Driver 142183, 12th Corps General Headquarter, Signals, Royal Engineers. Died in Salonika Wednesday 13th December 1916, aged 28 years. Born Margate, enlisted Ashford, resident Brabourne, Lees. Son of Thomas Isaac and Jane Maria Ashdown, of North St., Biddenden, Kent. Born at Snargate, Kent. Buried in PIETA MILITARY CEMETERY, Malta. Plot D. Row XVI. Grave 4.

Private 203798, 10th Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died Tuesday 2nd July 1918. Born Biddenden, enlisted Canterbury. Buried in HAMBURG CEMETERY, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. Plot V. Row D. Grave 1.

Private T/205303, 1st Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Killed in action Tuesday 25th September 1917, aged 27 years. Born and resident Biddenden, enlisted Cantebury. Son of the late Alfred and Ann Austen, of Biddenden, Kent; husband of Emily Austen, of Whyborn's, Minster-on-Sea, Sheerness. Buried in HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot VI. Row E. Grave 8.

Corporal 11226, 6th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment. Killed in action 16th February 1916. Born Biddenden, enlisted Lambeth, Surrey. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 37.

Acting Bombardier 358511, 46th Company 9Kent Territorial), Royal Garrison Artillery. Died in United Kingdom Sunday 23rd December 1917, aged 40 years. Born Marylebone, Middlesex, enlisted Ashford. Husband of Emily Bellingham, of 2, Chulkhurst Cottage, Biddenden. Buried in the north-west part of ALL SAINTS CHURCHYARD, BIDDENDEN, Kent.

Private TF/260100, 13th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action Thursday 27th September 1917, aged 35 years. Born Frittenden, enlisted Tunbridge Wells. Son of the late Thomas and Frances Bingham; husband of Beatrice Emily Bingham, of Hare Plain, Biddenden, Kent. No known grave, Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 86 to 88.

Trooper 1701, No. 1 Company, Household Battalion. Died of wounds in Germany Saturday 26th May 1917, aged 22 years. Born Maidstone, enlisted Cranbrook. Son of James G. and Augusta C. Boyce, of The Willows, Biddenden, Kent. Born at Wotton-under-Edge, Glos. Formerly 3224, Kent Yeomanry. Buried in TOURNAI COMMUNAL CEMETERY ALLIED EXTENSION, Tournai, Hainaut, Belgium. Plot V. Row G. Grave 16.

Private G/60771, 13th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). killed in action Friday 17th May 1918, aged 20 years. Born Biddenden, enlisted Ashford.

Able Seaman 4/2451, HMS Ossory, Royal Navy. Died Tuesday 28th March 1916. Buried in LYNESS ROYAL NAVAL CEMETERY, Orkney. Section B. Grave 24.

Note: HMS Ossory was an Admiralty M class destroyer, launched on 9 October 1916. She served in the 11th Destroyer Flotilla in the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland. Philip Vian was appointed First Lieutenant on the ship in 1917. She was decommissioned following the First World War and was sold for scrap in November 1921. Augustus Donne died before the Battle of Jutland.

Private 201385. 2/4th Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Killedin action in Egypt Tuesday 8th May 1917, aged 30 years. Born Biddenden, enlisted Maidstone. Son of Benjamin and Louisa Dovey, of Sutton Valence, Maidstone, Kent. Buried in GAZA WAR CEMETERY, Israel. Plot XXX. Row D. Grave 13.

Second Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action Thursday 3rd May 1917, aged 29 years. Son of Herbert and Mary A. T. Dungey, of Ibornden, Biddenden, Kent. No known grave. Commemorated on LOOS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 15 to 19.

Lance Corporal G/7634, 10th Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Killed in action Tuesday 1st October 1918, aged 28 years. Born and resident Biddenden, enlisted Cranbrook, Kent. Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Goodearl, of High St., Biddenden, Kent. Buried in ZANTVOORDE BRITISH CEMETERY, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot II. Row D. Grave 23.

[Listed as ALLAN GOODSELL on SDGW] Private 124130, 30th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died Saturday 9th November 1918, aged 20 years. Enlisted Cranbrook, resident Biddenden. Son of Henry and Edith Goodsell, of Forsten Green Farm, Biddenden, Kent. Brother of Sidney GOODSELL (below). Formerly 1936, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Buried in TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VII. Row D. Grave 15.

Lance Corporal 43252, 75th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Killed in action Thursday 7th June 1917, aged 20 years. Born and resident Biddenden, enlisted Ashford. Son of Henry and Edith Goodsell, of Forsten Green Farm, Biddenden, Kent. Brother of Henry GOODSELL (above). Formerly 2290, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 56.

[Listed as Edwin HOAD on SDGW] Private G/13050. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action Friday 12th October 1917, aged 26 years. Enlisted and resident Biddenden. Son of George Hoad; husband of Mrs. D. M. Smith (formerly Hoad), of North St., Biddenden, Kent. No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 17.

Private 44041, 189th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died Sunday 4th November 1917, aged 29 years. Enlisted Cranbrook, resident Biddenden. Husband of Ada Honess, of Medhurst Farm, Biddenden, Kent. Formerly (5737) Middlesex Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 154 to 159 and 163A.

Private 7309, 2nd Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company (Infantry). Killed in action Tuesday 9th October 1917, aged 22 years. Enlisted and resident Folkestone. Son of Alfred Joseph and Clara Houghton, of "Blackfriars," Biddenden, Kent. No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 7.

Private TF/241757, 8th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). Killed in action Tuesday 10th April 1917, aged 33 years. Born and resident Biddenden, enlisted Ealing, Middlesex. Son of Daniel and Amy Luckhurst, of Rose Cottage, Biddenden, Kent. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 7.

Private 241740, 7th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 12th October 1917, aged 23 years. Born Leytonstone, Essex, enlisted Tenterden, resident Biddenden. Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Marshall, of Randolph Cottage, Biddenden, Kent. No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 35 to 37 and 162 to 162A.

Private TF/204219, 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died of wounds Sunday 30th September 1917, aged 36 years. Born Rolvendedn, enlisted Cranbrook, resident Biddenden. Son of Charles and Mary Maynard; husband of Nellie Maynard, of Church Cottages, Wittersham, Kent. Born Rolvenden, Cranbrook, Kent. Buried in DOZINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot VIII. Row H. Grave 22.

Private T/2135,. 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Kent Composite Battalion. Killed in action Monday 6th September 1915 in Gallipoli, Turkey. Born, resident and enlisted Biddenden. No known grave. Commemorated on HELLES MEMORIAL, Turkey. Panel 31.

Lieutenant, 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) attached Trench Mortar Battery. Died of wounds Wednesday 9th October 1918, aged 27 years. Son of George John and Edith Mary Nettleton. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Section S. Plot V. Row F. Grave 6.

Private 21735, 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action Tuesday 6th November 1917, aged 22 years. Born Biddenden, enlisted Canterbury. Son of William and Ellen Parks, of Shorts Farm, Biddenden, Kent. Buried in HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot VIII. Row B. Grave 10.

Private G/42786, 16th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Killed in action 1st December 1917, aged 22 years. Born and resident Smorden, enlisted Canterbury. Son of William Alfred and Mary Ann Smith, of North St., Biddenden, Kent. Formerly (G/21753) East Surrey Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL, Nord, France. Panel 9.

Private G/13643, 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action Thursday 3rd May 1917, aged 34 years. Born Horsmonden, enlisted Cranbrook, resident Winchelsea, Sussex. Son of Susanna Snashall, of 3, Strand Terrace, Winchelsea, Sussex, and the late William Snashall. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. bay 2.

Private 18222, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action Thursday 10th May 1917, aged 33 years. Born Benenden, enlisted Bury St. Edmund's. Son of James and Adelaide Taylor, of Biddenden, Kent; husband of Louisa Harriett Taylor, of The New Lodge, Cavenham, Mildenhall, Suffolk. Buried in FEUCHY CHAPEL BRITISH CEMETERY, WANCOURT, Pas de Calais, France. Plot I. Row F. Grave 42.

Corporal 540391, 495th (Kent) Field Company, Royal Engineers. Died Friday 4th October 1918, aged 34 years. Born and enlisted Tonbridge. Son of Thomas Upton, of 34, Norfolk Rd., Tonbridge; husband of Hettie Flora Upton, of North St., Biddenden, Kent. Buried in TOURLAVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY AND EXTENSION, Manche, France. Section A. Grave 6.

Lance Corporal G/8949, 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action Tuesday 31st July 1917, aged 22 years. Born Biddenden, enlisted Southwark, Surrey. Son of John and Grace E. A. Vane, of Standen Cottage, Biddenden, Kent. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 20.

Private G/20800, 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Saturday 3rd March 1917, aged 28 years. Born, enlisted and resident Tenterden. Son of Alfred and Eliza Wallis, of High St., Tenterden, Kent; husband of Nellie Wallis, of North St., Biddenden, Kent. Buried in DERNANCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France. Plot VI. Row B. Grave 20.

BEECH

Walter Vivian

Gunner, 1592694. 234 Battery, 89 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died 2 September 1941. Aged 21. Born and resided Kent. Son of William and Ellen Louisa Beech of Biddenden, Ashford, Kent. Buried Phaleron War Cemetery, Greece. Grave Ref: 16. A. 7. Walter is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission with his surname spelt BEACH.

BENNETT

Arthur Keith

Leading Seaman C/J, 109679. Royal Navy, H.M. Submarine Triton, Died 18 December 1940. Aged 32. Son of Arthur William and Ada Mary Bennett. Husband of Irene Gladys Bennett of Biddenden, Ashford, Kent. Also commemorated on Second World War memorial plaque located in Tenterden (St. Mildred’s) parish church and on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel 34. Column 3.

The exact cause of the loss of Arthur’s submarine (Pennant N15) is still unclear as she was originally thought to have struck a mine, whilst later Italian claims of her destruction add to the confusion as two Motor Torpedo Boats of the Italian Regina Marina, and an Italian aircraft claimed to have sunk her.

BOAKES

Thomas

Sergeant, 6339924. 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment. Died 21 October 1944. Aged 34. Born and resided Kent. Son of Mr and Mrs John Boakes. Husband of Maude Louise Boakes of Biddenden, Ashford, Kent. Buried Cesena War Cemetery, Italy. Grave Ref: II. A. 11. Pre war member of the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

CARVER

John G

No further information currently available

COLLISON

George Alec

Sergeant (Wireless Op/Air Gunner), 1233362. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 106 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 28 June 1944. Aged 22. Son of Robert B Collinson and Elizabeth Collinson of Biddenden, Ashford, Kent. Buried Bransles Communal Cemetery, Seine-et-Marne, France. Grave Ref: Collective grave.

George was a crew member of Lancaster bomber JB664 ZN-N, which was flown by 25 year old Pilot Officer (Pilot), Norman W. Easby of Chapel Allerton, Leeds, Yorkshire. The aircraft took off at 2255 hours on 27 June 1944 from R.A.F. Metheringham, Lincolnshire, to attack the railway facilities at Vitry-le-Francois, Champagne, France. A total of 214 Lancasters and 9 Mosquitos of Nos. 1, 5 and 8 Groups attacked both the Vaires and Vitry railway yards. The No. 8 Group raid on Vaires was particularly accurate, but the yards at Vitry were hit only at the western end. 4 Lancasters were lost, 2 from each raid. George’s aircraft crashed near Bransles, Seine-et-Marne, France about 12 miles south east of Nemours killing all seven crew on board who are at rest together at Bransles. Lancaster bomber JB664 ZN-N, was delivered to George’s squadron on 15 November 1943, and took part in several important bombing missions prior to its loss, by which time it had completed a total of 433 hours.

DAVIS

Alan Roland Newham

Sergeant, 1254599. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 609 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 23 December 1942. Aged 21. Son of Charles and Ethel Florence Davis of Folkestone, Kent. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Panel 81.

HOOKER

Donald

Driver, T/14641465. 212 Infantry Divisional Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps. Died 19 February 1945. Aged 30. Born and resided Kent. Son of Charles and Jacey Hooker. Husband of Doris Cedelia Joyce Hooker of Biddenden, Ashford, Kent. Buried Goirle Roman Catholic Cemetery, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. Grave Ref: Row 3. Grave 3.

NETTLETON

Patrick John Muriel

Pilot Officer (Pilot), 33483. 263 (Fellowship of the Bellows) Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 29 March 1940. Aged 21. Son of Hugh and Avis Nettleton. Nephew of Mrs. W. Nettleton of Biddenden, Ashford, Kent. Buried Bristol (Canford) Cemetery. Grave Ref: Section E. Grave 118. Patrick died whilst his squadron was based at Filton, Bristol, Gloucestershire, equipped with Gloucester Gladiators, having been reformed there on 2 October 1939.

SMITH

Robert Edward

Sergeant (Air Gunner), 1890521. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 7 (Pathfinder Force) Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 23 April 1944. Aged 18. Son of Frank William and Elsie Smith of Biddenden, Ashford, Kent. Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Nordrhein-Westfal, Germany. Grave Ref: 1. H. 9.

Robert was a crew member of Lancaster bomber ND353 MG-N, which was flown by Flight Lieutenant A.H. MacGillivray R.C.A.F. The aircraft took of at 2320 hours on 22 April 1944 from R.A.F. Oakington, Cambridgeshire on a bombing raid to Düsseldorf, Germany. The raid was carried out by 596 aircraft, they being 323 Lancasters, 254 Halifaxes, and 19 Mosquitos, which belonged to all groups with the exception of No. 5. 2,150 tons of bombs were dropped in this old-style heavy attack on the German city which caused much destruction, but also allowed the Luftwaffe night-fighter force to penetrate the R.A.F. bomber stream. The attack fell mostly in the northern districts of Düsseldorf and widespread damage was caused. Once over the target area Robert’s aircraft was attacked and badly damaged by a German night-fighter which resulted in the bomber crashing. A total of 29 aircraft, which were 16 Halifaxes and 13 Lancasters were lost on the raid to Düsseldorf. Incredibly four of the seven crew of Robert’s bomber survived and were captured, the fact that the four survived, is probably even more remarkable because all seven of the Lancasters crew had eluded death less than three weeks previously when returning from a raid on Nürnberg. On that occasion their Lancaster ND350 MG-Z was diverted away from R.A.F. Oakington to R.A.F. Feltwell, Norfolk due to dense fog, but on landing at 0614 the aircraft crash-landed, and hit a concrete pill-box at which point their Lancaster burst into flames, but all had escaped without injury.

SWAIN

Thomas

Private, 961186. 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own). Died 24 March 1945. Aged 30. Born and resided Surrey. Foster-son of Mrs. E. H. Manser of Biddenden, Ashford, Kent. Buried Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar. Grave Ref: 20. F. 1. Pre war member of the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own).

TAYLOR

Victor Suitters

Private, 6288274. 4th Battalion, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment). Died 31 January 1943. Aged 24. Born and resided Kent. Son of Harry and May Taylor of Biddenden, Ashford, Kent. Buried Imtarfa Military Cemetery, Malta. G.C. Grave Ref: Collective grave 3. 3. 25. Pre war member of The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment).

TESTER

Arthur William Charles

Driver, 1884092. 270 Field Company, Royal Engineers. Died 14 January 1944. Aged 24. Born Hastings, Sussex. Resided Kent. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Tester. Husband of Bertina Tester of North Harrow, Middlesex. Buried Minturno War Cemetery, Italy. Grave Ref: 7 H. 1.

Civilian Casualties

ALDWORTH

John

Died 11 July 1944. Aged 15. Son of Joseph Bertram and Dorothy Aldworth of 6 West End Cottages, Biddenden, Ashford, Kent. John died at his home 6 West End Cottages, Biddenden.

COLLINS

John

No further information currently available

STANDEN

James Thomas

Died 15 March 1941. Aged 76 Son of Timothy and Sarah Baker Standen of Landgate, Rye, Sussex. Husband of Rosetta Ellen Standen. James died at his home, Mannering Farm, Biddenden

STANDEN

Rosetta Ellen

Died 28 March 1941. Aged 73 Daughter of Mr and Mrs James Hogben of Eastling, Faversham, Kent. Widow of James Thomas Standen. Rosetta was injured at her home Mannering Farm, Biddenden, Ashford, Kent on 15 March 1941, and died of her injuries whilst a patient at the Kench Hill Emergency Hospital, Leigh Green, Tenterden, Kent on 28 March 1941.

DIAMOND

Percy Edward George

Guardsman, 2613212. 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died 6 October 1944. Aged 38. Born and resided Kent. Son of John T. and Emily F. Diamond. Husband of Annie Irene Diamond of Biddenden, Ashford, Kent. Buried Santerno Valley War Cemetery, Italy. Grave Ref: II. B. 17. Commemorated on the General Post Office, Second World War memorial plaque, located in the Royal Mail Sorting Office, Tannery Lane, Ashford, Kent. Prior to enlisting in the army Percy had been employed by the General Post Office, at which time he was based at the Tenterden, Kent, Post Office, and was a pre war member of the Grenadier Guards.