BETHERSDEN. The Great War

Transcription

1 BETHERSDEN The Great War

2 BOURNE F.W Private Frederick Walter BOURNE. 24 th Battalion (2 nd Sportman s), Royal Fusiliers. Formerly (3221) London Regiment. Died Monday 13 th November Born Woodchurch. Resided Bethersden. Buried in the Redan Ridge Cemetery, Beaumont Hamel, The Somme, France. Grave reference Sp Mem B.6. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Bateman Corner, Bethersden Private Alfred BOURNE. 4 th Buffs (East Kent Reiment). Corporal 2352 Arthur BOURNE. 2 nd Battalion, Australian Infantry Force (A.I.F). There are further members of the Bourne family serving from the Woodchurch area. 2

3 The 1901 census gives Forge Hill, Bethersden Emma BOURNE 40 Sick Nurse Bethersden On the 13 th November 1916 the 24 th battalion was attacking the enemy from frontline trenches near Mailly-Maillet on The Somme, France. The objective that day was known as Beaumont Trench near the village of Beaumont Hamel. The 5 th Brigade took all its objectives and many prisoners. On the 15 th November 1916 the battalion withdrew to Bertrancourt. Frederick was killed in this operation and his body was buried nearby. 3

4 BRIGGS J.E Private 123 John Edward BRIGGS. 49 th Battalion, Australian Infantry (AIF). Died Sunday 15 th September Son of Edward Briggs of Elizabeth Houses, Bethersden, Kent. Buried in the Jeancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Jeancourt, France. Grave reference VI.A.14. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Elizabeth House, Bethersden Pioneer WR/ George Allan BRIGGS. Royal Engineers. Private 9279 John Edward Amos BRIGGS. 7 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). The 1901 census gives Street, Bethersden Edward BRIGGS 28 Bethersden A.. 34 Bethersden John 6 Betherdsen George 4 Bethersden 4

5 CLARINGBOLD H Private T/ Harry CLARINGBOLD. 6 th Battalion, The Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died Tuesday 4 th June 1918 aged 19 years. Born Bethersden. Stepson of Mr D. Batt of Maple Cottage, Bethersden, near Ashford, Kent. Grandson of Henry and Harriet Claringbold of Heather Land, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Buried locally in the Bethersden (St Margaret) churchyard, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Grave reference - Close to the East gate. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Maple Cottage, Bethersden Harry CLARINGBOLD. No Unit detail. The 1901 census gives Heather Land, Bethersden Henry CLARINGBOLD 57 Farmer Barham, Kent Harriet 55 Helper Postling Florence A 23 Ashford 5

6 Harry 2 Bethersden (Grandson) The summer of 1918 brought a long spell of trench warfare in the line just North of Albert on the Somme. The 6 th West Kent s alternated between billets in Acheux, Puchevillers and Herissart and frontline trenches here. Casualties in May and June were relatively light 40 men killed or wounded. 6

7 GUESS S.W Private 5135 Sydney William GUESS. A Company, 1 st Battalion, The Queen s (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died Thursday 21 st December 1916 aged 19 years. Son of Henry and Lucy Guess of Robscot, Bethersden, near Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Gorre British and Indian Cemetery, Gorre, France. Grave reference III.D.16. From 1 st October 1916 until March 1917 the 1 st West Kent s were in the vicinity of Givenchy and Festubert. On 19 th December the enemy indulged itself in a sudden artillery bombardment. This inflicted 12 casualties on the battalion (one of whom appears to have been poor Sydney). The rest of December past without incident. Gorre is a hamlet 2.5 kilometres north of Beuvry, and 4 kilometres east of Bethune. Leave Beuvry on the D72, crossing the railway and then the Canal d'aire on the way. The Cemetery is 150 metres from the church in Gorre, to the left of the D72 (Rue de Festubert). Historical Information: The chateau at Gorre was occupied early in the war by troops from the United Kingdom and India and the cemeteries, in the south-east corner of the chateau grounds, were begun in the autumn of The Indian part of the cemetery was closed in October 1915, when the Indian Corps left France. The cemetery was used by units holding the sector until April 1918, when, in the Battles of the Lys, Gorre became a support post close behind the front line. The 55th (West Lancashire) 7

8 Division, which held this front before and during the German attack, buried many of their dead in Plots V and VI. A few graves were brought into the cemetery later from near Gorre and from Mesplaux Farm, near Locon. There are now 934 Commonwealth casualties of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 41 of the burials are unidentified and there are special memorials to four servicemen whose graves were destroyed by shell fire. The cemetery also contains nine war graves of other nationalities, most of them German. The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden. HICKS C (brother) Private T/ Cecil HICKS. 1 st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Friday 2 nd August 1918 aged 20 years. Born Bethersden. Resided Bull Lane, Bethersden. Son of George and Sarah Hicks of Bull Lane, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Brother of Mrs G. Clarke of Meadow View, Maidstone Road, Horsmonden, Kent. Cecil has no known grave. His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Panel reference 17. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Bull Lane, Bethersden Private Alfred HICKS. Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Private Cecil HICKS. 1 st Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Ashford Road, Bethersden Private Bert Alec HICKS. Tank Corps. Private James John HICKS. 5 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). The 1901 census gives Bull Lane, Bethersden George HICKS 59 Bethersden Sarah 42 Charwomen Tenterden Nellie 14 Farm Girl Bethersden Frederick 13 Farm Boy Bethersden John 13 Farm Boy Bethersden Hollice 9 Bethersden Flora 8 Bethersden Alfred 4 Bethersden Cecil 2 Bethersden Leslie 1 Bethersden The 1 st battalion was in the vicinity of Malin House near Dickebusch in Belgium the day that Cecil died. It was charged with digging trenches and generally helping out. It is not known how Cecil came to lose his life perhaps he was wounded in an earlier engagement and died of his wounds a few weeks later. 8

9 HICKS H.H Able Seaman R/571 Harry Herbert HICKS. Nelson Battalion, Royal Naval Division. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). Died Sunday 6 th May Born Bethersden. Son of Harry and Marion Hicks of Burnt Oak, Bethersden, near Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Ste Catherine British Cemetery, Ste Catherine, France. Grave reference D.4. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Bull Lane, Bethersden Private Alfred HICKS. Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Private Cecil HICKS. 1 st Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Ashford Road, Bethersden Private Bert Alec HICKS. Tank Corps. Private James John HICKS. 5 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Ste. Catherine is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, adjoining the city of Arras on the north side. Ste. Catherine British Cemetery is on the left of the road to Therouanne (the Chaussee Brunehaut [D341]), not far beyond the Church, then along a side street. Historical Information: From March 1916 to the Armistice, Ste. Catherine was occupied by Commonwealth forces and for much of that time it was within the range of German artillery fire. The cemetery was started in March 1916 and used by the divisions and field ambulances stationed on that side of Arras until the autumn of The cemetery was enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the surrounding area. Ste Catherine British Cemetery contains 339 First World War burials. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. 9

10 HICKS J (brother) Private G/24687 John William HICKS. 7 th Battalion, Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 10th August 1917 aged 29 years. Born Bethersden. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Bull Lane, Bethersden. Son of George and Sarah Hicks of Bull Lane, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Brother of Mrs G Clarke of Meadow View, Maidstone Road, Hormonden, Kent. John has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Panel reference 11,12,13,14. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Bull Lane, Bethersden Private Alfred HICKS. Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Private Cecil HICKS. 1 st Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Ashford Road, Bethersden Private Bert Alec HICKS. Tank Corps. Private James John HICKS. 5 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). The 1901 census gives Bull Lane, Bethersden George HICKS 59 Bethersden Sarah 42 Charwomen Tenterden Nellie 14 Farm Girl Bethersden Frederick 13 Farm Boy Bethersden John 13 Farm Boy Bethersden Hollice 9 Bethersden Flora 8 Bethersden Alfred 4 Bethersden Cecil 2 Bethersden Leslie 1 Bethersden On 4 th August 1917 the 7 th West Surrey s were in the vicinity of Glencorse Wood near Shrewsbury Forest on the outskirts of Ypres. Peparations were made for a major attack upon Inverness Copse and the Westhoek Ridge. On the 8 th August the battalion went forward to assembly positions in Santuary Wood. The attack went ahead on 10 th August The attack upon Glencorse Wood and Inverness Copse failed miserably and cost many lives for no gain 300 men killed or wounded. 10

11 HYLAND H.B Second Lieutenant Herbert Bright HYLAND. 20 th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Attached 100 th Company, Machine Gun Corps (MGC) (Inf). Formerly (Trooper) Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles (REKMR). Formerly (Lance Corporal) O.T.C Sherborne School. Died Wednesday 19 th July 1916 aged 21 years. Born 6 th December Son of Samuel Bright and Ellen Hyland of Beacon House, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Herbert has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Panel reference 5C.12C. Both Herbert s parents are buried in the Bethersden parish churchyard Samuel HYLAND Died 27 th December 1947 aged 80 years Ellen Died 19 th April 1951 Herbert s younger brother Arthur is also buried nearby. Arthur resided at Freizingham Farm, Rolvenden, Ashford, Kent - Arthur Henry HYLAND Died 19 th March 1923 aged 54 years Herbert attended Sherbourne School where he served in their Officer Training Corps as a Lance Corporal. Herbert was a cattle salesman before the war. He joined the REKMR as a trooper before being commissioned into the Welsh Regiment as a second lieutenant. In 1917 he joined the newly formed Machine Gun Corps and at first was posted to its Headquarters in Grantham. He went to France in March His brother (S.B Hyland) died in tragic circumstances before the outbreak of war in Australia. Herbert s father was a partner in the London firm of solicitors Hyland & Rogers, 81, Cannon Street, London. Herbert s will left 259 to his parents. 11

12 KINGSNORTH A.W Trooper 2158 Arthur Walter KINGSNORTH. Household Battalion. Died Saturday 6 th October 1917 aged 20 years. Born Bethersden. Son of Albert Charles and Mary Ann Kingsnorth of Hope Cottage, Bethersden, near Ashford, Kent. Arthur has no known grave. His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Panel reference 3. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Stanley House, Bethersden Private Herbert John KINGSNORTH. 5 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Sapper Oscar Frederick KINGSNORTH. E.M Royal Engineers. Private R/ William Henry KINGSNORTH. Remount Depot. The 1901 census gives Snoad Hill Cottage, Bethersden John KINGSNORTH 30 Yardsman on farm Bethersden Emily 26 Bethersden Beatrice 4 Bethersden Albert 2 Bethersden Edith 1 Bethersden Dyned Farm, Bethersden Charles KINGSNORTH 55 Farmer Bethersden Ellen 57 Throwley LOVELL H.T Private G/13689 Henry Thomas LOVELL. 6 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Thursday 3 rd May Born Bethersden. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Ashford. Henry has no known grave. His name appears on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. Panel reference 2. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives 2 serving men both from the Goudhurst area of Kent. On 13 th January 1917 the 6 th Buffs moved by bus from Sombrin to Arras. Upon reaching Arras the battalion went into the line. Up till the end of March nothing of any signifigance occurred. The battalion alternated between the line and billets in Montenescourt, Noyellette and Givenchy-le- Nobel all located to the West of Arras. On the 28 th April the battalion was in the line at Monchy. On 3 rd May 1917 the 6 th Buffs were in action all day fighting what came to be known as the Third Battle of the Scarpe. The attack went ahead at 0345 hours in complete darkness. Devil Trench was captured (briefly) but the second objective Keeling Copse was not. The attack was a failure costing the 6 th Buffs over 300 casualties almost half the battalion! 12

13 MILLEN G.T Lance Corporal T/ George Thomas MILLEN. 7 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Formerly Kent Composite Battalion. Formerly (Sergeant) 2/5 th Buffs. Died Friday 12 th October 1917 aged 23. Born Bethersden. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Bethersden. Son of George Millen of The Cot, Wissenden, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. George has no known grave. His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Panel reference 17. George enlisted in the 5 th battalion The Buffs in November 1914 and gained the rank of Sergeant. He gave up his stripes voluntarily and was transferred to the 7 th battalion. He served at Gallipoli, Turkey in 1915 with the Kent Composite Battalion. In 1916 George was posted to the 7 th Buffs. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives New Barn Cottage, Bethersden Private Charles Witherden MILLEN. 1 st Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). New Barn Farm, Bethersden Gunner Gordon James MILLEN. Royal Garrison Artillery. On 11 th October 1917 the 7 th Buffs were in action at Poelcappelle near Ypres. The battalion objective was Gloster House, Meunier House and the Brewery. German machine guns cleverly position enfiladed the 6 th Buffs as they went forward inflicting terrible casualties. On the 12 th October both British and German troops came out of their trenches waving white sheets above their heads to recover dead and wounded men. This attack cost 300 casualties many of whom were killed outright. 13

14 MOORE W Kennington Private William MOORE. 3 rd Battalion, Essex Regiment. Formerly The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 12 th November Born Bethersden. Enlisted Pluckley. Resided Pluckley. Son of Albert and Elizabeth Moore of Mill Cottage, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Buried locally in the Bethersden (St Margaret) Churchyard, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Grave reference North West Corner of church tower. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Mill Cottage, Bethersden Lance Corporal Fred MOORE. 2 nd Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Private Albert MOORE. 2 nd Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Sapper Lewis MOORE. Royal Engineers. Wrens Nest Cottage, Bethersden Pioneer WR/22805 Charles MOORE. Royal Engineers. The 1901 census gives Tolney, Bethersden Albert MOORE 38 Stockman on farm Bethersden Elizabeth 40 Not Known Fred 16 Carter on farm Bethersden Lewis 10 Bethersden Georgina 7 Bethersden William 4 Bethersden 14

15 MURREL C.F Private TF/ Charles Frederick MURRELL. 8 th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Died Tursday 12 th April Born Bethersden. Enlisted Ealing, London. Resided Bethersden. Son of George and Clara Murrell of Forge Hill, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Buried Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty, France. Grave reference VIII.F.5. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Forge Hill, Bethersden Driver Albert William MURRELL. 64 th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Private George MURRELL. Army Veterinary Corps. Private Percy Henry MURRELL. 10 th Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Warlincourt and Saulty are villages on either side of the main road (N25) between Arras (22 kilometres) and Doullens (13 kilometres). Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery is situated just off 15

16 the north side of the road. Large signs clearly indicate access 200 metres before the site coming from either direction. Historical Information: The site of the cemetery was chosen in May It was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, in February 1917 by the 1/1st South Midland, and from April to June 1917 by the 32nd. The whole of plots VII, VIII, IX and X were filled in April and May 1917, the months of the Battles of Arras. From June 1917, the cemetery was practically unused until the fighting of May and June 1918, when field ambulances buried in it. After the Armistice the cemetery was increased by graves brought in from the small military cemeteries at Gaudiempre, La Herliere and Couturelle. The cemetery now contains 1,266 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 29 German and two French war graves. The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden. 16

17 RING G.E Gunner George Ernest RING. 1 st (Highland) Heavy Bty, Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). Formerly 5 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Friday 17 th August 1917 aged 24 years. Born High Halden. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Bethersden. Son of George and Sabrina Ring of Jones Cottage, Bethersden, near Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Calais Southern Cemetery, Calais, France. Grave reference Plot H Row 2 Grave 18. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Pauls Wood, Bethersden Private Arthur George RING. 1 st Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Bull Lane, Bethersden Private Bertram Laurence RING. 1 st Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Maple Cottage, Bethersden 17

18 Private Frederick Hubert RING. 2/5 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Private Walter Barford RING. 8 th Royal Sussex Regiment. The 1901 census gives New Town, Bethersden George RING 33 Farm labourer Bethersden Sabrina 32 High Halden George E 8 High Halden Percy H 3w Bethersden The 1 st (Highland) Battery operated 6 x 60 pounder heavy guns. It served the 83 rd Brigade in France and was part of the 4 th Army. 18

19 LOST MEN BATT G Egerton Private G/4335 Graham Padgham BATT. 1st Battalion, Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Formerly 6 th Battalion. Died 28 th November Admitted to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London (SM3E4204) on 3 rd April Born 2 nd March 1896 at Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Resided Britcher Farm, Egerton, Ashford, Kent. Son of Lewis Edward (farmer) and Elizabeth Batt (nee Padgham) of Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. At this time we do not know where Graham is buried although we hope to trace this in time. Commemorated on Egerton civic war memorial, Ashford, Kent. Graham s name appeared on a 1915 roll of honour for Bethersden which was published locally in the Kentish Express. It seems odd that his name was never placed on Bethersden war memorial after the war Before the outbreak of war Graham was employed in Bethersden as a Footman. Upon the outbreak of war he enlisted voluntarily for the duration of war into the Royal West Surrey Regiment 10 th August 1914 at Dorking, Surrey. On 1 June 1915 Graham was recovered to the UK suffering from Appendicitis. On 15 th July 1916 Graham was severely wounded. His service papers state Gun Shot Wounds to Right Ankle and Thigh recovered through the medical evacuation chain to the UK on 19 th July On 16 th July 1917 Graham was again wounded in action this time he lost 2 fingers on his left hand. Graham was immediately recovered via Etaples to Dover, England. His service papers record Fractured Thumb and Index finger as well as 2 digits on his left hand amputated. This injury was caused by a rifle bullet at Messines, Belgium whilst engaged on a bombing raid. On 18 November 1917 Graham was admitted to St Lukes War Hospital, Halifax. His service papers state that the amputations of his 2 fingers was carried out in France at a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS). Graham was a specialist Bomber within his battalion. Admitted to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London (SM3E4204) on 3 rd April Discharged from the army 20 th March 1918 (aged 25 years) at Hounslow, London. When discharged his service papers note 3 rd and 4 th fingers amputated left hand (indicating wounds in action). Discharged no longer fit for war service (para 392 Kings Regulations). His commanding officer states he was honest, sober and industrious. Total army service was 3 years, 228 days. Total time on active service overseas was 1 year 267 days which entitled him to the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal. It was deemed he was permantly unfit for further service (active service or otherwise). Active Service dates in France / Belgium 1 June January June July October November 1917 (Messines, Belgium) 19

20 Graham was awarded a full army pension bullet wound left hand. Third and Fourth digits amputated. The pension service awarded a pension and found the injury to be attributable to active service. The Ministry of Pensions personal effects card which was issued after his death states Chelsea no SM 3E4204. It appears he died at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London on 28 th November 1918 Seven months after being discharged from active service. There are 3 people buried in the Egerton Churchyard Ernest Taylor BATT died 2 nd October 1942 aged 71 years John Richard Cowell BATT died 10 th December 1980 aged 75 years Emily BATT died 14 th September 1937 aged 72 years It would seem that the BATT family were well established in the Egerton area during the early 1900 s - The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Britcher Farm, Egerton Stoker K/29157 Rowland BATT. HMS Inflexible, Royal Navy. Buffalo Cottages, Smarden Private Dan BATT. 4 th Leicestershire Regiment. Private Charles BATT. 6 th Notts & Derby Regiment. Derinf Farm, Smarden Private Cyril Charles BATT. Machine Gun Corps. Buckman Green, Smarden Harold BATT. HMS Undaunted, Royal Navy. Stoker Herbert BATT. HMS Edgar, Royal Navy The 6 th Royal West Surrey Regiment was formed August 1914 at Guildford, Surrey (K1). It was attached to 37 th Brigade, 12 th (Eastern) Division. To Aldershot February Landed France May It remained on the Western Front for the remaining duration of the war. It was awarded battle honours at Loos (1915), Somme (1916) Albert, Pozieres, Transloy Ridge. Arras (1917) Cambrai. Victory Battles (1918) Somme. BISHOP G.E Private 6732 George Edward Dawson BISHOP. 4 th Battalion. Duke of Wellington s (West Riding Regiment). Died 24 th September Enlisted Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Resided Bethersden. Son of Mr J Dawson Bishop of 225, Old Lane, Hollington, St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex. Husband of Harriet Ellen Dawson Bishop of 151, Saxton Street, Gillingham, Kent. Buried in the Lonsdale Cemetery, Authuille, France. Grave reference V.W.9. On the 15 th September 1916 the 4 th Duke s were at Martinsart Wood holding frontline trenches. On the 16 th September the battalion moved to Crucifix Corner. On the 18 th it was in the reserve line at Leipzig Redoubt. On the 21 st September the battalion moved to frontline positions on the 20

21 Leipzig Redoubt. On the 24 th September a move was made to Lealvillers. On the 25 th September the battalion was at Halloy. Authuille is a village 5 kilometres north of the town of Albert on the D151 road to Grandcourt. The Cemetery (signposted in the centre of Authille) is 1 kilometre east of the village. Access to the cemetery, 500 metres from the road, is by a grass pathway (unsuitable for cars). Historical Information: On 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the 32nd Division, which included the 1st Dorsets and the 11th (Lonsdale) Battalion of the Border Regt attacked the German line at this point and stormed the Leipzig Salient, but were compelled to retire later in the day. In the spring of 1917, after the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, V Corps cleared these battlefields and made a number of new cemeteries, including Lonsdale No. 1 and No. 2. Lonsdale Cemetery No. 1 (the present Lonsdale Cemetery) contained originally 96 graves (now in Plot I), the great majority of which were those of officers and men of the 1st Dorsets and the 11th Borders. It was enlarged after the Armistice when graves, almost all of 1916, were brough in from the surrounding battlefields and from other small burial grounds, including Lonsdale No. 2. Lonsdale Cemetery now contains 1,542 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 816 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 22 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker. BOORMAN G.S Private or G/53537 George Spencer BOORMAN. 34 th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Attended 101 st Company, Labour Corps (3 rd Army). Formerly (17777) Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 14 th May 1918 aged 36 years. Born Bethersden. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Staplehurst, Kent. Husband of Hannah Boorman of Newstead Cottage, Staplehurst, Kent. Buried in the Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt, France. Grave reference I.F.7. George s name appears on the Staplehurst war memorial. Gezaincourt is a village in the Department of the Somme, situated 2 kilometres to the south-west of the town of Doullens, and Bagneux British Cemetery lies to the south of the village. There is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission signpost in Gezaincourt village opposite the "Chateau" entrance. Historical Information: The cemetery was begun in April 1918 after the close of the German offensive in Picardy. At the end of March, the 3rd, 29th and 56th Casualty Clearing Stations had come to Gezaincourt where they were joined for a short time in April by the 45th. They remained until September. The 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital, in the citadel at Doullens, also buried in this cemetery in May and June 1918, and the 2nd Canadian Division in April and May. The graves in Plot III, Row A relate to a bombing raid over Doullens on 30 May There are 1,374 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. 21

22 BRUNGER E Private L/8140 Ernest BRUNGER. 2 nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Formerly 3 rd Battalion. Died 3 rd May Born Headcorn. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Ashford. Son of Ernest and Ellen Brunger of 28, Rugby Gardens, Ashford, Kent. Later moved to 101 Willesborough Street, Ashford, Kent. Ernest had a brother Henry Brunger who lived at 70 New Town, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Ypres, Belgium. Grave reference VII.D.22. Before the war Ernest was employed as a Boilermaker by the South East and Chatham Railway (SE&CR). He joined the territorial army on 30 th November 1905 when aged 18 years and later transferred to the regular Buffs. He served with The Buffs in the following overseas possessions South Africa (1908), Hong Kong ( ), Singapore (1910) and India (1913). On the 16 th November 1914 he was sailing on the SS Ultomia with his battalion who were rushing back from India to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force in France. He arrived home on 16 th November 1914 and left for France on 17 th January Ernest was a trained stretcher bearer. He was promoted to a Lance Corporal on the 29 th June 1909 but reverted to Private on 10 th January 1910 at his own request. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives 7, Hardinge Road, Ashford Sapper Arthur James BRUNGER. 496 th Field Company, Royal Engineers. The 1901 census gives 37, Rugby Gardens, Ashford Ernest BRUNGER 36 Boiler Maker Bethersden Ellen 43 Woodchurch Bessie 16 Headcorn Ernest 14 Bethersden Henry 12 Woodchurch Ellen 8 Hinxhill Arthur 6 Hinxhill On the 1 st May 1915 a fresh draft of men arrived from England. On the 3 rd May 1915 the enemy shelled Buffs positions at Verlorenhoek. The battalion at this time was commanded by Captain Houblon and he reported many casualties during this day from the abnormal level of shelling. Later in the day the enemy attacked a trench known as D5. This enemy attack could not be resisted because the trench was defended by so few Buffs. Captain Howard Smith and 22

23 Lieutenant G.R Howe leading 80 men held the trench. None of these men were ever seen or heard of again. On the 4 th May the battalion withdrew to bivouacs in a wood near Poperinghe. From 22 nd April to 4 th May the battalion lost 17 officers and a further 702 men killed, wounded or missing. The battalion was more or less completely wiped out in less than 2 weeks! DANN A.E Trooper 2142 Albert Edward DANN. Household Battalion. Died 2 nd May Born Bethersden. Enlisted Maidstone. Resided Maidstone. Buried in the Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Grave reference II.J.83. Aubigny-en-Artois is a village approximately 15 kilometres north-west of Arras on the road to St. Pol (N39). From the N39 turn onto the D75 towards the village of Aubigny-en-Artois. The Cemetery lies south on a road leading from the centre of the village, and the Extension is behind it. Historical Information: From March 1916 to the Armistice, Aubigny was held by Commonwealth troops and burials were made in the extension until September The 42nd Casualty Clearing Station buried in it during the whole period, the 30th in 1916 and 1917, the 24th and 1st Canadian in 1917 (during the capture of Vimy Ridge by the Canadian Corps) and the 57th in The extension now contains 2,771 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and seven from the Second World War. There are also 227 French burials made prior to March 1916, and 64 German war graves. The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. 23

24 DAVIS S.B Sergeant 197 Samuel Barlow DAVIS. Depot (or 2 nd ) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Died 7 th June 1915 aged 21 years. Born Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales. Enlisted Dublin, Ireland. Husband of E.J Davis of Forge Hill, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Buried nearby in the Bethersden (St Margaret) Churchyard, Bethersden, Kent. Grave reference North East of church. Soldiers Died Great War lists him as S.M DAVIES. It is quite remarkable that Samuel s name was not placed on the village war memorial. He was buried within a few yards of it!!!!! 24

25 HANCE G.W St Mary s Railway Private G/5107 George William HANCE. 2 nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Monday 3 May Born circa 1880 in Bethersden near Ashford. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Ashford. Son of George and Matilda Hance of 21, East Hill, Ashford, Kent. Husband of Lillian M Hance of 3 Knatchbull Place, New Street, Ashford, Kent. George has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Panel reference 12 and 14. George was married with six children when he died. It is recorded that he was a regular soldier before the war and that he served with the second battalion in South Africa Immediately before the war he was working in the Ashford Railway Yards. His name appears on the Ashford Railway Rolls of Honour. George was called up as a reservist in 1914 following the outbreak of war. The 1901 Census gives 21, East Hill, Ashford George HANCE 50 Sussex Matilda 56 Bucks Alice 18 Shop Assistant Grocers Bethersden Ada 5 Printer Bethersden The day George died his battalion was holding the line near Verlorenhoek. It is recorded that the battalion was under heavy bombardment and that the battalion sustained heavy casualties. The 2 nd battalion lost 17 officers and 702 men between 2-5 th May HOAD F Private TF/ Fred HOAD. 16 th Battalion (Sussex Yeomanry), Royal Sussex Regiment. Died 4 th September Born Bethersden. Enlisted Maidstone. Buried in the Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension, Peronne, France. Grave reference III.E.28. From Bapaume take the N17 to Peronne. On entering Peronne, turn right towards the hospital. On reaching the hospital, which will be on the right, take the small road opposite and the communal cemetery is at the end of this road on the left. The extension is on the south-west side of the cemetery. Historical Information: Peronne was taken by the German on 24 September On 18 March 1917, the 40th and 48th Divisions captured the town, but it was recovered by the Germans on the 23rd March It changed hands for the last time on 1 September 1918, when it was taken by the 2nd Australian Division The cemetery extension was begun by the 48th (South Midland) Division in March 1917, used by the Germans in 1918, and resumed by Australian units in September At the Armistice it contained 177 graves, now in Plots I and II. It was then enlarged when graves were brought in from the battlefields north and east of Peronne and from certain small cemeteries in the area. There are now 1,579 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the extension. 220 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to seven casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and ten buried in other cemeteries whose graves could not be found. The extension also contains five Second World War burials. There are 97 German war graves, 68 being unidentified. The adjoining communal cemetery contains the grave of one airman of the First World War, killed in August The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. 25

26 HOADLEY N.C Private Newton Cecil HOADLEY. 22 nd (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Died 14 th April 1918 aged 22 years. Born Ticehurst, Sussex. Enlisted Tenterden. Resided Hawkhurst. Son of James and Rachel Hoadley of Monkery Farm, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Newton has no known grave. His name appears on the Ploegsteert (Plugstreet) Memorial, Comines, Belgium. Panel reference 2. Newton s name also appears on the Hawkhust Civic war memorial. The Ploegsteert Memorial stands in Berks Cemetery Extension, which is located 12.5 kilometres south of Ieper town centre, on the N365 leading from Ieper to Mesen (Messines), Ploegsteert and on to Armentieres. From Ieper town centre the Rijselsestraat runs from the market square, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and directly over the crossroads with the Ieper ring road. The road name then changes to the Rijselseweg (N336). 3.5 kilometres along the N336 lies a fork junction with the N365. The N365, which forms the right hand fork, leads to the town of Mesen. The Cemetery lies 3 kilometres beyond Mesen on the right hand side of the N365, and opposite Hyde Park Corner Royal Berks Cemetery. The sounding of the Last Post takes place at the Ploegsteert Memorial on the first Friday of every month at 7 p.m. Historical Information: The PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL commemorates more than 11,000 servicemen of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in this sector during the First World War and have no known grave. The memorial serves the area from the line Caestre-Dranoutre-Warneton to the north, to Haverskerque-Estaires-Fournes to the south, including the towns of Hazebrouck, Merville, Bailleul and Armentieres, the Forest of Nieppe, and Ploegsteert Wood. The original intention had been to erect the memorial in Lille. Those commemorated by the memorial did not die in major offensives, such as those which took place around Ypres to the north, or Loos to the south. Most were killed in the course of the day-to-day trench warfare which characterised this part of the line, or in small scale set engagements, usually carried out in support of the major attacks taking place elsewhere. BERKS CEMETERY EXTENSION, in which the memorial stands, was begun in June 1916 and used continuously until September At the Armistice, the extension comprised Plot I only, but Plots II and III were added in 1930 when graves were brought in from Rosenberg Chateau Military Cemetery and Extension, about 1 kilometre to the north-west, when it was established that these sites could not be acquired in perpetuity. Rosenberg Chateau Military Cemetery was used by fighting units from November 1914 to August The extension was begun in May 1916 and used until March Together, the Rosenberg Chateau cemetery and extension were sometimes referred to as 'Red Lodge'. Berks Cemetery Extension now contains 876 First World War burials. HYDE PARK CORNER (ROYAL BERKS) CEMETERY is separated from Berks Cemetery Extension by a road. It was begun in April 1915 by the 1st/4th Royal Berkshire Regiment and was used at intervals until November Hyde Park Corner was a road junction to the north of Ploegsteert Wood. Hill 63 was to the north-west and nearby were the 'Catacombs', deep shelters capable of holding two battalions, which were used from November 1916 onwards. The cemetery contains 83 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and four German war graves The cemetery, cemetery extension and memorial were designed by H Chalton Bradshaw, with sculpture by Gilbert Ledward. 26

27 INGRAM P.A Gunner Percy A INGRAM MM. 5 th Brigade, Canadian Garrison Artillery (CGA). Formerly 25 th Battery, Candian Artillery Militia. Died 8 th October 1918 aged 24 years. Born 11 th May 1895 at Beccles, Norfolk. Husband of Caroline Agnes Ingram of Hope Cottage, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Brown s Road Military Cemetery, Festubert, France. Grave reference IV.E.20. Prior to the outbreak of war Percy was in Canada working as a labourer. He was unmarried at the time he joined up. Percy enlisted into the Canadian army on the 12 th February Percy was awarded the Military Medal (MM) for bravery in the field. He was Killed at Sancourt near Cambrai in France when three shells landed near to where he standing. He was taken to the nearest Casualty Clearing Station but died before he got there. Bucquoy Road Cemetery is situated on the D919 heading south from Arras to Ayette. The Cemetery is on the right hand side of the road, 9 kilometres from Arras, just before a crossroads with the D36 between Ficheux and Boisleux-au-Mont. Historical Information: In November 1916, the village of Ficheux was behind the German front line, but by April 1917, the German withdrawal had taken the line considerably east of the village and in April and May, the VII Corps Main Dressing Station was posted near for the Battles of Arras. It was followed by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, which remained at Boisleux-au-Mont until March 1918, and continued to use the Bucquoy Road Cemetery begun by the field ambulances. From early April to early August 1918 the cemetery was not used but in September and October, the 22nd, 30th and 33rd Casualty Clearing Stations came to Boisleux-au-Mont and extended it. By the date of the Armistice, it contained 1,166 burials but was greatly increased when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields and from small cemeteries in the neighbourhood. The cemetery now contains 1,901 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 168 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 23 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 21 casualties buried by their comrades in Henin-sur-Cojeul German Cemetery, whose graves could not be found on concentration. The cemetery was used again in May 1940 for the burial of troops killed during the German advance. There are 136 burials and commemorations of the Second World War; 26 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate 39 soldiers whose graves in the cemetery could not be specifically located. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. 27

28 LEONARD C.E Driver Charles Edward LEONARD. 38 th Field Company, Royal Engineers (RE). Died Salonica, Greece 1 st October 1918 aged 26 years. Born Bethersden. Enlisted Tunbridge Wells. Resided Pembury, Kent. Son of Charles Leonard of North Holly, East Farleigh, Maidstone, Kent. Buried in the Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece. Grave reference 465. Mikra British Cemetery is situated approximately 8 kilometres south of Thessaloniki, in the municipality of Kalamaria (behind the army camp of Ntalipi).. Access is via the main entrance on Vryoylon Street, directly opposite the communal cemetery of Kalamaria. Historical Information: At the invitation of the Greek Prime Minister, M.Venizelos, Salonika (now Thessalonika) was occupied by three French Divisions and the 10th (Irish) Division from Gallipoli in October Other French and Commonwealth forces landed during the year and in the summer of 1916, they were joined by Russian and Italian troops. In August 1916, a Greek revolution broke out at Salonika, with the result that the Greek national army came into the war on the Allied side. The town was the base of the British Salonika Force and it contained, from time to time, eighteen general and stationary hospitals. Three of these hospitals were Canadian, although there were no other Canadian units in the force. The earliest Commonwealth burials took place in the local Protestant and Roman Catholic cemeteries, and the Anglo-French (now Lembet Road) Military Cemetery was used from November 1915 to October The British cemetery at Mikra was opened in April 1917, remaining in use until The cemetery was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from a number of burial grounds in the area. MIKRA BRITISH CEMETERY now contains 1,810 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, as well as 147 war graves of other nationalities. Within the cemetery will be found the MIKRA MEMORIAL, commemorating almost 500 nurses, officers and men of the Commonwealth forces who died when troop transports and hospital ships were lost in the Mediterranean, and who have no grave but the sea. They are commemorated here because others who went down in the same vessels were washed ashore and identified, and are now buried at Thessalonika. 28

29 LINK H.B Private Horace Bert LINK. 6 th Battalion, Warwickshire Regiment. Formerly (2733) The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Thursday 4 th 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. Buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Grave reference XIII.B.29. The 1901 census shows a large number of families with the surname Link. They are all probably related to Horace in some way. 29

30 LOVELL J Private L/10032 John (Jack) LOVELL. 2 nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 12 th May Born Bethersden. Resided Ashford. Jack has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Panel reference 12 and 14. On 8 th May 1915 the 2 nd Buffs were ordered to a camp west of Ypres on the Zonnebeke Road. Whilst here the battalion were shelled relentlessly. On the 12 th May the 2 nd Buffs were still on the Zonnebeke Road being shelled heavily. At 2300 hours the Buffs were relieved by the Life Guards and moved to billets in Poperinghe (for a well deserved rest). ROWE P.F Private L/8239 Percy Frank ROWE, 2 nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died 25 th September 1915 aged 28 years. Born Arundel, Sussex. Resided Bethersden. Son of Alfred and Mary Rowe of 15 Wood View, Ford Road, Arundel, Sussex. Buried in the Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos, France. Grave reference VI.H.7. Percy was the Bethersden Postman before the outbreak of war. Its seems odd that his name was not placed on the village tribute. Percy s name appears on the Ashford Post Office war memorial that is now located in the Sorting Office at Tannery Lane Ashford. This memorial states that Percy was a postman from Bethersden. 30

31 STENNING P Private or TF/6170 Percy STENNING. 7 th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Died 3 rd May 1917 aged 20 years. Born Wisborough Green, Sussex. Enlisted Sevenoaks, Kent. Brother of Mr A Stenning of Devonia, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Percy has no known grave. His name appears on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. Panel reference Bay 7. WEEKS C.J Private G/12965 Charles James WEEKS. 2 nd Battalion, Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 16 th May 1918 aged 39 years. Born Bethersden. Enlisted Rye, Sussex. Son of William John and Mary Jane Weeks. Buried Boscon British Cemetery, Italy. Grave reference Plot 1, Row A, Grave 3. One of the 5 cemeteries situated on the Asiago Plateau, in the province of Vicenza. The cemetery lies about 6.5 kilometres south-east of Asiago. It is equidistantly west of Cesuna and south of Canove. Historical Information: The Italians entered the war on the Allied side, declaring war on Austria, in May Commonwealth forces were at the Italian front between November 1917 and November In March 1918, XIV Corps (the 7th, 23rd and 48th Divisions) relieved Italian troops on the front line between Asiago and Canove, the front being held by two divisions with one division in reserve on the plain. The French held the line to the left, with the Italians to the right. The front was comparatively quiet until the Austrians attacked in force from Grappa to Canove in the Battle of Asiago (15-16 June 1918). The Allied line was penetrated to a depth of about 1,000 metres on 15 June but the lost ground was retaken the next day and the line reestablished. Between June and September, frequent successful raids were made on the Austrian trenches. In October, the 7th and 23rd Divisions were sent to the Treviso area of the River Piave front. The 48th Division, which remained in the mountains as part of the Italian Sixth Army, played an important part in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto (24 October-4 November 1918) in which the Austrians were finally defeated. Boscon British Cemetery is one of five Commonwealth cemeteries on the Asiago Plateau containing burials relating to this period. 166 First World War servicemen are buried or commemorated here by special memorial. A number of the graves were brought in from other cemeteries after the war. 31

32 WOODCOCK N Private T/1132 Norris WOODCOCK. 5 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 7 th January 1916 aged 20 years. Born Bethersden. Resided Willesborough. Son of Richard and Edith Woodcock of 36, Osborne Road, Willesborough, Ashford, Kent. Norris has no known grave. His name appears on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq. Panel reference 6. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives 36 Osborne Road, Willesborough Private Lawrence (Junior) WOODCOCK. M Battery, 13 th Division, Royal Garrison Artillery. Norton Lane, Bethersden Driver Ashley Frederick WOODCOCK. Army Service Corps. 17 Hamilton Road, Willesborough Driver Harry WOODCOCK. Royal Garrison Artillery. On the 6 th January 1916 a signal came from Kut saying that large numbers of Turkish troops were moving downstream of the River Tigris towards Sheikh Saad. An aircraft spotted the troops entrenching both sides of the river. The Tigris Corps of which the Buffs was part of moved to meet the enemy. The 5 th battalion attacked the Turk positions head on and by nightfall it became obvious the attack could not succeed. The next day 7 th January the Buffs alongside The Black Watch and The Seaforth Highlanders were again ordered to attack in strength. As the British moved forward under heavy fire the Turks attempted to encircle the Tigris Corps. By nightfall the position remained stalemate. It was later discovered that the Turks had withdrawn upstream. British Army casualties at Sheikh Saad were over 4,000 men. It appears that Norris may have been wounded on the 6 th January and then died of his wounds the next day. 32

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