ARTHUR

John

Corporal 8164. 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment. Killed in action 28th June 1915 aged 27 years. Born and resident Woodchurch, enlisted Stratford, Essex. Son of the late John and Mary Arthur, of Lower Green, Woodchurch, Kent. No known grave. Commemorated on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 19 and 20.

BECK

Arthur George

Private 925219, 5th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment). Formerly 152nd Overseas Battalion. Died 28th April 1917 aged 24 years. (brother). Born 20th April 1893 in Woodchurch. Son of Mrs. E. Beck, of Chapel Hill, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent; husband of Harriet M. L. Beck, of 4, Myrtle Terrace, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent. Resident Yellow Grass, Saskatchewan, Canada. Farm labourer by trade. Enlisted and passed fit 20th January 1916 at Weyburnm (sic), Saskatchewan, Canada, aged 22 years 9 months. Height 5 feet 7½ inches, girth 37 inches, complexion ruddy, eyes blue, hair brown; religion Methodist. No known grave. Commemorated on VIMY MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 570 - 31

BECK

Edmund M.

[Listed as BACK on CWGC, cannot locate on SDGW] Private 2650. 2nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Tuesday 24th September 1918 aged 21 years. (brother) Son of Henry and Emily Back, of Woodchurch. Buried in the new ground, right boundary, in ALL SAINTS CHURCHYARD, WOODCHURCH, Kent.

BAKER

Frederick Bertie

Private G/9745. 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action Saturday 7th October 1916 aged 26 years. Born and resident Woodchurch, enlisted Tenterden. Son of Fred and Susan Baker, of Chapel Hill, Woodchurch, Kent. Buried in BANCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VII. Row B. Grave 6.

BESLEE

Arthur William

[Incorrect spelling on CWGC as BEWASLEY and BEASLEY on SDGW) Corporal CMT/129. 283rd Mechanical Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). Died of wounds 21st March 1918 aged 29 years. Born Ashford, enlisted and resident Maidstone. Husband of Edith Emily Beasley, of 23, Pope St., Maidstone. No known grave. Commemorated on POZIERES MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 95.

BOURNE

Alfred W

Private G/50914 or G/15555. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action 3rd August 1917 aged 25 years. Born and resident Woodchurch, enlisted Tonbridge. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Bourne, of 2, Fair View, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 12 and 14.

BOURNE

Frederick Walter

Private 50914, 24th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action 13th November 1916. Born Woodchurch, enlisted Ashford, resident Bethersden. Formerly 3221, Royal Fusiliers. Buried in REDAN RIDGE CEMETERY No.3, BEAUMONT-HAMEL, Somme, France. Special memorial B. 6.

Note: There are now over 50, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, half are unidentified and 13 graves which were destroyed by shell fire, are now represented by special memorials. The great majority of these officers and men fell in November, 1916, and belonged to the 2nd Division.

BURDEN

John Edward

Private 4405. 17th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Died Monday 5th March 1917. Born Woodchurch, enlisted Ealing, Middlesex. Son of Nancy Burden, of Weeks Cottage, Woodchurch, Kent. Buried in CONTAY BRITISH CEMETERY, CONTAY, Somme, France. Plot VII. Row D. Grave 2.

BUTTON

Arthur

either Arthur John BUTTON, Private 2483. 1st/5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Friday 21st January 1916. Buried in AMARA WAR CEMETERY, Iraq. Plot XVII. Row J. Grave 14. or Arthur William BUTTON, Private 43616, 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Died of wounds 28th May 1917. Born and resident Woodchurch, enlisted Cantebury. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 3.

BUTTON

John George

Private G/9625. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action Saturday 18th November 1916. Born Woodchurch, enlisted Tenterden, resident Lower Green, Woodchurch. Buried in STUMP ROAD CEMETERY, GRANDCOURT, Somme, France. Plot/Row/Section B. Grave 4.

CHASMAR

Henry Thomas

Private 24507. 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Wednesday 16th August 1916 aged 26 years. Born and enlisted Lydd. Son of John Thomas and Susan Chasmar, of Spring Place, Woodchurch, Kent; husband of Lucy Chasmar, of White House, Avon Castle, Ringwood, Hants. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 11 A and 11 D.

DUNSTER

Reginald Ernest

Private G/8160, 8th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died of wounds 29th November 1916, aged 30 years. Born Woodchurch, resident Tunbridge Wells. Son of Jane Dunster, of The Green, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent, and the late John A. Dunster. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Section O. Plot III. Row Q. Grave 4.

HART

Harry Thomas

Private L/10028, 1st Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died of wounds 25th October 1914. Born Woodchurch, enlisted Cantebury. Buried in PONT-DU-HEM MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE, Nord, France. Plot VI. Row F. Grave 4.

HART

John

Serjeant L/8975, 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action 6th March 1916. Born Tenterden, enlisted Woolwich, resident Woodchurch. No known grave. Commemorated on LOOS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 15 to 19.

KING

Jack

Acting Lance Corporal G/13676, 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action 9th August 1917. Born and resident Woodchurch, enlisted Ashford. No known grave Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 2.

ORPIN

Charles Robert

Corporal 265530, 1st/1st Kent Cyclist Battalion, Army Cyclist Corps. Died in India 1st November 1918. Born Woodchurch, enlisted Canterbury, resident Harlackenden, Woodchurch. Son of Charles and Annie Louisa Orpin, of Harlackenden Farm, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent. Commemorated on KIRKEE 1914-1918 MEMORIAL, India. Face 10.

PAINE

Charles

probably either Charles PAINE, Private 204240, 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 23rd May 1917. Born Ashford, enlisted and resident Folkestone. Buried in TANK CEMETERY, GUEMAPPE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot/Row/Section A Special Memorial 46 as his grave is somehwere near the memorial but not exactly known where. or Charles William PAINE, Private L/11195, 7th Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Killed in action 13th July 1916 aged 17 years. Born Farnham, Hampshire, enlisted Bromley, resident Beckenham. Son of Frederick and Martha Paine, of 4, Acacia Rd., Beckenham, Kent. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 11 C.

PARSONS

George Cecil

Private A12512, 24th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment). Died 15th August 1917 in Woodchurch. Born 5th September 1895. Son of George Parsons, of Woodchurch, Kent. Unmarried, Farm hand by trade. Enlisted and passed fit 8th May 1915 in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, aged 19. Height 5 feet 7 inches, girth 37 inches, complexion fresh, eyes blue, hair dark brown; religion Presbyterian. No known grave. Commemorated on VIMY MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. National Archives of Canada Accesssion Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7614 - 40

PEARSON

Leslie Hugh

Private 285094. 6th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. Formerly (9706) The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action Tuesday 9th October 1917. Born Woodchurch, enlisted Canterbury, resident Ashford. Formerly 9706, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, , Belgium. Panel 72 to 75.

PHILPOTT, DCM

Thomas

Company Sergeant Major 11687. Royal Engineers (RE) attached to Sappers and Miners, Indian State Forces. Died Wednesday 1st January 1919 aged 31 years. Awared the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.). Son of John and Jane Philpot. Born in Kent. Commemorated on DELHI 1914-1918 WAR MEMORIAL, India.

PRIOR

Arthur Charles

Private 25517, 5th (Reserve) Battalion (2nd on SDGW), Grenadier Guards. Died in United Kingdom Monday 14th October 1918 aged 30 years. Son of William Edwin and Elizabeth Prior, of Little Lackenden, Woodchurch. Buried in the new ground, right boundary, of ALL SAINTS CHURCHYARD, WOODCHURCH, Kent.

STOAKES

Archibald

Private T/240156. 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action in Mesopotamia Thursday 11th January 1917 aged 21 years. Born and resident Woodchurch, enlisted Tenterden. Son of A. and Emma E. Stoakes, of Hudson Place, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent. No known grave. Commemorated on BASRA MEMORIAL, Iraq. Panel 6.

TERRY

George Ernest

Private T/3424. 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died in Mesopotamia Monday 31st July 1916 aged 31 years. Born and resident Woodchurch, enlisted Canterbury. Son of Celia Terry, of Six Bells Lane, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent, and the late Thomas Terry. Buried in BASRA WAR CEMETERY, Iraq. Plot VI. Row C. Grave 3.

WILLIS

Manser

[Spelt Mancer on SDGW & CWGC] Private G/44048. 17th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Killed in action Monday 13th November 1916. Born Woodchurch, enlisted Ealing, Middlesex. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 12 D and 13 B.

WATSON-THOMAS

Walter Patrick

Captain, 8th Battalion, Border Regiment. Killed in action Saturday 21st October 1916. He was the Woodchurch Scoutmaster and lived at Mebrose House, Woodchurch. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 6 A and 7 C.

There is a further memorial inside the parish church to this man. It takes the form of an oak chair within the chancel and the inscription reads:

IN MEMORY OF CAPT W. P. WATSON-THOMAS, KILLED IN ACTION OCTOBER 21ST 1916. THIS CHAIR WAS PRESENTED TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN HIS WILL

DUNNELL

George Malcolm

Lieutenant 138530, Durham Light Infantry (DLI). Formerly (pre war) Gordon Highlanders. Died 28th July 1943 aged 31 years. Resided Middlesex. Son of George William and Kate Dunnell. Husband of Daphne Morna Christine Dunnell of Scorrier, Cornwall. Born Exeter.. Buried Wallasey (Rake Lake) Cemetery, Cheshire. Section 15. Grave Reference 19.

FAUX

Frederick William

Leading Seaman C/J 1123436, Royal Navy. H.M. Submarine Oxley. Died 10th September 1939 aged 30 years. Son of Charles Henry and Ann Faux. Husband of Doris May Faux of Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Chatham, Kent. Panel reference 33.1.

H.M.S. Oxley was sunk by the submarine it was on patrol with (H.M.S. Trident). Only Lt-Cdr H.G. Bowerman and Able Seaman Gluckes survived the sinking.

DRAIN

John Arthur

Sergeant (Air Gunner) 1394720, 57 Squadron. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 21st December 1942 aged 20 years. Born Beddington, Surrey. Son of Arthur Edward and Kathleen Drain of Bonnington, Ashford, Kent. Buried Geraardsbergen (Gramont) Communal Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave reference - collective grave 6-9.

Only the rear gunner survived the crash at the hamlet of Kakebeke near St Maria-Lierde. A memorial to the crew of Lancaster (DX-P) W4234 was unveiled on 6th May 2000 by the Belgian Aviation History Association.

GOOGH

Albert George

Aircraftman 2nd Class 1336935, Royal Airforce Volunteer Reserve. Died 3rd October 1942 aged 20 years. Son of Charles Henry and Minnie Elizabeth Googh. Buried locally in Woodchurch (All Saints) Churchyard, Woodchurch, Kent.

WHITE

A

No further information currently available

BARTON

A

No further information currently available

BELL

D

No further information currently available

FAIRBROTHER

Amos

Private 4038703, 2nd (Airborne) Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. Died 22nd September 1944 aged 30 years. Son of Mr and Mrs W Fairbrother of Eltham, London. Husband of Hilda Fairbrother of Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent. Commemorated on the Groesbeek Memorial, Gelderland, Netherlands. Panel reference 5.

MIDDLETON

H W T

Stoker 2nd Class C/KX 105320, H.M.S "Leda". Royal Navy (R.N). Died aged 21 years. Son of Richard and Susan Fanny Middleton. Husband of Christina Margaret Middleton of Birmingham. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Chatham, Kent. Panel reference -62.2.

H.M.S. Leda was sunk by the German Submarine U435 commanded by Siegfried Strelow who later perished with the rest of the U435 on 9/7/43 after being sunk by a Wellington bomber of 179 Squadron R.A.F.

BURR

James Orlando

Midshipman, H.M.S "Raven". Royal Navy (R.N). Died 22nd April 1940 aged 19 years. Son of Frank E. Burr and Gertrude Burr of Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent. Buried Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Hampshire. Grave reference G.8.15.

RUBIE

Harry

Stoker C/K 66668, H.M.S "Falcon". Royal Navy (R.N). Died 11th January 1940 aged 23 years. Son of William D. and Sophia J. Rubie. Buried Honk Kong Cemetery, China. Grave reference - Section 17B. Grave 9897.