Private G/5914, 6th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 3rd May 1917. Age 20. Son of R and Susan Baldwin of 332 High Street, Chatham. Born Old Brompton. Enlisted Chatham. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 7.

Private L/9830, 2nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 9th February 1915. Born and resided Old Brompton. Enlisted Chatham. Commemorated on the Yepres(Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, Belgium

Corporal L/9419, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 21st January 1916. Born Sheerness, Enlisted Chatham. Resided Old Brompton. Buried Kut War Cemetery, Iraq. Grave reference E.11.

Private 4796, “C” Squadron, 9th (Queen`s Royal) Lancers. Died 15th January 1916 aged 20 years. Born Old Brompton. Enlisted and resided Chatham. Son of William and Elizabeth Bennett of Old Brompton, Gillingham, Kent. Buried Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave reference III.A.19.

Lance Corporal 9431, 3rd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. Died 24th August 1916 aged 30 years. Son of Mary Berry and the late Charles Berry. Husband of Mary E. Berry of Lydford, Devon. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

Driver, Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) - No further information currently available

H.G CARTER. Royal Navy (R.N) - No further information currently available

Able Seaman 208608 William Job CLARKE. (RFR/CH/B/10256). H.M.S. Cressy. Died 22nd September 1914 aged 31 years. Born Walthamstow, London. Husband of Catherine F. Nippress (formerly Clark) of 34 Wood Street, Old Brompton, Chatham. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel reference - 2.

Private G/41640, 8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Formerly (1780) Queen`s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 16th August 1917. Born and resided Old Brompton. Enlisted Chatham. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium.

Private 10443 John James COOK. 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers. Formerly (8129) Lancers. Died 24th August 1916. Born Dublin. Enlisted Chatham. Resided Old Brompton. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.Panel reference -Pier and face 16C.

Private 12742, 14th (Service) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. Died 7th April 1918. Born Newbridge, Co Kildare. Enlisted Portsmouth. Resided Canterbury. Buried Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. Grave reference II.E.29.

Private 10059, 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. Died 20th September 1914. Born Sidmouth, Devon. Enlisted Chatham. Resided Old Brompton. Commemorated on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne, France.

Lieutenant 30326, 8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment). Formerly No 2 Canadian Army Service Corps (1910-1914). Died 9th August 1918 aged 26 years. Born Hythe, Kent 6th April 1886. Enlisted Canada 23rd September 1914. Son of Mrs L. Dawson of Islington, Ontario, Canada.. Buried Manitoba Cemetery, Caix, Somme, France. Grave reference A.9.

Private A.W DOYLE. Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). - No further information currently available

Private A.H GOODCHILD. Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC). - No further information currently available

R.J GUNN. Royal Navy (R.N). - No further information currently available

Private S/10551, “D” Company, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 12th December 1914 aged 39 years. Born Wellington, India. Enlisted Chatham. Resided Old Brompton. Son Patrick andf Mary Ann Hamill of 38 Manor Street, Old Brompton, Chatham, Kent. Brother of William below. Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. Panel reference 2.

Rifleman 9945, “D” Company, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consorts Own). Died 3rd August 1917 aged 30 years. Born and resided Old Brompton. Enlisted Woolwich. Son Patrick andf Mary Ann Hamill of 38 Manor Street, Old Brompton, Chatham, Kent. Brother of Joseph above. Buried Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No3, Ieper, Belgium. Grave reference II.C.1.

Private CH/16513, 4th Battalion, Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI). Died 23rd April 1918. Buried nearby in the Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery. Grave reference - Naval 8.420.

Private DM2/165333, Army Service Corps (ASC). Attached 4th Pontoon Park, Royal Engineers (RE). Died 28th July 1916. Born and resided Old Brompton. Enlisted Chatham. Buried Norfolk Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Somme, France. Grave reference I.D.1.

P KEITH. Royal Navy (R.N). - No further information currently available

Sergeant, 57th Field Company, Royal Engineers (RE). Died 14th September 1914 aged 32 years. Born Templemore, Co Tipperary. Enlisted Chatham. Son of Miles and Mary Kinnear. Husband of Elenor Margaret Kinnear of 22 Paget Street, Gillingham, Kent. Commemorated on Special Memorial 34 located in Vailly British Cemetery, Aisne, France.

R.N LANDALLS. Merchant Navy (M.N). - No further information currently available

F.A.H LONGMORE. Royal Navy (R.N). - No further information currently available

V.G LOVELL. Royal Flying Corps (RFC). - No further information currently available

Corporal 164862, 251st Tunneling Company, Royal Engineers (RE). Formerly (40373) East Yorkshire Regiment. Died 18th April 1918 aged 39 years. Born Althorne, Essex. Enlisted Chatham. Son of George William and Mary Ann Matthams. Husband of Agnes Matthams of 12 Milburn Road, Gillingham, Kent. Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. Panel reference 1.

Lieutenant 84 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (RFC). Died 18th March 1918 aged 20 years. Born 14th June 1897. Son of William Henry and Amelia E. McCudden of “Pitlochry,” 37 Burton Road, Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey. Brother of both James and William below. Buried St Souplet British Cemetery, Nord, France. Grave III.D.4.

Major, J60 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Formerly Bugler (Boy 20083) Royal Engineers. killed in a flying accident at Marquise, France, on 9th July 1918. He had been returning to France to take command of No. 56 Squadron RAF and had mistakenly landed at the wrong airfield. His engine failed shortly after takeoff, possibly due to a wrongly installed carburettor. He was 23 years of age. Born Gillingham, Kent, 28th March 1895. Enlisted in 1910. Son of William Henry and Amelia E. McCudden of “Pitlochry,” 37 Burton Road, Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey. Two of his brothers Willie (killed in 1915, see below) and Jack (killed in 1918, see above) were also military pilots. Buried Wavans British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave B.10.

From the book SYMBOL OF COURAGE, THE MEN BEHIND THE MEDAL by Max Arthur ISBN 0-330-49133-4.

MCUDDEN, James Thomas Byrford T/Captain, General List and 56Squadron, Royal Flying Corps

23 December 1917 to 5 March 1918 - By March 1918, he had accounted for fifty-four enemy aeroplanes, forty-two of which had been definitely destroyed. On two occasions, he destroyed four two-seater enemy aeroplanes in a day, once in the space of an hour and a half. On 30 January 1918, during a single-handed attack on five enemy scouts, he shot down two and returned with his Lewis gun ammunition used up and the belt of his Vickers gun broken. As a patrol leader, he showed utmost gallantry and skill in the way he protected newer members of his flight, keeping casualties to a minimum.

The citation for his Victoria Cross published in the London Gazette on 2nd April 1918 read:

For most conspicuous bravery, exceptional perseverance, and a very high devotion to duty. Captain McCudden has at the present time accounted for 54 enemy aeroplanes. Of these, 42 have been destroyed, 19 of them on our side of the lines. Only 12 out of the 54 have been driven down out of control. On two occasions, he had totally destroyed 4 two-seater enemy aeroplanes on the same day, and on the last occasion all 4 machines were destroyed in the space of one hour and thirty minutes. While in his present squadron, he has participated in 78 offensive patrols, and in nearly every case has been the leader. On at least 30 occasions, whilst with the same squadron, he has crossed the lines alone, either in pursuit or in quest of enemy aeroplanes. The following incidents are examples of the work he has done recently: on 23 December 1917, when leading his patrol, 8 enemy aeroplanes were attacked between 1430/1550 and of these 2 were shot down by Captain McCudden in our lines; on the morning of the same day, he left the ground at 1050 and encountered 4 enemy aeroplanes and of these he shot 2 down; on 30 January 1918, he, single-handed, attacked 5 enemy scouts, as a result of which 2 were destroyed. On this occasion, he only returned home when the enemy scouts had been driven far east; his Lewis gun ammunition was all finished and the belt of his Vickers gun had broken. As a patrol leader he has at all times shown the utmost gallantry and skill, not only in the manner in which he has attacked and destroyed the enemy, but in the way he has, during several aerial fights, protected the newer members of his flight, thus keeping down their casualties to a minimum. This officer is considered, by the record he has made, by his fearlessness, and by the great service which he has rendered to his country, deserving of the very highest honor.

Also commemorated on a memorial in Sheerness Parish Church, Kent.

Officially credited with 57 victories but unofficially 70. At the time of the formation of the RAF (1/4/18) James was it's most decorated member. He lived for a while at 22, Belmont Road in Gillingham.

Flight Sergeant (Instructor) 61, 13 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Formerly Sapper14715 Balloon School (3 Coy), Royal Engineers. Died (Flying accident) 1st May 1915 aged 24 years. Born Chatham 3rd April 1891. Enlisted July 1905. Brother of James and John above. Buried nearby in the Chatham Cemetery, Chatham, Kent. Grave CC 959.

William transferred to the RFC in May 1912.He was truly one of the first pioneers of military aviation in the world.

M MITCHELL. Royal Engineers (RE). - No further information currently available

S PERRY. Royal Navy (R.N). - No further information currently available

S PHELAN. Middlesex Regiment. - No further information currently available

Private G/24910, 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Died 31st July 1917. Born and enlisted Maidstone. Resided Old Brompton. Commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ieper, Belgium.

Private SE/20587, Stationary Veterinary Hospital (Larkhill), Army Veterinary Corps (AVC). Died 15th May 1917 aged 20 years. Born Gillingham. Enlisted Chatham. Son of Charles Redgrave of 31 Middle Street, Old Brompton, Gillingham, Kent. Buried nearby in the Gillingham (Grange Road) Cemetery. Also commemorated on Special Memorial Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery.

Private T/265247, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 2nd August 1918. Born and resided Old Brompton. Enlisted Chatham. Buried Abeele Aerodrome Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave reference II.C.16.

Private V ROGERS. Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). - No further information currently available

J.T RUNHAM. Royal Navy (R.N). - No further information currently available

Private E RUSSELL. Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). - No further information currently available

Private 115487 Frederick William Edward SANFORD. 36th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died 8th September 1918 aged 20 years. Born Headcorn. Enlisted Chatham. Son of Mrs Georgina Sanford of 5, Brompton Cottages, Wood Street, Old Brompton, Chatham, Kent. Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. Panel 11. CWGC, SDGW & MIC all record Frederick with the surname Sanford.

Private R SCOTT. Dorset Light Infantry (D.L.I). - No further information currently available

Private 33117, 1/5th (TF) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Died 2nd November 1917. Born Old Brompton. Enlisted Aldershot. Buried Gaza War Cemetery, Israel. Grave reference - XX.B.13.

(aka Thomas FRANCIS) Sergeant L/8129, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 23rd October 1914 aged 40 years. Born and resided Birmingham. Enlisted Canterbury. Son of the late David Dunlop Simpson and Jane Simpson. Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium.

David was a Boer War veteran. He served in the Great War as Sergeant L/8129 Thomas FRANCIS.

J SIMPSON. Merchant Navy (M.N). - No further information currently available

C SINCLAIR. Royal Navy (R.N). - No further information currently available

W.L SMITH. Royal Navy (R.N). - No further information currently available

Private 242507, 1/5th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Formerly (3008) Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles (REKMR). Died 25th June 1918. Born Queenstown, Edinburgh. Enlisted Chatham. Resided Old Brompton. Son of George Edward and Elizabeth Spicer of 40 Wood Street, Old Brompton, Chatham, Kent. Commemorated on the Basra memorial, Iraq. Panel reference - 29.

Lance Corporal L/9320 “A” Company, 2nd Battalion. Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 7th November 1917 aged 22 years. Born and resided Old Brompton. Enlisted Chatham. Son of Edwin and Elizabeth Stace of 31 Manor Street, Old Brompton, Chatham, Kent. Commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ieper, Belgium.

Private, Worcestershire Regiment - No further information currently available

E.H STREDWICK. Royal Marines (R.M). - No further information currently available

Private CH/863(S), 1st (Royal Marine) Battalion, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Royal Naval Division. Died 23rd November 1916 aged 21 years. Born Gillingham. Son of Mr and Mrs Sullivan of 13 May Terrace, Old Brompton, Kent. Buried Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave reference XX.B.8.

Sapper D SUMMERS. Royal Engineers (RE). - No further information currently available

Staff Sergeant (Farrier) 696309 Charley George SUTTON. Royal East Kent Yeomanry (REKMR). Attached 74th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (RFA). Died 7th April 1919 aged 39 years. Son of Charles Thomas and Emma Sutton of Old Brompton, Kent. Husband of Mary Ann Sutton of 35 St John`s Road, Gillingham, Kent. Buried Lille Southern Cemetery, Nord, France. Grave reference II.B.12.

Stoker 1st Class K/10514, H.M.S “Russell”, Royal Navy (R.N). Died 26th June 1916 aged 23 years. Son of John Stephen and Mary Ann Tebble of 4 Garden Row, Garden Street, Old Brompton, Kent. Buried Brentwood Mental Hospital Burial Ground, Essex. Grave reference 4567.

Private 2109852, 49th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Albert Regiment). Died 12th August 1918. Born Fort Gibraltar 15th February 1897. Enlisted Calgary, Alberta 11th March 1917. Resided Big Valley, Alberta. Commemorated on the Vimy Ridge, Pas de Calais, France.

Private 8275 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. Died 7th August 1915 aged 22 years. Resided Brompton. Son of Henry and Elizabeth Tomlin of 10 Westcourt Street, Old Brompton, Chatham, Kent. Commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey.

George was killed on the “River Clyde”.

Petty Officer, Royal Navy (R.N). - No further information currently available

W TUNGATE. Royal Navy (R.N). - No further information currently available

J.E USHER. Royal Navy (R.N). - No further information currently available

G.A WATERMAN. Royal Navy (R.N). - No further information currently available

Private 11457, 1st Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment). Died 26th October 1914 aged 25 years. Son of Mr T Williams of 33 Middle Street, Old Brompton, Kent. Buried Ypres Town Cemetery, Ieper, Belgium. Grave reference A1.27.

Sub Lieutenant W.J.C. WILLIAMS. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division. Died 13th November 1916. Buried Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, France. Grave reference - IV.A.25.

Private 460657, 44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (New Brunswick Regiment). Formerly (1913-1914) 32nd Manitoba Light Horse. Died 25th October 1916. Born London 6th January 1881. Enlisted Roblin, Manitoba, Canada, 25th June 1915. Son of John Wilmot of 12 High Street, Brompton, Chatham, Kent. Commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

1939-1945

CARTER

Harold George

Ordinary Seaman D/JX566389, Royal Navy (R.N). H.M.S. Hardy. Died 30th January 1944 aged 19 years. Son of John Edward and Ethel Eliza Carter of Brompton, Chatham, Kent. Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth, Devon. Panel reference 87. Column 3. ~H.M.S. Hardy ran aground during the First Battle of Narvic, Norway, after a shell hit the bridge killing most of the crew.

GUNN

R.J

R.J. GUNN. Royal Navy (R.N) – No further information currently available

KEITH

P

Royal Navy (R.N) – No further information currently available

LANDALLS

Robert Norman

Mess Room Boy, SS “Radhurst”, (London), Merchant Navy (M.N). Died 21st February 1943 aged 17 years. Son of Mrs V. Landalls of Gillingham, Kent. Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Panel 86. ~Radhurst was a former Yugoslavian ship (Savia) taken over by Britain in 1941. She was sunk by the German submarine U-525 (commanded by Hans-Joachim Drewitz). This German U Boat was later sunk by American aircraft 21st February 1943.

LONGMORE

Frederick Andrew Henry

Telegraphist C/JX301586, Royal Navy (R.N). H.M.S. Boadicea. Died 13th June 1944 aged 22 years. Son of John Frederick Longmore of Gillingham, Kent. Commemorated locally on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Chatham, Kent. Panel reference – 77.1. ~Only 12 of the crew survived when H.M.S. Boadicea in convoy EBC 8 was sunk by torpedo bombers 16 nautical miles South West of Portland Bill in support of the Normandy landings.

LOVELL¸ D.F.C.

Victor Charles

Squadron Leader 85649, Reserve 1414 Squadron? Royal Air Force. Died 28th April 1944. Buried Heverlee War Cemetery, Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium. Grave reference - Joint grave 5.F. 12-13.

MITCHELL

Maurice

Staff Sergeant 1866961, 22 Fortress Company, Royal Engineers (RE). Died 17th December 1941 aged 31 years. Born West London. Resided Dorset. Son of Alexander and Margaret Mitchell. Husband of Edith Caroline Mitchell of Brompton, Chatham, Kent. Commemorated on the Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong, China. Panel reference - Column 7.

PERRY

S

Leading Stoker C/KX129994 Stanley Edgar PERRY. Royal Navy (R.N). Died 17th December 1946 aged 36 years. Son of Herbert James Perry and Mary Ann Perry of Chatham, Kent. Husband of Winifred Eva Perry of Brompton, Chatham, Kent. Buried nearby in the Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery. Section H. Grave reference - 3921.

PHELAN

Sylvester

Corporal 6189352, 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Died 18th December 1941 aged 38 years. Born Bedfordshire. Resided Kent. Commemorated on the Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong, China. Panel reference - Column 13. ~ Sylvester was a professional soldier and served in the Middlesex Regiment before the outbreak of war.

RUNHAM

John Thomas

Private 6290277, 5th Battalion, Queen`s Own Royal West Kent Regiment. Died 30th November 1943 aged 27 years. Born South East London. Resided Kent. Buried Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy. Grave reference - XVII.E.33.

SIMPSON

J

Merchant Navy (M.N) – No further information currently available

SINCLAIR

George

Able Seaman C/JX551564, Royal Navy (R.N). H.M.S. Redmill. Died 27th April 1945 aged 36 years. Son of Thomas and Maud Sinclair. Husband of Daisy Ena May Sinclair of Rainham, Kent. Commemorated locally on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel reference – 81.1. ~H.M.S. Redmill was sunk with a loss of 32 crew about 25 nautical miles off Mayo, Ireland by the U-1105 (commanded by Hans-Joachim Schwartz). This German submarine was later captured and became the Royal Navy submarine N.16.

SMITH

William Louis

Able Seaman C/JX557060, Royal Navy (R.N). H.M.S. Goodall. Died 29th April 1945 aged 25 years. Son of William and Edith Mary Smith. Husband of Ivy Smith. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Chatham, Kent. Panel reference – 81.1. ~H.M.S Goodall was sunk on Sunday 29th April 1945 off Kola Inlet, Murmansk, Russia by a German U-boat.

STREDWICK

Ernest Henry

Sergeant CH/22836, No 41 Commando, Royal Marines (R.M). Died 18th May 1944 aged 40 years. Son of John Albert and Ada Stredwick of Ramsgate, Kent. Husband of Eva Maud Strudwick of Brompton, Chatham, Kent. Buried Ramsgate and St Lawrence Cemetery. Ramsgate Division.Thanet, Kent. Grave reference - Section M.A. Grave 184.

TUNGATE

William

Marine CH/X1785, Royal Marines. H.M.S. Swiftsure. Died 17th April 1945 aged 26 years. Son of William and Florence Tungate. Husband of Joy Clara Tungate of Brompton, Chatham, Kent. Commemorated locally on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Chatham, Kent. Panel reference - 82.1.

USHER

John Edwin

Ordnance Artificer 4th Class C/MX51319, Royal Navy (R.N). H.M.S. Warspite. Died 27th January 1942 aged 22 years. Son of Arthur Edwin and Mary Agnes Usher. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel 63, 3.~H.M.S. Warspite took part in several notable engagements during WW2 including Narvic 1940, Matapan 1941, Salerno Landings 1943 (where she was hit by a glider bomb) and Normandy 1944. She was finally scrapped in 1947.

WATERMAN

Ernest John

Stoker 1st Class C/KX59184, Royal Navy (R.N). H.M.S. Arethusa. Died 18th November 1942 aged 23 years. Son of Joseph and Elizabeth M. Waterman. Husband of Hannah Waterman of Chatham, Kent. Commemorated locally on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Chatham, Kent. Panel reference – 62.3. ~Ernest was one of the 156 crew that died after the ship was hit by torpedoes from low flying aircraft while taking part in “Operation Stonehenge”. The ship was escorting merchant ships from Alexandria to relieve the island of Malta.

WATERMAN

George Alfred

Stoker 1st Class C/K59184, Royal Navy (R.N). Died 18th March 1946 aged 52 years. Son of Eliza Waterman and stepson of William Cain of Gillingham, Kent. Husband of Minnie Ada Waterman of Brompton, Chatham, Kent. Buried nearby in the Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery. Section H. Grave reference 3176.