Kidbrooke
Park:
Kidbrooke
Park was the home of Lewis Pendarves Kekewich, who lost three sons,
two within 10 days of each other; Captain John Kekewich, 8th Bn, The
Buffs (East Kent Regiment), killed in action 25th September 1915, age
24; Captain George Kekewich, City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders),
died of wounds 28th October 1917, age 28; Captain Hanbury Lewis Kekewich,
Sussex Yeomanry, killed in action 6th November 1917, age 32.
All
three brothers are listed on the Forest Row War Memorial (photo attached).
Note the names below; M C & O J Lawrence are the sons of H E Lawrence,
Haig’s aide. Kidbrooke was owned by Lewes Kekewich 1909 to 1916.
Edited
extract from Forest Row Historical Aspects and Recollections
(1984):
Kidbrooke was let
for some years until the 22nd November 1909, when it was sold to Lewes
Pendarves Kekewich for £35,000.
Lewes
Pendarves Kekewich, formerly of Lamborey Park, Sidcup, Kent, was the
third son of Trehawke Kekewich of Peamore, Devon, the ancestral home
of the Kekewich family. Lewes was born in 1859. He married, on 2nd October
1884, a daughter of Mr Sampson Hanbury of Bishopstowe, Torquay. He was
in business in London for many years, living in Sussex during that time,
was a keen sportsman, being particularly interested in hunting, shooting
and golf. His wife was also a keen horse-woman and member of the hunt.
They
had seven children, four boys and three girls, of whom two died in childhood
and three boys in the First World War.
The
Kekewich family were true supporters of Village life. The sons gave
their time and energy to the newly founded Boy Scout movement, helping
to form a troop in the village, one brother being Treasurer; and Lewes
Pendarves Kekewich provided a room in Kidbrooke Lodge as a meeting place.
The boys took the scouts to camps on Ashdown Forest and other places
in Sussex and also to the great Jamboree in Windsor Great Park.
During
the war all four Kekewich sons volunteered for service and three, John,
George and Hanbury, were killed before the end of 1917. The fourth,
Sydney, was seriously injured. A military citation regarding John, an
officer in The Buffs, states that he refused to be rescued by his men,
who would have been subjected to heavy and dangerous fire from the enemy
if they had attempted to do so. He was later reported missing and then
was presumed to have been killed.
On
28th September 1916 Mr Kekewich sold Kidbrooke for £36,000…….to
Sir James Horlick.
Note
that Sir James Horlicks is the Inventor of the 'Horlicks' drink. His
son, Major Gerald Nolekin Horlick, was also killed in World War 1 and
his name is also on the village memorial seen here.
[SDGW
states Major] Captain, Sussex Yeomanry. Killed in action 6th November
1917. Aged 32. Born 30th July 1885 at 82 Ebury Street, London SW.
Husband of Dorothy Page-Turner (formerly Kekewich), of Old Place,
Bicester, Oxon. Suffered from septic throat problems during 1916
and returned home for a while. His name was incorrectly spelled
on his records at death and it took some while to have the name
amended from KEKEWICK to KEKEWICH. Profession Metal Broker when
he enlisted. He was 5 feet 10 inches. Listed as one of the Old Etonians
Who Fought in the Great War: page 142. Buried in BEERSHEBA WAR CEMETERY,
Israel. Section M. Grave 38. Also listed on 