Keefe, J.
James Keefe, PO/4490, was a Serjeant in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, who had served aboard the HMS Alcantara. He had been awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. He died from wounds received in action on 4th March 1916, at the age of 42. He was buried at St James, in Dover. His wife Frances Rose later remarried and became Mrs Port, living at 50 St James Street, Dover.

The headstone reads:

PO/44904 Serjeant WNLI
J. Keefe
HMS Alcantara,
4th March 1916, age 42.

The St James area suffered great damage in World War II. The archway is the remains of the bombed church.

Keen, J. T.
James Theodore Keen, G/4227, was born in Leigh near Cricklade, Wiltshire. His father was said to have been the owner of a brickfield and a keeper of bees. After his father died, his mother remarried, to a veteran of the Crimean war.

James left home and joined The Buffs. While stationed at the Dover Garrison he met and married, in 1904, Caroline Ellis. The couple spent many years abroad in the Far East and Africa, while James was on service as a full-time soldier. He served in the Chitral (1898) and South African Campaigns, and was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.   He left the army on a full pension, with the rank of Sergeant, and for a time was employed by someone living in Camden Crescent, Dover.

On the outbreak of the Great War James rejoined the colours on 3rd November 1914. He was stationed at The Citadel, and was possibly charged with training new recruits. Sadly, he developed stomach pains and died from peritonitis on 25th July 1916, at the age of 43. He is buried at St James, PF17. 

There were four children of the family; Floss, Nora, Phyllis, who was a baby when her father died, and one son, Jim. As the son of a soldier, he was educated at the Duke of York's Royal Military School, and later worked for the corporation in Dover. The three daughters all married soldiers.

In Ever Loving Memory of a Dearly Beloved Husband and Father James Theodore Keen (late Segt 9th Battalion "The Buffs") Who peacefully passed away July 25th 1916 aged 43 years Interred in St James cemetery, Dover "He obeyed his Country's call"	Weep not, dear wife, I am gone before, My pain on earth will be no more, With you I could no longer stay For death hath summon'd me away. Weep not for me, my children, dear, I am not dead, but sleeping here; My race is run, my course is spent, To you, dear children, I was but lent.

with thanks to Mike Farrell

Keightley G.

 
Gordon Keightley was born in the parish of St Mary's, Walmer, near Dover, in 1894. He enlisted at the Duke of York's, Chelsea, on 10 November 1910, gaining his commission on 23 February 1915. He transferred to the RNAS on 8 August 1916.

On 20 May 1917, with Unit. 2 Wing (Mudros), he was an observer in a Henry Farman over Phasos, Macedonia, spotting for HMS Raglan, which was shelling Kavalla. The plane was attacked by enemy aircraft and shot down; Temporary Sub Lieutenant Keightley was thrown out and killed. His pilot, Flight Sub Lieutenant James Douglas Haig, aged 18, from Australia, also lost his life. Both are commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton.

He was the son of Temporary Lieutenant Henry Edward Keightley, RNVR, a Depot Adjutant at Crystal Palace, from 72 Kingsdown Avenue, Ealing, when he enlisted, and the brother of Temporary Sub Lieutenant Henry Stuart Keightley, RNVR

pictures with thanks to Andy and Michelle Cooper

Kemp, W. J.
William John Kemp, 3354, enlisted in Portsmouth and was a Serjeant in the 3rd battalion of the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own). He was killed in action on 20th December 1916 at the age of 24. He lies at the Philosophe British cemetery, Mazingarbe, France.

Born in Sandwich, he was the son of Mrs Annie Kemp of Vale Cottage, South Alkham, Dover.

Kennett, W. J. I.
William John Isgar Kennett, J/3433, was an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy, aboard the HMS Lama. He died on 9th December  1915, and is buried at the North Point Christian Cemetery, Kamaran Island. He is also commemorated on the Maala Memorial, Yemen.

Kennett, T. E.
Thomas Edward Kennett, 196592, an Able Seaman, was killed when his Submarine D2 was lost in the North Sea on 1st December 1914. He was 32. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. He left a wife, M A M Harvey (formerly Kennett), who lived at 101 Hillside Road, Dover. His parents were William and Esther Kennett, also from Dover. He was the brother-in-law of Daniel Cannon, lost with the Formidable on New Year's Day 1915. 

A memorial service was held at his Parish Church, St Andrews at Buckland, for parishioners who had died on was service on Wednesday, 29th September, 1915. Part of the service for the burial of the dead was sung, with a dirge "Grant Rest, O Lord, to Thy servants with Thy saints". It concluded with the National Anthem, and it was proposed that the service should be repeated every three months.

He died on Armistice day, from pneumonia following influenza, after returning home on leave with the BEF. He was buried with full military honours in St Mary's cemetery, Dover, in the same grave as his mother. The band of the Royal Fusiliers was in attendance, and the Last Post was sounded at the graveside. Members of the ASC acted as bearers.

His burial record lists him as a Transport Driver, aged 22, who died at Shorncliffe Military Hospital and was buried from Holy Trinity Parish. Mourners included Mr Keyton (father), Mrs Hudsmith and Mrs Baldock (sisters), and Miss W Morgan, his fiancée.  Among the floral tributes was one from his father, "in loving memory of my dear son, from his sorrowing dad", and one from his brother Joe (BEF Russia).

He was the son of Albert Walter Keyton, who became a civilian casualty in WWII on 17 November 1941

notes:
this is the only person surnamed Keyton recorded on "Soldiers Died"
Joyce Banks' research discovered that his registration of death, the funeral report in the local paper, and the burial record, all have him named as Albert Thomas Walter Keyton.

with thanks to Richard Thorpe

King. C.
C. King was a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve, which he had joined on the outbreak of the war, attached to the Dover Patrol. He had worked for the SEC Railway, captaining their Dover boats, and is commemorated on the memorial at the now Cruise Terminal, formerly Marine Station.

He was serving aboard the HMS "Albyn" when he was killed in an air raid on Calais on 2nd September 1917. He is buried in the Dunkirk Town Cemetery, France, II B 14. His death was mourned throughout Dover, as he had been devout person, and taken also great interest in the Dover branch of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society.  He left a wife and family, of 185 Folkestone Road, and his wife inserted the notice below in the Dover Express:

King E.
Edward King, 1624296, was born in Dover on 9th March 1881. He had dark brown hair and blue eyes, and grew to be five feet and three inches in height. He worked as a stoker on one of the steam vessels and later on the pilot boats in Dover Harbour. Perhaps from this time date some of his tattoos, which included on his right forearm, a sailor, along with a handclasp and a horseshoe. On his left were a memorial, and a heart and flag emblem.

On 4th August 1904, at Charlton church, Edward married Harriet Bowman. She was the daughter of Thomas Bowman and his wife Annie, nee Allen, and was one of a very large family. Edward and Harriet had two children; a daughter, Iris, born in 1906, and a son, Edward Thomas.

Edward Thomas was born in 1913 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. His uncle, younger brother of Edward senior, had emigrated to Canada, and on his recommendation, Edward, Harriet, and Iris followed in 1912, living at 58 Brunswick Street, Brantford in 1915. Edward worked at Massey Harris, manufacturers of farm machinery; on his attestation document on 15th September 1915, at Niagara Camp, he is described as a Ranch Hand. 

Edward enlisted in the 84th Overseas battalion, and went for training in England. During his service he was awarded the Military Medal. He was serving as a Corporal in the 75th battalion (Central Ontario Regiment) when he was.killed at Paschendale on 2nd November 1917. He and another man had been killed instantly when a shell blew up in the dug-out where they had been sitting behind the front line. Two other men in the dug-out were uninjured, merely suffering for a few days from the effects of the blast.

The photograph is of Edward, Harriet, and their two children, taken in 1916, shortly before Edward left Canada for England. It was a poignant memento; Edward himself, in a letter to his father from the Front, had probably realised that he would not survive. He asked his father to ensure that Harriet and the two children should return to England, for he saw no future in Canada for them without him. In 1920, they did return, coming back to Dover, and living at 5 Pardoner's Way, Crabble. His father, also Edward, was then living at 19 Douglas Road, Tower Hamlets.

In 1929 Iris married James Crutchfield, son of casualty James Henry Crutchfield, and they later moved to Gillingham. Harriet remained with them until she died in 1953.

Edward King is commemorated on the Menin Gate memorial, in Belgium, and his name is also  inscribed here in the Canadian Book of Remembrance. A plaque at the Canadian works, Brantford, of the Massey Harris company, also bears his name.  

with thanks to Maggie Curtis
with thanks to an Ontario viewer

King, E. T.
Edward Thomas King, 055486, enlisted into the Army Service Corps, and at Grove Park was attested Private on 29th March 1915. He was then 27, and was a motor lorry driver, living at 26 Randolph Road, Dover.

He remained on shore until 17th April 1915 and then went to France between 18th April 1915 and 23rd November 1915. He returned on 24th November 1915 until 19th February 1916. At this date he appears to have been ill from disease contracted on service, as his attestation was sent to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.  He died from such disease on 20th June 1918.

 He was married to Clara Hilda King, formerly Husk, on 11th July 1912, at Buckland, Dover, and had two children, Hilda Clara Ruth born at Dover on 11th September 1912, and Caroline Louisa May, born 21st June 1914, also at Dover.  Mrs King had lived at 84 Union Street, and later had moved to Hastings.

with thanks to Joyce Banks

King, T. E.
Thomas Edward King, 233788, was a Petty Officer on the HMS Gaillardia, He died on 22nd March 1918, when he was 29, and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, United Kingdom. The wreck lies in the North Sea.

He was the husband of Emily Minnie King, of 5 Woolcomber Lane, Dover,  and the son of Mr and Mrs King of 20 Noah's Ark Road, Dover

1918 - In ever loving memory of our dear beloved son ....We little thought his time so short, In this world to remain, Or that when from his home he went, He would never return again. We often sit and talk of him, And think how brave he died, But oh! how very hard I think, We could not say good-bye. Gone but not forgotten by his loving Mum and Dad.

1918 - In affectionate remembrance of my dear brother ... Safe at anchor now I rest, With many of our fleet, But once again I will set sail, Our saviour Christ to meet. From his brother Bert, and family.

The headstone is at Charlton. It reads:

Kingsford, A. C.
Aubrey Carlton Kingsford, G/5335, was a Corporal in the 7th battalion of The Buffs. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France, having been killed in action on 3rd May 1917. 

He was born in Dover and  enlisted there, from a civilian role as a steward, on 5th January 1915 at the age of 27 years and 8 months.  Two days later he joined at Canterbury and was confirmed Private on 9th January 1915. He remained in England until 2nd September 1915, thereafter serving in France until his death. He had suffered shellshock the year before he died, on 13th July 1916.

He lived at 51 Crabble Hill. This was the address of his named next of kin, his father, William Pierce Kingsford. William had married Alice Maud Maxwell in 1875, however Aubrey's record of baptism at St Andrews has him as the son of William Pierce and Julia Mary.

He was brother to Edward, below, and two other brothers, Ernest and Charles, were also serving. Charles, licensee of the Golden Lion Inn, Dover, became a Colour Sergeant with the Royal Engineers during the Great War, and who was awarded the DCM.  A fifth brother had lost his life in the South African War in 1901 during service with the AOC. Two brothers-in-law were also serving, one assumed to be William Ellis, the husband of Emily Susannah, the other George, husband of Winifred Elizabeth. 

In Memoriam - 1920
In loving memory of our dear brother Jack Kingsford, 7th The Buffs, who was killed in France, May 3rd 1917. Aged 30 years.

records with thanks to Joyce Banks

Kingsford, E. J.
Edward (some records, Edmund) John Kingsford, 12486, was a sapper in the 10th Railway Co of the Royal Engineers. He was born in Dover and enlisted there on 24th July 1900 as 6381 of The Buffs, aged 18 years and 6 months old. He bore a tatoo on his left fore-arm, of a jockey's head in a horseshoe over a V-shaped spur.

He had been a labourer in civilian life, perhaps a very superior sawyer with exemplary conduct (no offences in the past four years).. At that time his family had lived at 13 Barton View, Alexander Place, Dover.

Remaining in England until 4th July 1901, at the time of the census at Holmstone Camp, Lydd, , he was sent to South Africa on 5th July 1901, and remained there until 27th October 1902. He gained the Queens South African medal with five clasps including; Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal.

On his return home he continued to serve until 23rd July 1907, then becoming a Reservist between 24th July 1907 and 4th August 1914, being re-engaged as a Sapper on 24th July 1912.  He passed several classes of institution, including swimming in May 1904, and Wood Cutting by Machinery, at Superior and on 24th July 1916, Very Superior grades.

He was mobilised again on 5th August, remaining at home until 26th November 1914, when he embarked for France. There he remained until his death from wounds in 62nd Field Ambulance on 26th June 1916. He was 35, and is buried at Brandhoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Amongst the effects sent home were his disc, postcards, and a greeting card. Sapper Singlehurst had a watch, field boots, field glasses and an engrave shell case belonging to Edward, which he was to bring home to Edward's family on his next leave. However, regulations forbade him to bring the shell case. 

with thanks to Joyce Banks

*Kingsnorth, C.
Charles Kingsnorth, 69680, was born in Dover, and enlisted in Ipswich. He was the son of George and Sarah Ann Kingsnorth, of 68 Newson Street, Ipswich. He was a Bombardier in the Royal Horse Artillery, J battery. He was killed in action on 1st December 1917, and is buried in the Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery, France, VII G 3.

Kite, A. A.
Alfred Albert Kite, 128825, was born and enlisted in Dover, and was a Private in the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) (formerly S4/28468 of the RASC). He was in the 14th Company. He was killed in action on 21st March 1918, and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, in France. 

Knell, L. W.
Leonard William Knell, Z/9865, was an Ordinary Seaman in the RN Volunteer Reserve, on the HMS Victory VI. Aged 18, he died at the Military Hospital, Western Heights, from pneumonia, and was buried on 16th October 1918 at St James cemetery, Dover, NY8. He had joined the Forces just six weeks previously, and had been in training at Crystal Palace.

His parents were Florence Emily and the late William Henry Knell, of 5 Russell Street, Dover.

Knight, H. W.
Hubert W. Knight, G/25960, was a Private in the 1st (or 10th) battalion of The Queen's Royal West Surrey regiment (formerly 38631 of the Royal Warwickshire). He died of wounds on 25th April 1918, when he was 19. He is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery in France, I XA 22. 

He was born in Portsmouth, the son of William John and Mary Knight, from 89 Stamshaw Road, Portsmouth, but enlisted and lived in Dover.

Knott, H. R. W.
Henry Richard Walter Knott, 7937, was in the South Staffordshire Regiment, 1st battalion. He was a Corporal and he died on 24th (26th) October 1914 at Lanniluke. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres, in Belgium.  

He was the youngest son of the late Mr and Mrs W. Knott, of Buckland, Dover, born and living there, but enlisted at Maidstone.

Knott, S. W.
Sidney William Knott, 5377 (541401),  was a Sapper in the Field Engineers, 519th London Field Company. He was killed in action at Palestine on 19th September 1918, when he was 27. He is buried at Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel. 

His father? was Mr F. Knott, of 289 London Road Dover, and his wife was Rose Knott, of 24 George Street, Buckland, Dover. He was born in Dover, but lived in Gillingham.

The headstone is at St Andrews, Buckland, and reads:
"In Affectionate Remembrance of A dearly beloved wife and mother Harriet M. Knott, Who passed away 22nd April 1921 Aged 66 years. Also of Sidney, Beloved son of above, Fell in action 19th September 1918 Aged 27 years. "Reunited" Also Francis Beloved husband of the above, Passed away 26th September 1932. Aged 77 years."

Knott, T. J.
Thomas  James Knott, 22520,  was a Sapper in the 23rd Field Company of the Royal Engineers. He was reported missing around the 25th January 1915, and confirmed as dead by the War Office sixteen months later. It was assumed that he had been buried in a trench rushed by the Germans at La Bassee. He was 24.He is commemorated on Le Touret memorial, in France.

Thomas' parents, Ernest and Kate, lived at Greenfield Road, Folkestone, and his uncle, A. W. Knott, lived at 20 Alfred Road, Buckland, Dover. He was born in Hougham and enlisted in Dover.