Dover Express 23 October 1914 GEN. FRENCH’S DESPATCHESPORTIONS OF LOCAL INTEREST.LOCAL OFFICERS AND MEN MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES.On Monday two lengthy despatches from General Sir John French were published. The first despatch deals with the final stages of the retreat of the British Forces on Paris — a retreat that it is clear, from the despatches,... Continue Reading →
Distinguished Flying Medal
From the Dover Express of 30 Oct 1942 and the Whitstabel Times and Herne Bay Herald 07 Nov 1942 we learn of the D.F.M. awarded to Stephen Charles Cox, my 4th cousin 2x removed and about his two brothers, John Frederick Cox and Ernest Walter Cox. They were born in Canterubry to George Ernest Cox... Continue Reading →
A Dover Soldier Family
Dover Express 23 Jul 1915 We regret to learn that Mr. C. J. Howard, who resides at 2, Beach Street, has received a final letter from the War Office informing him there can be no longer any hopes of his son, 10256, Lance-Corporal William Alfred Howard "C" Company, 1st Battalion The "Queen's" Royal West Surrey... Continue Reading →
Wounded, P.O.W. and Died
John Reginald Raynes, my 4th cousin 2x removed was born in the spring of 1894 at Pembury, Kent. He was a farm labourer and the youngest son of John Raines and Emily Kneller who had 5 children. Another son, Frederick Nathaniel Raynes was a Private in the Kent Cyclist Battalion, 1855. John enlisted in November... Continue Reading →
Fifteen Relatives Serving King and country
Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald 19 June 1915 George Marsh Mount married my 3rd cousin 3x removed Mary Jane Raines on 15 Oct 1877 at St Mary The Virgin in Elham, Kent. They had 10 children, including Arthur Frederick Mount mentioned in the above article. Two other sons, Albert Frank Mount and Percy Victor... Continue Reading →
A lucky man was he
Alfred Edward Chilcott was born 23 Jul 1893 at Spaxton in Somerset, England. His parents were James Chilcott and Sarah Type. On 3 Nov 1928 he married Ethel Nellie Emery Baker at Spaxton. Alfred was my half 1st cousin 3x removed, connected to me by my 3rd great-grandfather William Chilcott who was baptised at St... Continue Reading →
S.S. Abukir, Dunkirk and Corporal Keyte of the R.A.F.
From the list of War Deaths (R.A.F. - All Ranks) 1939-1948 we have and entry that states - "Keyte, Charles T. Cpl. 531194 SS "Aboukir" 1940" Charles Thomas Keyte, my 2nd cousin 1x removed, was born 13 Feb 1914 to Charles Thomas Keyte and Louisa Mary Luckhurst. On 16 April 1938 he married Doris Esther... Continue Reading →
The Sinking Of H.M.S. Exeter
H.M.S. Exeter pictured above from the Western Morning News of 16 Mar 1942. H.M.S. Exeter was an 8,500 ton cruiser and was one of 12 warships lost over three days during the Japanese invasion of Java. The battle was from 27 Feb to 1 Mar. The Exeter, of Graf Spee fame - she exchanged shell... Continue Reading →
They came home from the trenches
When we talk about World War One, we most often talk about those who gave their lives and never returned home. But many did come home, and of those a lot had suffered wounds, injuries and disease. Percy Raines Fisher, my 4th cousin 2x removed was one of those. He had been born on 23... Continue Reading →
Cavalry Foot Soldiers
The Household Battalion was an infantry battalion of the British army during the Great War. It was formed in September 1916 from the reserves of the Household Cavalry regiments (the 1st Life Guards, 2nd Life Guards and the Royal Horse Guards) to help fill the every-increasing demands for infantry on the Western Front. Considerable effort... Continue Reading →
Maid of Kent
S. R. Hospital Ships Lost Dover Express 7 Jun 1940 The loss of the hospital ship "Maid of Kent" was officially announced in the shipping losses for the week ending May 26th. The "Brighton," another hospital ship, was sunk by an attack at the same time in Dieppe Harbour. Both are Southern Railway vessels. The... Continue Reading →
Jutland or Skagerrak?
To the Germans it was the Battle of Skagerrak and was celebrated as a victory until after World War Two, they even named their second "pocket battleship" Skagerrack in 1933. And perhaps it was, the British certainly lost more ships and men than the Germans did. To the British it was the Battle of Jutland... Continue Reading →
“For Freedom”
No. 408 "Goose" Squadron was a Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron, based in Britain and under Royal Air Force operational command. The squadron operated as part of Bomber Command's main force from 24 Jun 1941 until the end of the war. From Jan 1943 it was part of No. 6 (RCAF) Group. The squadrons motto... Continue Reading →
In the cold of France
Above Photo: A sentry post in France - Liverpool Daily Post 03 February 1940 France. February 1940. The landscape is snow-covered and there are temperatures of 10 degrees below zero. Three men died after bringing a brazier inside their billet to keep warm. Special leave to Britain is allowed and some men go home... Continue Reading →
Kut-el-Amara claims an English bricklayer
”It was during the advance at Sheik Said a shrapnel shell came along and killed the Adjutant, wounded the Colonel, killed Corpl. Luckhurst, and also killed a private." So said a comrade of Corporal Harry Luckhurst, T/1638 5th Battalion of The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) my 1st cousin 2x removed who was killed in action... Continue Reading →
