Listed here are men who were born, lived, or worked in Tonbridge but whose names do not currently appear on the Memorial Wall. Men whose names already appear on memorials in other towns or villages are not included here. The list is not exhaustive and may be added to if future names come to light.
Arthur L. Annison was born in Tonbridge in 1885, the son of
Richard and Agnes Annison. In 1911 the family lived at 130 High Street,
Tonbridge. Richard had a grocer’s shop there and Arthur, a qualified
electrical engineer, was working as a patent agent. Following the outbreak
of war Arthur enlisted on 22nd September 1914 and was passed fit for service
with the Engineer units of the Royal Naval Division. He was subsequently
transferred to the Royal Engineers on 31st December 1916. He saw service in
both Egypt and France as a cycle dispatch rider, Corporal 244353 in the 63rd
RND Signals Company. Whilst in France he was ill on a number of occasions,
and whilst recovering from a bout of myalgia in January 1917 he received the
news that his father was close to death. He was granted special leave to
return home, but arrived on the 11th January, shortly after the death and
funeral of his beloved father. The balance of Arthur’s mind was disturbed
and he committed suicide on 17th January 1917 at the family home in
Tonbridge. He is buried in Tonbridge Cemetery.
Henry Barton was born in 1899 at Southborough, the son of
William and Harriet Barton. The family lived in Tonbridge from 1901 onwards.
In 1901 they were at 64 Woodside Road and in 1911 at Bloodshotts Cottage,
Tonbridge. Henry served as Private 495259 with the 13th Battalion of the
London Regiment and though details of his service are not known, he was
awarded the Victory and British War Medals and so must have seen active
service. He died of sickness on 7th June 1919 and is buried in Beirut War
Cemetery.
Harry Joseph Clifton was born in Tunbridge Wells in 1875,
the son of John and Fanny Clifton. He spent his early life in Tonbridge. The
family were at 11 Baltic Road in 1881. He became a toolsmith in adult life
and lived in Wandsworth, where he married Elizabeth Goodwin in 1899. He
served as Private 16555 in the 6th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment and
died on 17th July 1917. He is buried at the Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery,
Harcourt. His wife Elizabeth subsequently remarried and lived at 138 Vale
Road, Tonbridge.
Hugh Stanley Cummings was born at West Ham in 1875, son of
Henry and Louise Cummings. The family lived in Tonbridge from about 1881 and
in 1901 were living in Pembury Road, with Hugh working as a wine merchant’s
clerk. However he emigrated to Canada in 1904. He enlisted in the 88th Bn
Victoria Fusiliers as Private 180026 in November 1915. He died on 5th March
1917 and is buried at Villers Station Cemetery.
Herbert Draper was born in Southborough in 1894, the son of
William and Sarah Draper. Before enlisting at Tonbridge he worked as a
cricket ball maker. He joined the Kent Fortress Royal Engineers as Sapper
1359. He married Ethel Esther Avery at Tonbridge on 17th January 1918 and
they lived at 116 Lavender Hill. He died of pneumonia following influenza.
The doctor gave the opinion that his physical strength had been much
weakened by an illness he had contracted whilst on active service. He died
on 10th November 1919 and is buried in Tonbridge Cemetery.
John Robert Dunmall was born in Tonbridge in 1894, the son
of Albert and Eliza Dunmall, and lived at 117 Priory Road. Before joining he
gave his occupation as butcher He joined the Canadian Infantry 8th Bn as
Private 234747 on 14th April 1916 and died on 5th October 1917 he is buried
at Aix-noulette communal cemetery extension.
Benjamin Arthur Hoadley was born in 1883 in Uckfield. He
married Rosa Buss in 1904 and was living in Tonbridge after 1911 at 1
Drayton, Road working for Mr Foot the Butcher in Tonbridge. He joined the
4th Royal West Kent Regt at the start of the war then transferred to Rifle
Brigade 24th Bn as Lance corporal 206266. He was sent to India in October
1915 where he died on 24th October 1918. He is remembered on the Karachi
1914-18 War Memorial.
Herbert Honess was born 1892 in Malling, the son of David
and Evangeline. In 1911 they were living at 36 Woodside Road and he was
working as a plumber. He joined the Royal Navy as Stoker K/18559 and was
aboard HMS Kale when it struck a mine on 27th March 1918. He is remembered
on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Sydney Richard Kember MM was born in Tonbridge in 1892, the
son of Thomas and Laura Kember. They lived at 33 Uridge Road. However it
seems the family emigrated and Sydney joined the Canadian Infantry 27th Bn
on 7th December 1915. He died on 17th May 1918 after having been awarded the
Military Medal. He is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery extension No 2.
Jack Leigh was born in Tonbridge in 1885, the son of George
and Jane Leigh. In 1911 the family were living at 10 Waterloo Road and Jack
was working as a labourer. He joined The Buffs (East Kent Regt) as Private
G/18744 and was killed in action in 11th July 1917. He is remembered on the
Arras Memorial.
Percy Constantine Miles was born in Tonbridge in 1896, the
son of William and Charity Miles. They lived at 20 Garden Road in 1901, were
listed in Woodford Green in 1911 but back to Tonbridge and recorded as
living 141 St Mary’s Road in 1917. Percy joined the Royal Fusiliers 7th Bn
as Private 54828 and was killed in action on 28th May 1917. He is remembered
on the Arras Memorial.
Hubert Gordon Punnett was born in Tonbridge in 1876, the son of George and
Emily Punnett. In 1881 the family were living in ‘The Firs’, Dry Hill Park
Road but Hubert emigrated to Canada in 1898 and joined the Canadian Infantry
60th Bn as a Lieutenant in 1915. He died on 26th November 1916 and is buried
at Nine Elms Military Cemetery, Thelus.
Herbert George Reed was born in Tonbridge in 1896, the son
of William and Ellen Reed. In 1911 they were living at 92 Woodside Road and
William was working as a grocer’s shop assistant. He enlisted in the Royal
West Kent Regiment, 6th Bn, as Private G/391in June 1916. He was killed in
action on 3rd July 1916 and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. By the
end of the war the family had moved to 67 Priory Road, Tonbridge.
Fred Arthur Sheldrake was born in Tonbridge in 1892, the
son of Henry and Lucy Sheldrake. They lived at 34 Hectorage Road in 1911,
when Fred was working as a Railway engine cleaner. He joined the Royal Navy
as Stoker K/25588. At some point during the early hours of Monday
3rd January 1916, just hours before he was due to end his leave and return
to duty, he went into the bathroom, connected a length of rubber hose to the
gas mantle and committed suicide, gassing himself. For more details
see Coroner’s Report. He is buried at Tonbridge Cemetery.
Oswald Wightwick was born in Tonbridge in 1892, the son of
William and Minnie Wightwick and brother to Sidney who also fell and is
remembered on the Tonbridge Memorial. The family lived in London Road,
Tonbridge, but in 1911 Oswald was a lodger at 32 Bayhall Road, Tunbridge
Wells and working as a civil service clerk. He joined the 18th London
Regiment as Private 1882 in March 1915 and was killed in action on 9th
October 1915. He is buried at Le Treport Military Cemetery.
Jim Hewitt Woodhams was born in Tonbridge in 1894, the son of Henry and
Eliza Woodhams. Henry was a game keeper and the family lived at Colebrook
Park Lodge in High Brooms. Before joining the East Surrey Regt, 12th Bn, as
Lance Corporal 19558 Jim was a gardener . He was killed in action on 7th
June 1917 and is buried at Voormezeele Enclosure No 3.