William was a Lance Corporal(#S/745) with the 1st Bn Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment who was killed in action in Belgium December 17, 1914. He is recorded at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (panel 45 and 47). His name is also recorded on the Tunbridge Wells War Memorial as “W. Holding”.

William was born at Urmington, Devon in the 4th qtr of 1871. The 1881 census, taken at Lee Mill Bridge in Devon gave William attending school with his three siblings. They were living with their widowed father John Holding, an agricultural labourer, born 1844 at Plympton, Devon. On October 2, 1897 William married Ellen Lavinia Gregory at St Benedicts Church in Glastenby. Ellen had been born 1869 in Devon. William and his wife had a son William John Holding (1903-1978) who had been born in Devon. Ellen Lavina Gregory was one of eight children born to Josiah Gregory, a coal miner, born 1827 and Mary Gregory, born 1847. The 1911 census, taken at Parracombe, Devon gave William as a postman. Living with him min premises of four rooms, was his wife Ellen and their son William. Before enlisting for service in the war he and his family moved to Tunbridge Wells where he continued to work as a postman. William had begun his service as a private but on April 17, 1914 he achieved the rank of Lance Corporal and soon after his enlistmenet in Tunbridge Wells on September 10, 1914, his unit with the British Expeditionary Force was sent to France. His military records noted that his next of kin was Mrs Ellen Holding of Sunnyvale Terrace, Vale Road, Tunbridge Wells; that at the time of enlistment he as a postman; and that he had prior military service with the Yeomanry Royal Kings Liverpool Regt. Probate records gave William Holding of 3 Sunnyvale Terrace, Tunbridge Wells, lance Corporal with the Royal West Kent Regt, who died December 17, 1914 in Flanders. The executor of his 85 pound estate was his widow Ellen Lavinia Holding.

Thomas was an A/Serjeant(#16162) with the 6th Bn Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment who died at Somme, Picardie, France, age 33, on September 21, 1918. He is recorded at the Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery at Epehy France. He was the husband of Lily Lade of 65 Hillview Rd., Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells. He was awarded the MM. He is also recorded on the Rusthall War Memorial. His name is also recorded on the Tunbridge Wells War Memorial as “T.J. Lade” and on the Rusthall War Memorial.

Thomas was born March 13, 1885 at Frant, Sussex and was baptised in Frant on May 10, 1885. Thomas was one of two children born to George Lade, a rural postman in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s but by 1911 was a market gardener. George Lade had been born 1858 in Frant, Sussex. Thomas’s mother was Ellen Lade, born 1860 in Frant, Sussex. The 1891 census, taken at 7 Tangier Lane, Frant, gave Thomas attending school and living with his parents and brother George, age 2. The 1901 census, taken at the same address gave Thomas as a telegraph messenger with the GPO. He and his brother George were living with their parents at that time. The 1911 census, taken at 1 Hillview Road in Rusthall gave Thomas as a postman living in premises of five rooms with his parents. His brother George was killed in WW 1 in 1918, age 19. On October 9, 1912 Thomas married Lily Burridge (1885-1975) at St Mark’s Church in Lewisham. Lily had been born June 4, 1885 and died in Tunbridge Wells. Thomas was still working with the post office at the time of his enlistment in Tunbridge Wells.

[Not recorded on the Tunbridge Wells War Memorial but is recorded on the Tunbridge Wells Post Office War Memorial as “G.T. Leaney”.] He is listed in records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as George Thomas Leaney, a corporal (5237) who died February 27, 1915, age 34, born at Lamberhurst, Sussex.He was killed in action while serving with the Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regt) 1st Btn. He is recorded at the Tuileres British Cemetery (grave ref. Sp. Mem. B.3). He was the husband of Louisa Leanery of 51 Highams Road, Tunbridge Wells.

George was born 1881 at Lamberhust, Sussex, and was one of six siblings born to James Leaney, born 1850, and Emma Leaney, nee Greagsbey (1854-1886). The 1881 census taken at Pierce Barn Cottage in Ticehurst, Sussx gave George as the youngest of the six children in the home. He and his siblings were living with their parents and at that time his father was a farm labourer.

In 1906, at Tunbridge Wells, George married Louisa Cole, who had been born 1875 at Bow, London. The 1911 census, taken at The Slade, Green Lane, Lamberhurst, gave George Thomas Leaney as a rural postman. With him was his wife Louisa Pauline (1875-1942) and their two children George Robert, born 1910 at Lamberhurts, and Louisa Rosa, born 1908 in Tunbridge Wells. Sometime after the 1911 census the family took up residence in Tunbridge Wells where George worked as a postman with the GPO. His wife Louisa died in Tunbridge Wells in the 1st qtr of 1942. Upon his death in 1915 his effects were sent to his wife.

[Not recorded on the Tunbridge Wells War Memorial but is recorded on the Tunbridge Wells Post Office War Memorial plaque as ‘C.E. Mercer’.] The records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission gave C.E. Mercer, rifleman (393676) died age 32 (born 1885). Died April 4, 1917 while serving with the London Regiment (Queen Victoria Rifles) 9th Btn. Husband od Kate Eleanor Mercer of Wardsbrook, Ticehurst, Sussex. Recorded at XIX. E.1A of the Etaples Military Cemetery.

Charles was born in the 2nd qtr of 1884 in Penshurst, Kent, and was one of eight children born to Thomas Mercer (1858-1932) and Harriet Mercer, nee Coulstock (1853-1895). Charles brother Harold John Mercer (1889-1917) served in WW 1 as a rifleman with the London Regiment 9th County of London Btn Queen Victorias Rifles (393676) and formerly 5550 with the 8th London Regiment. George died at Arras, France in 1917.Thomas Mercer had been born in Cowden, Kent and was an agricultural worker. Harriet Mercer had been born in Penshurst, Kent. The 1891 census, taken at Silcox Cottage, Pounds Bridge Road in Speldhurst gave Thomas Mercher as an agricultural labourer. Living with him was his wife Harriet and their six children, including Charles. The 1901 census, taken at the District Barracks in Chicherster, Sussex gave Charles as a soldier, one of many living at the barracks with the Royal Sussex Regiment. The 1911 census, taken at Church Street in Ticehurst, Sussex gave Charles as a rural postman living as a boarder with the family of John Sharpe, a boot repairer. In the 1st qtr of 1913 Charles married Kate Eleanor Colvin who had been born in Ticehurst, Sussex in the 4th qtr of 1887. Charles and his wife had a daughter before the war.

[Not recorded on the Tunbridge Wells War Memorial but is recorded on the Tunbridge Wells Post Office Memorial plaque as “A.W. Palmer”.] Askew William Palmer was a company serjeant major (200090) with the Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regt) 2nd and 4th Btn, who died age 29 (born 1888) on April 22, 1917 in Egypt.He was the son of Friend William and Ann Palmer of The Willows, Ightham, Sevenoaks, Kent. He is recorded at A-132 Deir El Belah War Cemetery in Israel.

Askew was born 4th qtr 1887 at Igntham, Kent and was baptised there on October 16, 1887. The 1901 census taken at the Post Office Cottage in Ightham, Kent gave Friend William Palmer, as born 1858 at Ightham and working as a journeyman house painter,.With him was his wife Ann, born 1851 at Rochester, Kent, and his five children. His son Askew was working at that time as a post office messenger, and his son Victor, age 15, was an office boy at a paper mill.The 1911 census.taken at Cprwem, South Park, Granville Road, Sevenoaks gave Askew as a boarder living with John Rivers, a civil servant postman. At that time Askew was also a civil servant sorting clerk with the post office. Probate records gave Askew William Palmer of 9 Denmark Road, Kilburn, Middlesex, company serjeant major in H.M. Army, when he died in Egypt April 22, 1917. The executor of his 471 pound estate was Alice Mabel Palmer, spinster, his sister.