A kingdon – campaign medals & military service

Notes: Enlistment dates for the #2621 Regimental number were between 02.01.1889 & 11.06.1890; This soldier also served as #265977 in the Devonshire Regiment; Medals Card on file; There are many George Kingdons to choose from therefore insufficient information to enable a proper identification;

Further research of the records from Colonel Flick’s Diary for the 6^th Battalion the Devonshire Regiment who served in Mesopotamia refer to a Private G. J. Kingdon #2621, Serving with ‘C’ Company; This is probably George J Kingdon born ?? in ??; Still insufficient information to identify;
Kingdon, George: Ship’s Pay Book #581, ‘HMS Swiftsure’, Royal Navy in 1794, Seaman’s Wills; ADM 48/50/91 & ADM 142/7, f.126; (1794 period);

Notes: The ADM 48 Records has reference to a Will for Seaman, George Kingdon, Ship’s Pay Book number 581, serving on ‘HMS Swiftsure’ & dated 01.08.1794; There are no other details; At that time in Naval history, ‘HMS Swiftsure’ was on the Irish Station escorting British convoys & had earlier, on 05.05.1794, captured the French ship ‘Atalante’; Following this engagement she was repaired at Portsmouth in England & sailed for Jamaica where the ship remained until returning to Portsmouth for refitting in early 1796; Insufficient information to identify this Sailor;

Notes: Colour Sergeant George Kingdon, #1799 of the 2^nd Battalion the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, the 60^th Foot, was serving in the Second Afghan War & fought at the Battle of Ahmed Kehl on 19.04.1880 & on the March to Kandahar 01.09.1880; The 60^th Foot marched with General Stewart from Kandahar to Kabul & fought at Ahmed Kehl en route, they then marched back from Kabul to Kandahar with General Roberts a few months later; The Medal Roll for George Kingdon was recorded on 31.03.1882 & the indications are that he was still with the Service Corps, at this date in time they were just over 2 months back in England, having returned from South Africa in January 1882; Awarded the Afghan War Medal, the Ahmed Kehl Clasp & the Kandahar Clasp plus the Kandahar Bronze Star; I failed to identify this soldier further;

Notes: There are no ADM records that I can find for this man but he is recorded in 1861 & 1871 as a Stoker; I do believe that this is George Frederick Kingdon, b.1830 in Devonport & Baptised on 19.09.1830 in Stoke Damerel; He was the son of Joseph Kingdon, a Shipwright born 1799 in Devonport & Susanna ?? b.1803 in Ottery Saint Mary, Devon; In the 1841 Census George Kingdon is aged 11 & living with his parents at the Back of higher Somerset Place, Stoke Damerel, Devonport, Devon; In the 1851 Census George Kingdon is aged 21, working as a Labourer & living with his parents at the Back of Church Place Cottage in Stoke Damerel; George Kingdon Married Jane Giles, b.1831 in Walkhampton, Devon, in Stoke Damerel in 1851; (Note – there is however a 2^nd 1851 Census which may be a duplicate for this family which has them living at #35, Tavistock Street, Stoke Damerel, with slight differences in individual ages); In the 1861 Census George & Jane Kingdon live in Johns Street, Stoke Damerel, George is a Stoker & Jane is a Seamstress; In the 1871 Census George Kingdon is at sea as a Stoker onboard the Paddle Tug “Trusty” around Devonport Dockyard; In the 1871 Census, his wife, Jane Kingdon is living in Wilcove, Antony, Cornwall with their young family; In the 1881 Census George & Jane Kingdom, now a Naval Pensioner, live at #5, Mary Street, Antony, Cornwall; In the 1891 Census George & Jane Kingdon live at #94, James Street in Stoke Damerel, Devon, George is recorded as a Pensioner HM Navy; I understand that George’s wife, Jane Kingdon, Died aged 63 on 17.02.1894 & was buried in the Stoke Damerel Burial Ground, Milehouse, Plymouth; In the 1901 Census George Kingdon, now a Widower, aged 72 & a Retired Naval Worker, lives at #10, Ross Street, Tamar, Devonport; I understand that George Kingdon Died at the age of 81 years on 28.12.1910 & was buried alongside his wife in the Stoke Damerel Burial Ground; (He was the Father of #81288, Able Seaman, Joseph John Kingdon, Royal Navy); (He was the Father of Kingdon, John: #82600, Stoker, Royal Navy; ADM 188/76/189); (He was the Grandfather of Kingdon, William Edgar: Royal Engineers Regiment No: T1005 Rank: Sapper 1914-1920 WO 372/11; See also: Kingdom, W E: Royal Engineers No: 514302 Rank: Sapper 1914-1920 WO 372/24); (He may be the Brother of Kingdom, John Joseph: Royal Navy, No: #30146; ADM 139/302/46);

Notes: This is George (Henry) Kingdon born 1890 in Barnstaple, Devon, the son of John E. Kingdon a Fisherman, Shipbuilder & Bargeman b.1855 in Barnstaple & Elizabeth Limebeer from Barnstaple who married in ?? (she may have been previously married as there is a stepdaughter in 1891 Census); In 1891 George lived with his Parents in Potters Lane, Barnstaple; In 1901 George Kingdon was aged 11 & living with his Parents in Signal Terrace, Barnstaple, Devon;

Notes: I do not believe that this man actually served in WW1, but he is recorded as a Reservist in the 1st Division in 1916, recruited in #9 Recruitment Centre in Christchurch, stating that he was a Labourer in Yaldhurst; This is George Kingdon b.1872 in New Zealand, the son of Josiah Stephens Kingdon, b.1842 in Bodmin, Cornwall, England & Catherine Johnson who Married in 1868 in New Zealand; In 1896, through 1919 George Kingdon is recorded as a Labourer living in Yaldhurst, Riccarton, Canterbury; I believe that George Kingdon never married; In 1928, 1935 & 1938 he is recorded living at #20, Peer Street, as a Labourer & his sister Frances Mary Kingdon lives there also; George Kingdon died in 1946 Aged 74; (He was the Brother of Kingdon, Albert John: New Zealand, 1st Division Reservist, 1916 WW1); (He was the Brother of Kingdon, Charles Ford: New Zealand, 2nd Division Reservist, 1917 WW1); (He was the Brother of Kingdon, James Alexander: #41577, ‘F’ Company, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Army, WW1); (He was the Brother of Kingdon, Stanley Craig: #8/3828, 2^nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Army, WW1);

Notes: This is George Alfred Blee Kingdon born in Birmingham in 1888 (but lived initially in India with his parents), he is the son of Oliver Kingdon b.1857 Clerkenwell who served in India as a Warrant Officer & Maud Matilda Bateman from Ireland (who married in Bengal, India in 1882), finally returning to UK around 1895; In the 1901 Census young George Kingdon lives with his parents in Goring Row, Southgate, Enfield, Middlesex; (Lieutenant George Alfred Blee Kingdon is the Grandson of Oliver Kingdon b.1831 South Molton & 1^st Wife Jane Blee, who married in 1856 in Hackney, London); In 1911 George Alfred Blee Kingdon is aged 22 & living with his parents at #84, Brownlow Road, New Southgate, London, he is a Clerk in a Coat Factory; On 12.06.1915 George Alfred Kingdon was promoted from being a Corporal with the 14^th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Scottish) to be a 2^nd Lieutenant with the London (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery; George Alfred Kingdon served in France as a 2^nd Lieutenant from June 1916; He was promoted from 2^nd Lieutenant to Temporary Lieutenant whilst serving with the London (Howitzer) Brigade on 21.02.1916 – London Gazette Supplement 09.03.1916 page 2551; Lieutenant G.A. Kingdon of the 8^th London Brigade, Royal horse & Royal field Artillery, was promoted to Captain on 21.05.1920; His WW1 Medals were sent to him at #84, Brownlow Road, London N.11 on 25.11.1920; This Officer was still serving with the Territorial Army Reserve when he was Gazetted from the rank of Provisional Major to Captain on 23.01.1924; Medals Card on file; (Brother of Captain Oliver Kingdon MC who Died in WW1 in 1918 in France); (Son of Oliver Kingdon #1120 6^th Dragoon Guards 1873 to 1891); (Also the Brother of Kingdon, Frank V: London Regiment No: 2283 Rank: Private. 1914-1920 WO 372/11);

Notes: This is George Brice Kingdon born in 1916 in Bridgewater, Somerset, the son of William George Kingdon, a Journeyman Carpenter, b.1882 in Kittisford, Somerset, & Lucy Brice from Wivelscombe, who Married in 1907 in Bridgewater, Somerset; Awarded the 1939-45 Star & 1939-45 War Medals;

Notes: This is George Bodley Kingdon born on 22.03.1908 in Blackheath, the son of Zachary Harris Kingdon, a Civil Engineer, b.1856 in Exeter & Florence Kate Brindley from Sheffield, Yorkshire who married on 24.07.1890 in Greenwich, Kent; In 1911 Census George Bodley Kingdon was aged 3 & living with his parents at #5, Grimstone Villas, Plymouth, his Father was working as an Electrical Engineer with the Admiralty & was a Civil Servant at Devonport Dockyard in 1925; On 01.01.1929 George Bodley Kingdon went to Devonport High School & “HMS Worcester” Naval Training Ship; He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet on “HMS Thunderer” & later as a Sub Lieutenant at the age of 20 years; I believe that Midshipman G.B. Kingdon was serving onboard ‘HMS Royal Oak’ in 1926, 1927 & in 1928; He was promoted from Acting Sub Lieutenant to Sub Lieutenant on 01.01.1929 & then to Lieutenant on 01.10.1930; (He attended a Lieutenant’s Course in Portsmouth in 1929); On 11.05.1930, at the age of 22, he was granted a temporary Commission as Flying Officer on attachment with the Royal Air Force on 11.05.1930, passing his Aviator’s Certificate on 18.12.1930; In 1931 he was a Pilot Lieutenant in the Fleet Air Arm, #448 Flight, serving onboard the Aircraft Carrier ‘HMS Glorious’ in the Mediterranean; His promotion to Pilot Lieutenant was dated 01.10.1930 & in January 1933 he was attached to the Royal Air Force serving onboard ‘HMS Victory’ in #409 Flight based in Portsmouth; His Flying Officer RAF rank was dated 11.05.1930; In 1934 he was attached to the RAF, serving with Fighter Squadron 802, onboard the Aircraft Carrier ‘HMS Courageous’; From 1935 to 1937 he was serving with #403 Flight onboard the Cruiser ‘HMS Berwick’ in the 5^th Cruiser Squadron, China Sea; By 16.12.1938 George Bodley Kingdon was in Command of the Destroyer ‘HMS Boadicea’ (H65) at the age of 30 & on North Sea Patrol in 1939; On 01.08.1940 he was Killed in an air crash at the age of 32, whilst serving as a Lieutenant Commander, Royal Navy on ‘HMS President’ with the Naval Intelligence Department (NID) & he is buried in Plymouth, Weston Mill, Military Cemetery; Awarded 1939-45 Star & War Medals; (He is the Brother of Kingdon, John Francis: Royal Army Medical Corps No: 434077 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11 who served in WW1); (He is also the Brother of Kingdon, Roger: Royal Engineers Rank: Lieutenant 1914-1920 WO 372/11 who served in WW1); (He is also the Brother of Kingdon, William Stephen: Served in the Royal Air force in WW1, AIR 76/277); (This family originates from the Thorverton, Devon line of Kingdons);

Follow up research reveals that Royal Marine Light Infantry Private, #PO/11322, George Charles Kingdon, (Portsmouth Division) was transferred to the Royal Marine Light Infantry Chatham Division as Private #CH/23622 at some point in his Army service; The record says that he was Discharged to Pension but this may be a mistake; I also understand from the records that George Charles Kingdon Died on 25.12.1943 in Hendon, Middlesex & is buried in Lambeth Cemetery, he was Aged 57; I therefore believe that this soldier/sailor served for a long time with the Royal Marines; ADM 171/169 records that #PO. 11322 Private Geo. C. Kingdon’s WW1 medals were forwarded to him at the Royal Marine Light Infantry Depot in Gosport at the time of issue; He was awarded the WW1 Victory Medal, the British War Medal & the 1914-15 Star;

I also have noted his name associated with service in South Africa in the Boer War during 1901;

Further research revealed a record for Service in WW2 for Marine George Charles Kingdon #CH/23622, the son of John & Elizabeth Ann Kingdon who also served in the 1914 – 1918 WW1, who died on 25.12.1943 Aged 57; He is buried in Lambeth (Tooting) Cemetery, London, in Section J.3. Cons Grave 190 (I have a picture of his grave marker on file); He was awarded the 1939-45 War Medal & the 1939-45 Star; His Royal Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal was issued on 14.02.1936;

Notes: (These notes should be read in conjunction with those recorded against #568, Henry Kingdon, Grenadier Guards as there is some very confusing information associated with this family); This is probably George Frederick Kingdon, born in Chelsea on 17.09.1874, Baptised on 22.10.1874 in Christchurch, Chelsea; He is likely to be the son of Henry Kingdon b.28.06.1837 in South Molton, a Grenadier Guardsman from the mid 1850’s who served for over 20 years; His wife was Elizabeth Perryman from Bishops Nympton, Devon & they married in Bishopsgate, London on 19.05.1857 but then appear to have lived separate lives? George Frederick Kingdon’s baptism record has his parents as Henry & Caroline Wenham (Caroline Wenham being a woman that Henry Kingdon lived with in Chelsea?) & indicates his Father was a Soldier; In 1881 Census George Fred Kingdon is aged 6 & living with his Father, Henry Kingdon an Unemployed Pensioner, at #67, St Philip Street, Battersea, London, (Caroline Wenham is recorded as a Housekeeper at that address & also as Henry Kingdon’s sister in Law); In 1891 Census I believe that Frederick Kingdon, now aged 16, is living in the Working Boys Home, Shaftsbury Avenue, St Giles, London as a Domestic Page Boy; I believe that George Frederick Kingdon Enlisted in the Chatham Division of the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 07.05.1894; In 1901 Census for Scotland I found a George Kingdon aged 26 (b.1875 in Chelsea), serving as a Private in the Crew of Royal Navy ship ‘HMS Caledonia’, probably as a Royal Marine; I then found a Marriage record for George Frederick Kingdon, (aged 34) & Sarah Ruth Aylett, (aged 27), on 08.10.1908 in St Matthew’s Church, Fulham, his occupation is Marine & his Father is recorded as Henry Kingdon (Guardsman, Deceased); In 1911 Census there is a Private George Kingdon, Married, aged 36 (born Chelsea), serving on board ‘HMS Argyll’ in Gibraltar; I believe that George Frederick Kingdon was promoted to Sergeant at some point & served in WW1; There is a Manifest Record for the ‘SS Empress of Russia’ sailing from Yokohama on 20.12.1917 to Vancouver, arriving on 08.01.1918, & on board is a 43 year old British male, who turns out to be #7881 Sergeant George Frederick Kingdon, Royal Marine; George Frederick Kingdon was eventually Discharged to Pension; Awarded 1914-15 Star, Victory & British War Medals; (Probably the son of Kingdon, Henry; #568, Grenadier Guards); His family needs further research;

Notes: This is probably George Frederick Samuel Kingdon born 1881 in Feltwell, Norfolk, the son of James Kingdon, an Excise Officer b.1853 Thetford, Norfolk & Jessie Pratt from Northwold, Norfolk who Married in 1878 in Thetford; In 1881 Census George F S Kingdon is aged 3 Months & lives with his parents at The Beck in Feltwell, Norfolk, his Father is Ride Officer of the Excise Inland Revenue; In 1891 George F S Kingdon lives with his parents at #75, Poolstock Lane, Wigan, Lancashire; In 1901 Census George F S Kingdon is aged 20, a Brewer’s Clerk & living with his parents at #185, Horninglow Road, Horninglow, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire; In 1911 George Frederick Samuel Kingdon is living with his married Brother Edward G Kingdon at #20 Pelham Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire & is a Collector for a Gramophone Record Company; On 01.01.1916 in Burton on Trent George Frederick Samuel Kingdon, aged 35 years, enlisted in the Army to serve 4 years’ in the United Kingdom as #4570 in the 3/6^th North Staffordshire Regiment; He gives his address as c/o #7, Union Street, Burton on Trent, where I believe his Mother was living; It appears from his records that his Embodied Service was only from 0101.1916 until 06.03.1916 when he was Discharged in Derby under King’s Regulations, Para 392 (iii a) on Medical Grounds, probably mental instability, having served only 66 days; There may well be a female member of this family who is in an asylum ca.1916? No Medals card on file as he never served overseas; (He was probably a Cousin of #5633 RSM Albert Arthur Kingdon, Norfolk Regiment); (He was a Cousin of #1445 WOII Edward Kingdon of the Coldstream Guards & the Military Provost Corps); (He was a Brother of Private Edward Pratt Kingdom #24594, 11^th or 15^th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), who died on 17 July 1916 in France); I think that his Great Grandmother was Mary Kingdon b.1787 in Penarth, Glamorganshire, Wales, Widow of a Customs Excise Officer in 1871 in St Cuthbert’s Norfolk? Her Husband was George Kingdon b.1779 in Launceston, Cornwall; (Note: There is another Cousin also named Henry Capp, the brother of Albert Arthur & Edward Kingdon above, who was born in 1888 in Yarmouth, thereby probably making him too young to have enlisted in 1904/5, although it is possible that I have the two Henry Capp Kingdons mixed up; In any case they are probably all related in the Norfolk Kingdon line; Further research reveals that this brother also served & died in WW1 as Private H C Kingdom, #34736, 3rd Bn., The King's (Liverpool Regiment, who died on 30 March 1916, Remembered with honour Birmingham (Witton) Cemetery); (I now believe that there is a Henry Charles Kingdon who also served with the Lincolnshire Regiment); (This Family & my X-References need some more research work)?