WW1 War Graves in Tonbridge Cemetery
There are 28 Commonwealth War Graves in Tonbridge cemetery.
Some are names not remembered on the Memorial Garden wall, and some are not
from Tonbridge, so how did they die and why are they buried in Tonbridge
cemetery? The short biographies below, written by Pam Mills, offer some
explanation. (References obtained from www.cwgc.org/
)
Further information about men remembered on
family graves in the Cemetery, and the location of a considerable number of
WW1 Memorials in the area can be found at
www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/ (Click 'Location Search' and search for
Tonbridge)
Annison, Arthur
Liddiard. Corporal 244353 63rd RND Signals Coy Royal
Engineers, born 1885, son of Richard and Agnes, lived at 130 High Street; the death of his father and the fact he was unable to
get home for the funeral affected him. He committed suicide by cutting
his throat whilst on leave at his home address (for full report see coroners
court papers) . He died on 17 January 1917 age 32; buried in plot A 529.
Baker, James
Horace. Pioneer 377458 Royal Engineers; born 1888, married Ethel Caborn
lived in St Marys Road. Died at home of influenza and pneumonia 30
October 1918, age 30; buried in plot B 3369.
Carter, Arthur
J. Private 7/3518 Buffs 2/4th East Kent Regiment, posted to Tonbridge and
succumbed to double pneumonia, was admitted to Sandycombe Military
Hospital in London Road. (Procession of full military honours can be
seen
here) Died 12 January 1916, age 35; buried in plot B 3109
Cobel, William
Gordon. Private TR10/31150, 32nd Bn
Training reserve, killed in an air raid at Dover, born at Camberwell in
1899, the son of William Frederick and Annie Marie Cobell. By 1917 lived
in Chichester Road Tonbridge . Died 22 August 1917 age 18 He was;
buried at Tonbridge with full military honours. Buried in plot B 3227
Cogger, George.
Sapper 16339 1st Army Signal Corps Royal Engineers, born
1888, son of Henry and Eliza living in Havelock Road, discharged 12
January 1917. Records state he was not physically fit for duty. Died 19
January 1917 at home age 28; buried in plot B 587.
Crampton, Herbert
George. Private G/40348 3/10th Bn Middlesex Regiment, born at
Stoke Newington in 1885, the son of George and Elizabeth Crampton.
Married Alethea Snelling, lived in Stafford Road. He was wounded in
France and sent home where he died in Richmond Military hospital age 32
on 2 November 1917; buried in plot B 3214
Draper, Herbert.
Sapper 540594 Royal Engineers, born 1894 Lavender Hill, contracted
influenza whilst at home then pneumonia set in. Died 10 November 1919
age 25; buried in plot A 3309.
Edwicker, Robert
Adam. Private 20205 3rd Supernumerary 2/4th Bn
Royal Sussex Regiment, born 1875 in Brighton, posted to Tonbridge and
billeted in Chichester Road. He was guarding bridges on the railway
between Tonbridge and Penshurst where he shot himself in the head; he
was found in his sentry box by an officer who heard the shot. Believed
affected by sunstroke having returned from Malta and the tropical
weather having affected him. Died 5 July 1915 age 42 (further details
can be found in the coroners court records); buried
in plot C.
1531.
Foster, Alfred
George. Air Mechanic 2nd Class 59189 Royal Flying Corps, born
in Tonbridge in 1889, the son of Henry and Clara. In 1911 he was living
in St Stephen Street; died in training 2 April 1917 of meningitis age 28;
buried in plot B 1569.
Gabriel, Henry
George. Sapper 141774 Royal Engineers, born in Tonbridge in 1878. He
married Minnie Apps in 1899 and lived in Houselands Road. He died of a
haemorrhage from a duodenal ulcer on 15 August 1919 age 41 and is
buried in plot B 3499.
Gardiner, Albert.
Private 242565 5th Bn Leicestershire Regiment, born in 1884 in Tonbridge,
was the adopted son of Frank and Annie Gardner, living at 4 New Wharf.
Serving in France he became ill and had blood poisoning. He was sent
back to the UK arriving at Lewisham Military hospital on 13 July and a
few weeks later died on 6 September 1917 age 33; buried
in plot B 3207
Holloway, Claude
Abrey Marseille. Captain Royal Air Force and Queens Own Royal West Kent
in Godstone, born Surrey in 1894, the son of Percy and Millicent. Lived
at 2 Hadlow Road. He was wounded on October 28th 1914 and had his leg
amputated. Posted as Adjutant to Eastleigh (RAF), contracted influenza
which later developed into typhoid fever; died 19 December 1919 age 25;
buried in plot A 1372.
Killick, Roydon
Nelson. Lieutenant DCM MM Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).
Born in Tonbridge in 1897, son of Charles and Annie 8 Gladstone Road; involved in a traffic accident in Andover and died
on 8 December 1919 age 22; buried
in plot A 3301
Lawrence, Arthur
William. Private 4945 5th Reserve Bn East Surrey Regiment, born
1889, died 20 December 1916 age 27. Whilst posted to Tonbridge his
section were undertaking trench training at Bloodshot field. The bomb he
was throwing hit the parapet and fell in front of him he suffered severe
injuries and later died in VAD hospital Quarry Hill House (for more
information see coroners report). He is buried in plot B 3155.
Liddle, John.
Private 20480 Cameronians 5th BN Scottish Rifles billeted to
Tonbridge and succumbed to an asthma attack, being taken to VAD 44 at
Quarry Hill House where he
died 27 April 1915; buried in plot C 1373
Linay, Robert
Elrick Murray. Air Mechanic 2nd Class 48161 Royal Air Force,
born 1895 in Australia, son of Margaret and Robert. He was noted to have
attended Heath school at Horsmonden. Fell victim to influenza and died of
pneumonia in the Infirmary Hospital Hitchin on 2 December
1918, age 23; buried
in plot A2108 with family.
Marx, Louis.
Soldaat 2 kl OV Karibiniers Belgian Army, born 1890, conveyed to England
after the siege of Antwerp, received treatment for his wounds at
Tonbridge school sanatorium before being transferred to the VAD 44 at
Quarry Hill House where died of kidney failure on 20 November 1914 age 24; buried
in plot R.A.C 1577
Moss, Cyril
James. Second Lieutenant 2nd Bn Suffolk regiment, born in
Tonbridge in 1893, son of James and Louisa of Woodfield Road. He was
posted to Salonica in January 1916 and had the misfortune to be kicked by a
horse in May. Septic poisoning set in and he was bought back to England
for treatment, but alas died on 19 August 1916, age 23; buried in plot A 2434
Peake, John
Thelwal, Second Lieutenant 2nd Bn Northamptonshire Regiment,
born 1895, son of Robert and Ada. In 1911 they are recorded as living at
‘Madeline’, 6 Dry Hill Park. He was wounded in action and taken to
Boulogne hospital where he died on 11 May 1915 age 19; brought back to
England and buried
in Tonbridge plot 115/1168
Pollington, William
Driver. 541197 495th Field Company Royal Engineers, born in Tonbridge in
1883, son of Stephen and Eliza, lived in Lavender Hill' Having survived
the HMS Hythe disaster he later died, 28 March 1920 age 37;
buried in plot B 1622
Price, James
Edward. Private 629411 47th Bn Canadian Infantry, born in 1890,
son of James and Fanny of Tonbridge. Emigrated to Canada before 1911. He
suffered from frost bite that in turn led to trench foot which led to
other complications that led to his death from tetanus poisoning. He
died on 1 May 1917 age 29; buried in plot A 1473
Salmons, William
Edward. Private 267903/1st Bedfordshire Regiment born, in Tonbridge in 1897, the
son of George and Mary, lived in Barden Road, died 1 November 1919 age 22;
buried in
plot 32.3537
Sheldrake, Fred
Arthur. Stoker 2nd class K/25588 Royal Navy (HMS Dido),
born 1892, son of Henry and Lucy of Hectorage Road. 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; buried in plot B1546
Smith, William
Ernest. Private 270833 Depot Buffs - East Kent Regiment, born in Tonbridge
in 1886, the son of Alfred and Eliza. Married Florence Louisa
Leveridge. He was seriously wounded in France in September 1918 and was
sent back to England to Sheffield Hospital for treatment. He was later
transferred to Fort Pitt, Chatham and then Rusthall VAD Hospital where
he died on 10 June 1919 age 33; buried in plot B1614
Stewart, James
Robert. Private 2250 1/14th Bn
London Regiment (London Scottish), born in 1885, posted to France
but was
seriously wounded by shell fire when coming out of the line on 14th May
1915. He was brought back to England, but died of his wounds in Bevan
House hospital, Sandgate on 20 May 1915; buried in Tonbridge to be near
relatives and friends plot A 343
Stone, Wesley.
Sapper 1314 Kent Fortress Coy Royal Engineers, born in 1879, the son of George
and Ellen, married Edith Botten. He contracted cerebro-spinal meningitis
in June 1915 and was immediately sent to Fort Pitt Hospital, Chatham. He
was seriously ill for six weeks before he died of exhaustion on 23
July 1915 age 36; buried in plot C 1925
Thayer, John
Robert MM. Battery Quartermaster Sergeant 58508 6th Reserve Bde
Royal Field Artillery, born in 1892, the son of Thomas and Mary. Married
to Edith Delicate. He was wounded with a gunshot wound to his right eye
on 27th July 1917. He returned to England on 5th August 1917. He fell
ill in September 1918 and died of pneumonia died on 28 September 1918 age
26; buried in plot B 3367
Williams, Charles U. W Driver 5561
F Bty, Royal Horse Artillery, born in 1883, the son of Charles and Sophia of
Albert Road. In August 1916 he was discharged in poor health and
subsequently died at home 19 February 1917 age 31; buried in plot B3172 ▲Top
