Abbot, A. S. S.

Adolphus Sandon Sydney Abbot, GS14615. Adolphus was a Corporal in the 4th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. He was born in Wimderara, British Guiana, and lived in Croydon when he enlisted there. He died on 17th January 1917. He is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery (above), which is the largest CWGC cemetery in France.

( Simon Chambers' great uncle Frederick Baker is buried at Etaples, and this is the view from his grave)

Ackehurst, A. W.
Arthur William Ackehurst, G23200. He was a Private in the 8th Battalion of The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). He was killed in action at the age of 19 on 2nd February 1918, and is buried at the Jeancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France. 

He was the "dear son" of Mr and Mrs Ackehurst of 12 Edgar Road, Buckland, Dover, and had been employed by H F Caspall, an undertaker, before enlisting in Dover on 14th February 1917. 

 

It is only the mother that knows the sorrow, It is only the mother that knows the pain, Of losing a son she loves so dearly, And knows she will never see him again. Could I have raised his dying head, Or heard his last farewell, The pain would not have been so hard, For one who loved him so well. They miss him most who loved him best Mum, Dad, Sisters and Brothers
	Announcement from 1940: In loving memory of our dear son and brother ... A loving son and brother, true and kind' a beautiful memory left behind. From Mum, Dad, Sisters and Brothers

(Memorial) (Article)

Footnote: In WWII brothers Alfred became a Sergeant in the RAAF, Albert served in the Army, and William was with the Royal Navy 

Addley, E. D.
Edward Dickers Addley, L/3401. He was an Officer's Steward, 2nd Class, Royal Navy. His parents were George and Caroline Elizabeth Addley, from 10 Castle Hill Road, Dover, and he was sixth cousin to Sidney Adley, below. He was killed on 5th September 1914, a month after the war had begun, when the HMS "Pathfinder" was torpedoed at 4.30pm by the submarine U21, commanded by Otto Hersing. Edward was 27 and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

The announcement of his death read: "Addley - on Saturday, September 5th, by the sinking of HMS "Pathfinder", Edward (Teddie) Addley, aged 27 years, eldest son of Mr and Mrs G Addley of 7 Woolcomber Lane, Dover. Dearly loved, and deeply mourned by his sorrowing family and friends." 

The "Pathfinder" was a light cruiser and was the first vessel to be sunk by submarine. The torpedo struck a magazine, and only 11 of the 270 men survived. The vessel had been berthed at Dover for some time, and was a Chatham ship, thus there were a number of Dover men aboard.

Ad(d)ley, S.
Sidney Addley, G19391. He was a Private in the 7th Battalion in The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). He was born in Dover, but enlisted in Canterbury on 1st December 1916 at the age of 28.

Sidney was the youngest son of Mrs Eliza Adley of  7 Hawkesbury  Street and her husband Frederick. Sidney had spent leave between 22 September to 1 October 1917 at the Railway Inn, Hawkesbury Street, the address of his mother and his sister Violet, then 22.

His older brother William Frederick lived at Manor Road. The  postcard was sent by Sidney on 1st October 1915 through the Army Post Office to William. It reads, "Dear Will, Just a card to let you know that I am off tomorrow, pleased to say I am going on fine trusting you are all the same. I remain, Your Loving Brother, Sid.".

Sidney died through broncho-pneumonia on 21st October 1918 and is buried in Villiers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery in France. Returned to his mother after his death were his few possessions: his identity disc and cap badge, some letters, a note book and photo case, his purse, lighter, and watch and strap, and his scissors and his mirror.

Sidney was sixth cousin to Edward Addley, above, and was also first cousin once removed to Ronald Adley , a casualty of WWII. Sidney's second cousin once removed, William Alfred Adley, ran a draper's shop in Dover, on the corner of Biggin Street and Pencester Road (pictured in 1891). The shop was established around 1879, and in Mr Adley's "various departments Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Piauen, Valenciennes dispensed through him their various specialities ... also Indian and Turkish embroideries, specimens from Damascus, Syria, Poonah, Peshawar, as well as from China and Japan". He had a dressmaking workshop to the rear of the building. This branch of the family lived at 7 Maison Dieu Road before moving to Liverpool around the 1890s.

All people with the surname of Adley/Addley are related; more information on this fascinating family may be found on the Addley-Stevens website  

with thanks to Lee Adley Stevens

Ahern, H. W.
Harold Whitehorn Ahern/Ahearn, L/10028, was a Lance Corporal (appointed 8 August 1914) in the 1st Battalion of the Buffs (East Kent Regiment). He was a milk salesman, before enlistment in Dover on 11 July 1913. He was killed in action on 18th October 1914, aged 19. He is commemorated on Panel 2 of the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.

Harold was born at No 1 Battery, Dungeness in Kent. He was brother to Leonard Ahern, and they were two of the six sons of Mr and Mrs Stephen Ahearn of 60 Mayfield Avenue, Buckland, Dover. Five of these sons served in the war. There were also seven daughters, two of whom died as children. 

	A sudden change, in a moment I fell, I had no time to bid my friends farewell, Think nothing strange, death comes to all, I today, tomorrow you may fall. From Mother and Father
We often sit and talk of him when we are all alone, For memory is the only friend that grief can call its own; Like ivy on the withered oak when other things decay Our love for him will still keep green and never fade away. He's gone, the one we loved so dear, to his eternal rest. From Gertie and Harry

(Exhibition 06)

Ahern, L. J.
Leonard John Ahern, 4220, was a Rifleman in the 2nd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). He enlisted at Dover and was killed in action at Neuve Chappelle between 12th-14th March 1915, aged 24. He is commemorated on panel 44 of the Le Touret memorial, France.

The postcard talks about Leonard's training before being sent overseas. In it he mentions that he is a first-class shot, which will earn him another 6d (sixpence) (This may refer to a bounty for each enemy soldier he will shoot).

Leonard was born at Cowgate (Brixton?) Isle of Wight. He was brother to Harold Ahern, above, and was known as "Fatty" to the family.   

Leonard John Ahern	Harold Whitehorn Ahern	Albert Edward Ahern, brother, on active service with the Royal Engineers
Stephen Charlie Ahern, brother, with the RFA, was wounded, then went to India	Albert Whiddon, cousin, RMLI, killed in action on HMS Defence, 1916, aged 24	Frederick Hawkins, cousin, killed in action in France, September 1915

There is a Family Bible, containing the names of the parents and all the children of the family. Some entries are difficult to read, below is an attempted transcription

Note: Ada became Mrs Holt, living in Hythe. One of the other sisters became Mrs Youden, of Penny Pot Farm, Hythe

 (Exhibition 06)
with thanks to Mr Winter

*Alderson, A. E.
Albert Evelyn Alderson,. He was a Captain in the 3rd Battalion of The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), attached to the 1st Battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was drowned at Salonika on 11th March 1918, and is buried in Struma Military Cemetery, Greece. He is also commemorated on the River memorial. He was the third son of Mary Alderson, of "Weeford," River, Dover, and the late Rev. E. A. Alderson (Chaplain to the Forces, 1st Class)  

Allen, S.
Stuart Allen, G/13700. He was a Lance Corporal in the 6th Battalion of The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). He died on 3 May 1917 and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Bay 2 in France, and at the Congregational Church, now the United Reformed Church, in Dover. He is also commemorated on the SEC Railway memorial in Dover, having been employed as a Saloon Waiter ¹.

He was born at Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leicestershire, and was the son of William Allen, of 39, Dour St., Dover. He enlisted at Dover.

1  occupation kindly supplied by  Gina Baines

Amos, A. E.
Albert E. Amos, 52863. He was a Gunner in the 25th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was born at Peckham, Surrey, and enlisted in Dover. He died in action on 13th/14th October 1916 at Bray on the Somme, aged 22. He is buried in Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte in France, in grave reference I L 45. He is also commemorated on a tablet of marble in the Unitarian Church in Dover, and on the River memorial, which area of Dover is where he lived.

Amos, R.
Richard Amos, 910182. He was a gunner in the Territorial Force of the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery. He enlisted in Dover in 1912 and went to India on 29th October 1914. From there he went to Mesopotamia where he was in hospital for nine months. He died in Simla Hospital, India, from colitis, after much suffering, at the age of 21 on 27th January (June?) 1918, and is commemorated on the Kirkee 1914-1918 memorial, India.

He was born in Dover and was the "dearly beloved" second son of of Mr and Mrs Jack Amos, of 54 Manor Road, Maxton, Dover.

 

They miss him most who loved him best, Far, far away, in a foreign land, Under a scorching sun, Death's sickle reaped and garnered in Our loved and dearest one. The face we loved is now laid low, The fond true heart is still, The hand that often clasped in ours, Lies now in death's cold chill, We do not know what pain he bore, As we never saw him die, But we'd have liked to have seen him, If only to say good bye. Never forgotten by his ever loving Father and Mother, Brothers and Sisters

Andrews, C. R.
Charles Raymond Andrews, a Captain in the 2nd Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment. He was 25 when he died on 24 May 1915, and is commemorated on Panel 19-22 on the Menin Gate in Belgium. He was the son of Mrs A G Andrews of 6 Ennismore Gardens, Dover, and the late Lieutenant Colonel R C Andrews, of the Indian Army. 

Andrews, G. W.
George William Andrews, G/24812. He was a Lance Corporal in the Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) (and was formerly 9026, in the East Kent Regiment (The Buffs)). His birth is registered in the June 1894 quarter at Dover; he was the eldest son, and brother to Richard Andrews, below. Their parents, George Morley Andrews, born in 1870, and Agnes (née Jenkins) were married in 1893 at the register office in Castle Street, Dover.

George went to St Mary's school and afterwards worked in engineering for the Dover Harbour Board. He enlisted at Dover. He was reported missing and many months later later as having been killed in action in Flanders on 26 October 1917. He was 21. His body was later found, and is buried at Perth Cemetery (China Wall) near Ypres in Belgium.

The mourning card states that George died from wounds. The verse reads:

Little we thought when he bade us goodbye,
He had left us forever, he left us to die.
When we look at his picture, and thing how he died,
A brave British solider, for all of us he died.

We often sit and talk of him, when we are all alone,
For memory is the only friend that grief can call its own.
Like ivy on the withered oak, when all other things decay,
Our love for him will still keep green, and never fade away.

"They miss him most who loved him best"

(We Remember 06)
with thanks to Mr G Pitts, Mr B Smith, and Mrs L Horne

Andrews, R. S.
Richard Steven (Stephen) Andrews, G37467. His birth is registered in Dover in the March 1898 quarter, and he was the second son, and younger brother to George Andrews, above. He attended St Mary's school and later worked for the Dover Engineering Company. During the Great War he became a Private in the 7th Battalion of The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), having enlisted at Dover.  Dick was wounded and came home on convalescence. He returned to the Front in February 1918, and was wounded again, this time fatally. He died on 21st March 1918. He left a sweetheart in Folkestone, Eliza, whom he knew as Li. She called him "dearly loved".

His grave is in the Noyon New British Cemetery, France. Both brothers were also com-memorated on the memorial at Christchurch in Folkestone Road, which was demolished in the 1970s. Later one of their sisters named her son after them both.

1919 - In ever loving memory of my dear sweetheart, Dick, Private Richard Andrews, aged 20 years, who was killed in action on March 21st 1918, at St Quentin, France. A loving sweetheart, good and kind, Loved by those he left behind. No friend like him on earth I find. Gone but not forgotten. Inserted by his heart-broken sweetheart, Eliza (Folkestone)

with thanks to Mr G Pitts, Mr B Smith, and Mrs L Horne

above: George and Richard's parents, George and Agnes Andrews. Mrs Andrews had died by the time Dick was killed.
left: Dick's "dead man's penny"

(We Remember 06)

Anstrews, H. R. (correctly, Andrews)
Henry Richard Andrews , K/12672. He was a Stoker, 1st Class, in the Royal Navy. He was killed, aged 22 (20), when his light cruiser, HMS "Arethusa", hit a mine in the North Sea on 11th February 1916. He was an old St Mary's schoolboy, and "the eldest and beloved" and "loving son" son of Henry James and Henrietta Andrews of 32 Military Road, Dover. He had brothers and sisters. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial in the United Kingdom.

Arnold, W. J.
William John Arnold, Able Seaman, WILLIAM JOHN, S.S. "Achille Adam" (London), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 23 March 1917. Age 27. Son of Edward Richard and Elizabeth Hannah Arnold, of 13, Bulwark St., Dover. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial and on the SEC Railway Memorial (Marine Section) in Dover, United Kingdom.

Oh, how swift was the parting; Oh, how keen the pain he bore; yet I know that some day, somewhere, He and I will meet once more. From his heart-broken sweetheart, Daisy

Ashman, C. W.
Charles William Ashman, G/5072. He was born in Dover and enlisted there, becoming a Private in the 8th Battalion of The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). He is buried in the Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Extension in Belgium, having died of wounds at Poperinghe, 15 June 1917, aged 25 (35). He was the fourth son of the late Mr and Mrs Ashman of 1 Dour Cottages, Wood Street, Dover, employed by the International Stores before enlisting.

A. Marsh of 12 Queen Street, Dover, requested that Charles' name should be put on the Town Memorial. Their "darling brother", whose nickname was Nipp, was "never forgotten by his devoted Brothers and Sisters". They added, "He did his bit".

left: the original marker for Private Ashman's grave right: the CWGC headstone for his grave below: the words embossed on his wooden original marker. They read: G/5072 Private C W Ashman 8th Bn The Buffs Died of Wounds 15/617

with thanks to Mr J C E Marsh

Atkins, H. R.
Henry R. Atkins, K/7427. He was a Leading Stoker, Royal Navy, and was killed in action at the age of 27 on 23rd January 1917 when the HMS "Simoom" was torpedoed after having come under heavy gunfire from a destroyer. He was the son of Henry Edward and Elizabeth Jane Atkins of 122 Clarendon Place, Dover. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

	Sleep on, thou mighty dead, A glorious tomb they've found thee, The broad, blue sky above thee spread, The boundless waters round thee. No vulgar foot treads here, No hand profane shall move thee, But gallant fleets shall proudly steer, And warriors shout above thee. from loving Mother, Father, Brother, and Sister
Gone is the face we loved so dear, Silent is the voice we long to hear, Too far away for sight or speech, But not too far for our thoughts to reach. Never forgotten by his ever loving sweetheart, Florrie

Harry Atkins is related by marriage to the Gibbens family

Attenborough, H. G. G.
Herbert George Gomer Attenborough, 36843. He was a Serjeant at No 2 Depot, Royal Garrison Artillery. He was born at Chislehurst and was the son of George Herbert and Marian Attenborough of 8 Mathews Place, Dover. He died on 21 September 1917, aged 23, and is buried at Charlton Cemetery, Dover in the United Kingdom. His Grave reference I G 12.

Austen, F.
Frank Austen, 160103. In the 1st Kent Heavy Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery, he was a Gunner, and was was 41 when he died of wounds in France on 25 March 1918. He is buried in the Bac-du-Sud British cemetery in France, grave reference I C 10.

Born at Ramsgate, he was the husband of Rosie Austen of 97 Balfour Road, Dover, in which town he enlisted.

The headstone is at St Mary's, and reads:

In Loving Memory of Rose Austen who died 29th December 1930 Aged 53 years "The night is spent, the day is at hand"

Also of Frank Austen Husband of the above who was killed in action 25th March 1918 Aged 41 years. Buried Bac-Du-Sud Cemetery, Bailleulval, France

 photo and transcription with thanks to Joyce Banks

Austin, J. J.
John James Austin, 44355. He was born in Dover and enlisted in Woolwich, becoming a Private in the 10th Battalion, South Wales Borderers (and having formerly been 183872 in the Royal Engineers). He is buried in the Varennes Military Cemetery in France, grave reference IV A 28, having died on 15th September 1918 at the age of 29. He was the son of Edward Austin, of 3 Edred Road, Tower Hamlets, Dover, Kent. 

He had served 25 years in the Royal Navy.

"He served his country well"
"Lord, grant him rest" RIP

A Mrs Austin wrote to the Town Clerk that her son had died from injuries received in action in 1916, and that she had been paid a pension but that then it was stopped