A kingdon – campaign medals & military service

Notes: ADM 188 records have John Kingdon born in New Passage, Devon 23.09.1853 having served with the Royal Navy; (New Passage is a short street generally called New Passage Hill in Stoke Damerel); I believe that this sailor is John Joseph Kingdon born in 1852 in Stoke Damerel & that he was the son of George Frederick Kingdon, a Naval Dockyard Stoker & Naval Pensioner b.1830 in Devonport, & Jane Giles, b.1831 in Walkhampton in Devon, who Married in 1851 in Stoke Damerel; In the 1861 Census John Kingdon was living with his parents in Johns Street, Stoke Damerel; This sailor’s official Naval number of #82600 would indicate enlistment between 01.01.1873 & 31.12.1873; In the 1871 Census John Kingdon aged 18 is recorded as a First Class Boy serving on ‘HMS Carron’ in Devonport Dockyard (I believe that this was a Naval Tug; Young John Kingdon’s Father, George Kingdon was serving on a similar Devonport Dockyard Tug called ‘Trusty’ in the same 1871 Census); I understand that John Kingdon Married Ann Maria Deacon, b.1852 in Wilcove, Antony, Cornwall, in 1877 in Wilcove, Cornwall; In the 1881 Census Ann Maria Kingdon is living with her parents at #9, Wilcove, Antony in Cornwall, she is recorded as being a Stoker’s Wife; In the 1881 Census I believe that Stoker John Kingdon is serving onboard ‘HMS Iron Duke’ stationed in Hong Kong Harbour; In the 1891 Census John J & Ann M Kingdon live at #13, Morice Street, Stoke Damerel, Devonport, John is a Royal Navy Pensioner; John Kingdon appears to have Died on 04.10.1891 in Stoke Damerel at the age of 38 & was buried with his sister in a grave in the Stoke Damerel Burial Ground, Milehouse, Plymouth (his sister was ‘Bessie’ Elizabeth Susannah Bickford, nee Kingdon who dies 17.08.1892); In the 1901 Census his Widow Ann Maria Kingdon is living as her Father’s Housekeeper in Wilcove, Antony, Cornwall; In the 1911 Census Maria Kingdon still lives with her aged Father William Deacon (89) in Wilcove, Cornwall; I believe that Ann M Kingdon died in 1918 in Wilcove, Cornwall aged 65; (He was the Son of Kingdon, George: Royal Naval Dockyard Stoker, Paddle Tugs in Devonport); (He was the Uncle of Kingdom, W E: Royal Engineers No: 514302 Rank: Sapper 1914-1920 WO 372/24, See also: Kingdon, William E: Royal Engineers Regiment No: T1005 Rank: Sapper 1914-20 WO 372/11); (He was the Brother of #81288, Able Seaman, Joseph John Kingdon, Royal Navy); (He was the Father of Kingdon, William John: #183694, Seaman, Royal Navy; ADM 188/308/94);

Notes: Served in France from 27.11.1915; The L/ prefix in his Regimental number marks him as a WW1 enlistment; Medals Card on file; (Insufficient Information to safely identify this soldier);

Notes: John Alfred Kingdon who Died during WW2 on 24.06.1946, Aged 35, he is Remembered with Honour in the Llanwynno (St. Gwynno) Churchyard in Glamorganshire, Wales; This is John Afred Kingdon was born in 1910 in Potypridd, Glamorganshire, Wales, the son of Joh Percy Kingdon, a Gas Stoker b.1882 in Dulverton, Somerset, & Bessie Jemima Salmon who Married in 1902 in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales; In the 1911 Census John Alfred Kingdon lived with his parents at #5, New Street, Ferndale, Glamorganshire, Wales; I understand that John A Kingdon Married Myfanwy Williams in Newport Market, Glamorganshire, Wales in 1936; At the time of his death, his wife was living in Pontygwaith, Merthyr Valley, South Glamorgan, Wales; Awarded the 1939-45 Star & the 1939-45 War Medals;

Notes: This is John Andrew Ford Kingdon who was born in 1885 in New Zealand & aged between 20 & 46 years in September 1916; He was the son of John Stevens Kingdon, a Carter, & Margaret O’Brien who lived at #40, York Street, Opawa, Christchurch, New Zealand in 1911; At that time John Andrew Ford Kingdon lived with his parents & was working as a Picture Framer; This family lives at the same address in 1914; In September 1916 John Andrew Ford Kingdon enlisted in the 1^st Division Reserve at #9 (Christchurch) Recruiting District for possible WW1 service; He is still working as a Picture Framer in Opawa; I believe that this Reservist was called up for Embarkation to Europe in 1917, giving his mother Mrs. M. Kingdon as his Next of Kin; The Nominal Roll for ‘C’ Company, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, records his trade as a Joiner & his address as #40, York Street, Opawa, Christchurch; John Andrew Ford Kingdon sailed from Wellington, New Zealand for Liverpool, England & then Europe as part of the 30^th Reinforcements group on board the ‘HMNZT Corinthic’ on 13.10.1917 so they would have been in time for the battles of Passchendaele towards the end of the year; On the 07.05.1918 there was a Wounded Soldier Report, #849/10, for Private J.A.F. Kingdon, probably due to the fighting around La Signy Farm area during the 1918 German Offensive; I have yet to find any other military records for This soldier; However, in 1919 there is a Supplementary Electoral Roll for Christchurch East showing John Andrew Ford Kingdon living at #40, York Street & working as a Picture Framer; He then appears to continue to live at this same address for many years; By 1935 there is an electoral record for John Andrew Ford & Mary Kingdon at that address, I presume that this was his wife? He continues to live at #40 York Street as a Picture Framer in 1946 & 1949 but there was no indication of a Mary Kingdon in either of these records; I understand that John Andrew Ford Kingdon died in 1952 Aged 68; I researched no further;

Notes: This is John Bannatyne Kingdon born 09.11.1893 in Dorchester, Dorset; He is the son of Herbert Napier Kingdon, a Schoolmaster & Clergyman, b.1850 Bridgerule, Devon & Janet Isobel Bannatyne from Scotland who married on 01.01.1891 in Dorchester; In the 1901 Census this family lived at The Briary, Canterbury Road, Garlinge, Kent, where John’s Father ran a small boarding school for boys; On 15.09.1906 John Bannatyne Kingdon joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet; In the 1911 Census John Bannatyne Kingdon is aged 17, is a Naval Cadet & was living with his parents at Heathdene, Camberley, Surrey, his Father is a Clergyman; John B. Kingdon was made a Midshipman on 15.05.1911; In August 1912 he is a Midshipman serving onboard the Battle Cruiser ‘HMS Inflexible’ & also still serving on her in the Mediterranean in October 1913; He became an Acting Sub Lieutenant since 14.01.1914 & in April 1914 was serving onboard the Battleship ‘HMS Conqueror’; In November 1914 he is serving onboard the Torpedo Boat Destroyer ‘HMS Angler’; In April 1915 Sub Lieutenant John B. Kingdon is serving onboard the Torpedo Boat Destroyer ‘HMS Bulldog’; John B. Kingdon was promoted to Lieutenant on 05.09.1916 & was serving onboard another torpedo Boat Destroyer ‘HMS Rapid’ in October 1916; He is serving onboard ‘HMS Osiris’ in August 1917; Lieutenant John B. Kingdon is serving onboard the Torpedo Boat Destroyer ‘HMS Nymphe’ in January 1919; Lieutenant J.B. Kingdon Royal Navy, was Gazetted on 02.06.1920; Lieutenant J.B. Kingdon Royal Navy was promoted to Lieutenant Commander by the Admiralty on 15.05.1924, however, I understand that he Retired with a Gratuity in 1924 also; In 1936 John Bannatyne Kingdon is living at #49, Oxford Gardens, Kensington, London; I believe that John Bannatyne Kingdon Died in 1985 in Worthing, West Sussex, Aged 91; Awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory & British War Medals; (He is the Brother of Kingdon, Herbert Theodore: East Lancashire Regiment Rank: Captain 1914-1920 WO 372/11, also recorded as: Kingdon, H T: East Lancashire Regiment Rank: Temporary Captain WO 372/24); (Brother of Commander William Napier Kingdon, Royal Navy); (Brother of Kingdon, Janet L (Female): Voluntary Aid Detachment 1914-1920 WO 372/23); I did not research further;

Notes: This official Naval Number indicates enlistment between 01.01.1918 & 31.12.1918 & the prefix ‘J’ that he was a Seaman; This is John Ernest (Ernie) Kingdon born 14.07.1902 in Westminster, London, he was the son of Frederick Kingdon, a Costermonger (street fruit seller) born in Westminster, London in 1868 & Jane Belleini, b.1865 in Lambeth, who Married in 29.01.1894 in Walworth all Saints, Newington, Southwark, London, & John Ernest Kingdon was baptised on 24.08.1902 in St George’s Battersea; His parents lived at #62, Tufton Street, St John the Evangelist, Westminster, London at that time; (In the 1901 Census this family is incorrectly recorded as ‘Hingdor’ but live at #62, Tufton Street, & the Father is recorded as a Fruiterer); In the 1911 Ernie (John Ernest) Kingdon was living with his parents at #18, Howard Road, Brighton, Sussex, his Father was a General Dealer; John Ernest Kingdon must have joined the Royal Navy as a Boy in 1918 & was serving onboard ‘HMS Malaya’ at the end of WW1; I understand that John E Kingdon Married Jenny M Pryke in Brighton, Sussex in 1934; I believe that John Ernest Kingdon Died in 1978 in Brighton Aged 75; Awarded the British War Medal; (He was the Brother of Kingdon, Frederick: 1^st Class Boy, #J8541, Royal Navy;

Notes: Also served as #2070 with Warwickshire Yeomanry as an Acting Sergeant; Served in Egypt from 22.04.1915; Reduced to Private in the RAMC by F.Y.C.M on 19.09.1919; This is John Francis Kingdon born on 21.09.1893 in Blackheath, Kent, the son of Zachary Harris Kingdon, a Civil Service Electrical Engineer, b.1856 in Exeter & Florence Kate Brindley from Sheffield, Yorkshire who married on 24.07.1890 in Greenwich, Kent; In 1901 John Francis Kingdon lived with his parents at #6, Belmont Hill in Lee, Lewisham, London; John Francis Kingdon went to the City of London School & studied as an Engineer’s Chemist & Metallurgist; In the 1911 Census John Francis Kingdon is found aged 18, boarding at #18, Wellington Road, Smethwick, Worcestershire & working for a Tool Manufacturer as a Metallurgist Chemist ; Private John Francis Kingdon had Enlisted on 30.01.1914, had served overseas during his service both in Egypt & the Sinai Peninsular & was Disembodied from the Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force) at Woking on 15.08.1919 under King’s Regulations Para 392 (xvi) at the age of 25 years & 6 months; I understand that John Francis Kingdon Married Mary Foster Nicol (born 02.10.1900 in Taunton) in Cuckfield, Sussex in 1923, (Mary’s Father was quite wealthy & from Liverpool, her Mother from the USA); I believe that John Francis Kingdon tried emigration to South Africa and may have ended up as an orange grower in the Transvaal, returning to England in March 1923, presumably to get married, but he is recorded as having Died in Surrey, England in December 1972 & his wife Died in Canterbury, Kent in 1976; Awarded the Silver War Badge #B343085; Medals Card on file; (He is the brother of Kingdon, Roger: Royal Engineers Rank: Lieutenant 1914-1920 WO 372/11); (He is also the Brother of George Bodley Kingdon who served in the Royal Navy & the Royal Air Force from 1929 to 1940); (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 Branch of Kingdons);

Notes: This Sailors Official Naval Service Number would indicate enlistment between 01.01.1908 & 31.12.1908 & the prefix ‘J’ was issued to identify that he was a Seaman; John George Kingdon was born on 03.08.1892 in Torpoint, Cornwall according to the Navy records, however this could be a records issue as the only John George Kingdon born in that period was one registered in Stoke Damerel, Devon in the 3^rd Q 1891; a Death record for this John George Kingdon in 1976 in Plymouth at the age of 85 confirms his birth date as 03.08.1891; In the 1901 Census there is a George Kingdon, Aged 9 & born in Cornwall living with his Mother & Grandfather in Antony, Cornwall, his Mother is named as Maria Kingdon, a Widow, aged 47 (b.1854 in Cornwall), a Housekeeper & they live with her Father, William Deacon, a Mason, in Wilcove; (I believe that her real maiden name may have been Mary or Maria Jane Deacon); I have failed to locate or identify his Father’s name or his parents? In the 1911 Census for the Royal Navy, Jno Geo Kingdon was aged 18 & serving as an Ordinary Seaman on board the Cruiser ‘HMS Monmouth’ stationed with the China Squadron & located in Colombo, Ceylon on the night of the Census, he is recorded as being born in Anthony, Cornwall; I understand that Able Seaman John G. Kingdon was still in the Navy & serving with ‘HMS Indus’, probably the training establishment in Devonport at the time of his medals issue; Awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory & the British War Medals; This needs more research;

Notes: ADM 171/131 has records for the issue of WW1 medals to John H Kingdon, an Assistant cook, serving with the Mercantile Marine Reserve onboard ‘HMS Crescent; Awarded the British War Medal; Insufficient information to identify;

Notes: This is probably John Henry Kingdon born in 1867 in St John’s, Bristol, the son of John Henry Kingdon, a Bootmaker b.1841 St James, Bristol & Sarah Sophia Greenham from Bristol who married in 1866 in Bristol; In 1871 Census John Hy Kingdon lives with his parents at #3, Pomphrey Court in the Castle Precincts, Bristol; In 1881 Census this family lives at #4, Tower Lane, Bristol; John Henry Kingdon must have enlisted in the Army some time between 1885 & 1901 because in 1891 Private John Kingdon Aged 24 & born in Bristol, Somerset is serving with the 6^th Dragoons in the Cavalry Barracks in Preston Brighton, Sussex; The 6^th Dragoons had been in South Africa from January 1881 until November 1890 & then returned to Brighton; (The following Soldier was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal for service in the Boer War- #4679 Private Kingdom J.H. 3rd Dragoon Guards – this may not be the same man as this medal is only awarded for men who served in South Africa between 11.10.1899 & 3.05.1902); I have a Chelsea Pensioner record for John Henry Kingdon b.1868 Bristol on file & have assumed this is the same person; I believe that John Henry Kingdon Married Annie Louisa Jenkins, born 1874, in Bristol (Keynsham) in 1900 & then moved to Canton, Cardiff in Wales to work as a Police Constable; In 1901 Census they live at #52, Penypeel Road in Canton, Cardiff; By 1911 John Henry Kingdon had died in 1904 Aged 37 in Cardiff & his Widow & 3 children lived at the same address in Cardiff, she is working as a lavatory attendant; Awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal & Clasps for Orange Free State, 1902 South Africa & Natal; (These may well have been forfeited later?);

Notes: There are Records for Private J H Kingdon (or J H Kingdom) having served in the 12^th Royal Lancers in South Africa as he is recorded on a Supplementary Medal Roll for that Regiment dated 25^th May 1903 in Umballa, South Africa; He appears to have been eligible for the Cape Colony Clasp & the South Africa Clasp 1902 but unfortunately these medals were forfeited as he had Deserted in South Africa; No applications were made for the issue of the Queen’s South Africa Medal for this soldier although these clasps are associated with that medal; There is also a record for a Trooper J. H. Kingdom, service number unknown, who served in the Boer War with the Imperial Light Horse during 1899-1902 but I can find no other details

Notes: Also served as #264 Royal Engineers (Territorial Force); I believe that this is John Knight Kingdon born 1881 St Pancras, the son of John Kingdon b.1835 South Molton, Devon & 2^nd Wife Matilda ‘Tilly’ Knight Count from Nottinghamshire who married in Newark in November 1875, (John Kingdon’s 1^st wife Elizabeth Case died in 1875); In 1891 & 1901 Censuses John K Kingdon is aged 9 & 19 years respectively & lived with his parents at #32 Hastings Street, St Pancras, he is a Carpenter in 1901; I believe that John Knight Kingdon Marries in St Pancras in 1906 to Annie Ellen Dimes, b.1882 Saint Pancras, London; In 1911 Census John Kingdon is a Married Carpenter & Builder living/working at #9, Cromwell Hill, Maldon in Essex; I believe that his wife is living in Little Waltham, Chelmsford in 1911; I understand that John K Kingdon Died in 1949 in Chelmsford, Essex Aged 67; Medals Card on file; (Brother of Kingdon, Charles Oliver: #6878, Corporal, Royal Army Pay Corps); (Also Brother of Dr. Frank Kingdon who emigrated to USA & was Advisor to President Roosevelt);

Notes: Also Served with the 1^st Battalion the Bedfordshire Regiment as a 2^nd Lieutenant & on the General List as a Captain; Served in France from 15.09.1916; He was promoted from an Officer Training Corps Cadet to temporary 2^nd Lieutenant with the Bedfordshire Regiment on 10.01.1916; His name appears frequently in the Bedfordshire Regiment’s War Diary from the battle front in 1917; This Officer was promoted from temporary 2^nd Lieutenant to temporary Lieutenant on 10.07.1917 with the Bedfordshire Regiment; On 05.08.1918 Temporary Lieutenant J.P. Kingdon, Bedfordshire Regiment was transferred to the General List & promoted to Acting Captain whilst employed as Assistant Instructor of a School of Instruction; An application for his medals, with Emblems was made on 26.10.1921 & the medals sent on 01.12.1921, address was Corne House, Rottingdean, Sussex; This is John Phillips Kingdon born on 21.04.1881 in Brighton, (baptised 17.09.1881 Ovingdean, Sussex); (My Kingdon family tree for the Thorverton Kingdon line Chart XIV); He was the son of James Durant Kingdon, Vicar of Loose, b.1830 in ?? & Eleanor Katherine Stead from Ovingdean who married in Ovingdean on 30.07.1867; John P Kingdon went to Cantab for his BA in 1903 & Assistant Master for 19 years; John Phillips Kingdon Married Olive Gardner from London in Kensington in 1923; He also was Head Master of a School for Boys at ‘The Golden Parsonage’ Hemel Hempstead, Herts; Medals Card on file;

Notes: Records for the Royal Marine Light Infantry have John Samuel Kingdon born 06.06.1871, (no birthplace given), on their cards, with an Enlistment date of 24.04.1894; I have searched for matching ancestry records but there is nothing certain? Needs research;

Notes: The ADM 188/448 Record has a Birth Date of 29.03.1877 in Hackney for this Sailor, but following a very detailed search of Kingdon & Kingdom family birth records for the period 1872 to 1879, I believe that I can safely say that there were no male Kingdons born in the area of Hackney, Tower Hamlets or Bethnal Green, Middlesex which would fit this information; This may well be John Sidney Kingdon born 1873 in Bethnal Green, London, Middlesex, a twin brother to Harry Bale Kingdon who later died in ca.1880, (his parents gave birth to another son named Harry Bale Kingdon in 1882 in Hackney); I believe that John Sidney Kingdon was the son of Harry Bail Kingdon, a Tailor b.1839, & Alice Amelia Stafford (nee Crossland) b.1844 in Clerkenwell, who Married in Hackney, London in 1872 & she appears to have used her maiden name of Alice Amelia Crossland in the records; (His Mother was previously married to James Thomas Stafford who died in 1872); In 1881 Census John S. Bale (assumed to be Kingdon) lived with his Mother Alice Bale (should read Kingdon) at #8, Great Hampton Street, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, but & I have failed to find his Father Harry Bail Kingdon in that Census; (His Father Harry Bail Kingdon may have died in London ca.1886); His Widowed Mother lived at #14, Durrington Road, Hackney, London, in the 1891 Census but I failed to find any John Sidney Kingdon in 1891; His official Naval Service Number of #280767 would indicate that he was a Stoker & that he enlisted between 01.01.1895 & 31.12.1895; However, I still cannot find this man after 1881?

The Chelsea Pensioners List includes a John Sidney Kingdon born in 1875 London Middlesex; This may well be John Sidney Kingdon born 1873 in Bethnal Green, London, Middlesex;

Notes: Too young to have served in WW1, this is John Sottridge Kingdon b.14.08.1900 Hartlepool, Durham, son of Bank Manager William Sottridge Kingdon, b.05.05.1860 in South Molton, Devon & Emily Jane Willcocks Loosemore, from Charles in Devon, who Married on 21.03.1891 in Bishops Nympton, Devon; John S. Kingdon was 7 months old & lived with his parents above the National Provincial Bank in Hartlepool in 1901 & in Norton Lodge, Norton, Stockton on Tees in the 1911 Census; I believe that John Sottridge Kingdon Died in Darlington, Durham, Aged 93 in November 1993; (He was the younger Brother of Kingdon, William L: Honourable Artillery Company No: 6825 1914-1920 WO 372/11) who served in WW1);

Notes: This is John (Jack) Stuart Kingdon born in 1892 in Nelson, New Zealand, the son of Roger William Wellesley Kingdon, a Solicitor, & Annie Evelyn Curtis, living in Fielding, Oroua, New Zealand; (His original family are from the Thorverton & Exeter, Devon, Kingdon line); His Father Died in 1903 Aged 42; In 1914 Electoral Roll, John Stuart Kingdon is recorded as a Farmer, in Kimbolton Road, Fielding, Oroua; This Soldier enlisted in New Zealand in 1914 & is recorded on the Alphabetical Roll of New Zealand Expeditionary Force with an address Care of Mrs. A. Dermer, Fielding & his next of kin is shown as his Mother Mrs. R.W.W. Kingdon, Cheltenham, Fielding; I believe that this soldier Embarked from New Zealand on 09.10.1915 & served in Egypt & then France; (On the 27.01.1916 the newspaper ‘The Colonist’ had reported that his brother Sergeant Basil Kingdon had been visiting Nelson on final leave before being shipped to France & that he was the last of the 3 Kingdon Brothers to go to the Front; Both of his brothers were serving in Egypt in January 1916, one of which was this ‘Jack’ Kingdon); #23/473 Rifleman Kingdon J.S., 1^st New Zealand Rifle Brigade, was reported as having been Wounded in Action on 14.10.1916, Casualty List #430/19; In 1919 Electoral Roll, John Stuart Kingdon is recorded as a Farmer, in Kimbolton Road, Fielding, Oroua; In the 1928 Electoral Roll his Mother Annie Evelyn Kingdon, his Brother Basil & his wife Emily Susette Kingdon & John Stuart Kingdon, were Farming at Ohaeawai in Bay of Islands, Northland; By 1935 I understand that John Stuart Kingdon was Farming at Walton, Rotarua; There are numerous later Electoral Rolls which could be researched further; I understand that John Stuart Kingdon Died in 1960 Aged 67; (He was the Brother of Kingdon, Roger Audley: #2698, Private, 28^th Battalion, 6^th Reinforcements, Australian Imperial Force, WW1); (He was the Brother of Kingdon, Basil: New Zealand Rifle Brigade No: 24/1915 Rank: Sergeant 1914-1920 WO 372/24); Could be researched further;