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

The Royal British Legion

Edward was a Rifleman (#R/25241) with the 8th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps who died in Belgium December 27, 1917. He is recorded at the Tyne Cot Memorial (panel 115 to 119 and 162A to 163A. There is also a Serjeant E. A. Neal listed on the High Brooms memorial plaque.

Frederick was a Sapper (#991) with the 1st/3rd Kent Field Coy. Royal Engineers, who was a soldier, age 19, lost at sea during the Hythe disaster October 28, 1915. he is recorded at the Helles Memorial in Turkey (panel 23 to 25 or 325 to 328). He was the son of Mr J. and Mrs F. L. Neal of 2 Denbigh Rd., Tunbridge Wells. He is listed on the plaque at St James Church as Frederick A. Neal. See also HMS Hythe 1/3rd Field Company Royal Engineers

Possibly A. Neve as listed on the Crowborough Memorial as Private (M2/201533) with the Army Service Corp M. T. who died November 4, 1918 at age 38 and who was the husband of Kate Francis Neve of 3 Council Cottages, blackness Rd., Crowborough and is buried at the Crowborough Burial Ground (A102).

Philip was a 2nd Lieut (T) with the Queens Own West Kent Regiment, 7th Battalion,, who at age 20 died of wounds in France July 13, 1916. He is recorded at the Thiepval Memorial (pier and face 11). He was the son of Eleanor I Newbold of Imberley Lodge East Grinstead, Sussex and the late William Newbold. He was educated at Oriel College, Oxford. He was formerly of Kejma Kenya Colony. He is also recorded on the plaque at St Marks Church, Tunbridge Wells.

Charles was a Lieut (no service number) with The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), 6th Bn. who died of wounds sustained in action at the age of 20 in France on April 5, 1918. He is recorded at the Doullens Communal Cemetery (VI. A. 23). He was the son of James Henry and Alice Newcomb of Heathlands, Tunbridge Wells. He is also recorded on the plaque at St Marks Church, Tunbridge Wells and on the plaque of Tonbridge School which he had attended.

He was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. James Henry Newcomb, formerly of Heatherlands, Tunbridge Wells, and now of Strathbogie, Pembury. His elder brother, 2nd Lieut, F. Newcomb, M.C., Hampshire Regiment (So. 1910—14), who was a House Praepostor at the Tonbridge School and in the XL in his last year, enlisted in the Kent Cyclists Battalion in August, 1914, but entered Sandhurst at the end of 1916, and was gazetted to the Hampshire Regiment, August 16th, 1916, and was promoted Temporary Lieutenant, June 5th, and Temporary Captain, July 20th, 1917, in a Service Battalion of his Regiment. He was awarded the M.C. January 1st, 1918. His younger brother, M. J. Newcomb (D.B. 1917—18), left Tonbridge School whilst still quite young, and his youngest brother, A. Newcomb, entered the Tonbridge School in May, 1923. Entering the Tonbridge School in January, 1912, from Mr. Harrison's School at Caterham, Charles Sturar Newcomb, who had been a Lance-Corporal in the O.T.C. for his last two Terms, left in the Michaelmas Term of 1915 to go to Sandhurst. He and his brother were gazetted from the R.M.C. on the same day, August 16th, 1916, but not to the same Regiment. He received a commission in The Buffs and, going out to France in the following month, became attached to the 8th (S.) Battn. of his Regiment. After commanding a Platoon till the end of January, 1917, he was appointed Battalion Intelligence and Sniping Officer. He was all through the severe fighting in front of Lens after the capture of the Vimy Ridge, in the spring of 1917, and did most valuable reconnaissance work. In May, 1917, he returned to his Company, and as second in command of it took part in much stern fighting at Ypres, the Messines Ridge, Shrewsbury Forest, and elsewhere, until June 28th, 1917, when he was wounded at Hill 60 in the Ypres Sahent and invalided home suffering from shell-shock and internal injuries. His Company Commander brought his name before the CO. for gallantry and devotion to duty in a very successful operation carried out by the Battalion on the Ypres Canal, June 14th, 1917. " I was with him at the time," he says, " and was tremendously impressed by his coolness and cheerfulness under very trying circumstances." Returning to France in December, 1917, he was posted to the 6th (Service) Battn., was promoted Lieutenant, February 16th, 1918, and commanded a Platoon till the date of his death, April 5th, 1918. " On that day," as an officer wrote, " the Battalion made a glorious stand against the Germans and saved a critical situation," but Lieut. Newcomb and a brother officer were mortally wounded by the same shell. They were removed to the CCS. by the ambulance of an Australian unit fighting alongside of the Battalion, and, though he died there the same day, news of his death did not reach his Battalion till the beginning of May. His CO. wrote that they were both " brave and gallant boys, two of the best officers of the Battalion."

Thomas was born at Hastings, Sussex but enlisted for service at Tunbridge Wells. He was a Private (#10827) with the 39th Battalion, Machine gun Corps (Infantry) who died or wounds in France April 3, 1918. He is recorded at the Villeres Faucon Communal Cemetery (III. B. 14). He was formerly #3636 with the Royal Sussex Regiment.

Most likely Fleming Newton a 2nd Lieut. with the 201st Squadron of the Royal Air Force who died at age 19 May 9, 1918. He is recorded at the Adanac Military Cemetery Miraimont, France, Somme. He was the son of Isaac and Kathleen Newton of Correnden Tonbridge, Kent.

Richard was a Private (#9917) with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling fusiliers who died of wounds in Belgium November 7, 1914. He is recorded at the Pleegsteert Memorial (Panel 5). He was born at St Hampton, Hursts but a resident of Tunbridge Wells before the war. He enlisted for service at Canterbury.

No further information currently available

George was a Rifleman (#11223) with the 2nd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps who died, age 19, in Belgium October 23, 1914. He is recorded at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (panel 51 and 53). He was the son of Mrs R. Roberts of 95 Clifton Rd., Tunbridge Wells.

Charles was born in Tunbridge Wells and enlisted for service there. He was a Private (#204033) with the 1st/4th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers who died in France September 15, 1916. He is recorded at the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and face 10B, 11B and 12B). He was formerly #6590 with the Norfolk Regiment. He is listed on the plaque at St James Church as Charles P. Niker.

Herbert was a Private (L/9979) with the Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, 2nd Battalion, who at the age of 24 died in Iraq May 24, 1917. He is recorded at the Basra Memorial (Panel 29). He was the son of Mrs. S. Norman of 7 Stanley Rd., Tunbridge Wells and the late Mr. E. H. Norman.

William was a Private (#G/5942) with the 8th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment who at age 19 died in Belgium June 18, 1917. He is recorded at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (panel 45 and 47). He was the son of Frederick A and Martha C Norman of 31 North St., St Peters, Tunbridge Wells. William was born in Tunbridge Wells and enlisted for service at Tonbridge.

Frederick was a resident of Tunbridge Wells before the war and enlisted there. He was a Private (#201015) with the 2md/4th Battalion, Queens Own West Kent Regiment who at age 26 died April 19, 1917. He is recorded at the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel (Panel 4). He was the son of Charles and Harriett Norris of 5 Windmill St., Tunbridge Wells.

Joseph was a Private (#29000) with the Royal Army Medical Corps who at the age of 19 was killed in Greece September 7, 1916. He is recorded at the Salonika (Lembert Road) Military Cemetery (368). He was the son of Edith Kate Nuth of 27 Wood St., Tunbridge Wells and the late Joseph Thomas Nuth. He was born in Tunbridge Wells and a resident of the town before the war but enlisted at Brighton. He is listed on the plaque at St James Church as Joseph C. Nuth.

Albert was a Sapper (#776) with the 1st/3rd Kent Field Coy Royal Engineers who was a soldier that died at sea during the Hythe disaster on October 28, 1915. He is recorded at the Helles Memorial (panel 23 to 25 or 325 to 328). Albert was born in Tunbridge Wells and a resident of the town before the war. He enlisted at Southborough. He is also recorded on the Southborough Memorial. See also HMS Hythe 1/3rd Field Company Royal Engineers