PLUCKLEY. The Great War

Transcription

1 PLUCKLEY The Great War

2 BASSETT A Private TF/ Alfred Thomas BASSETT. 9 th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (RSR). Formerly 5 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Tuesday 7 th August 1917 age 27 years. Born Pluckley. Enlisted Ashford. Son of Mr J and Mrs M Bassett of Brickworks Cottages, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, Etaples, France. Grave reference XXV.L.3A. Alfred enlisted into the 5 th Buffs as a Territorial Force soldier in 1911 and served with the Ashford (H) Company. He attended the Drill Hall in Newtown Road, Ashford once a week.upon the outbreak of war Alfred volunteered for overseas service and went to India with the 5 th Buffs. Returning home in 1916 he was transferred into the Royal Sussex Regiment. At this time the 9 th RSR was in need of urgent drafts to replace heavy casualties. Alfred had 4 brothers also serving in the colours (3 in France, 1 in India). 2

3 The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Brickworks, Pluckley Private Sidney Arthur BASSETT. 23 rd Rifle Brigade. The 1901 census gives 40, Brickyard Cottages, Pluckley John BASSETT 44 Brickyard Labourer Tonbridge Mary 43 Egerton Sydney A 21 Brickyard Clay Digger Egerton Hennrietta 19 Pluckley George 18 Clay Digger Pluckley Beatrice 16 Pluckley John 13 Pluckley Alfred Thomas 11 Pluckley Albert E 9 Pluckley Percy 8 Pluckley Ada 5 Pluckley Winnifred 3 Pluckley Alfred died of wounds at a Base Hospital in Etaples. It is not known exactly what happened to him but it s a pretty good bet he was wounded on the battlefield and recovered through the medical evacuation chain to a Base Hospital near to the French Re-enforcement ports. 3

4 BRYANT C Private Charles Ernest BRYANT. 1 st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Formerly (31357) Suffolk Regiment. Died Sunday 8 th July 1917 aged 23 years. Born Pluckley. Enlisted Maidstone. Son of George and Charlotte Bryant of Providence Place, Goudhurst, Kent. Formerly Victoria Cottages, Lambden Road, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Mendighem Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, Belgium. Grave reference I.F.16. Charles name also appears on the Sutton Valence civic war memorial near Maidstone. The 1901 census gives Victoria Cottages, Lambden Road, Pluckley George BRYANT 36 Wagoner on Farm Rolvenden Charlotte 36 Rolvenden Edith 14 Great Chart George 10 Pluckley Charles 8 Pluckley Ethel 4 Pluckley Bertha 2 Pluckley 4

5 CHECKSFIELD F Sergeant T/ Frederick Horace CHECKSFIELD. 1 st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Wednesday 8 th May 1918 aged 21 years. Born Throwley. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Pluckley. Son of Alfred and Susan Checksfield of Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Born Throwley Kent. Buried in the Nine Elms British Cemetery, Poperinghe, Belgium. Grave reference XIV.E.13. Frederick was a professional soldier and was serving in the Buffs before the outbreak of war. On 23 April 1918 the 1 st Buffs moved into Ramparts at Ypres. The Germans responded by firing masses of gas shells at the ramparts. 22 men were caught in the open and received terrible internal wounds from gassing. On 26 April 1918 the 1 st Buffs withdrew from the frontline leaving the Yorks & Lancs Regiment on outpost duty. After the withdrawal the enemy advanced very quickly but were stopped at the ramparts by the Yorks & Lancs men. The month of May 1918 was a terrible one for the 1 st Buffs with many men dying from gas poisoning. 119 casualties were gassed in the area of Ypres and many died of their injuries in the most appalling way. Men literally drowned in their own body fluids! It seems very likely that poor Frederick was one of these casualties. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Monday Bois, Little Chart Sergeant T/ Frederick Horace CHECKSFIELD. 1 st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). 5

6 CLARK W Private Walter Josiah CLARK. 17 th Battalion, King s (Liverpool Regiment) formerly (458) 5 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Wednesday 8 th May 1918 aged 31 years. Born Pluckley. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Pluckley. Son of Sidney and Naomi Clark of 5, Dering Terrace, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Husband of Elsie Bertha Clark of 27, Bowness Road, Catford, London. Walter has no known grave. His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Panel reference 31/34/162/162A/163A. Walter joined the 5 th Buffs as a territorial soldier in Before the outbreak of war he was employed by Mr P Collins at the Dering Arms Hotel, Pluckley. Upon the outbreak of war Walter proceeded with the 5 th Buffs to India. In 1915 he returned home (time expired). Upon rejoining his battalion Walter went to Mesopotamia and returned from there in January At this time he married his wife in Pluckley. In February 1917 he was transferred to the King s Regiment and went to France. He met with his death a year later whilst still serving with the King s Reiment. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives 5 Dering Terrace, Pluckley Trooper 3652 Charles CLARK. 1 st Life Guards. The 1901 census gives 5, Dering Terrace, Pluckley Sydney CLARK 52 Brickworks Clay Digger Cambridgeshire Naomi 48? Emily 20 Pluckley Walter 14 Brickworks Labourer Pluckley Susan 9 Pluckley Charlie 7 Pluckley 6

7 GOODWIN E Private G/9372 Ernest Eli GOODWIN. 6 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in Action Saturday 7 th October Born Ashford. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Headcorn. Son of Eli and Mary A Goodwin of 42 Brickyard Cottages, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Ernest has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Grave reference 5D. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives The Street, Little Chart Private George Gabriel GOODWIN. Royal Army Medical Corps. The 1901 census gives 42, Brickyard Cottages, Pluckley Eli GOODWIN 50 Railway Platelayer Smarden Mary A 48 Smarden William 23 Smarden James 18 Agricultural Labourer Pluckley Herbert 15 Smarden Ernest E 13 Smarden Gabriel 10 Pluckley Percy 7 Pluckley Amy 5 Pluckley On the 7 th October the 6 th battalion was in action fighting in the Battles of The Transloy Ridges. On the 1 st October the battalion was at Lonqueval in the morning. Later in the day it went into reserve trenches at Guedecourt. The battalion went forward under extremely heavy machine gun fire. About 350 men were killed, missing or wounded. Ernest was one of those killed. 7

8 HOGBEN E Petty Officer Stoker K/9733 Edwin (Edward) E.G HOGBEN. HMS HORNET. Royal Navy. Died Tuesday 23 rd April 1918 age 25 years. Son of Abraham and Mary J Hogben of Lamden Road, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Formerly 3 Thorne Cottages, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery, Thessalonika, Greece. Grave reference The local papers stated that Edwin fell on the 21 st April 1918 NOT the 23 rd (as recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission). See George SKEER (Lost Men below) Edwin must have known him well They probably both died as a consequence of one action. HMS Hornet was a Acheron class Destroyer completed 20 December Attached to 1 st Flotilla from 1911 to 1912 and the Grand Fleet from 1914 to 1916 when it was transferred to the 3 rd Battle Flotilla. HMS Hornet was sold off in HMS Hornet was invlolved in rescuing survivers from HMS Argyll in October Meanwhile, the two destroyers HMS HORNET and JACKALL appeared out of the gloom and made every effort to get close to the stricken ARGYLL. After several attempts, HORNET managed to get her stern close to ARGYLL's, where 500 of her crew had been assembled for abandoning ship. The rest of the crew took to the lifeboats and rowed clear of their ship. On mountainous waves, the stern of HORNET rose and fell like an express lift against ARGYLL's. At times the two ships clashed violently, buckling HORNET's stern plates. There was a real danger of men being crushed between them, but each time the sterns passed, men made the jump to HORNET's deck until there were none left aboard ARGYLL. The 1901 census gives 3, Thorne Cottages, Pluckley Abraham HOGBIN 48 Stockman on Farm Boughton Malerbie Mary J 48 Ham, Kent Kate 11 Pluckley Edwin E.G 9 Pluckley 8

9 KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN M.A Lieutenant Maurice Astley KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN MC. 2 nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards (Special Reserve). Died Monday 25 th September 1916 age 28 years. Born Son of Rev Reginald B and Rachel Knatchbull-Hugessen (nee Montgomery) of Pluckley, Kent. Buried in the Citadel New Military Cemetery, Fricourt, Somme, France. Grave reference II.C.2. Educated at St Aubyn s, Rottingdean, Radley and at Balliol College, Oxford. Maurice joined the Royal Fusiliers as a Private soldier in October In March 1915 Maurice was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards. He proceeded to France and participated in offensive operations in and around Festubert in His father was for many years the Rector of Mersham village near Ashford. His father Reverend Reginald Knatchbull-Hugessen resided at 1, Foulis Terrace, London, SW. Knatchbull-Hugessen is the family name of Lord Brabourne of Newhouse, Mersham, Ashford and it believed that Maurice is related to the present 8 th Lord Brabourne. Maurice was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for courage and leadership before he tragically lost his life. The Second Battalion, Grenadier Guards attacked at on 25 th September 1916 with the Ginchy Lesboeufs Road on the right. The battalion moved forward but the assault was held up by uncut wire. The battalion then charged to take objective. Regimental history records high losses among officers and men

10 MARCHANT P Private G/18129 Phillip Henry MARCHANT. 7 th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (RSR). Died Tuesday 9 th April Born Woodchurch. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Pluckley. Buried in the Senlis Communal Cemetery, Senlis-Le-Sec, France. Grave reference I.B.3. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Pinnock, Pluckley Sapper Ernest Edward MARCHANT. Royal Engineers. MILES S Private L/10020 Sidney C MILES. 2 nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died as a POW Thursday 24 th October Born Pluckley. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Pluckley. Son of Alfred and Elizabeth Miles of 9 Dering Terrace, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Hessen, Germany. Grave reference X.B.3. It looks like Sidney died whilst a Prisoner of War in German custody. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Dering Terrace, Pluckley Private Frank MILES. 2 nd Grenadier Guards. Sergeant Ernest William MILES. 4 th Machine Gun Corps. Rifleman A/ George Robert MILES. 8 th King s Royal Rifle Corps. Private Sidney MILES. 2 nd Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Brickworks, Pluckley Pioneer WR/21161 William Daniel MILES. Royal Engineers. The 1901 census gives 9, Dering Terrace, Pluckley Alfred MILES 46 Brickworks Labourer Ashford Elizabeth 44 Alfred 20 Brickworks Labourer Pluckley Percy C.H 17 Pluckley Edward W 14 Pluckley Charles 12 Pluckley Frank 10 Pluckley Herbert 8 Pluckley Sydney C 3 Pluckley George R 2 Pluckley 10

11 PILE E (brother) Private T/1060 Edwin Thomas PILE. 5 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Friday 7 th January 1916 age 23 years. Resided East View, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Son of Jesse and Frances Pile of 1, Thorn Cottage, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Later of 8 Churchyard, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Amara War Cemetery, Amara, Iraq. Grave reference XXXI.D.5. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Thorne Cottage, Pluckley Private Harry PILE. 4 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Corporal 8497 Stephen Charles PILE. 3 rd Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Private William John PILE. 1 st S.N Hussars. The 1901 census gives 1, Thorne Cottage, Pluckley Edwin PILE 55 Farm Labourer Lenham Jesse 48 Pluckley Frances 46 Wife Pluckley Jesse 20 Gardener Pluckley Frances 16 Pluckley George 14 General Labourer Pluckley Annie 11 Pluckley Edwin 9 Pluckley Walter 7 Pluckley Stephen 4 Pluckley Harry 2 Pluckley He was one of a band of local men who, at the suggestion of Doctor Waite and the Rector, joined the Territorial Force in the neighborhood. After joining Edwin went to Kamptee in India with the 5 th Buffs. He regularly wrote to the Rector of Pluckley about his war experiences. His last letter read - The men are very determined to give a good show to Johnny Turk. We feel no fear and we are going onwards with a brave heart leaving the issue to God. 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. 11

12 PILE G (brother) Private T/ George PILE. 5 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died of disease on Tuesday 19 th June Born Pluckley. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Pluckley. Son of Jesse and Frances Pile of Thorn Cottage, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Later of 8 Churchyard, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Amara War Cemetery, Amara, Iraq. Grave reference XIII.H.9. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Hawthorne Cottage, Pluckley Private Harry PILE. 4 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Corporal 8497 Stephen Charles PILE. 3 rd Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Private William John PILE. 1 st S.N Hussars. The 1901 census gives 1, Thorne Cottage, Pluckley Edwin PILE 55 Farm Labourer Lenham Jesse 48 Pluckley Frances 46 Wife Pluckley Jesse 20 Gardener Pluckley Frances 16 Pluckley George 14 General Labourer Pluckley Annie 11 Pluckley Edwin 9 Pluckley Walter 7 Pluckley Stephen 4 Pluckley Harry 2 Pluckley George was mentioned in the book Turkish Front written by Field Marshall Lord Carver and published in 2003 (ISBN: ) The following words were spoken by Sergeant J.W FARNOL of the 5 th Battalion, The Buffs: One of our fellows, a jolly brave old chap named George PILE, had been sent back for ammunition and could be seen with the box struggling along with it forward. The bullets were striking all round. Every moment we expected him to drop but he managed to reach us, laughing like a dood wallah [whatever that was]. They [the Turks] very nearly put paid to your name that time Uncle some wag shouted. I don t think that there s a bullet made for me replied George. There wasn t, for poor Uncle died a natural death at Amarah this summer, after many more narrow escapes of this nature. George was clearly a very brave man. During June 1917 the 5 th battalion was inactive from a combat point of view. It spent most of the time at Bakuba and Abu Kamed on the Diala River. The weather was hot and humid and the battalion lost many men through heat stroke. 12

13 SKINNER W Dover Marine Gunner William Joseph SKINNER. 188 th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). Died 8 th July 1918 aged 31 years. Born Pluckley. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Pluckley. Son of Edwin and Elizabeth Skinner of The Thorne, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Formerly 3 Victoria Cottages, Lambden Road, Pluckley Thorn, Ashford, Kent. Husband of Mary Skinner of New House Cottage, Lamden Road, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Born Puckley, Kent. Buried in the Hagle Dump Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. Grave reference I.G.6. William was well known in the village and was involved with the Pluckley Church Choir and bellringers. It is recorded that William s father Edwin was the parish bellringer for over 50 years. Before the outbreak of war William was employed (7 years) as a Platelayer by the South Eastern and Chatham Railway Company. His name also appears on the Dover Marine War Memorial in Dover. William enlisted in October 1917 and proceeded to France on the 23 rd March William was killed instantly when a shell burst near him. He was struck on the forehead by a large piece of shrapnal. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Hamden Cottages, Smarden Private Herbert John SKINNER. Royal Army Medical Corps. Private William James SKINNER. 4 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Jennings Farm, Pluckley Private Frank SKINNER. Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry). Lamden Road, Pluckley Gunner Herbert Henry SKINNER. 546 th Seige Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Gunner William Joseph SKINNER. 188 th Seige Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Brickworks, Pluckley Private G/8950 Frederick William SKINNER. 1 st Buffs (East Kent Regiment). The 1901 census gives 13

14 Victoria Cottages, Lambden Road, Pluckley Edward SKINNER 52 Agricultural Labourer Pluckley Elizabeth 42 Benenden Charles E 16 Pluckley Ernest J 15 Pluckley William J 14 Agricultural Labourer Pluckley Amy A 12 Pluckley Herbert 10 Pluckley Florence 6 Pluckley Frederick 2 Pluckley The 188 th Siege Battery consisted four 6 inch guns. 14

15 UNDERDOWN H Private G/10475 Harry Hubert UNDERDOWN. 1 st Battalion, The Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died Wednesday 21 st February 1917 aged 21 years. Son of Edwin and Olive Underdown of Hodge Farm, Smarden, Kent. Enlisted Ashford. Buried in the Estaples Military Cemetery, Etaples, France. Grave reference XXI.H.8A. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Hodge Farm, Smarden Private L/11651 George James UNDERDOWN. 1 st Regiment). Royal Fusiliers (City of London East View, Pluckley Leading C.K.S Mechanic Wallace Hubert UNDERDOWN. HMS Pembroke II, Chatham. Maltmans Hill, Smarden Percey George UNDERDOWN. 4 th Royal West Kent Regiment. Harry was sent home from the front in December 1916 suffering from trench exposure and severe shell shock. He returned to his battalion in early February 1917 and lost his life shortly afterwards. His body was buried in Etaples on the 23 rd February From January to March 1917 the 1st battalion remained comparatively inactive in the Clery Sector. By the end of March it was in billets at Corbie. It is thought that Henry was wounded on The Somme in France in late 1916 and then recovered to a Base hospital at Etaples. In December 1916 the battalion was in the frontline at Rancourt and St Pierre Vaast Wood. 15

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17 WAITE J.T Lieutenant Joseph THORP-WAITE. 5 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Friday 21 st January 1916 aged 45 years. Son of Doctor and Mrs Ellen Waite. Husband of Hilda Mary Waite of Breeze Hill, Bowdon, Altrincham, Cheshire. Son-in-Law of Mr Smith of Swinford Old Manor, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Amara War Cemetery, Amara, Iraq. Grave reference XIX.C.2. The Buffs regimental history (Col Moody) gives the circumstances of Joseph s death. He was badly wounded in action and died the same day. Captain A.G.A Adam (a Wye College man) was also killed in the same battle. Before the outbreak of war Joseph was the practising Pluckley Medical Doctor. He had spent many years in the West of Africa with his family before coming to Pluckley. Upon enlisting into the Buffs Joseph became the unit Medical Officer. It is not known how he came to serve in the Buffs (an infantry unit) and not the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). He was mature in age to be serving in the infantry as a junior officer. 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 20 th January the Turkish defences at Hanna came under heavy British artillery bombardment. After the bombardment the infantry moved forward to attack. The 21 st was a busy time for the 5 th Buffs in the frontline. The Turks rose out of their trenches and literally cut the attacking British infantry down. Very few British soldiers reached their objective. On the 22 nd 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. 17

18 WOOD E.C Lance Corporal G/20566 Ernest Charles WOOD. 9 th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (RSR). Formerly 5 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Friday 3 rd August 1917 aged 23 years. Born Smarden. Enlisted Chelsea, London. Third son of James and Elizabeth Rebecca Wood of Forge House, Forge Hill, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Ernest has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Panel reference 20. Ernest enlisted into the Buffs in January A short while afterwards he was transferred into the Royal Sussex Regiment. In October 1916 he was promoted to Lance Corporal. In January 1917 Ernest went to France with the 9 th R.S.R. His Commanding Officer wrote to his parents I have been able to appreciate the excellent way in which your son worked, and the good example set to his colleagues. He was one of my best N.C.O s and a credit to his company. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives The Forge House, Pluckley Sapper Harold Henry WOOD. 495 th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Corporal SE/5648 James William WOOD. Army Veterinary Corps. WOOD J.W Shoeing Smith Corporal SE/5648 James William WOOD. 11 th Section, Army Veterinary Corps (AVC). Died Influenza Saturday 28 th September 1918 age 32 years. Born Smarden. Enlisted Faversham. Son of Mr and Mrs James Wood of Forge House, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Husband of Alice Mary Wood of 19 Victoria Avenue, Northdown, Margate, Kent. Buried in the Bralo British Cemetery, Greece. Grave reference 29. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives The Forge House, Pluckley Sapper Harold Henry WOOD. 495 th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Corporal SE/5648 James William WOOD. Army Veterinary Corps. James died in Salonika, Greece of influenza during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic. 18

19 WOODCOCK F Private L/10465 Frank Herbert WOODCOCK. 2 nd Battalion, Queen s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died Sunday 30 th April Born Pluckley. Enlisted Croydon Surrey. Son of Albert and Celia Woodcock of Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Amara War Cemetery, Amara, Iraq. Grave reference XXI.H.4. The 1901 census gives? Mount, Pluckley Albert WOODCOCK 48 Agricultural Labourer Bethersden Celia 40 Pluckley Nancy E 12 Little Chart Alfred G 9 Little Chart Elsie W 7 Pluckley Lily M 6 Pluckley Bertie 3 Pluckley Frank H 2 Pluckley William C 1 Pluckley On the 29 th April 1916 Kut fell to the Turkish Army. 8,000 officers and men surrendered on the orders of Major General Townshend. The Turks treated British soldiers very harshly and force marched them to Turkey (a distance of over 600 miles). Thousands of men died of mal-treatment and neglect including many Indian soldiers. Of the 226 West Kent men who past into captivity, only 69 survived their ordeal. Meanwhile the idiotic and egotistical General Townshend was taken to Constantinople in some style and spent the rest of the war under house arrest in the former British Embassy. He didn t give a toss about his men who were treated appallingly. It would appear that Frank must have died of disease or of maltreatment at the hands of the Turks. 19

20 LOST MEN BAKER A.J Pluckley Remount Depot Sergeant Major 180 Alfred (Alf) John BAKER DCM. Army Remount Service (A.R.S). Assistant Superintendant, Pluckley Remount Depot. Formerly (22 years) (55) 2 nd battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Died 17 th February 1915 aged 51 years. Born 1863 New Romney, Kent. Husband of Mercy Elizabeth E Baker (nee BEAN). Alf married Mercy at Ashford June 1903 (West Ashford 2A 1808). Alfred and Mercy resided at 204 Godinton Road, Ashford, Kent. Killed when he was thrown from his horse at the Pluckley railway station en route to the Remount Depot. Reported in the Kentish Express on 27 th February He fell in the road fracturing the case of his skull. Alfred was actually on duty when he had the accident. Alfred s service records do not appear to now exist. Extensive searches at the National Archives have been made. The situation is made even more difficult by the fact that Alfred did not serve overseas and was therefore not entitled to any Great War medals. Because of this his name will not be on the medal index cards. There is however overwhelming evidence to support a case for belated commemoration. Alfred was a serving soldier and died when on duty. Buried Ashford Cemetery, Canterbury Road, Ashford, Kent. Grave reference In 2006 we were advised by the Ministry of Defence that this case had been approved! Alf will soon get a new wargrave and his name shall be added to the Commonwealth War Graves Debt of Honour Register. A satisfactory result Alfred s wife Mercy died 15 November 1922 and her remains were interred in Alf s grave. Alf was a lifelong Freemason - Mooltan Lodge, Mooltan, India Passed for membership on 1 May 1889 and raised 31 August At this time Alf was 26 years of age and he gave his occupation as a British Soldier. St George Lodge, Colombo, Ceylon (2170) Joined lodge 6 November His home address was given as Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. His occupation was given as Sergeant Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Lord Charles Beresford Lodge, Chatham, Kent (2404) 20

21 Joined 23 June Resigned 31 March United Lodge, Colchester, Essex (697) Joined Lodge 14 March Resigned December Occupation given Colour Sergeant, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Stour Lodge, Ashford, Kent (2305) Joined 15 January His final entry states Killed in Action 17 February On 25 th April 2006 the Ministry of Defence (Army) finally APPROVED commemoration. Alf got a new war headstone in 2008 thanks to our intervention. Alfred s death Certificate reference is Western Ashford/CH15/415. An inquest was held into Alfred s death 18 th February 1915 by the Coroner of Kent C Duncan Murton. These records at Maidstone were destroyed in the 1950 s. Alfred was born in New Romney before coming to Ashford and working for Mr Finn (the grocer). Alfred served 22 years in the 2 nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment 17 of which were spent in India. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) by Lord Roberts in South Africa. He won the DCM during the Battle of Belfast (Boer war ). It is recorded that he won this bravery award for rescuing an injured soldier whilst under heavy fire. In 1913 Alf was Drill Instructor for the Ashford Company, Kent National Reserve. When the Great War commenced Alfred volunteered for service overseas but was turned down due to his age. Instead he was enlisted into the Army Remount Service (A.R.S). Alfred was almost immediately appointed Assistant Superintendent of the Remount Depot at Pluckley. The Superintendant and Alf s boss was Colonel Birdwood also of the Army Remount Service. His DCM was gazetted in the London Gazette on 27 th September 1901 (Army Order 15/02). The award was made for a deed during the Battle of Belfast action on the 27 th August It is also recorded that Alfred was wounded in action on 24 th August The 2 nd Warwickshire Regiment sailed on the SS Gaul on 26 th November 1899 bound for the South African Boer War. It arrived in the Cape on 16 th December Upon reaching South Africa the battalion was placed in the 5 th Division commanded by Sir Charles Warren. The Battle of Belfast was the last set piece battle of the war. Alfred s death is not recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as a war casualty. His death should have been recorded as a war casualty because he was a serving soldier at the time of his death. The Army Remount Service was manned by experienced but elderly soldiers who were too old to serve overseas. It was custom for these men to use their former army ranks. The Army Remount Service had its own designated cap badge. The photo of Alfred shows him wearing a cap with this badge on it. The Remount Depots were run by the A.R.S but the vast majority of manpower was supplied by Army Service Corps (A.S.C) soldiers attached to the Army Remount Service. The Army Eastern area of command (which included Kent) had 6 Remount Depots staffed and run by the Army Remount Service in conjunction with the Army Service Corps (ASC). The personnel operating the Remount Depots were fulltime soldiers who in the main wore the badge of the Army Service Corps and to a lesser extent the Army Remount Service. Alfred Baker was a member of the Army Remount Service. These remount Depots looked after the horses that were used by the British army throughout Europe and the Middle East. Pluckley was chosen because it was in close proximity to Dover. Pluckley s depot was located close to the railway line possibly near or at the site of the old brickworks. The horses were transported by train to Dover and then put on ferries for the sea crossing. Once in France or Belgium they were taken to a forward remount depot for field deployment. 21

22 UK REMOUNT DEPOT s Dublin Woolwich Melton Mowbray Arborfield Cross near Reading Wokingham Railway Station Pinckards Farm, Chiddingfold, Godalming, Surrey Pluckley, Kent (from 4 th August 1914) Brentwood, Essex Luton, Bedfordshire Market Harborough Kettering, Northamptonshire Redhill, Surrey. The Superintendant of the Pluckley Remount Depot was Colonel Birdwood. Members of the Remount Depot who attended Alf s funeral Colonel Birdwood Major Fagfan Captain Littledale (Veterinary Officer) Farrier Major Pierce Sergeant Bell Sergeant Griffin Sergeant Matthews Corporal Hemsley Corporal Kemp Corporal Packham Corporal Shorter Canteen Orderly Wood Private Homewood Private Buss Private Gibson Private Russell BRAY J Private G/456 John William George BRAY. 6 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 4 th August 1916 aged 32 years. Born Pluckley, Kent. Enlisted Birchington, Kent. Resided Stourmouth near Canterbury, Kent. Son of Mrs A.E Divers of Stourmouth near Canterbury, Kent. Buried in the Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Grave reference VII.E.18. John s name appears on the Stourmouth War Memorial near Canterbury, Kent. The day that John was mortally wounded when his battalion was in action on the Pozieres Ridge. The Battle of Pozieres Ridge commenced on the 3 rd August 1916 and continued until the evening of the 4 th. The battalion objective was an enemy trench system known as Ration Trench. On the evening of the 4 th, the battalion withdrew to Martinsart Wood and into huts. It appears that John was wounded on the 3 rd August and died of wounds the next day whilst being evacuated from the battlefield area. 22

23 BUDGEN G Private G/7633 George BUGDEN. 8 th Battalion, Queen s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 29 th December Born Ulcombe near Maidstone. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Pluckley. George has no known grave. His name appears on the Loos Memorial, France. Panel reference There is some confusion as to this mans correct surname. It is possible that his correct surname is one of the following BUDGEN, BUGDEN or BUDDEN. Over the years it appears that the correct spelling of George s surname has been corrupted by various agencies and organisations. So much so that it is now next to impossible to confirm the correct spelling. The day that George died the 8 th battalion Queen s were in billets at Mazingarbe. COLE C Private G/78 Cecil COLE. 6 th Battalion, Queen s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 8 th October Born Crowborough, Sussex. Enlisted Maidstone, Kent. Resided Pluckley. Cecil has no known grave. His name appears on the Loos Memorial, France. Panel reference 95 to 97. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives North End House, Egerton Corporal L/5058 Herbert Reginald COLE. 9 th Lancers. COOK A.T Private Archibald Thomas COOK. 5 th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Formerly (3298) The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 4 th October 1917 aged 18 years. Born Pluckley. Enlisted Canterbury. Son of Archibald and Clara Cook of Wheatsheaf Stores, 29, Pound Lane, Canterbury, Kent. Archibald has no known grave. His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Panel reference 23 to 28 and 163A. 23

24 DUNSTER W Private William DUNSTER. 2 nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Formerly (5282) Lincolnshire Regiment. Died 17 th January Born Beckley, East Sussex. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Pluckley. Brother of Ernest Dunster of Swatlands Cottage, Paddock Wood, Kent. Buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, France. Grave reference XXI.B

25 FOX J Pluckley Remount Depot Private John FOX. 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Formerly Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 26th April Aged 33 years. Son of Robert Henry and Mercy Ellen (nee Booth) Fox, of Warbleton, Sussex. IN the 1901 Census (RG 13/889 pg 13) he was a 17 year old Labourer and his father a chicken farmer. Buried in Cabaret-Rouge British cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France. Plot XV. Row J. Grave 14. Recorded on Warbleton civic war memorial Sussex as J FOX, Royal Sussex Regiment. From the The Sussex Express 18 May 1917 page 5 (in action) "Mr. R.H. FOX, Homestead Farm, Warbleton, has received information that his second son, Private John FOX, Suffolk Regiment, was killed in action on 24th April. Private Fox, who was 33 years of age, joined up to do Blue Cross work at the outbreak of the war, and was for some time at the Remount Depot at Pluckley. Later he transferred to the Suffolk Regiment, and went to France last November. He had been away from home for thirteen years." 25

26 HILLS G.E Private G/43717 George Ernest HILLS. 17 th Battalion (1 st Football), Middlesex Regiment. Died 13 th November 1916 aged 30 years. Born Pluckley, Kent. Enlisted Purfleet, Essex. Resided Ashford. Son of Mrs W Hills of The Street, Egerton, Kent. Buried in the Serre Road Cemetery Number 2, The Somme, France. Grave reference I.F.15. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Little Houses, Egerton Private Charles William HILLS. Machine Gun Corps. The Street, Egerton Private RTS/4876 Daniel HILLS. Army Remount Service, Army Service Corps. The 1901 census gives Barlings Hole, Egerton William HILLS 55 Carter on Farm Brabourne Elizabeth 43 Bethersden William 19 Carter on farm Lympne George 14 Labourer on farm Pluckley Thomas 11 Charing On the 7 th November 1916 the 17 th battalion was in the Redan Sector. On the 9 th it marched to North Camp. On the 13 th November the battalion was in action on the Redan Ridge. The battalion s objective was Pendant Copse and they were supported by 2 nd South Staff s. The attack was a failure because the wire remained uncut. The battalion was withdrawn to Legend Trench. On the 15 th November the battalion went to Mailly-Maillet and the next day marched to Louvencourt. It appears that George was killed in action on the Redan Ridge which was high ground located near the village of Beaumont Hamel in The Somme, France. 26

27 HOGBEN J Private G/13551 James HOGBEN. 16 th (Sussex Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (RSR). Died 21 st September Born Sutton, Maidstone, Kent. Enlisted Maidstone. Resided Pluckley. James has no known grave. His name appears on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France. Panel reference 6. This man was probably related in some way to E.G Hogben (above). This Memorial bears the names of over 9,000 men who fell in the period from 8 August 1918 to the date of the Armistice in the Advance to Victory in Picardy and Artois, between the Somme and Loos, and who have no known grave. They belonged to the forces of Great Britain and Ireland and South Africa; the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand forces being commemorated on other memorials to the missing. The Memorial consists of a screen wall in three parts. The middle part of the screen wall is concave and carries stone panels on which names are carved. It is 26 feet high flanked by pylons 70 feet high. The Stone of Remembrance stands exactly between the pylons and behind it, in the middle of the screen, is a group in relief representing St George and the Dragon. The flanking parts of the screen wall are also curved and carry stone panels carved with names. Each of them forms the back of a roofed colonnade; and at the far end of each is a small building. Vis-en-Artois and Haucourt are villages on the straight main road from Arras to Cambrai about 10 kilometres south-east of Arras. Within the grounds of Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, which is west of Haucourt on the north side of the main road, will be found the Vis-en-Artois Memorial. 27

28 HOLDSTOCK E Pluckley Remount Depot Driver/ Rough Rider/Nagsman RTS/4813 Edward HOLDSTOCK. 2 nd Remount Depot, Army Remount Service (ARS) Depot Pluckley, Kent. Army Service Corps. Formerly London Yeomanry. Died Royal Herbert Military Hospital, Woolwich of Asthma and Bronchitis Monday 1 st January 1917 aged 51 years. Born Hothfield, Kent. Enlisted Pluckley. Resided Pluckley. Son of William and Fanny Holdstock of 75, Christchurch Road, South Ashford, Kent. Brother of Alfred Holdstock, Dukes Head Public House, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Greenwich Cemetery, London. Grave reference 3.C.A.204. The majority of burials here were from the Herbert Hospital and the Brook Hospital both in Greenwich. Edward s service papers record he worked in the Pluckley Remount Depot, Kent (With C/Sgt A.J Baker DCM). His service papers clearly show that he knew Alf Baker DCM because this was the person who attested him on 13 December Edward was a former Territorial Force soldier having served in the London Yeomanry during the South African War (Boer War) After leaving the Territorial Force and coming to Ashford Edward worked as a Groom. He was obviously a skilled horseman which is the reason why he was recruited into the local Remount Depot at Pluckley 13 December Edward was awarded the 1914/15 Star because he served in France with the BEF (13 December November 1916). His service papers record he embarked on the SS Kingtonian at Southampton for Havre on 21 December Upon arriving in France Edward proceeded to his unit 30 Remount Squadron, 5 Base Remount Depot. Edward left France on 3 October After leaving France Edward returned to the Pluckley Remount Depot near Ashford. His war service for the Great War amounted to 2 years and 20 days. It appears that Edward suffered some kind of servious Asthma attack at the Pluckley Remount Depot and was taken from Pluckley to Woolwich where he susequently died. When Edward died his next of kin was his brother Alfred who was the Licensee of the Dukes Head in Hamstreet. His service papers record the circumstances of his death This man was admitted to hospital 28 December 1916 complaining of constant coughing and breathlessness. He stated that he had never previously been ill, but while in France the above symptoms commenced. On examination there was signs of Bronchitis over both lungs. Later he developed Charatteristie manisfestations of Bronchial Pneumonia and his general condition became much worse. He died on 1 st January Death was due to disease which he had contracted since enlistment and was aggravated by his war service. The 1901 census gives 75, Christchurch Road, Ashford Fanny HOLDSTOCK 52 Widow Hothfield Edward 27 Groom Hothfield Henry 13 Fishmongers Asst Ashford Ellen Mary 19 Dressmaker Hothfield Harriet 18 Hothfield The Ashford (SE&CR) Railway Works Rolls of Honour lists HOLDSTOCK F Coppersmith RE HOLDSTOCK Henry Apprentice KFRE HOLDSTOCK Harry Apprentice KFRE HOLDSTOCK L.J Apprentice 5 th Buffs HOLDSTOCK R Striker 5 th Buffs 28

29 KEMP G.W Lance Corporal George William KEMP. 22 nd (Queen s) Battalion, London Regiment. Formerly (29280) 9 th Reserve Cavalry Regiment. Died 23 rd March 1918 aged 22 years. Born Biddenden. Enlisted Shorncliffe, Folkestone. Resided Pluckley. Son of George and Harriet Kemp of Orchard House, Littlechart, Ashford, Kent. Later residing Heronden Cottages, Tenterden, Kent. Buried in the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Grave reference III.J.31. Before the outbreak of war George was employed by Mr Hewson at the Elham Valley Bakery. On 4 th January 1915 George enlisted into the 3 rd (King s Own) Hussars. He was almost immediately transferred into the Royal Fusiliers and went to Gallipoli with them. On 31 st December 1915 George returned from Gallipoli suffering from frozen feet and Rhuematism. In January 1916 George was transferred to the 22 nd London Regiment. In June 1916 George went to France with his battalion. George was wounded in acion on the 21 st March 1918 and died of his wounds 2 days later. George had a brother serving in the Machine Gun Corps Albert Edward Kemp. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Stone Cottage, Pluckley Private James KEMP. 61 st Company, Machine Gun Corps. The 1901 census gives Park Gate Cottage, Biddenden George KEMP 30 Labourer Biddenden Margaret 30 Biddenden George W 5 Biddenden Albert Edward 2 Biddenden Jane 1 Biddenden MOORE W 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. Buried 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. 29

30 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 OTTAWAY J.W Private G/7548 John William OTTAWAY. 6 th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 8 th March 1916 aged 40 years. Born Pluckley, Kent. Enlisted Sittingbourne, Kent. Resided Milton Regis, Kent. Son of Albert and Elizabeth Ottaway of Milton Regis, Sittingbourne, Kent. Husband of Ethel Maud Ottaway of 9, King Street, Milton Regis, Sittingbourne, Kent. Buried in the Bethune Town Cemetery, France. Grave reference V.A.83. On the 6 th March 1916 the 6 th battalion was in action all day near Givenchy. The battalion s objective that day was Triangle Crater in the vicinity of the Hohenzollern Redoubt. The assault was held up by a barrage of bombs and from knee high mud. It appears that John must have been wounded on the 6 th March 1916 and died of wounds two days later whilst being treated at a Base Hospital located in Bethune. PILE E.C (brother) Private Edwin Charles PILE. 7 th Battalion, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry. Formerly (22198) Territorial Battalion. Died Wednesday 21 st August 1918 aged 19 years. Born Pluckley. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Sparrows Hall, Warren Lane, Ashford, Kent. Son of Mr and Mrs Pile of 8 Churchyard, Ashford, Kent. Formerly Hawthorn Cottage, Pluckley, Kent. Edwin has no known grave. His name appears on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial, near Haucourt, France. Panel reference 8. Edwin s name appears on the Ashford Town War Memorial in the Memorial Gardens Ashford. Edwin lived in Pluckley a his life. He was a member of the church choir for many years. Before the outbreak of war he was employed as a Drapers Assistant at Messrs Lewis & Evenden of Pluckley. His Parents also lived at Sparrows Hall, Warren Lane, Ashford during the war. Edwin s brother Amos served in the Army Service Corps. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Sparrows Hall, Warren Lane, Ashford Private Edwin Charles PILE. 7 th K.S.E.J. Hawthorne Cottage, Pluckley Private Harry PILE. 4 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Corporal 8497 Stephen Charles PILE. 3 rd Buffs (East Kent Regiment). 30

31 Street, Pluckley Private William John PILE. 1 st S.N Hussars. The 1901 census gives 1, Thorne Cottage, Pluckley Edwin PILE 55 Farm Labourer Lenham Jesse 48 Pluckley Frances 46 Wife Pluckley Jesse 20 Gardener Pluckley Frances 16 Pluckley George 14 General Labourer Pluckley Annie 11 Pluckley Edwin 9 Pluckley Walter 7 Pluckley Stephen 4 Pluckley Harry 2 Pluckley The 7 th Shropshire Light Infantry was formed at Shrewsbury August 1914 (76 th Brigade, 25 th Division). Landed France 28 th September 1915 (76 th Brigade, 3 rd Division). Attached 8 th Brigade, 3 rd Division on 19 th October The battalion stayed on the Western Front for the remaining duration of the war. 31

32 PILE E.L Private Edward Lewis PILE. 3 rd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Died 27 th April Son of Mrs F Pile of 18, Dunstan Avenue, Westgate-On-Sea, Margate, Kent. Buried locally in the Pluckley (St Nicholas) Churchyard, Pluckley, Kent. Grave reference North Part. It seems inconcievable that this man s name was not placed on the village war memorial bearing in mind that he is buried within 50 yards of where it stands. If that were not bad enough, Edward s name appears on the Pluckley school roll of honour which now hangs inside the Pluckley parish church. It s almost Unbelievable yet it is true The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Sparrows Hall, Warren Lane, Ashford Private Edwin Charles PILE. 7 th K.S.E.J. Hawthorne Cottage, Pluckley Private Harry PILE. 4 th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Corporal 8497 Stephen Charles PILE. 3 rd Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Street, Pluckley Private William John PILE. 1 st S.N Hussars. 32

33 The 1901 census gives 1, Thorne Cottage, Pluckley Edwin PILE 55 Farm Labourer Lenham Jesse 48 Pluckley Frances 46 Wife Pluckley Jesse 20 Gardener Pluckley Frances 16 Pluckley George 14 General Labourer Pluckley Annie 11 Pluckley Edwin 9 Pluckley Walter 7 Pluckley Stephen 4 Pluckley Harry 2 Pluckley SHUTE W.E Corporal 1325 Walter Ernest SHUTE. 23 rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Died 7 th September 1918 aged 27 years. Son of Henry and Jane Shute of Bemerton, Salibury,Wiltshire. Husband of Rosa Annie Shute of Raywood Farm, Charing, Kent. Formerly Pivington Farm, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Vaulx Hill Cemetery, France. Grave reference III.J.17. Walter enlisted in January 1915 voluntarily. He moved to France with his battalion in November His Commanding Officer wrote Your husband was a great friend of mine for a long time and was loved and respected by all those that knew him. During the time he had been with these headquarters and previously when with the 2 battalions, there had been no man on the mess staff more generally respected by all officers of the mess than your husband. I know well the example he has always set to the other men, of cheeriness and devotion to duty, often under very tiring circumstances. He was killed by a shell while doing some very necessary work while we were being heavily shelled. Walter s name was not placed on the Pluckley war memorial nor was it placed on Charing s tribute either! 33

34 SKEER G.W Stoker 2 nd Class K/45813 George William SKEER. HMS Hornet, Royal Navy. Died of Wounds at Naval Hospital Valona, Greece 30 th April 1918 aged 24 years. Born Pluckley. Son of John Skeer of Brogdale Road, Faversham. Formerly of Pluckley. Buried Salonika (Lembet Road) Cemetery, Salonica, Greece. Grave reference See Edwin HOGBEN (above). George must have known Edwin who served on the same ship. They probably both died as a consequence of one action. Before the outbreak of war George was employed (4 years) as a Platelayer on the Railways. George joined the Royal Navy in September George had a brother who was serving with the Buffs in India. HMS Hornet was a Acheron class Destroyer completed 20 December Attached to 1 st Flotilla from 1911 to 1912 and the Grand Fleet from 1914 to 1916 when it was transferred to the 3 rd Battle Flotilla. HMS Hornet was sold off in HMS Hornet was invlolved in rescuing survivers from HMS Argyll in October Meanwhile, the two destroyers HMS HORNET and JACKALL appeared out of the gloom and made every effort to get close to the stricken ARGYLL. After several attempts, HORNET managed to get her stern close to ARGYLL's, where 500 of her crew had been assembled for abandoning ship. The rest of the crew took to the lifeboats and rowed clear of their ship. On mountainous waves, the stern of HORNET rose and fell like an express lift against ARGYLL's. At times the two ships clashed violently, buckling HORNET's stern plates. There was a real danger of men being crushed between them, but each time the sterns passed, men made the jump to HORNET's deck until there were none left aboard ARGYLL. 34

35 SKINNER A.L Lance Sergeant Albert Edward SKINNER. 2/4 th Battalion, Queen s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Formerly (1811) The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 4 th November 1917 aged 30 years. Born Pluckley. Son of Joseph and Clara Skinner of The Street, Great Chart, Kent. Buried in the Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel. Grave reference G.25. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives Perches Cottage, Great Chart Gunner Albert William SKINNER. 77 th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Sapper Christopher George SKINNER. Royal Engineers. The 1901 census gives Great Chart Joseph SKINNER 34 Bricklayer Pluckley Albert E 13 Pluckley Violet 10 Little Chart Isabella 8 Little Chart Lucy B 4 Pluckley Christopher 4 Pluckley Douglas 3 Great Chart 35

36 SKINNER F Private G/10243 Frederick SKINNER. 6 th Battalion, Queen s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 2 nd July Born Pluckley, Kent. Enlisted Ashford. Resided Maidstone. Son of Mr E Skinner of East Peckham in Kent. Husband of Mrs A.L Skinner of 135, Milton Street, Maidstone, Kent. Buried in the Harponville Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Grave reference F.9. Frederick s name appears on the parish roll of honour which now hangs in the Pluckley parish church. It is not known how his name came to be on the roll yet his name was never placed on the parish war memorial The 1901 census gives Brickyard Cottages, Pluckley Henry SKINNER 53 Brickyard Labourer (Clay) St Mary Cray, Kent Sarah A 43 Egerton Arthur 22 Brickyard Labourer St Mary Cray, Kent Elsie V 13 Pluckley Frederick 11 Pluckley Aubrey 9 Pluckley Rosie 6 Pluckley May A 3 Pluckley 36

37 SMITH R.H This man is listed in Soldiers Died Great War as born in RUCKLEY, Kent?? Private M2/ Richard Henry SMITH. 402 nd Mechanical Transport (M.T) Company, Army Service Corps (ASC). Posted Headquarters, 1 st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Died 15 th November Born Ruckley, Kent. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Canterbury. Buried Potijze Chateau Grounds Cemetery, Belgium. Grave reference I.C.62. The cemetery is located to the North-East of the town of Ieper. From the station turn left and drive along M.Fochlaan to the roundabout, turn right and go to the next roundabout. Here turn left into M.Haiglaan and drive to the next roundabout. Here turn right into Oude Veurnestraat, this then changes into Diksmuidseweg and Brugseweg. Drive along this road and continue straight over the traffic lights to the end of the road. At the T junction turn left (still Brugseweg) and continue along this road (the N313) to the village of Sint Jan. At the crossroads in the village turn right onto the N345 (Potijzestraat), follow along to the next crossroads and turn left into Zonnebeekseweg. The cemetery is located on the left hand side by the cross roads. Potijze was within the Allied lines during practically the whole of the First Word War and although subject to incessant shell fire, Potijze Chateau contained an Advanced Dressing Station. Potijze Chateau Grounds Cemetery was used from May 1915 to September 1918 and at the end of the war, consisted of Plot I. Plot II was formed after the Armistice when graves were brought in from isolated sites and small burial grounds to the north-east. A path separates the cemetery from Potijze Chateau Lawn Cemetery, used from May to December 1915, July 1917 and October Potijze Chateau Grounds Cemetery contains 476 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 111 of which are unidentified. The Lawn Cemetery contains 226 burials. Both cemeteries were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. WARDE E.J Corporal L/4042 Edward James WARDE. D Squadron, 5 th Lancers (Royal Irish). Died 26 TH August 1914 aged 20 years. Born Pluckley, Kent. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Upper Walmer near Deal, Kent. Eldest son of Edward and Alice Warde of 3, Neal s Cottages, Dover Road, Upper Walmer, Deal, Kent. Buried in the Angre Communal Cemetery. Grave reference II.A.1. West part. The village of Angre is located south-west of the town of Mons on the N553. From the motorway E19, which runs between Mons and Valenciennes, turn off at junction 26 onto the N552 in the direction of Thulin/Dour. Follow the N552 to the Town of Dour and the junction with the N553, turn onto the N553 in the direction of Angre/Audregnies. On entering the village of Angre the road bears to the left and there is a junction off to the right signed Baisieux, the cemetery is by this junction in rue E.Cornez. The graves are located in two plots. Go through the main entrance and follow the left hand path along the wall, the first plot is on the left. For the second plot follow the same path along the wall towards the morgue and the graves are behind the first row on the right nearly at the end of the path. Angre Communal Cemetery contains 16 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, five of which are unidentified. They date from August 1914 and October-December 1918, and in most cases were brought into the cemetery after the Armistice. 37

38 WHYBOURN J Lance Corporal G/8841 John WHYBOURN. 1 st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 7 th April 1917 aged 29 years. Born Pluckley, Kent. Enlisted Dover. Resided Nonnington near Dover. Son of Mr Whybourn of Holt Street, Nonnington, Dover, Kent. Buried in the Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France. Grave reference IV.B.50. The day that John died his battalion had just taken to the trenches at Loos. On the 9 th April it was engaged in a small raid on enemy positions south of Loos Crassier. It is recorded that John died of wounds. He was probably wounded in an earlier battle and recovered to a Base Hospital at St Omer where he subsequently succumbed to his wounds. 38

39 WISE W Corporal G/8800 William WISE. 10 th Battalion, Queen s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 3 rd April Born Pluckley, Kent. Enlisted Maidstone. Buried in the Niederzwehren Cemetery, Germany. Grave reference VI.C.9. This man was obviously a Prisoner of War (POW) when he died. The Germans often treated prisoners appallingly and this is reflected in the amount of British soldiers who were killed whilst in their custody. The cemetery is located 10 kilometres south of Kassel and 2 kilometres from the main road from Kassel to Marburg. Approach Kassel on the A49 motorway leaving at junction Kassel Niederzwehren, which forms the Frankfurter Strasse. The first right hand turning leads into the Dittershauser Strasse. Continue on this road which becomes a narrow road at the bend. Follow the bend to the right, where the cemetery is clearly signposted, which leads to a small crossroads. Turn left at the crossroads where Niederzwehren Cemetery becomes visible from the roadside. The Commonwealth plots now form a separate cemetery lying beside the Russian cemetery. The cemetery was begun by the Germans in 1915 for the burial of prisoners of war who died at the local camp. During the war almost 3,000 Allied soldiers and civilians, including French, Russian and Commonwealth, were buried there In it was decided that the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who had died all over Germany should be brought together into four permanent cemeteries. Niederzwehren was one of those chosen and in the following four years, more than 1,500 graves were brought into the cemetery from 190 burial grounds in Baden, Bavaria, Hanover, Hesse and Saxony. There are now 1,796 First World War servicemen buried or commemorated in the Commonwealth plot at Niederzwehren. This total includes special memorials to 13 casualties buried in other cemeteries in Germany whose graves could not be found. The following cemeteries are among those from which graves were brought to Niederzwehren: BAYREUTH TOWN CEMETERY, Bavaria. 24 burials of DARMSTADT FOREST CEMETERY, Hesse. In use from burials. DIETKIRCHEN PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERY, Hesse-Nassau. 45 burials (28 of Irish regiments) of FREIBURG IN BREISGAU MAIN CEMETERY, Baden, 43 burials of GERMERSHEIM CEMETERY, Palatinate. 26 burials of GIESSEN MILITARY CEMETERY, Hesse. 99 burials of GOTTINGEN MILITARY CEMETERY, Hanover. 88 burials of HAMELN PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERY, Hanover. 70 burials of INGOLSTADT CEMETERY, Bavaria. 23 burials of LANGENSALZA PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERIES No. 1 and No. 2, Prussian Saxony. 225 burials of MAINZ MILITARY CEMETERY, Rhein-Hessen. 23 burials of MANNHEIM MAIN CEMETERY, Baden. 21 burials of MESCHEDE PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERY, Westphalia. 49 burials of OHRDRUF PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERY, Thuringia. 107 burials of PADERBORN CEMETERY, Westphalia. 29 soldiers burials of QUEDLINBURG CENTRAL CEMETERY, Prussian Saxony. 102 burials of SENNELAGER PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERY, Westphalia. 32 burials of

40 WOOLLEY R Private Robert WOOLLEY. A Company, 9 th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Formerly (56434) Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). Died Gallipoli 29 th November 1915 aged 32 years. Born Pluckley. Enlisted Chatham. Resided Ashford. Son of James and Celia Woolley of Kingsland Cottage, Pluckley, Kent. Robert has no known grave. His name appears on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey. Panel reference 35 to 37. Robert s name appears on the Pluckley School Roll of Honour. It is not known why his name was not placed on the parish war memorial. Quite ridiculous really It is thought that Robert died of illness or disease whilst on active service in Gallipoli. The 9 th battalion s war diary states that conditions were appalling for the men. On the 28 th November 1915 the weather was extremely cold and wet. Many men suffered from frost bite. The battalion withdrew to West Beach. 40

41 PLUCKLEY PARISH Roll of Honour 41

42 The undermentioned parish men served in the colours during the Great War FIDLER W SGT REKMR BLACKMAN J PRIVATE BUFFS PILE J PRIVATE R.E PILE J.W PRIVATE S.N.H BALDOCK F PRIVATE K.R.R.C COOPER F PRIVATE R. SUSSEX R SMITH J PRIVATE R.E LUCKHURST A PRIVATE WELLE P PRIVATE BULL W R.N MILES W.D PRIVATE THE BUFFS BASSETT G/C PRIVATE R.W.Sy CLARKE William PRIVATE BUFFS BRYANT C PRIVATE HAMS A PRIVATE BUFFS CLARKE L PRIVATE BEDFORD s FARRANCE PRIVATE BEDFORD s MORRIS C TROOPER R.M.C? CROUCHER J PRIVATE R.E CLIFTON K PRIVATE R.Fus CLIFTON E PRIVATE BUFFS CLIFTON F PRIVATE BUFFS SMITH E PRIVATE C.H BALDOCK A PRIVATE RAMC MARCHANT L PRIVATE N.R (National Reserve)? BULL S PRIVATE REKMR RALPH H PRIVATE R.E MILES G.R PRIVATE R.E SKINNER S PRIVATE BLACKMAN PRIVATE HERT S R PENTECOST G L/CPL R. SUSSEX HOMEWOOD J L/CPL A.S.C MILES G PRIVATE T.R BASSETT J PRIVATE M.P SMITH J PRIVATE R. Fus JENNINGS W PRIVATE A.S.C MARTYN H PRIVATE WATERFIELD H PRIVATE FARRANCE 42

43 PLUCKLEY SCHOOL Roll of Honour The undermentioned men were educated in the Pluckley Village School and served in the colours during the Great War 43