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ASHFORD ROYAL MAIL SORTING OFFICE WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Transcribed David Hughes and Neil Clark 2004
additional information Martin Edwards

There is a small war memorial tablet located inside the Ashford Sorting Office in Tannery Lane. This memorial plaque was originally located at the Ashford Royal Mail Sorting Office in Elwick Road. It was later moved to the old Buffs drill hall in Newtown Road where it stayed until that building was sadly demolished in 1996 to make way for the ugly International Rail Terminal (yet another historic Ashford building flattened by greed). The names here have been sorted into alphabetical order within conflict for ease of reading and researh.
Photograph Copyright © David Hughes and Neil Clark 2006

The Great War 1914 1918

BARROWS

Frederick James

(Charing)

Private S/11299, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. Died of wounds Wednesday 15th November 1916 aged 26 years. Baptised 10 March 1889 in Charing, Ss Peter & Paul, son of Thomas and Sarah Ann Barrows. Born Charing. Enlisted Ashford. Son of Thomas and Sarah Barrows, of Charing, Kent. In the 1901 census he was aged 12, born Charing, Kent, son of Thomas and Sarah A Barrows, resident Charing Hill, Charing, West Ashford, Kent. Buried in WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row A. Grave 7.

BATT

William

(Pluckley)

Rifleman 40555, 2nd/8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales Own). Killed in action Tuesday 20th November 1917. Resident and enlisted Ashford, Kent. Son of Mrs C. Batt, of Buffalo Cottages, Smarden, Kent. In the 1911 census he was aged 34, born High Halden, a Postman, married to Alice Batt with two daughters and one son, resident The Street, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent. Buried in GRAND RAVINE BRITISH CEMETERY, HAVRINCOURT, Pas de Calais, France. Row B. Grave 23.

BOUGHTON

Arthur William

(Ashford)

Private 303161, 8th Battalion, Manchester Regiment formerly (179352) Royal Field Artillery (RFA). Killed in action Sunday 31st March 1918. Born New Cross, London. Enlisted Woolwich, London. Resided Ashford. Buried in FONCQUEVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row D. Grave 1.

Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1918:

BOUGHTON Arthur William of 23 Wolseley-road Ashford Kent a private No: T.R./5 9326 in the 3rd training reserve of His Majesty's Forces died 31 March 1918 in France Probate Canterbury 2 July to Ernest Alfred Page laundry manager. Effects £296 7s. 8d.

DRYLAND

William Oliver

(Ashford)

Rifleman 04197, 8th (City of London) Battalion (Post Office Rifles), London Regiment. Killed in action Friday 15th September 1916. Resident Ashford, Kent, enlisted London. In the 1881 census he was aged 2, born Ashford, Kent, a scholar, son of Edwin Arnold and Mrtha Dryland, resident 15, Park Street, Ashford,a West Ashford, Kent. In the 1911 census he was aged 32, born Ashford, Kent, a Postman, resident with his widowed mother, Martha, at 15, Park Street, Ashford, Kent. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 9 C and 9 D.

Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1917:

DRYLAND William Oliver of 15 Park-street Ashford Kent rifleman 8th battalion London regiment (Post Office Rifles) died 15 September 1916 in France killed in action Administration (with Will) Canterbury 27 October to Alfred Thomas Dryland printer. Effects £296 14s. 5d.

MARSHALL

George

(Brabourne)

Private G/24280, 8th Battalion, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) formerly 2640, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died of wounds 1st September 1916 aged 19 years. Born Brabourne. Enlisted Ashford. In the 1911 census he wa aged 13, born Bradbourne, Kent, son of John and Ada Marshall, resident Rann Farm, West Brabourne, Ashford, Kent. Buried in LONDON CEMETERY AND EXTENSION, LONGUEVAL, Somme, France. Plot 7. Row B. Grave 13.

QUINNELL

John William

(Ashford)

Leading Seaman, H.M.S. Pembroke, Naval Barracks Chatham, Royal Navy (R.N). Died from tuberculosis 21 July 1919 at 18, Christchurch Road, Ashford. In the 1911 census he was aged 35, born Hunton, Kent, a Town Postman, Ashford, married to Margaret Ellen Quinnell, resident 18 Christ Church Road, Ashford, Kent. Death registered in the July to September Quarter 1919 in West Ashford Registration District, Kent, aged 44.

Note: John’s death is not recorded by the CWGC as a war casualty. He died out of service at home.

Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1920:

QUINNELL John William of 18 Christchurch-road Ashford Kent naval pensioner died 21 July 1919 Administration Canterbury 10 April to Margaret Ellen Quinnell widow. Effects £121 18s. 4d.

ROWE

Percy Frank

(Bethersden)

Lance Corporal L/8239, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 25th September 1915 aged 28 years. Born and enlisted Arundel, Sussex. Resided Bethersden. Son of Alfred and Mary Rowe, of 15, Wood View, Ford Road, Arundel, Sussex. Originally attested June 1905 at Arundel, aged 18 years 2 months, a Rural Postman, unmarried, height 5 feet 6¼ inches, weight 123 lbs, chest 37 inches, fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, religious denomination Wesleyan. Transferred to Army Reserve on expiration of his Army Service, brought home prematurely from India under authority of War office letter dated 6 June 1912. Re-engaged 21 March 1914. Posted 3rd Battalion 13 November 1914, posted 2nd Battalion 11 January 1915. Buried in DUD CORNER CEMETERY, LOOS, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VI. Row H. Grave 7.

SKEER, MM

George

(Smeeth/
Brabourne
/Elham)

Sergeant 280539, 222nd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). Died of wounds near St Quentin, France on Thursday 21st March 1918 aged 36 years. Born Harbledown, Canterbury. Enlisted Ashford. Baptised 30 October 1881 at Harbledown, Kent, son of John and Mary Ann Skeer. Son of John and Mary Skeer, of Lyminge, Kent; husband of Lilian Skeer, of "Southside", Brabourne Lees, Ashford, Kent. Awarded the Croix de Guerre (Belgium)[27 July 1918] posthumously and the Military Medal (M.M.)[London Gazette 6 August 1918] posthumously. In the 1911 census he was aged 29, born Harbledown, Kent, a Rural Postman, resident Egerton Cottage, Brabourne Street, Ashford, Kent. Attested 2 January 1915 at Ashford, Kent, aged 33 years 106 days, a Postman, height 5 feet 9¾ inches, weight 141 lbs, chest 37¼ inches. No known grave. Commemorated on POZIERES MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Panel 10.

Note: George must have got around – his name appears on Brabourne, Smeeth, Elham and Sittingbourne’s war memorials!

TUTT

Thomas

(Great Chart)

Private S/10403, “B” Company, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action 15th September 1916. Born Kingsnorth. Resided Great Chart. Enlisted Canterbury, Kent. In the 1911 census he was aged 17, born Kingsnorth, Kent, a Telegraph Boy, son of James and Elizabeth Tutt, resident Mill Lane, Great Chart, Ashford, Kent. Attested 6 January 1913 at Canterbury, as a Special Reservist, unmarried, born Kingsnorth, height 5 feet 11/8 inches, weight 96 lbs, chest 32½ inches, hazel eyes, brown hair, fair complexion, religious denomination Church of England. Mobilised 8 August 1914, posted 2nd Battalion 11 March 1815, wounded 6 June 1915, transferred to England 14 June 1915, posted Depot 14 June 1915, posted 3rd Battalion 23 July 1915, posted 1st Battalion 31 August 1915, sailed to France from Southampton. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 5 D.

WADDELL

Percy Thomas

(Ashford)

Rifleman 7634, 9th (County of London) Battalion (Queen Victoria's Rifles), London Regiment formerly 5654, 8th Battalion, London Regiment. Killed in action Monday 25th September 1916, aged 33 years. Baptised 29 July 1883 at Ashford, St Mary the Virgin, son of Harry and Jane Maria Waddell. Born Ashford. Enlisted London. Resided Ashford. In the 1911 census he was aged 27, born Ashford, Kent, a Postman, son of Harry and Jane Waddell, resident 18, East Street, Ashford, Kent. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 9 C.

WELLER

Arthur Frederick

(Charing)

Rifleman 371842, 8th (City of London) Battalion (Post Office Rifles), London Regiment. Died of of head wounds 18th April 1918. Born Charing. Enlisted London. Resided Sevenoaks. Son of Mr. F. Weller, of 6. Beech Rd., Sevenoaks, Kent. In the 1911 census he was aged 14, born bexley, a Post Office Messenger, son of Fred and Eliza Sarah Ann Weller, resident 6, Beech Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. Buried in NAMPS-AU-VAL BRITISH CEMETERY, Somme, France. Plot II. Row B. Grave 16.

1939 - 1945

CANDLER

Alan Francis

(Ashford)

Signalman 6299850, 1st Air Form. Signals, Royal Corps of Signals. Died as a result of an accident in North Africa 20th April 1943, aged 20 years. Born and resident Kent. Son of Ernest Francis and Nellie Ann Candler, of Ashford, Kent. Buried in LE PETIT LAC CEMETERY, Algeria. Plot E. Row E. Grave 38.

DIAMOND

Percy Edward George

(Tenterden)

Guardsman 2613212, 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Killed in action in Itay 6th October 1944, aged 38 years. Born and resident Kent. Son of John T. and Emily F. Diamond; husband of Annie Irene (nee Friend) Diamond, of Biddenden, Kent, married January to March Quarter 1939 In Tenterden Registration District, Kent. In the 1911 census he was aged 4, born Halling, kent, son of John Thomas and Emily Francis Diamond, resident 16, Orchard Place, Faversham, Faversham Within, Kent. Buried in SANTERNO VALLEY WAR CEMETERY, Italy. Plot II. Row B. Grave 7.

PATON

Cyril

(Ashford)

Sergeant (Air Gunner) 904673, 214 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 9th May 1941, aged 22 years. Born 8 Dec 1918. Baptised 18 May 1919 in Willesborough, St Mary the Virgin, son of Thomas and Edith Maude Paton, resident 59, Cudworth Road, Willesborough. Son of Thomas and Edith Maude Paton, of South Willesborough, Ashford, Kent. Buried in BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. Plot 32. Row C. Collective grave 2.

Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1942:

PATON Cyril of 66 Earlsworth-road South Willesborough Ashford Kent died 9 May 1941 on war service Administration Llandudno 21 April to Thomas Paton railway clerk. Effects £132 19s. 8d.

Last update 3 June, 2020

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