Extract from Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald - Saturday 18 September 1920, page 5:

DYMCHURCH WAR MEMORIAL

On Wednesday afternoon a memorial and dedication service was held in Dymchurch Parish Church. The Rector (Rev. J. S. Gale) conducted a service in the Church in remembrance of the men of Dymchurch aad Eastbridge who gave their lives in the Great War. An address was given by the Rev. E. G. F- Macpherson, Senior Chaplain to the Forces, Shorncliffe His text, was “He gave Himself,” which he very ably illustrated by a story of a corporal and a private soldier —an incident which came under his notice in Egypt.

The dedication service was held in the church-square round the Memorial Cross, when special prayers were read by Rev. E. G. F. Macpherson and hymn 437 A. and M. was sung. A collection in aid of the fund amounted to £5 11s. 3d. At the conclusion of the service, some lads from the Kingsnorth Industrial School sounded the “Last Post.”

The Committee responsible for the work included Rev. J. S. Gale (Chairman), Mr. Leslie H. Jones (Secretary), Mrs. Paddock and Messrs. F. J. Francis and J. T. S. Brightman. The prime mover was the Rector, who called a meeting early in the year, when it was resolved that the Memorial should take the form cross erected in some public place. Permission was granted by the Lords of the Level of Romney Marsh for the erection of the memorial in Church-square. The design was prepared by Mr. A. H. Ryan Tenison.

The probable cost will about £260, nearly £240 of which has been subscribed. A second subscription has been promised by a few gentlemen so that about £10 in fresh donations will make up the amount required. The Committee feel very grateful to Mr. L. S. Jones (Secretary) for his very successful efforts. They also thank not only the residents of Dymchurch, but the property owners, and visitors for their generous contributions. £20 was raised by an open air concert organised by Messrs. R. and T. Sterndale-Bennett in August.

The names inscribed on the Cross are: Simeon Beale, Alfred Edgar Hoper, Arthur Hoper, Herbert James Kerne, Ernest Austen, Charles Vince Balkwill, John Balkwill, Walter Sterndale-Beunett, D.S.O., Charles Louis Beale.

Photograph Copyright © David Hughes and Neil Clark 2004

Extract from Kentish Express - Saturday 18 September 1920, page 8:

DYMCHURCH WAR
MEMORIAL

SERVICE OF DEDICATION

A memorial service was held in the pariah church at Dymchurch on Wednesday afternoon in remembrance of the men of Dymchurch and Eastbridge who gave their lives in the Great War, followed by a service of dedication of the memorial cross, which was held round the cross. The service in the church was conducted by the rector (Rev. J. S. Gale) and consisted of special prayere, Lesson, Psalm 23 and hymns 221 and 217 (Ancient and Modern). A very interesting and apt address was delivered by the Rev. E. G. F. Macpherson, Senior Chaplain to the Forces, Shorncliffe, on the text "He gave himself." Outside, round the cross, special prayers were read, and whilst hymn 437 was being sung a collection was made in aid of the Memorial Fund, which realised £5 11s. 3d. Both services were attended by a large number of residents and visitors. At the conclusion of the dedication service a squad of boys from the Kingsnorth Industrial School sounded the Last Post.

The war memorial, of which we give a sketch, is a handsome cross of Clepsham stone, erected in the Church Square on a triangular piece of ground, with brick and stone walls at the angles, and wooden posts and chains used as a fence. The total cost will be £260 approximately, of which some £236 has already been collected. It only requires about £10 more to be subscribed to complete the sum, as a few contributors have offered a second donation if needed. The architect responsible for the design was Mr. A. H. Ryan Tenison, the makers were Messrs. Hitch (Vauxhall), and Messrs. Brewer Bros., Dymchurch, undertook the erection. The Lords of the Level of Romney Marsh kindly gave permission for the cross to be erected on the chosen site, which was their property.

The names inscribed on the memorial are as follows:—Simeon Beale, Alfred Edgar Hoper, Arthur Hoper, Herbert James Kemp, Ernest Austen, Charles Vince Balkwill, John Balkwill, Walter Sterndale Bennett, D.S.O., Charles Louis Beale.

Early in the year the Rector called a meeting in the schoolroom to decide what should be done in the village to commemorate those fallen the Great War, and it was finally decided to erect a cross in the Church Square. A committee was formed to carry out the work, and collect the neccesary funds.

The committee chosen were:—Rev. J. S. Gale (chairman), Mr. Leslie S. Jones (secretary), Mrs. Paddock and Messrs. F. J. Francis and J. T. S. Brightman. The response to the appeal for subscriptions was so good that the success of the scheme was assured from the first. Not only residents of Dymchurch, but property owners and visitors have subscribed handsomely to the fund. During August Messrs. Robert and Tom Sterndale Bennett organismd an open-air concert in the Church Square, which resulted in an addition of £20 to the fund. The Committee are to be heartily congratulated on the splendid success of the whole scheme. and special praise is due to Mr. Leslie R. Jones (secretary). who did such successful work in obtaining a very large part of the money needed.

AUSTEN

Ernest

Ernest AUSTEN – NO TRACE - It has proved impossible to establish a positive identification of Ernest Austen, only a single casualty is recorded with that name by the CWGC but with no obvious connection to the man commemorated on the village war memorial, Ernest is not recorded on SDGW, seven men with the name are on the MICs, but it would seem likely that the right man was born in Dymchurch in 1880 the eldest child of William & Louisa Austen, on the 1901 census the family all lived at "Chapel House", Dymchurch.

BALKWILL

Charles Vince

Second Lieutenant, 1st/5th (City of London) Battalion (London Rifle Brigade), London Regiment. Killed in action 1 July 1916 (first day of the Battle of The Somme). No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 9 D.

BALKWILL

John

Second Lieutenant, 6th Battalion (Territorial), Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action 1 July 1916 (first day of the Battle of The Somme). Aged 33. Son of Francis and Mary Vince Balkwill, of Forest Hill, London. Buried in PARGNY BRITISH CEMETERY, Somme, France. Plot III. Row E. Grave 36.

STERNDALE-BENNETT, DSO & Bar, MiD

Walter

Commander, Drake Battalion, Royal Naval Division (RND), Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). Died of wounds 7th November 1917. Aged 24. Son of J. R. and M. A. Sterndale-Bennett, of Barn House, Dymchurch, Kent. Awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Bar (D.S.O. & Bar), Mentioned in Despatches (MiD). Buried in DOZINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot VI. Row I. Grave 1.

BEALE

Charles Louis

[Listed as Charles Lewis BEALE on SDGW and CWGC] Corporal L/9902, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died of wounds 20 July 1915. Aged 20. Born Warehorne, Kent, resident East Bridge, near Dymchurch, Kent, enlisted Ashford, Kent. Son of Seaman Beale and Betsy Beale, of Dymchurch, Kent. Buried in LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot III. Row B. Grave 5.

BEALE

Simeon

Private L/6554, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died of wounds 25 October 1914. Born New Romney, Kent, resident Burmarsh, Dymchurch, Kent, enlisted Lydd, Kent. Buried in LAVENTIE MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE, Nord, France. Plot I. Row C. Grave 5.

HOPER

Alfred Edgar

Private 5454, 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) formerly 12419, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 12 April 1917. Born and resident Dymchurch, Kent, enlisted Hythe, Kent. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 9.

HOPER

Arthur

Private S/9594, 2nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action 3 May 1915. Aged 22. Born and resident Dymchurch, Kent, enlisted Lydd, Kent. Son of Richard and Mary Ann Hoper, of Rock Cottage, High St., Dymchurch, Kent. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 14.

KEMP

Herbert James

Private G/4615, “C” Company, 2nd Battalion, The Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Killed in action 25 September 1915. Aged 25. Born Chart, Sutton, resident Paddington, Middlesex, enlisted Marylebone, Middlesex. Son of Charles and Emily Kemp, of Dymchurch, Folkestone, Kent; husband of Rose Louisa Hamilton (formerly Kemp), of Barrington, Shelburne Co., Nova Scotia, Canada. No known grave. Commemorated on LOOS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 13 to 15.

UNDERHILL

Thomas William

Second Lieutenant, 8th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 19 August 1916. Aged 19. Native of Wootton Court, Kent. Son of Herbert and Edith Mary Underhill, of Woodsetton, Dymchurch, Kent. Buried in BRAY MILITARY CEMETERY, Somme, France. Plot I. Row B. Grave 17.

1939 – 1945

AUSTEN

Ada Emma

Civilian. Killed by enemy action 24 August 1940. Aged 47. W.V.S.; of 1 Grove Terrace, Dymchurch. Wife of Alfred Austen. Died at Sea Breeze, Dymchurch. Death recorded by ROMNEY MARSH, RURAL DISTRICT, Kent.

AUSTEN

Alfred

Civilian. Killed by enemy action 24th August 1940. Aged 53. Resident of 1 Grove Terrace, Dymchurch. Husband of Ada Emma Austen. Died at Sea Breeze, Dymchurch. Death recorded by ROMNEY MARSH, RURAL DISTRICT, Kent.

CHURCH

Charles Joseph

Sergeant (Air Gunner) 1355162, 104 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 11 June 1943. Aged 23. Son of Joseph Henry and Elizabeth Church, of Blackheath, London; husband of Patricia Church. Buried in ENFIDAVILLE WAR CEMETERY, Tunisia. Plot V. Row B. Joint grave 5.

COOMBES

John

John COOMBES – No Trace - It is possible that this is yet another local man who died after being discharged from the service. The trustees of the memorial allowed his name to go forward on the grounds that his death was caused as a consequence of the war.

FAGG

Robert

Stoker 1st Class C/KX97611, H.M.S. “Liverpool,” Royal Navy. Died 9 January 1941. Aged 21. Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Fagg, of Dymchurch, Kent. Buried in ALEXANDRIA (CHATBY) MILITARY AND WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY, Egypt. Plot N. Grave 94.

NEWMAN

Eric

Eric NEWMAN - no definitive detail found

Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1946:

NEWMAN Eric of Shalimar Bonnington-road Dymchurch Kent died 16 August 1944 at The Recreation Ground Dymchurch Administration London 21 June to John Edward Newman baker and Olive Newman (wife of the said John Edward Newman). Effects £270 0s. 4d.

NUNN

James

James NUNN – No Match (too many J Nunn’s).

STERNDALE-BENNETT, MC

James [Bury]

Second Lieutenant 141310, 6th (H.D) Battalion, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment). Died 14 March 1941. Aged 51. Son of James Robert and Mabel Agnes Sterndale-Bennett; husband of Athene Sterndale-Bennett. Awarded the Military Cross (M.C.). Cremated at GOLDERS GREEN CREMATORIUM, Middlesex. Commemorated on Panel 3.

WHITEHEAD

Percy Hoper

Gunner 835697, 71st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (R.A). Died 17 June 1940. Aged 26. Son of Hannah Nellie Tree Hoper Whitehead, of Dymchurch, Kent. Buried in DENNEVILLE CHURCHYARD, Manche, France. Collective grave 1-5.