ALSTON

Alfred Arthur Freeborn

Private 23279, 7th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Died 3rd May 1917. Born India. Enlisted Canterbury. Commemorated on the Arras memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Panel reference - Bay 6.

AUSTEN

Frederick John

Gunner 148220, 129th Battery, 42nd Brigade. Royal Field Artillery (R.F.A). Died 25th April 1917 aged 36 years. Born Staplehurst. Enlisted Woolwich, London. Son of William and Ellen Austen of Staplehurst. Husband of Alice J Austen of Sycamore House, Staplehurst, Kent. Buried Hibers Trench Cemetery, Wancourt, Pas de Calais, France. Grave reference - D. 5.

BARTON, DCM

F Ronald

Rifleman S/14154 or S/14454, 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. Brother of James (below). 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 high ranking decoration for other ranks just below a Victoria Cross.

BARTON, MM

James Miles

Lance Sergeant 4066, 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. Brother of Ronald (above). 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.

BOORMAN

George Spencer

Private 60072 or G/53537, 34th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Attached 101st Company, Labour Corps (3rd Army). Formerly (17777) Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 14th May 1918 aged 36 years. Born Bethersden. Husband of Hannah Boorman of “Newstead Cottage”, Staplehurst, Kent. Buried in the Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt, France. Grave reference I.F.7.

BRIGHT

[Alfred] John

Sergeant 630989, London Regiment. “B” Company, 20th Battalion, London Regiment. Died 6th July 1917. Age 35. Enlisted Blackheath. Resided Catford. Son of William and Jane Bright of Staplehurst, Kent. Husband of Emily Bright of 172 Verdant Lane, Catford, London. Schoolmaster, Hither Green School. Buried Bedford House Cemetery, Ieper, Belgium. Enclosure No4 XIV. A. 24.

BRISLEY

Lewis Alfred

[Listed as A L on memorial] Private 47469, 23rd (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Formerly 157766 Royal Field Artillery. Died 29th April 1917. Age 26. Born Alkham. Enlisted Hythe. Husband of Alice May Brisley of Rabbits Cross Farm, Chart Sutton, Maidstone, Kent. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 2.

Listed as A.L Brisley.

BUTLER

H G

Probably this man - Private 12149 Garnett Henry BUTLER. 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died 20th September 1914. Born Burford, Oxfordshire. Enlisted Cirencester. Husband of A A Butler of 114 London Road, Southborough, Kent. Buried Guards Grave, Villers Cotterets Forest, Aisne, France. Grave 15.

CLOUT

Charles

Private G/27484, 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Died 4th October 1918. Age 20. Born and resided Cranbrook. Enlisted Canterbury. Son of Mr Cloutt and Mrs Jane Clout of Throxbridge (probably should be Knoxbridge), Staplehurst, Kent. Buried Perreuse Chateau Franco British National Cemetery, Seine-et-Marne, France. Grave 1.C. 6.

CROUCH

John

Private G/13007, 1st Battalion, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 21st September 1918. Age 33. Born Headcorn. Enlisted Cranbrook. Resided Staplehurst. Brother of Gladys Crouch of Cork Farm, Staplehurst, Kent. Buried Pigeon Ravine Cemetery, Epehy, Somme. Grave III. B. 9.

CURTIS

James

Private 542, 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Died 18th December 1914. Born Staplehurst. Enlisted Maidstone. Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. Panel 2.

DADSWELL

Thomas

Private T/293, 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 21st January 1916. Age 26. Born Paddock Wood. Enlisted Headcorn. Resided Staplehurst. Son of Mr and Mrs L Dadswell of Little Harts Heath, Staplehurst, Kent. Buried Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. Grave XVII. J. 15.

DAVIS

Sidney Robert

Lance Corporal R/8471, 9th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC). Died 6th May 1916. Age 21. Born Staplehurst. Enlisted Maidstone. Resided Staplehurst. Son of Charles R and Elizabeth A Davis. Buried Agny Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave C. 10.

FARMER

Ernest Frank

Private G/9634, 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 12th October 1917. Age 28. Born Staplehurst. Enlisted Cranbrook. Resided Staplehurst. Son of Mrs Jane Farmer of Lovehurst Cottage, Staplehurst, Kent. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Panel 17.

FARMER

Owen F

Private SD/1033, 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died 3rd September 1916. Age 28. Born Frittenden. Enlisted Wadhurst, Sussex. Son of Edwin and Mary Farmer of “Sweetlands,” Staplehurst, Kent. Husband of Dora Farmer of 10 Northcote Road, Tonbridge, Kent. Buried Hamel Military Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, France. Grave II. A. 33.

FOREMAN

Charles

Private 59433, 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Died 29th September 1918. Age 20. Born Pembury, Kent. Enlisted Tonbridge. Son of Mr and Mrs E Foreman of Goldsmid Cottages, Five Oak Green, Paddock Wood, Kent. Buried Unicorn Cemetery, Vend`Huile, Aisne, France. Grave I. B. 22.

GURR

Alfred John

Driver S2/018247, 63rd Depot Unit, 13th Division, Army Service Corps (ASC). Died 9th April 1915. Age 33. Born Staplehurst. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Goudhurst. Son of Alfred and Eliza Gurr of High Street, Staplehurst, Kent. Husband of Merrella Mary Reeves (formerly Gurr) of 14 Lancaster Road, Canterbury. Buried Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire. Grave AF 1845.

HANMER, MC

Alexander John

Second Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Attached to the 6th Battalion. Died 7th October 1916. Age 20. Born Newington, Sittingbourne, Kent. Son of John and Constance Catherine Hanmer of Saynden, Staplehurst, Kent. Buried St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France. Grave (Officers) B. 1. 30.

HARRIS

Charles Edward

Private 43037, 2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment. Formerly (181093) Royal Field Artillery. Died 30th May 1918. Age 21. Born Staplehurst. Enlisted Staplehurst. Son of John and Mary Ann Harris of Victoria Cottage, Staplehurst, Kent. Buried Terlincthun British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave VII. A. C. 18.

HOARE

Richard Lennard

Captain, 12th Battalion, London Regiment. (The Rangers) (TF). Died 1st July 1916. Age 33. (The first day of the Battle of The Somme 1916). Born Staplehurst. Son of Laura Hoare of Summerhil, Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent and the late William Hoare. Buried Gommecourt British Cemetery No2, Hebuterne, Pas de Calais, France. Grave I.C. 1. Also commemorated on Benenden war memorial.

JULL

Leslie Hubert

Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps (RFC). Formerly North Staffordshire Regiment. Died 3rd January 1918. Buried locally in Staplehurst (All Saints) Churchyard.

The memorial lists Leslie’s unit as the Royal Air Force. In fact when Leslie died the RAF did not exist. He died serving in the army RFC.

KING

Ernest [A]

Private 10257, 9th Battalion, Queen`s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Formerly Private (459393) 437th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps. Died 18th December 1918. Age 33. Husband of Rose Ellen King of Parsonage Cottage, East Sutton, Maidstone, Kent. Buried East Sutton (SS Peter and Paul) Churchyard Extension. Grave 4 (in North-West part).

Ernest’s name also appears on the nearby East Sutton war memorial.

LE FEAVER

Charles

Trooper 1637, Household Battalion, Household Cavalry. Died 22nd May 1917. Age 30. Born Malden (SDGW) (but it was probably Marden). Enlisted Windsor. Resided Staplehurst. Son of John and Ellen Le Fever of Stile Bridge, Marden, Kent. Husband of Norah H J Le Fever of Headcorn Road, Staplehurst, Kent. Buried Roeux British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave D. 28.

Charles’s brother Victor Charles also fell and both are commemorated on the nearby Marden civic war memorial.

LUCAS

Jesse Henry

Sapper 40963, 69th Field Company, Royal Engineers (RE). Died 7th September 1915. Age 20. Born Willesden, London. Enlisted Willesden, London. Resided Staplehurst. Son of Henry Richard and Annie Louisa Lucas of Willesden, London N W. Buried Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave IV. E. 4.

MAYBOURNE

George A

Private, Company “B,” 38th Infantry, 3rd Division. United States Army. Died 22nd October 1918. Buried Arlington National Cemetery, USA. Site 4013.

Listed on the memorial as U.S Army.

MUGLESTON

Eric Stanley H

Private 35562, 10th (Royal East Kent and West Kent Yeomanry Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 12th November 1918. Age 21. Son of Mr R H and Mrs A A Mugleston of Spills Hill Farm, Staplehurst, Kent. Buried Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, Pas de Calais, France. Grave X. F. 10.

NICHOLSON

Geoffrey Arnold

Second Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps. Died 19th May 1917. Son of Mr and Mrs A G Nicholson of Surrenden, Staplehurst, Kent. Buried locally in Staplehurst (All Saints) Churchyard, Staplehurst, Kent.

Erroneously commemorated on the memorial plaque as being of the RAF. The RAF was not formed until April 1918.

OSBORNE

W M T

Private, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) – Probably this man - Private G/13648 William Thomas OSBORNE. 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 3rd May 1917. Born Maidstone. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Marden. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais. Bay 2.

PEARSON

Thomas John

Private 42730, 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Died 5th April 1918. Age 19. Born Pembury, Kent. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Staplehurst. Son of Charles and Minnie Pearson of 1 Pagehurst Cottages, Staplehurst, Kent. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 4.

PENNEFATHER

Charles Louis

Captain, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Died 14th June 1916. Age 22. Son of Major and Mrs L M Pennefather of The Green Court, New Romney, Kent. Gazetted 15th August 1914. Overseas November 1914. Wounded at Fromelles May 1915. Gazetted Captain 14th January 1916. Buried Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. Grave B. 35.

Also commemorated on memorial plaque located in St Nicholas Church, New Romney, Kent.

ROFE

Thomas William

Lance Corporal S/18993, 11th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Died 15th February 1917. Born Frittenden. Enlisted Lewisham, London. Resided Sydenham, London. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

SALES

Frederick Thomas

Corporal 52678, 95th Field Company, Royal Engineers (RE). Died 23rd February 1917. Born Lenham. Enlisted Maidstone. Resided Lenham. Son of Mr T Sales of Royal Exchange, Burham, Rochester, Kent. Buried Mailly Wood Cemetery, Mailly-Maillet, Somme, France. Grave II. E. 8.

SISLEY

Ebenezer

Corporal 24859, 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died 7th October 1918. Died 7th October 1918. Age 26. Born Maidstone. Enlisted Staplehurst. Son of John and Jane Sisley of New Town, Staplehurst, Kent. Buried in Sunken Road Cemetery, Boisleux-St. Marc, Pas de Calais, France. Grave III. C. 20.

SMITH

George Thomas

Private 36259, Essex Regiment transferred to 255405, Labour Corps. Died 8th November 1918. Aged 26. Born Staplehurst. Enlisted Canterbury. Son of W. and Ellen Smith, of West End Cottage, Staplehurst. Formerly (45827) Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Buried in north-east part of All Saints Churchyard, Staplehurst.

THATCHER

Wilfred T

Sergeant, 31st Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment). Died 25th June 1918. Age 32. Born Staplehurst 27th October 1886. Enlisted Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 17th November 1914. Commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

USBORNE

Charles

Private G/12474, 8th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 17th August 1916. Born Frittenden. Enlisted Sevenoaks. Buried AIF Burial Ground, Flers, Somme, France. Grave XIII. C. 19.

VIDLER

Alfred Ernest

Private 9262, 3rd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. Died 7th November 1914. Age 28. Born Dover. Enlisted Dover. Son of William and Harriett Vidler of 49 Limekiln Street, Dover, Kent. Commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ieper, Belgium. Panel 34.

WICKINGS

William M G

Sergeant 242650, 10th or 11th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry (H.L.I). Formerly (1015) West Kent Yeomanry. Died 22nd March 1918. Born Staplehurst. Enlisted Staplehurst. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France, Bay 8.

WIGHTWICK

Oswald

Private 1882, 18th Battalion, London Regiment. (Royal Irish Rifles). Died 9th October 1915. Age 23. Enlisted Chelsea, London. Resided Staplehurst. Son of William Jeffery and Minnie Clara Wightwick of Tonbridge, Kent. Brother of Sydney (below).Buried La Treport Military Cemetery, Seine-Maritime, France. Plot2. Row J. Grave 4A.

WIGHTWICK

Sydney

Second Lieutenant, 9th Battalion (Queen Victoria’s Rifles), London Regiment. Formerly Private 77335 Canadian Infantry. Died 9th September 1917. Age 28. Born Tonbridge, Kent 9th February 1889. Enlisted Victoria, British Columbia 9th November 1914. Son of the late William Jeffery Wightwick and Minnie Clara Wightwick of Tonbridge, Kent. Brother of Oswald (above). Buried Divisional Collecting Post Cemetery and Extension, Ieper, Belgium. Grave I. C. 1.

Prior to emigrating to Canada and becoming a rancher Sydney had served for four years in a London based Territorial Force unit.

WIMBLE

Arthur

Private 24960, 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Died 13th June 1917. Age 19. Born Staplehurst. Enlisted Croydon, Surrey. Son of the late Jonathan and Mary Ann Wimble. Commemorated on the Menin Gate Ieper, Belgium. Panel 34.

The Second World War
1939 - 1945

ANDERSON

John Barr

Driver 119421, Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). Died 17th November 1942. Age 23. Born British Guiana. Resided Kent. Son of George Ernest Anderson and of Janet Anderson Anderson of St Mawes, Cornwall. Buried Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya. Grave 1. D. 6.

DEAN

William John

Seaman LT/JX 193874, Royal Naval Patrol Service. HM Trawler Marsoma. Died 4th August 1940. Age 35. Son of Alfred James Dean and Annie Kate Dean. Husband of Stella Charlotte Dean of Staplehurst, Kent. Buried Rosskeen Parish Churchyard Extensions (Or Burial Ground), Ross and Cromarty, Scotland.

BAYFORD

Charles

Leading Motor Mechanic C/MX 125979, Royal Navy. HMLCT 494. Royal Navy. Died 18th October 1944. Age 19. Son of Charles Alfred and Maud Bayford of Staplehurst, Kent. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel 78, 2.

JOHNSON

Henry Alfred

Bombardier 1713388, 209 Battery, 70 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died 29th September 1943. Born and resided Kent. Age 37. Son of Harry and Edith Mary Johnson. Husband of Minnie Joan Johnson of Staplehurst, Kent. Buried Syracuse War Cemetery, Sicily. Grave VII. E. 12.

COLLISON

Walter Edwin

Trooper 14524689, 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars, Royal Armoured Corps. Died 30th March 1945. Age 27. Born and resided Kent. Son of Edward Samuel and Elsie May Collison of Staplehurst, Kent. Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Nordhein-Westfalen, Germany. Grave 62. B. 15.

ROAN

Peter Harding

Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) 934278, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 77 Squadron RAF. Died 16th February 1942. Age 19. Son of Acton Wallis Roan and Elsie Roan of Staplehurst, Kent. Buried Stratford-on-Avon Cemetery, Warwickshire. Grave 4017.

Returning from a mission to St-Nazaire, Peter`s Leeming based Whitley bomber Z9229 KN-M failed to maintain height and crashed at Sherbourne, Warwickshire, four crew lost their lives in the crash, John Giffin (RCAF) and William Paterson (RCAF) are buried each side of Peter, Edwin Hooper (RAFVR) is buried in Reigate, Surrey, the other member of the crew James Spalding (RAFVR) parachuted to safety but lost his life less than a month later on 12th March 1942. Age 29 and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey. Panel 71.

SOWERY

John James

Gunner 964401, 118 Field Regiment, Royal Field Artillery. Died 12th August 1943. Age 23. Born Manchester. Resided Kent. Son of William and Olive Sowery of Staplehurst, Kent. Commemorated Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand. Special Memorial 9. M. 9.

WHO DIED IN SOUTH AFRICA
1901 & 1902

ERECTED BY COMRADES & FRIENDS