The Great War

Hartley 1

Hartley civic war memorial is located at the junction of Ash Road and Castle Hill, Hartley, Longfield, Kent. The parish of Harley has been in the Sevenoaks district since 1974, when the Dartford Rural District Council was abolished, and is not to be confused with Hartley, Cranbrook, Kent. Thanks are due to Rob Bedwell for providing the Hartley photographs for inclusion here, and to Hannah L. Scullion for carrying out the following transcriptions. The Great War 1914-1919 CHEARY, EDWIN. M.M. Corporal, 20502. "C" Company, 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. Died 18 March 1917. Aged 24. Born and resided Hartley, Longfield, Dartford, Kent. Enlisted Maidstone, Kent. Son of William Cheary and Emily Cheary of Darenth Cottages, Hartley, Longfield, Dartford, Kent. Buried Maroc British Cemetery, Grenay, Nord, France. Grave Ref: I. O. 38. Formerly Gunner, 52818, Royal Garrison Artillery. Edwin was christened at the parish church of All Saints, Hartley, Dartford, Kent on 26 September 1892. Prior to enlisting for military service, Edwin had been employed by local farmer Robert W. Emmett, at Fairby Farm, Hartley. Edwin enlisted in the army For the Duration of the War on 20 November 1914. When he enlisted, Edwin stated that he was 22 years and 132 days old, employed as a Farm Labourer, and that he resided at Darenth Cottages, Hartley, Longfield, Kent. He was attested at Gravesend, Kent on 20 December 1914 for service in the Royal Garrison Artillery, and joined the No.1 Depot (Coastal), Royal Garrison Artillery at Newhaven, Sussex on the above date. On 7 June 1915, Edwin was transferred to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, and was posted to serve in France with the 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment on 18 August 1915. From 8 April to 15 April 1916, Edwin was granted a period of leave to the United Kingdom. On 15 May 1916, Edwin was appointed an (unpaid) Lance Corporal and was later appointed an (paid) Lance Corporal, prior to being promoted to the rank of Corporal on 9 February 1917. Following his death, all official correspondence appertaining to Edwin was initially addressed to his sister Agnes Cheary at Darenth Cottages, Hartley, Longfield, Dartford, Kent. 2

DAY, SYDNEY. Private, S/8074. 1st Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 25 May 1915. Born Hartley, Kent. Enlisted Gravesend, Kent. Buried Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave Ref: III. A. 7. Sydney was posted to France on 26 October 1914. As can be seen on the photograph of the relevant panel on the Hartley civic war memorial, Sydney has been commemorated with his Christian name spelt Sidney. On all of the relevant data accessed his Christian name is shown as Sydney. HOLNESS, ERNEST. Corporal, S/7538. 7th (Service) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. Died 25 September 1915. Born Dulwich, Surrey. Enlisted Alton, Hampshire. Resided Hartley, Kent. Son of Charles Holness and Amy Holness. Commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 112. Ernest resided at Orchard Cottage, Hartley, and was posted to France with the Seaforth Highlanders on 10 May 1915. Following his death, Ernest was initially posted as Missing, but later the Army Council made the decision that for official purposes, it could be assumed that he had died on or since 25 September 1915. HURST, WILLIAM JOHN. Rifleman, R/24244. 9th (Service) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps. Died 15 September 1916. Aged 32. Born Cowlinge, Suffolk. Enlisted Dartford, Kent. Resided Hartley Green, Kent. Son of Joseph Hurst and Elizabeth Hurst (née Peacock) of Hartley Green, Longfield, Kent. Buried Guards Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Somme, France. Grave Ref: XII. J. 5. RICH, JOHN. Lance Corporal, 23490. 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. Born Hartley, Kent. Enlisted Gravesend, Kent. Son of John and Ellen Rich. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 5 A and 5 B. ROSE, ALEC HUGH. Private, M2/020930. 74th Divisional Mechanical Transport Company, Army Service Corps. Died 14 September 1918. Aged 22. Born Sunningdale, Berkshire. Enlisted London. Resided Longfield, Kent. Son of Thomas Rose of Fairby Cottages, Hartley, Longfield, Kent. Buried St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France. Grave Ref: R. II. E. 14. 3

VAUGHAN, JAMES HARWOOD. Rifleman, 6084. 1st/16th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles). Died 1 October 1916. Aged 36. Born St. Neots, Huntingdonshire. Enlisted Holborn, London. Resided Hartley, Longfield, Kent. Son of Frederic James Vaughan and Clara Harriet Vaughan of Hartley Court Cottage, Hartley, Longfield, Kent. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 13 C. WOODWARD, RICHARD. Private, 18159. Reserve Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died 13 November 1918. Aged 25. Son of James Woodward and Jessie Woodward of 4, Black Lion Cottages, Hartley, Longfield, Kent. Buried All Saints Churchyard, Hartley, Kent. Grave Ref: South of Church. Richard had been posted to serve in France with the Grenadier Guards on 16 march 1915. He was medically discharged from the army and awarded a Silver War Badge. The Great War 1914-1919 Lost Men BOUCHER, WILLIAM MOORE. Captain. 6th (Service) Battalion, Queen s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 20 November 1917. Born Rochester, Kent. Son of Elizabeth Boucher (née Moore) of Sacristy Cottage, Hartley, Longfield, Kent, and of the late William T. Boucher. Buried Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery, Nord, France. Grave Ref: III. B. 13. Commemorated on the Cobham, Kent civic war memorial. William s birth was registered in the Medway, Kent Registration District during the third quarter of 1896. At the time of the 1901 census the Boucher family resided at 7, Watts Avenue, Rochester, Kent. William T. Boucher was recorded as being a 43 year old native of Natal, South Africa by the census enumerator, and as being an Architect and Surveyor, employing staff. William (junior) was posted to serve in France with the Queen s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) in 1916, at which time he had been a Lieutenant. He was recorded as being 4 years old at the time of the above census, and as such combined with the date period that his birth was registered, it is indicative of him being 21 years of age at the time of his death. William s medal card entry records him as having been killed in action. 4

HAYGREEN, CHARLES. Corporal, 54143. 22nd Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 10 October 1917. Aged 28, Born Hartley, Kent. Enlisted Deptford, Kent. Resided Fawkham, Longfield, Kent. Son of Charles and Emma Haygreen. Buried Godewaersvelde British Cemetery, Nord, France. Grave Ref: I. P. 1. Commemorated on the Fawkham, Longfield, Kent civic war memorial, and on memorial plaque in the parish church of St. Mary, Fawkham, Kent. At the time of the 1901 census, the Haygreen family resided at Court Lodge Cottage, Fawkham, Longfield, Dartford, Kent. Head of the house was Cowlinge, Suffolk native Charles Haygreen, who was employed as a Cowman on a farm. Charles (junior) was a brother of Ernest Haygreen who is the following casualty. HAYGREEN, ERNEST HARRY. Rifleman, R/28896. King's Royal Rifle Corps, attached to the 2nd/16th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles). Died 28 September 1918. Aged 20. Born Hartley, Kent. Enlisted Woolwich, Kent. Resided Dartford, Kent. Son of Charles and Emma Haygreen of 7, Park Road, Dartford, Kent. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 115 to 119 and 162A and 163A. Also commemorated on the Fawkham, Longfield, Kent civic war memorial, and on memorial plaque in the parish church of St. Mary, Fawkham, Kent. Formerly Private, TR/13/9112, 18th Training Reserve Battalion. HOLLANDS, WILLIAM JAMES. Serjeant, 53453. "D" Battery, 80th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Died 17 February 1916. Aged 32. Born Dartford, Kent. (Please see below). Enlisted Wood Green, London. Son of Alfred Hollands and Eliza Ann Hollands of Railway Tavern, Longfield, Gravesend, Kent. Buried Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave Ref: IV. D. 4. Commemorated on the Wrotham, Kent civic war memorial. William s place of birth as entered above is as extracted from Soldiers Died in the Great War, but his Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemoration shows him as having been a native of Wrotham, Sevenoaks, Kent. At the time of the 1901 census the Hollands family was residing at Keepers Cottage, Wrotham, Kent. Adding to the confusion re William s place of birth, the census enumerator has entered William as being a native of Hartley, Kent, doubtless it being indicative of the parish near Dartford, Kent, as opposed to Cranbrook, Kent. The census also shows that William was apparently following in his fathers footsteps, as both were Gamekeepers. William was posted to France on Wednesday 14 July 1915 for service with the British Expeditionary Force, at which time he was serving as a Corporal in the Royal Field Artillery. 5

PINDAR, LEONARD JAMES A. Airman 2nd Class, 37263. Aircraft Park, Royal Flying Corps. Died 22 February 1917. Aged 30. Born Lambeth, London. Son of Mrs. S. Hann (formerly Pindar) of "Hillcrest," Hartley, Kent. Husband of Louise I. Pindar (née Potter) of 15, Trossachs Road, East Dulwich, London. Buried Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire. Grave Ref: AF. 2048. Leonard s death was registered in the Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Registration District during the first quarter of 1917. SAUNDERS, HENRY GEORGE. Petty Officer, 194067. Royal Navy, H.M. Submarine E32. Died 1 April 1917. Aged 35. Born Peckham, London 18 November 1881. Son of Henry John Saunders of Church Road, Hartley, Longfield, Kent. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Panel 24. The Second World War 1939-1945 APPLETON, KARL HERMANN. Lieutenant (A). Royal Navy, H.M.S. St Angelo; 828 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm. Died 12 March 1943. Son of Charles and Mary Appleton of Hartley, Kent. Buried Catania War Cemetery, Sicily. Grave Ref: I. K. 29. 6

APPLETON, LLEWELLYN LISTER. Pilot Officer, 40497. 79 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 14 May 1940. Aged 23. Son of Charles and Mary Appleton of Hartley, Kent. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Panel 71. CLARKE, R.W. No clear trace. DUNMALL, LANCELOT JOHN. Civilian casualty. Air Raid Precaution Officer. Died 11 March 1941. Aged 56. Born Longfield, Kent. Son of Lancelot and Elizabeth Dunmall (née Brenchley). Husband of Nellie Dunmall (née Towell) of Resthaven, Longfield, Kent. Buried Watling Street Cemetery, Dartford, Kent. Having extinguished the fire in his garden which had been caused by a German incendiary bomb, the bomb then exploded and badly injured Lancelot who died in an ambulance at Longfield, whilst he was being conveyed to hospital. HARWOOD, MICHAEL JAMES CARR. D.F.C. Flying Officer (Pilot), 40824. 106 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 26 August 1941. Aged 21. Born Hartley, Longfield, Kent. Son of Wilfred James Harwood and Maud Anna Edith Harwood. Husband of Joan A. Armstrong Harwood (née Ayre) of Chiswick, Middlesex. Buried Frederikshavn Cemetery, Denmark. Grave Ref: Allied Plot. Grave 6. Michael was christened in the parish church of All Saints, Hartley, Kent on 18 April 1920. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in February 1941 For gallantry and devotion to duty, at which time he was serving in 83 Squadron, Royal Air Force. As can be seen when viewing the relevant accompanying photograph, Michael s commemoration on the Hartley civic war memorial appears to have been a later addition, than those of the other Second World War commemorated casualties. POCOCK, FRANCIS ANTHONY. Pilot Officer (Pilot), 177157. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 101 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 30 August 1944. Aged 23. Son of Ernest Francis Pocock and Marion R. Pocock (née Casey) of Hartley, Dartford, Kent. Buried Halsingborg (Palsjo) Municipal Cemetery, Sweden. Grave Ref: Section XV. 75. Francis s birth was registered in the Gravesend, Kent Registration District during the third quarter of 1921. 7

POCOCK, MICHAEL CASEY. Sergeant (Air Gunner), 1805762. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 30 Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force. Died 15 April 1944. Aged 20. Son of Ernest Francis Pocock and Marion R. Pocock (née Casey) of Hartley, Dartford, Kent. Buried Northfleet Cemetery, Kent. Grave Ref: Section K. Grave 65. Michel s birth was registered in the Edmonton, Oxfordshire Registration District during the third quarter of 1923. Michael died at Stratford Infirmary, Staffordshire, of the injuries he received when the Wellington bomber on which he was serving, crashed into a hill at Swansmoor, Staffordshire shortly after takeoff. SOPER, THOMAS WALTER. Sergeant, 1263238. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 15 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 30 May 1942. Aged 19. Son of Frederick Henry William and Mabel Edith Soper of Hartley, Kent. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Panel 94. STICKLAND, ALFRED GORDON. Corporal, 14405011. 1/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Died 24 March 1945. Aged 20. Son of John Reynolds Stickland and Kathleen Frances Stickland of Hartley, Kent. Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Grave Ref: 52. A. 2. A brother of the next casualty briefly commemorated, Alfred was a former pupil of Haileybury School, Hertfordshire. The Strickland brothers father John Reynolds Stickland ran the Old Downs School for the "Sons of Gentlemen" at Fawkham, Kent. STICKLAND, GEORGE NORMAN. Leading Aircraftman (Pilot U/T), 1285169. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. No.2 Service Training School, R.A.F. Brize Norton. Died 31 March 1941. Aged 18. Son of John Reynolds Stickland and Kathleen Frances Stickland of Hartley, Kent. Buried Fawkham (St. Mary) Churchyard, Longfield, Kent. SUDDS, GERALD HENRY. Flying Officer (Air Bomber), 136393. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 467 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 28 January 1944. Aged 21. Born Kent. Son of Hubert Harry Sudds and Agnes Sudds (née Pearce). Buried Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany. Grave Ref: 5. K. 36. Gerald s birth was registered in the Malling, Kent Registration District during the fourth quarter of 1922. 8

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