HAMSTREET The Great War Roll of Honour is located inside the United Anglican Methodist Church (church of the Good Shepherd). We would like to thank local historian Barbara Ware for her kind help with the Hamstreet Orlestone and Warehorne

lists. There appears to be a large amount of duplication of names between Hamstreet, Warehorne and Orlestone and a few errors.

The Great War 1914 – 1919

BUTCHER H.P Private 19259 Percy (Harold) BUTCHER. 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Died 27th November 1917 aged 19 years. Born Hamstreet. Enlisted Reading, Berkshire. Resided Ashford. Son of Mr George William Butcher (farm bailiff) of Hamlees Farm, Hamstreet, Ashford, Kent. Percy has no known grave. His name appears on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France. Panel reference 2. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Hamstreet Sapper 342288 George Victor James BUTCHER. Royal Engineers. Sergeant D/20560 Robert James BUTCHER. 7th Dragoon Guards. It is thought that Percy was known locally as Harold which is in fact his second given name. His father was the farm bailiff at Hamlees Farm (owned by J Harden).

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CAFFYN J.M Corporal 130293 Joseph Mannington CAFFYN. Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). Died of Pneumonia 15th July 1918. Born Northiam, Sussex. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Faversham. Son of Joseph and Clara Caffyn of Post Office, Hamstreet, Ashford, Kent. Husband of Florence Mabel Caffyn of “Brynteg” Clifton Park, Caversham, Reading, Berkshire. Buried in the Reading (Caversham) Cemetery, Berkshire. Grave reference 2C of E.1051. Joseph’s name also appears on the Hamstreet, Orlestone and Warehorne civic war memorials. Educated Ashford Grammar School 18th September 1893 to Easter 1894. The 1901 Census gives the following information: The Post Office, Orlestone Joseph CAFFYN Sarah Harry Jeanie Gertrude Daisy Lillian Joseph fell victim to the Spanish Influenza Pandemic of 1918. He died in a UK Hospital and his body was bought home to where his parents lived (Reading) and buried. Joseph’s grandson Don Collick still resided in the Hamstreet area until very recently. Don passed away in 2005 at Court Lodge Farm, Ruckinge.

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CROFT J.M Lance Corporal G/917 John Frederick Manners CROFT. 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 13th October 1915. Born Whitburton, Ely, Cambridgeshire. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Ashford. Only son of Robert Manners and Augusta Croft of Coldblow Farm, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent. John has no known grave. His name appears on the Loos Memorial, Loos, France. Panel reference 15 to 19. Educated Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, West Sussex and at St Gall in Switzerland. He enlisted 7 August 1914 and went to France June 1915. He was killed in action between Hulluch and Vermelles in France during the Battle of Loos. It looks like this man may in fact have been John Croft born in Benenden and aged 22 years in 1901. The 1901 census states he was an agricultural labourer. His mother Augusta (daughter of Henry Halford Vaughan) was born at Wilburton on the Isle of Ely in Cambridgeshire (11 February 1895) which would explain the town of Ely being mentioned in relation to her son. John is also commemorated on the Orlestone and Warehorne Memorials as well. His father Robert worked as a labourer at Coldblow Farm. In June 1915 the 6th Buffs were at Meteren near Bailleul. On 12th June it moved to Armentieres for training in trench warfare. The remainder of the summer was passed in trench fighting. On 30th July 1915 the 6th Buffs were at Plugstreet Wood in Belgium. The battalion remained in Plugstreet Wood until 23rd September 1915. On 26th September the 6th Buffs moved to Vermelles relieving the Coldstream Guards South of the Hulluch Road. On 11th October 1915 the Germans re-captured the Hohenzollern Redoubt. On 13th October 1915 the 6th Buffs (12th Division) assaulted German positions at the Quarries. This attack cost the 6th Buffs 10 officers and 400 men. In less than 1 day more than half the battalion was wiped out!

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DORMAN L Corporal L/9765 Leonard DORMAN. 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 2nd July 1915 aged 21 years. Born Warehorne. Resided Warehorne. Son of George Dorman of Orchard Place, Hamstreet Road, Warehorne. Buried in the Potijze Burial Ground Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. Grave reference Z.22. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Hamstreet Private (Saddler) 88204 Harry DORMAN. Royal Field Artillery. 1901 Census –“ Gorhams” Edward DORMAN Charlotte Ann Charles Anson George Kate

Emily Florence John Thomas Leonard’s death was possibly referred to in the Buffs regimental history – On the 2nd July 1915 Corporal John Dormer of A Company, who had covered himself with glory as a scout, paid the last penalty”. Corporal John Dormer was in fact killed on the 13th July 1915. It is possible that the author of the regimental history may have confused these two men. DRAY A Private G/4862 Albert John DRAY. 2nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Tuesday 25th May 1915 aged 28 years. Son of Edward John and Elizabeth Dray of Ruckinge, Kent. Albert has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Panel reference 12 and 14. Between the 24th and 27th May 1915 the 2nd Buffs was holding a line on the Menin-Ypres Road. On 25th May the 2nd Buffs went to rescue elements of the 9th Lancers who had got into difficulty on the Menin Road. Albert was probably killed in this engagement on or near to the Menin Road. GARNER R.A Guardsman 26157 Robert Arnold GARNER. 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died Tuesday 31st July 1917 aged 36 years. Born Hamstreet. Enlisted Hastings. Son of Clarence and Mercie Ellen Garner of “Ayrdale Villas”, The Alley, Hamstreet, Kent. Husband of Rosa Garner. Robert has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Panel reference 9 and 11. Robert’s father Clarence was the local Hamstreet Grocer and traded from retail premises on Hamstreet High Street (Ashford Road). GODDEN A.E Not to be confused with this other local man – Private G/5090 Albert GODDEN. 8th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 26th September 1915 aged 29 years. The correct man is - Lance Corporal G/9036 Albert Edward GODDEN. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 27th December 1918 aged 22 years. Born Ashford. Resided Ashford. Son of James and Alice Emily Godden of “Marsh Cottages”, Marsh Road, Hamstreet, Kent. Buried in the Niederzwehren Cemetery, Belgium. Grave reference I.C.8. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Hamstreet Lance Corporal G/9036 Albert Edward GODDEN. 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). The 1901 Kennington Census gives – Bockhanger Farm, Kennington

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Albert GODDEN 35 Farm Bailiff Warehorne Mary 36 Warehorne Albert 15 Warehorne Ethel 12 Mersham Edith 10 Kennington Florence 7 Ashford Ernest 4 Kennington Albert was killed in action when his battalion was attacking enemy front line positions at Hulluch in France. The battalion was lead by Colonel Romer who was to lose his life there himself. At 1100 hours the battalion went forward following the 9th East Surrey’s the 8th West Kent’s and the 8th Queen’s. The assault was a murderous one made in broad daylight and in open country. Not surprisingly, it failed miserably. Many men were killed on the Hulluch – Lens Road. The battalion was nearly destroyed – 24 officers and 610 men were killed, missing or wounded. In 1912 the former cinema in Beaver Road, Ashford was built by Messrs D Godden Builders of Hamstreet. It is believed that Albert was related to this family in Hamstreet.

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HARDEN H.J Acting Corporal L/9767 Herbert John HARDEN. 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 19th April 1916. Born Warehorne. Resided Hamstreet. Enlisted Ashford, Kent. Herbert has no known grave. His name appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Panel reference 12 and 14. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Warehorne Private 157198 Horace HARDEN. 2nd Machine Gun Corps. Private 13639 Jack HARDEN. 6th King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Private G/40865 Jeffrey HARDEN. 20th Middlesex Regiment. Private 114115 Maurice Albert HARDEN. Machine Gun Corps. Private 14758 Sidney Robert HARDEN. 8th Royal West Kent Regiment. The 1901 census gives – Viaduct Terrace, Warehorne John HARDEN 37 Woodcutter Orlestone Emma G 37 Sandhurst, Kent Alec 15 Orlestone Frederick 14 Scholar Warehorne Peter 12 Warehorne Joseph 9 Warehorne Herbert 7 Warehorne Maurice 5 Warehorne Jack 3 Warehorne Percy 1 Warehorne On the 19th April 1916, while in the La Briques trenches, at 1730 hours, after a considerable amount of shelling all day, a heavy bombardment was opened on the 2nd Scots Guards on the Buffs right, and on the 8th Bedford’s on their left. The Germans attacked and broke through on the right. The battalion lost 21 men killed and a further 36 wounded in trying to repel this attack. Herbert was probably one of those killed near St Jean in Belgium. It is recorded that Herbert was related to P Harden, A Dray and S Hill all of whom also lost their lives and appear on the various local civic war memorials.

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HARDEN J Private 260149 John HARDEN. 6th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’’s Light Infantry (DCLI). Formerly (30143) Hampshire Regiment. Died 22nd August 1917 aged 36 years. Born Ashford. Enlisted Southampton, Hampshire. Son of Thomas and Sarah Harden of Bromley Green, Ashford. Husband of Harriet Harden of “Birchett Cottage”, Orlestone, Kent. Buried in the Oxford Road Cemetery, France. Grave reference II.C.4. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Bromley Green, Warehorne Private 157198 Horace HARDEN. 2nd Machine Gun Corps. Private 13639 Jack HARDEN. 6th King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Private G/40865 Jeffrey HARDEN. 20th Middlesex Regiment. Private 114115 Maurice Albert HARDEN. Machine Gun Corps. Private 14758 Sidney Robert HARDEN. 8th Royal West Kent Regiment. The Orlestone War Memorial wrongly lists John as serving in the Buffs when killed.

In 1901 the Harden family lived at Orlestone in Ruckinge Road and the 1901 census lists a Jane Harden. It is known that Birchett Cottage was a “grace and favour” dwelling owned by the Oliver family. HARDEN P Private 28849 Percy HARDEN. 51st Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died 1919 aged 20 years. Son of John and Emma Grace Harden of 2, Viaduct Terrace, Hamstreet, Ashford, Kent. Buried locally in the Warehorne (St Matthew) Churchyard, Warehorne, Ashford, Kent. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Bromley Green, Warehorne Private 157198 Horace HARDEN. 2nd Machine Gun Corps. Private 13639 Jack HARDEN. 6th King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Private G/40865 Jeffrey HARDEN. 20th Middlesex Regiment. Private 114115 Maurice Albert HARDEN. Machine Gun Corps. Private 14758 Sidney Robert HARDEN. 8th Royal West Kent Regiment. The 1901 census gives – Viaduct Terrace, Warehorne John HARDEN 37 Woodcutter Orlestone Emma G 37 Sandhurst, Kent Alec 15 Orlestone Frederick 14 Scholar Warehorne Peter 12 Warehorne Joseph 9 Warehorne Herbert 7 Warehorne Maurice 5 Warehorne Jack 3 Warehorne Percy 1 Warehorne

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HILLS S Private 2925 Steven Harry HILLS. 18th Battalion (1st Public Works Pioneers), Middlesex Regiment (33rd Division). Died Sunday 15th October 1916. Born Newington, Sittingbourne, Kent. Enlisted Birmingham. Husband of Sarah Spain (a member of the Harden family) of Warehorne, Ashford, Kent. Buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, Etaples, France. Grave reference VII.F.8A. Stephen’s name disappointingly does NOT appear on the Newington War Memorial in Kent. It does however also appear on the Warehorne parish tribute. Steven was not a local man at all. He married a Sarah Spain of Hamstreet and she was a blood relative of the Harden family. The 18th Middlesex Regiment was raised in London January 1915 by Lt Col John Ward M.P. It went to France in November 1915. The 18th Middlesex Regiment’s movements in France during 1916 were as follows – 9th July – La Chaussee and Fouquereuil 11th July – Poulainville 15th July – Worked on roads around Mametz Wood on the Somme 21st July – Dug trench at High Wood 8th August – Dernancourt 31st August – St Gratien 1st September – Villers Bocage 9th September – Humbercamps 20th September - Souastre 18th October – Grouches-Luchuel Stephen died at a Base Hospital at Etaples. It is not known if he died of wounds or of some kind of disease. JENNER R.V Private G/2872 Reginald JENNER. 8th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 26th September 1915 aged 23 years. Born 1892 Penshurst, Kent. Son of Henry Jenner of “Mae Ende Cottage”, Broadham Green, Oxted, Surrey. Reginald has no known grave. His name appears on the Loos Memorial, Loos, France. Panel reference 15 to 19. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Hamstreet Sergeant 051083 Henry John JENNER. Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps. It is thought that a JENNER family may have lived near the Hamstreet Brickworks at the turn of the century (1800). No more information found. The 8th Buffs landed in France on 1st September 1915. On 25th September 1915 the 8th Buffs under Col Romer moved from Vermelles to the frontline at Hulluch. On the 26th September 1915 the 8th Buffs were holding frontline trenches near the recently captured Quarries in front of Fosse 8. The enemy counter-attacked at Hulluch and Hill 70. The 8th Buffs under Col Romer advanced with the 8th West Kent’s and 8th Queen’s. The 8th Buffs were halted 600 yards to the west of Hulluch on the Lens Road. This assault was made in broad daylight and upon open ground,

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unsurprisingly casualties were tremendous – 24 officers and 610 men! The entire battalion had been almost wiped out in 1 day!!!

LAWRENCE A Gunner 125580 Alfred LAWRENCE. 108th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). Died Thursday 25th October 1917. Born New Romney. Enlisted Lydd. Resided Hamstreet. Buried in the Canada Farm Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. Grave reference III.E.34. Canada Farm Cemetery is located 8.5 kilometres north-west of Ieper town centre, on the Elzendammestraat, a road leading from the Veurnseweg (N8) connecting Ieper to Elverdinge and on to Veurne. From Ieper town centre the Veurnseweg (N8) is reached via Elverdingsestraat, then turning right onto Haiglaan. Veurnseweg is a continuation of Haiglaan. On reaching the village of Elverdinge the Steentjesmolenstraat, N333, leads towards Poperinge. 2 kilometres along the Steentjesmolenstraat lies the right hand turning onto Elzendammestraat. The cemetery itself is located 1 kilometre along the Elzendammestraat on the right hand side of the road. Historical Information: Canada Farm Cemetery took its name from a farmhouse used as a dressing station during the 1917 Allied offensive on this front. Most of the burials are of men who died at the dressing station between June and October 1917. There are now 907 First World War burials in the cemetery. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

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MANKLOW R Private G/9629 Robert MANKLOW. 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 1st September 1916. Born Warehorne June 1890. Resided Orlestone. Son of James and Frances Manklow (nee Evenden). In 1896 Robert’s father died suddenly. In December 1897 Robert’s mother Frances remaried Alfred Harden. Robert has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Panel reference 5D. Children of James and Frances Manklow Fanny 1871 William 1872 Leonard 1876 Frank 1879 Minnie 1880 Charles 1883 Harry 1885 Robert 1890 Before the outbreak of war Robert was employed by Messrs D Godden and Son (Builders). He was Lieutenant of the Hamstreet Lads Brigade. He enlisted on the 10th December 1915 at Ashford and was mobilized on the 24th March the following year. On the 28th June he sailed from Southampton and is listed as being posted to the 1/Buffs. However, he neither met his battalion in Belgium nor joined them on their way to the Somme. Instead, he was sent straight to the Somme and on the 9th July was one of 173 that re-strengthened the 2/Queens after their operations of the 1st-4th July. The next day saw another draft of 109 arrive.The new draft were given little time to settle in, as the 14th-16th July saw the 2/Queens engaged in High Wood and the battalion sustained 305 casualties. It is stating the obvious to say that this was a baptism of fire for these men, and on the 27th July at St. Sauveur the divisional commander, Major-General H.Watts, inspected them and apparently no others from the battalion. August was spent re-organising and re-strengthening the battalion before, on the 31st, they moved into positions southeast of Delville Wood. As previous posts have mentioned, Manklow was killed the following day. It is striking that Manklow was only in France for two weeks before seeing action in High Wood and as others have stated, he was certainly one of a number of Buffs, both Other Ranks and Officers, that were serving in the 2/Queens during this period. On the 9th August 1916 the 1st Buffs under the command of Lt Col H.W Green were moved forward to trenches south of Beaumont Hamel on the Somme. The regimental history (Moody) mentions that the 1st Buffs were training during 28th August and 6th September. On 6th September the 1st Buffs were at Villers Bocage and on 7th moved to Corbie. On 11th September the battalion

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marched to Carnoy and relieved the 167th Infantry Brigade in the line behind Guillemont and Combles. In July 2008 Robert’s medals and his death penny came up for sale on Ebay. We wrote to the Hamstreet Vicar and told him in case the village wanted to obtain Robert’s medals. We never got a reply. We then emailed the Parish Council but once more got no response! What a pity these people don’t care…

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MEPHAM J.H Guardsman 20879 James Henry MEPHAM. 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died 18th September 1916. Born Orlestone. Enlisted Ashford.. Son of James and Ellen Mepham of Harts Cottage, Bourne Lane, Hamstreet. James is buried in the Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, Abbeville, Somme, France. Grave reference I.B.9. The 1901 Census gives – 4 Harts Cottages, Orlestone James MEPHAM Grazier Ellen Mildred Elsie Percy James 5 years The Kentish Express reported James death. It stated that he died of Severe Shell Shock and trench exposure following many months in the trenches. Previous to enlisting James worked in the SE&CR Railway Yards, Ashford as a Railway Signalman. On 8th September the 4th Grenadier’s were at Carnoy. On 14th September 1916 the 4th Grenadier Guards were fighting near Trones Wood on the Somme. On the 16th September the 4th Grenadier Guards dug in 500 yards north of Ginchy and there consolidated British gains. In the evening they withdrew to Carnoy. On 20th September the battalion moved into frontline trenches at Lesboeufs. On 22nd September – Bernafay Wood. James was probably wounded in fighting near Trones Wod on 14th September and recovered through the medical evacuation chain to Abbeville. The town of Abbeville housed 4 large military hospitals during the Great War. James died in one of these whilst his wounds were being treated.

OLIVER G.G Captain Guy Gifford OLIVER. 102nd (King Edward’s Own) Grenadiers. Indian Army. Died 21st January 1916 Mesopotamia (Iraq) 1916. Born Orlestone 9th July 1883. Resided Burnt Oak, Orlestone, Ashford, Kent. Son of Edmund Ward Oliver of Burnt Oak, Orlestone, Ashford, Kent. Nethew of Sir Roland Oliver of Capel House, Orlestone, Ashford, Kent. Roland Oliver at Capel House was the Lord Chief Justice during the Great War. Cousin of Lieutenant Roderic Magrath Oliver (2nd Grenadier Guards) who was also killed in action during the Great War. Buried Amarah War Cemetery, Iraq. Panel reference IV.B.19. The 1911 Army List contains Guy’s details – At that time he was a Lieutenant (Double Company Officer) – 102nd (King Edward’s Own) Grenadiers Col in Chief – H.M The King Hon Colonel – General Sir S Edwardes KCB Commandant – Lt Col S.M Edwardes DSO Major F.R.E Locke Major F.G Pierce Major A.C Edwardes Captain E.G.S Trotter Captain J.P Stockley Captain J.P May Captain T.T Oakes (Adjutant) Captain C.P.F Warton Captain J Livesay Captain C.K.V Brown Lt S.B Coates (Quartermaster) Lt G.G OLIVER Lt R.C Christie Lt H.J Norman Lt R.C.C Liston Guy was first commisioned 21 January 1903. At first it seemed unlikely that anything could be done to trace this officer who served in the Indian Army. Then we found a G.G OLIVER in the 1911 Army List! It recorded Lieutenant G.G Oliver serving in the 102nd (King Edward’s Own) Grenadiers. This was our first breakthrough. Then came the big breakthrough – The 102nd Grenadiers served in Mesoptamia alongside the 5th Buffs which comprised many Ashford men! The 102nd Grenadiers was attached to 35th Indian Infantry Brigade and fought alongside the 5th Buffs throughout Mesoptamia from 1916 until 1919. This is a huge breakthrough. We have been told by a member of the Orlestone Church congregation that Captain G.G Oliver whose name appears on the village war memorial (inside the parish church) was killed in Iraq during heavy fighting in 1916. It now seems highly likely that Guy was killled in action fighting alongside the 5th Buffs (the local Ashford infantry battalion). If we accept 1916 as the year of his death (which seems the most likely), we have 2 major battles in which the 102nd Grenadiers / 5th Buffs were in action – Battle of Seikh Saad and Battle of The Hanna… Guy’s cousin Roderic served in the 5th Buffs before the outbreak of war. It was NOT a coincidence that Guy found himself serving in the Indian Army alongside the 5th Buffs!!!!!

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OLIVER R.M Lieutenant Roderic Magrath OLIVER. 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Formerly Adjutant (Territorial Force), 5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 27th August 1918 aged 36 years. Born Marylebone, London in 1882. Son of Roderic and Mary Oliver of Burnt Oak, Orlestone, Ashford, Kent. Brother of Sir Roland Oliver of Capel House, Orlestone, Ashford, Kent. Roderic’s brother Roland was the Lord Chief Justice during the Great War. Buried in the Mory Abbey Military Cemetery, France. Grave reference VC.16. Roderic’s original grave marker in the shape of a wooden cross is kept inside the church at Orlestone. It can be found in front of the stained glass window which commemorates his death. Roderic was educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford. Before the outbreak of war Roderic was employed as a solicitor at Messrs Oliver and Lyall of 52 Cornhill, London, EC1. His brother Sir Roland Oliver was Lord Chief Justice during the Great War and he resided at Capel House in Orlestone. Roderic enlisted into the 5th battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) in October 1914 as a second lieutenant. He was subsequently promoted to lieutenant and served with the Buffs as their Adjutant. In early 1916 Roderic was transferred to the Household Cavalry in London. In October 1916 Roderic was again transferred, this time to the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards. He was killed in action with the 2nd battalion at St Leger, near Arras.

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PAINE C Private 204240 Charles PAINE. 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died 23rd May 1917. Born Ashford. Enlisted Folkestone. Resided Folkestone. Buried at the Tank Cemetery, Guemappe. Grave reference – Special Memorial (buried near this spot). or Private L/9646 Clarence PAINE. 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died Iraq 24th January 1916 in Iraq. Born Wittersham. Enlisted Tenterden. Buried in the Kut War Cemetery, Iraq. Grave reference F.9. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Ham Green, Wittersham Private 240577 Albert PAINE. South Staffordshire Regiment. Private 240304 Thomas PAINE. 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Underhill, Wittersham Private 228056 William Samuel PAINE. 2nd Royal Fusiliers.

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PALLETT C.J Private 16135 Charles J PELLETT. 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died 26th March 1918. Son of Albert and Martha Pellett of 2, Rose Cottages, Hamstreet, Kent. Buried in the Bac-Du-Sud British Cemetery, Bailleulval, France. Grave reference I.C.30. Bailleulval is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais about 13 kilometres south-west of Arras, and the Cemetery is one kilometre west of the village on the north side of the main road from Arras to Doullens (N25). Historical Information: The cemetery was made in March 1918 by the 7th, 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, but when the German advance began at the end of that month, their place was taken by field ambulances of the units fighting on the Arras front, notably the 31st Division and the Canadian Corps. In August and September, when the Germans had been pushed back, the 45th and 46th Casualty Clearing Stations were posted to the neighbourhood. Bac-du-Sud British Cemetery contains 688 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 55 German war graves. The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden. The 1881 Census gives - 2, Rose Cottages, Near Canal, Orlestone Albert PELLETT Martha Edith Daisy Charlie Born 1895 Orlestone

LOST MEN

BEALE M Private G/3064 Mervyn BEALE. 8th Battalion, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died Saturday 25th September 1915 aged 23 years. Born Hamstreet, Kent. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Ashford. Son of William Jonathan and Elizabeth Ann Beale of 1, Providence Place, Faversham, Kent. Mervyn has no known grave. His name appears on the Loos Memorial, Loos, France. Panel reference 13 to 15. It is remarkable this man was forgotten – he came from a well known and long established local family. In 1901 Mervyn appeared on the census roll aged only 8 years. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Button House, Warehorne Private 39251 Albert Edward BEALE. 1st Suffolk Regiment. Hamstreet Private 429253 Thomas James Henderson BEALE. 667th Agricultural Labour Company, Labour Corps. On the 2nd September 1915 the 8th Queen’s were at Montreuil. From Montreuil it marched 12 miles to Herly where it remained for the next three weeks attached to 6 Corps. On 21st September the battalion marched to Glem. The battalion arrived at Vermelles on the afternoon of the 25th September 1915. The battalion moved into frontline trenches west of Le Rutoire Farm to prepare for an attack upon the village of Hulluch. This attack went ahead the next day (26th).

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HOLDSTOCK E * Worked and Resided Pluckley Remount Depot Driver/ Rough Rider/Nagsman RTS/4813 Edward HOLDSTOCK. 2nd 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 1st 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 1914. Edward was a former Territorial Force soldier having served in the London Yeomanry during the South African War (Boer War) 1899-1902. 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 1914. Edward was awarded the 1914/15 Star because he served in France with the BEF (13 December 1914 – 10 November 1916). His service papers record he embarked on the SS Kingtonian at Southampton for Havre on 21 December 1914. Upon arriving in France Edward proceeded to his unit – 30 Remount Squadron, 5 Base Remount Depot. Edward left France on 3 October 1916. 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 1st January 1917. 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

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HOLDSTOCK R Striker 5th Buffs The fact that Edward is described as being a Rough Rider indicates that he was at some stage serving in one of the London Yeomanry units. There was an army remount depot in Pluckley during the Great War. It seems likely that Edward served at the Pluckley depot at some stage of his army career. It is quite likely that he was seriously wounded in an accident and that he was moved to the Brook Hospital in South London for the treatment of head injuries. SWIFT B Private L/7545 Albert Henry (Bert) SWIFT. 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 18th March 1916 aged 30 years. Born Kennington, Ashford. Enlisted Canterbury. Resided Snave, Romney Marsh. Son of George and Clara Swift of “Nest Cottage”, Snave, Hamstreet, Kent. Bert has no known grave. His name appears on the Loos Memorial, Loos, France. Panel reference 15 to 19. The Ashford 1918 Absentee Voters List gives – Warehorne Private 460868 Robert SWIFT. 651st Agricultural Company, Labour Corps. Snave Lance Corporal 2889 Harry SWIFT. 1st Buffs (East Kent Regiment). On 6th March 1916 the 6th Buffs were fighting near to the Hohenzollern Redoubt near Loos and in front of Vermelles. The Buffs were tasked with capturing some craters and consolidating their positions. The 6th Buffs remained in this area for the next 3 weeks alternating between the frontline and biletts at Vermelles.

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