Roll of Honour - Kent - Tunbridge Wells - World War 1

The Royal British Legion

At the time of his death October 13, 1915, at age 22 Charles was a Private (#G/4177) with the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, 6th Battalion. He died in France and is recorded at the Loos Memorial (panel 95 to 97). He was the son of Jessie Adie (nee Robinson) of 244 St John's Rd., Tunbridge Wells, Kent and the late Charles Birch Adie. Charles was born fourth quarter 1892 at Christchurch, Tunbridge Wells, lived in the town and enlisted for service there October 26, 1914. His occupation at the time of enlistment was as a shop assistant. He first began service in France on or about June 6, 1915. Charles was baptised December 2, 1894. He was not married and had no children. In the 1911 census Charles was residing at 246 St John’s Rd with his parents and siblings and was working as a hairdresser (his father was a carpenter). His parents by 1911 had 12 children but only 10 survived.

Charles was born January 10, 1895 at Ferrers Estate, Blackhurst, Tunbridge Wells. In 1901 and 1911 Charles was living with John and Sarah Prior and their family with Charles being their grandson. In 1911 Charles was living in Tubnridge Wells at 35 Lower Green Rd, Rusthall and working as a butcher and living with John Prior, age 62. Charles was a Private (#118) with 'G' Coy 16th Battalion, Australian Infantry in the Australian Imperial Force. He died in action August 22, 1915. He is recorded at the Lone Pine Memorial, Lone Pine Cemetery in Turkey (panel 51) and the Gladstone, Adelaide South Australian civil war memorial and on panel 78 of the Australian National War Memorial. He is also recorded on the Speldhurst (St Mary's Church) Memorial. He was the son of Charles Morgan and Harriet (nee Prior) of "Osterley", 34 Southend Rd, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells. Charles was educated at St James School in Tunbridge Wells and at Speldhurst. Before enlistment he worked as a farm labourer and before emigrating to Australia at age 18 he was a butcher. He enlisted at Gladstone September 16, 1914 and gave his address as H. M. Goal, Adelaide, South Australia. On December 27, 1914 he left Australia sailing from Melbourne on the ship H. M. A. T. Ceromic (A40) and eventually arrived with his battalion in Egypt where he was engaged in the defence of the Suez Canal. He was at Gallipoli prior to being killed. He is also recorded on the Rusthall War Memorial.

William had been born at Harrow and was living at Withyham before enlisting for service in Tunbridge Wells. He was a Private (#GS/61028) with the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) 7th Battalion, at the time of his death April 23, 1917 in France. He had formerly been #F/2686 with the 27th Middlesex Regiment.

Albert was born at Lower Green, Speldhurst November 1882. He enlisted for service at Epsom, Surrey and was residing at the time of enlistment at Reigate, Surrey in April 1915. He was a Private (#9979) with the 11th Service Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (city of London Regiment) who died in France October 25, 1916 at age 33. He is recorded at the Thiepval Memorial (face 8C, 9A and 16A). He was the son of Mr and Mrs George Allen. Albert attended Speldhurst School and later worked at the Reigate Golf Club in Surrey. He fought at the Somme in 1916. He is also recorded at the Speldhurst Memorial at St Mary's Church. In the 1911 census Albert is recorded as working as a horsekeeper and living at 4 Oatlands Rd., Burgh Heath, Surrey. His parents George (a bricklayer labourer) and Mary (a laundress) were living at 21 Rusthall Lower Green Rd.

Edmund was a Rifleman (#301902) with the 2906 'D' Coy London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade) who died at age 30 July 1, 1916. He is recorded at the Gommecourt British Cemetery No. 2 Hebuterne (III. B. 5). He was the son of John Edmund and Mary Ann Allen and husband of Elsie Maud Allen of 31 Mount Pleasant Rd., Tunbridge Wells.

Reginald had been a resident of Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells at the time of enlistment at Tunbridge Wells. He was a Private (#200959) with the 2/4th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment and died in Egypt April 19, 1917. He was the adopted son of William and Eliza Pring. Reginald and his adopted parents and siblings were living in 1911 at 20 Apsley St., Denny Botton, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells. The census records give him as being born 1897 at London, England. He had enlisted for service August 1915. He is also recorded on the Rushall War Memorial.

Percy is also recorded on the plaque at St Marks Church, Tunbridge Wells. Percy was a Gunner (#194646) with the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery who died at home from injuries December 22, 1916. He is recorded at the Bury St Edmunds Cemetery (31. 38A).

William was born at Norwich, Norfolk 1887 but was a resident of Tunbridge Wells before the war. In 1911 he was living at 11 Mount Sion, Tunbridge Wells. He enlisted at St Pauls Churchyard in London. William was a Private (#G/11204) with the 1st Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment and died of wounds in France April 19, 1917. Before the war William worked as a photographic dealer. He was the son of William Andrews who was a widower in 1911, age 65. William enlisted for service in 1915 and at that time he was working as a chemist’s assistant. His enlistment records describe him as being 5 ft 4-3/4" tall; next of kin William Andrews of 29 London Rd., Tunbridge Wells and that he had been wounded August 13, 1916 and died at the Military Hospital in Belfast from wounds August 13, 1916 and that his body was being sent back to his relatives. This date of death is given in his military records. The date of death of April 19, 1917 was obtained from the website of the War Graves Photographic Project. William's resting place is the Tunbridge Wells Cemetery.

At the time of his death June 2, 1917 in France, age 20, Ernest was a Private (#G/24498) with the Queens Royal West Kent Regiment, 7th Battalion. He is recorded at the Arras Memorial (Bay 7). Ernest was the son of Emma Louise Anscombe of 20 Vernon Rd., Tunbridge Wells and the late Henry Anscombe. Ernest had been born in Tunbridge Wells and enlisted in Tunbridge Wells.

At the time of his death October 28, 1915 in Turkey (including Gallipoli), age 20, Charles was a Sapper ( #904) with the Royal Engineers, 1st/3rd (Kent) Field Coy. He is recorded at the Helles Memorial (Panel 23 to 25). Charles was the son of Mrs Mary Ann Ashdown of 120 Silverdale Rd., Tunbridge Wells and the late C (Charles). J. Ashdown. He had been born in Tunbridge Wells 1895 and enlisted for service at Southborough. In 1911 Charles was working as an Errand Boy and before enlisting worked for te building firm Dunkley & Rogers and then Leacy Bros. of Chapel Place. His father had been a luggage porter. See also HMS Hythe 1/3rd Field Company Royal Engineers

At the time of his death September 3, 1916 in France, age 34, Herbert was a Lance Corporal (#C/3383) with the King's Royal Rifle Corps 11th Battalion. He is recorded at the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 13). Herbert was the husband of Caroline Allman (formerly Ashdown) of London. He was the son of Sarah Ann Ashdown of Tunbridge Wells and the late Edwin Ashdown.

No further information currently available. There is a Frederick Atkins given on the St Marks Church plaque, Tunbridge Wells who was a private with the Royal Fusiliers.

John died in France May 20, 1917 at age 29. He was at the time a Private (#G/27476) with the Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge Own), 1st/8th Battalion. He is recorded at the Arras Memorial (Bay 7). John was the son of John Clayton Austen and Francis A. Austen (nee Cockerell) and the husband of Maud Sarah Austen of 67 Clifton Rd., Tunbridge Wells. His father John was a plumber as was his brother Frank and by 1911 John was also working as a plumber. In 1911 the family was living at 8 Western Rd., Tunbridge Wells. He had been born in Tunbridge Wells and was a resident of the town and enlisted for service at Maidstone.

John died in India on May 6, 1916. He was a Private (#G/6392) with the Queens Royal West Kent Regiment, 2nd Battalion. He had enlisted in Tunbridge Wells and was living in the town at the time of his enlistment. He was born in Frant, Sussex. In 1911 he was working as a farm labourer and his widowed father was a cowman. He is also listed on the plaque at St James Church as John J. Austin.

Francis died in France August 9, 1918 at age 37. He was at that time a Corporal (#24277) with the Queens Royal West Kent Regiment, 6th Battalion, He is recorded at the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery (VII. J. 21). Francis was the husband of Mary Avard (nee Coomber) of 88 Calverley Rd., Tunbridge Wells. Francis was born at 1881 at Penshurst, Kent but was living in Tunbridge Wells at the time of his enlistment there. He was the son of Joseph (1840-1904) and Elizabeth Jane Avard (1847-1929). In 1911 Francis was working as a picture frame maker and living with his wife and two sons at 88 Calverley Rd., Tunbridge Wells.