-Mofflaines, France. Grave reference II.H.13. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Ebenezer Cottage, St Michael’s, Tenterden Private Arthur Ripley DUNSTER. 1st Royal West Kent Regiment. Private 46719 Ernest Frank DUNSTER. 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment. ELIOTT-LOCKHART P.C Lieutenant Colonel Percy Clare ELLIOTT-LOCKHART DSO. 59th Rifles (Indian Army). This man was born in Kamptee in India 18987. Son of Colonel William Elliott-Lockhart formerly of the Royal Artillery. His Father in Law was Mr James Worrall of “Westwell”, Tenterden. Information about this man is limited because he was serving in the Indian Army when he died. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

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FAIRS G.W Air Mechanic 2nd Class F/41482 G.W FAIRS. Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). Died 8th March 1918. Son of Mr Fairs of Cobham, Kent. Buried locally in the Tenterden (St Mildreds) Churchyard, Tenterden, Kent. Grave reference 241. It seems incredible that this man’s name was placed on the town war memorial considering he is buried in Tenterden itself!

FIELD H.F Private L/9000 Herbert Frank FIELD. 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 24th November 1914 aged 26 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Harrietshsam. Son of Edgar Herbert Field of Harrietsham, Kent. Herbert has no known grave. His name appears on the Karachi 1914-1918 War Memorial, Pakistan. FOREMAN W.G Gunner 67913 William George FOREMAN. “F” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery (RHA). Died 21st May 1918 aged 26 years. Born Tenterden. Son of M.A Foreman of 8, Bank Street, Cranbrook, Kent. Buried in the Bienvillers Military Cemetery, France. Grave reference XV.C.15. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Bank Street, Cranbrook Sergeant 10571 Albert Charles FOREMAN. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). FOX F Private 57904 Frank FOX. 173rd Company, Machine Gun Corps (MGC). Formerly (G/13448) Royal Sussex Regiment. Died 19th September 1917. Born Tenterden. Resided Swanley, Kent. Buried in the Epsom Cemetery, Epsom, Surrey. Grave reference K.649. GIBSON H * Sergeant 44847 Harry GIBSON. 4th “S” Trench Mortar Battery, Royal Field Artillery (RFA). Died 30th June 1916 aged 26 years. Son of Mr Gibson of Enfield, Middlesex. Husband of Lydia Grace Gibson of Coombe Lane, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Sucrerie Military Cemetery, France. Grave reference I.H.37.

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GILBERT J Driver T/22648 Joseph GILBERT. Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). Secondary Regiment – Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). Attended 9th Field Ambulance. Died 28th December 1914. Born Tenterden. Buried in the Meteren Military Cemetery, France. Grave reference IV.H.789. GILBERT W.T Private T/2002 William Thomas GILBERT. 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Gallipoli Turkey 20th September 1915 aged 20 years. Born Tenterden. Son of Mrs S Venus of The Pavement, St Michael’s, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the La La Baba Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey. Grave reference II.C.5.

HART J Sergeant L/8975 John HART. “C” Company, 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 6th March 1916. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Woolwich, London. Resided Woodchurch. John has no known grave. His name appears on the Loos Memorial, Loos, France. Panel reference 15 to 19. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Lower Green, Woodchurch Private 2585350 Fred HART. Remount Depot. Jasmine Cottage, Wodchurch Private G/61538 Frank HART. 6th Middlesex Regiment. Shirk Hall, Woodchurch Bombardier 64198 Frederick HART. C Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Field Artillery. Brick Wall, Woodchurch Private 202500 William Goode HART. 4th Royal West Kent Regiment. The 1901 census gives – (the correct man is probably the first family) Maysham, Woodchurch Stephen HART 45 Cattle Man Tenterden Amy 40 Woodchurch John 17 Labourer Tenterden Kate 14 Tenterden Fred 11 Woodchurch The Green, Woodchurch Edward HART 29 Shepherd Woodchurch Olive 41 Woodchurch Frank E 4 Woodchurch John E 2 Woodchurch On the 6th March 1916 the 6th battalion Buffs made a notable attack on a German held crater at Givenchy. This enemy held crater was called Triangle Crater and it was quite near to the Hohenzollern Redoubt. One company was detailed to attack – C company. John must have been killed during this assault. 78

HAWKINS H.F Private 33851 Henry Frank HAWKINS. 7th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. Formerly (157904) Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). Died 15th April 1917. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Tenterden. Son of Henry George and Elizabeth Hawkins of Church House, High Halden, Kent. Buried locally in the High Halden Churchyard (St Mary), Kent. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Church Houses, High Halden Private 428422 William John HAWKINS. 426th Agricultural Labour Company.

HAYESMORE F.G (brother) Private G/5053 Frederick George HAYESMORE. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Sunday 2nd July 1916 aged 30 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Tenterden. Resided Rolvenden. Son of Alfred and Emily Hayesmore of Harbridge Manor Cottage, Cranbrook, Kent. Formerly residing at Earl Lodge, Great Maytham, Rolvenden, Kent. Husband of S.E Hayesmore of Hamilton House, Rolvenden, Kent. Frederick has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, The Somme, France. Panel reference 5D. Frederick’s commanding Officer wrote – “He died the finest death a soldier can die and he died fighting hard”. Frederick’s brother Hubert died the day before Frederick. It is probable that Frederick knew of this fact because he served in the same battalion as his brother. All three Hayesmore brothers served in the 7th battalion. Frederick was killed in action on the second day of the Battle of the Somme. His battalion was on the 2nd July in the vicinity of Carnoy holding frontline trenches.

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HAYESMORE H.H (brother) Private G/5033 Hubert Harold HAYESMORE. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Saturday 1st July 1916 aged 22 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Tenterden. Resided Rolvenden. Son of Alfred and Emily Hayesmore of Harbridge Manor Cottage, Cranbrook, Kent. Formerly residing at Earl Lodge, Great Maytham, Rolvenden, Kent. Buried in the Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, The Somme, France. Grave reference VIII.V.2. Before joining the Army Hubert was working as a groom to Captain F De Laune of Sharsted Court, Doddington, Faversham, Kent. Hubert was Killed on the first day of the Battle of The Somme. His brother (above) was killed the next day. All three Hayesmore brothers served in the 7th battalion. On the 1st July 1916 the 7th battalion was holding frontline trenches in the vicinity of Carnoy. Its objective was a trench about 200 yards north of the Montauban-Fricourt Road. The Carnoy mine craters took 6 hours to clear. The battalion lost 50 men killed and a further 144 wounded.

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HAYESMORE L.A (brother) Private G/5034 Louis Arthur HAYESMORE. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Saturday 18th November 1916. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Tenterden. Resided Rolvenden. Son of Alfred and Emily Hayesmore of Harbridge Manor Cottage, Cranbrook, Kent. Formerly residing at Earl Lodge, Great Maytham, Rolvenden, Kent. Louis has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, The Somme, France. Panel reference Pier and Face 5D. Louis died on the official day of the end of the Battle of the Somme. The 7th battalion was in action all day NEXT TO Mucky Farm in the Ovillers Sector. The battalion moved forward and attacked enemy positions near Grandcourt. The attack was held up at Desire Trench where enemy resistance was heaviest. By the days end Hessian and Zollern Trench had been reached with over 150 killed.

HOLDSTOCK J * Corporal (CSTR) J. HOLDSTOCK. The Commonwealth War Graves register does not record a J HOLDSTOCK. This man MAY be a duplicate entry of C.J HOLDSTOCK whose name appears on the Tenterden War Memorial. If not then he may be yet another local man who was wounded on active service and then swifty discharged on medical grounds only to die shortly afterwards of his wounds. It is not known what the initials CSTR stand for. These appear alongside his name on the Tenterden Church Roll of Honour. This man served overseas and is recorded to have survived the war. He may in fact have died of wounds shortly after being discharged – Corporal 14441 J.J HOLDSTOCK. Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (DCLI). HOOK R.E Lance Corporal M2/154514 Roland Ewart HOOK. Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). Formerly (G/1754) 8th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died 3rd November 1918 aged 27 years. Born Tenterden. Son of George Richard and Rhoda Turner Hook of Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Guildford (Stoke) Old Cemetery, Guildford, Surrey. Grave reference G.366. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – The Quarter, Tenterden Private 67991 Herbert Thomas HOOK. Clerk Sec, Army Service Corps.

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HOWARD A.W Private 010129 Arthur William HOWARD. Army Ordnance Corps (AOC). Died Friday 21st July 1916 aged 46 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Dover. Resided Ashford. Son of Sarah Pelham Howard and Samuel Osborne Howard. Husband of Nellie Howard of 31 Kent Avenue, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France. Grave reference A.36.8. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – West Cross, Tenterden Private Edward HOWARD. Agricultural Coy, Labour Corps. Arthur was a very old soldier when he died. KESBY W.W Lance Corporal L/7595 William Walter KESBY. 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 18th June 1915. Born Tenterden. Resided Tenterden. Buried in the Potijze Chateau Wood Cemetery, Belgium. Grave reference B.2.

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LARKIN J * Private G/3721 James A. LARKIN. 8th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 20th December 1916 aged 26 years. Son of Thomas and Martha Larkin of Leigh Green, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, France. Grave reference II.H.7. James name appears on the church plaque in St Mildred’s yet it does not appear on the town’s main High Street memorial which is bizarre.

LEDGER E.J Sapper 112311 Ebenezer John LEDGER. 32nd Reserve Battalion, Royal Engineers (RE). Died Sunday 10th February 1918 aged 22 years. Resided High Halden. Son of James Pearson Ledger of “Sunnyside”, High Halden, Kent. Buried in the St Michael’s (Jireh) Baptist Chapel Yard, Tenterden, Kent. Grave reference – North West of Chapel. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Strawlands Cottage, High Halden Driver 4517 Alfred LEDGER. Royal Field Artillery. Oak Grove, High Halden Private 38244 John LEDGER. 10th Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). LEVELL A Rifleman C/3835 Alfred LEVELL. 4th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC). Died 18th October 1918 aged 32 years. Son of George Levell of Clare, Suffolk. Husband of Lucy Ann Levell of Church Terrace, St Michael’s, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau, France. Grave reference III.E.5. MARTIN G.H Private L/9119 George Harold MARTIN. 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 15th January 1916. Born Tenterden. Buried in the Kut War Cemetery, Kut, Iraq. Grave reference G.13. George’s name appears on the Sutton Valence civic war memorial near Maidstone. MILLS N.H.V Second Lieutenant Norman Hope Vanderlure MILLS. Machine Gun Corps (MGC). Died Nieuport Bains, Belgium on 17th September 1917 aged 27 years. Great Grandson of Vanderline Mills of Tenterden, Kent. This mans name appears inside St Mildred’s Church on a private family placed was memorial. It appears that the Mills family lived in the Tenterden area for many years because the church has a number of plaques on the wall devoted to members of this family. MITTELL W.J Sergeant GS/489 Walter John MITTELL. 9th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died 18th August 1916. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Chichester, Sussex. Walter has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, The Somme, France. Panel reference 7C. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – East Cross, Tenterden Corporal 54842 William Samuel MITTELL. Royal Garrison Artillery.

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MORRIS A.E Private 31996 Albert Edward MORRIS. 8th Battalion, Attended 10th Entrenching Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment. Died 30th April 1918 aged 41 years. Son of John and Emily Morris of 217, Shortlands Road, Sittingbourne, Kent. Husband of Katherine Morris of Ashenden, Tenterden, Kent. Albert has no known grave. His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Panel reference 92 to 93 and 162A. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – High Street, Tenterden Sapper 171914 Cuthbert Stanley Hall MORRIS. 14th Division, Signals, Royal Engineers. Corporal 100554 Wilfred Leon MORRIS. 33rd Division, Signals, Royal Engineers.

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OTTAWAY F.H Private L/10196 Frederick Henry OTTAWAY. 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Wednesday 23rd February 1916 aged 19 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Molash. Son of George and Lily Jane Ottaway of Lenacre Street, Eastwell, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France. Grave reference VIII.D.60. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Hall Farm, Hothfield Arthur Herbert OTTAWAY. HMS Vindex. Royal Navy. Charles James OTTAWAY. 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). George OTTAWAY. Machine Gun Corps. The opening of the year 1916 found the 1st battalion Buffs at Forward Cottage a mile north of St Jean and quite close to Ypres, Belgium. Later in February the battalion moved into billets at Poperinghe. It appears that Frederick died of wounds that he received in a much earlier

engagement. He was recovered through the evacuation chain to a Base Hospital in Boulogne where he died of wounds. OTTAWAY J Private G/7714 James OTTAWAY. 10th Battalion, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 8th June 1917 aged 29 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Canterbury. Son of James and Elizabeth Ottaway of Anvil Green, Waltham, Canterbury, Kent. Buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. Grave reference XIII.D.11A.

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PAINE G.C Driver T/291396 George Charles PAINE. 664th Company, Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). Died 20th April 1917. Born Tenterden. Resided Tenterden. Buried in the Puchevillers British Cemetery. Grave reference VI.D.31. RICE G.E Private 3/2076 George Edward RICE. 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment. Died 1 July 1916 aged 20 years. Born Stockwell, London. Enlisted Warley, Essex. Resided Tenterden. Son of Louisa Rice of 2, Manor Cottages, Kemp Town, Brighton, Sussex. George has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, The Somme, France. Panel reference 10D.

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RIGDEN S Private 533285 Southwell RIGDEN. 15th Battalion, London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles). Died 7th April 1917. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Birmingham. Resided Stetchford. Husband of Mary Rigden of 21, Fort Road, Hythe, Kent. Buried in the Wandsworth (Streatham) Cemetery, London. Grave reference B.382.

ROUS T Second Lieutenant Thomas ROUS. “D” Company, 296th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (RFA). Died 22nd March 1918 aged 31 years. Son of Thomas and Selina Rous of Ardleigh, Colchester, Essex. Husband of Ivy Rous of The School House, Reading Street, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, France. Grave reference XXVIII.E.8. It is recorded that Thomas served in the Essex Yeomanry before joining the Royal Field Artillery.

RUSSELL C Private T/240176 Charles RUSSELL. 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 7th January 1916 aged 18 years. Born Biddenden. Resided Tenterden. Son of Mr J.E and Mrs S Russell of Cold Harbour, Tenterden, Kent. Charles has no known grave. His name appears on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq. Panel reference 6. On the 6th 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 5th battalion attacked the Turk positions head on and by nightfall it became obvious the attack could not succeed. The next day 7th 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. SHARP A.E Officers Steward 1st Class 359227 Alfred Edward SHARP. HMS “Starfish”. Royal Navy (RN). Accidently drowned off Sheerness on 29th October 1919 aged 34 years. Son of Elias and Jane Sharp of Tenterden, Kent. Husband of Mabel Sharp of 40, Baker Street, Rochester, Kent. Alfred has no known grave. His name appears on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Chatham, Kent. Panel reference 32. SHARP E.A Private G/41278 Ernest Alfred SHARP. 18th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Formerly (7011) The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 13th April 1918. Born Smallhythe. Resided Smallhythe. Son of Charles Sharpe of “Ashenden”, Tenterden, Kent. Ernest has no known grave. His name appears on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Panel reference 8. SHARPE R.H Gunner 61655 Robert Harold SHARPE. 30th Battery, Royal Field Artillery (RFA). Died 18th April 1915 aged 24 years. Born Tenterden. Son of Nelson and Caroline Sharpe of New Town, Staplehurst, Kent. Buried in the Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France. Grave reference I.E.29A.

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SHEPPARD H.J Private 9349 Henry Joseph SHEPPARD. 10th (Prince of Wales Own) Hussars. Died 17th November 1914 aged 27 years. Son of Mr J.W Shappard of Gas Lane, Tenterden, Kent. Henry has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Leper, Belgium. Panel reference 5. Henry’s name appears on the nearby Lydd war memorial. It seems odd that his name was not placed on the Tenterden town tribute because his family did reside in Tenterden both during and immediately after the Great War. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Gas Lane, Tenterden Sapper 541375 Frederick James SHEPPARD. Royal Engineers. SMITH F.E * Frank E. SMITH – No Trace STEPHEN H.F Private G/97988 Harold Frederick STEPHEN. 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Died 6th November 1918. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Kingston, Surrey. Resided Cranbrook, Kent. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – St Michael’s, Tenterden Private 31754 James Michael STEPHEN. Army Service Corps. This man appears on Soldiers Died Great War but his name is not listed on the CWGC death indexes! STEWART J.F Lance Corporal 412 James Fitzroy STEWART. 22nd Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers). Died 27th July 1916. Born Bournemouth. Resided Tenterden. James has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, The Somme, France. Panel reference 8C, 9A, 16A. STICKELLS W.F Driver T2/14346 William Frederick STICKELLS. Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). Secondary Regiment – Royal Field Artillery (RFA). Attended 162nd Brigade. Died 3rd November 1916 aged 25 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Faversham. Son of George and Annie Laura Stickells of Wood View, Stoney Road, Broughton Hill, Faversham, Kent. Buried in the La Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie, France. Grave reference II.F.40.

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SWINYARD E.W Lance Corporal A/200310 Ernest William/Wilfred SWINYARD. 2nd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC). Formerly (2876) The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 17th October 1918 aged 22 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Faversham. Son of Edward and Kate Swinyard of Colonel’s Lane, Boughton, Faversham, Kent. Buried in the Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Grave reference V.A.24. THOMPSON W.H Lance Corporal 11020 Walter Hamilton THOMPSON. 1st Battalion, Cameronian’s (Scottish Rifles). 24th February 1915 aged 21 years. Born Tenterden. Resided Burton On Trent. Son of William Thomas and Marian C Thompson of 105, High Street, Bournbrook, Birmingham. Buried in the St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France. Grave reference A.4.14. TYLER A.C Private G/8682 Arthur Charles TYLER. 8th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 24th August 1916 aged 26 years. Born Tenterden. Only son of Mr. and Mrs. Tyler, of Leigh Green, Tenterden, Kent. Buried Abbeville Communal Cemetery, France. Grave reference – III.J.19.

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WEAVER G Lance Corporal S/6998 George WEAVER. “B” Company, 6th Battalion, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Formerly (9198) Royal West Kent Regiment. Died 10th April 1917 aged 23 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Maidstone. Resided Tenterden. Son of Alfred Weaver. Brother of John Weaver of 69, Queen Street West, Toronto, Canada. Buried in the Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France. Grave reference II.F.6. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Black Horse Inn, Tenterden Bombadier 182984 John Barton WEAVER. Royal Field Atillery.

WEEKS C.E Bombardier 77767 Charles E WEEKS. 459th Howitzer Battery, Royal Field Artillery (RFA). Died 5th January 1916 aged 22 years. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Hawkhurst. Son of George and Emma Weeks of 104, Chaucer Road, Gillingham, Kent. Buried in the Mapel Leaf Cemetery, Belgium. Grave reference G.4. WENBOURNE H.W Private G/18531 Herbert William WENBOURNE. 11th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Formerly (2473) Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles (Yeomanry). Died 31st July 1917 aged 21 years. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Frittenden. Son of William and Harriet Wenbourne of Park Cottage, Frittenden, Kent. Herbert has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Leper, Belgium. Panel reference 45 and 47. WILLIAMS F.C.B Corporal 4049 Frederick Charles Bertie WILLIAMS MM. 10th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Died 24th September 1917. Born Tenterden. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided East Malling, Kent. Buried in the Bard Cottage Cemetery. Grave reference III.H.18. Frederick was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. WITHERDEN C.H Corporal 168365 Charles Henry WITHERDEN. “M” Battery, 84th Anti-Aircraft Section, Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). Died of Pneumonia 16th February 1919 aged 22 years. Son of Mrs C.H Witherden of Kench Hill Cottage, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Cologne Southern Cemetery, Koln, Germany. Grave reference II.D.15.

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WOODHAMS H Private 513505 Harry WOODHAMS. “D” Company, No 2 Overseas Army Service Corps, Royal Canadian Regiment. Died 30th September 1918 aged 26 years. Born 18th February 1893 at Romford, Essex. Son of Harry and Annie Jane Woodhams of Kent Farm, Cow Bay, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Buried in the St Olle British Cemetery, Raillencourt, France. Grave reference B.39. Harry lived in Tenterden for many years before going to Canada. He was a Baker by trade. Harry enlisted into the army on 16th December 1916. His application was not finalised until 6th January 1916.

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