A kingdon – campaign medals & military service

Notes: Regimental number prefix TF/ denotes Territorial Force; Private William Kingdon’s name appears on the Roll for soldiers who served with the Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment); Medals Card on file; (Insufficient information to identify any further);

Notes: The ADM 188 records have reference to William Kingdon, born 27.10.1881 in Eastbourne, Sussex, serving as #200821; This official Royal Navy number would indicate enlistment in 1898 as a Seaman; This is William Kingdon born in 1881 in Eastbourne, Sussex, the son of William Hamlin Kingdon, a Carpenter b.1850 in South Molton, Devon & Emily Elizabeth Mears from Shinfield, Berkshire, who Married in 1876 in Strand, London; His Father died in mid 1881 & in the 1891 Census William Kingdon was aged 9 & lived with his widowed Mother, she was a Laundress, at #437 Sea Side Road, Eastbourne, Sussex; I failed to locate William Kingdon in the 1901 Census but believe that he was already serving in the Royal Navy; In 1905 in Portsmouth William Kingdon married an Irish girl from Cork, named Winifred Doris Constance Middleton, probably born in 1884; The ADM 171/62 record has #200821 Ships Carpenter, W. Kingdon serving in the Persian Gulf between 1909 & 1914 on board ‘HMS Odin’; In the 1911 Census William Kingdon is a Ships Corporal serving at ‘Fort Blockhouse’ in Alverstoke, Hampshire, & is recorded as being Married; (This is the same station that Alfred Moule Martin was serving at in 1911); In the 1911 Census Winifred Kingdon & 3 children are recorded incorrectly as ‘Ringdon’, living at #48, Fifth Street, Buckland, Portsmouth; (2 children were born 1906 & 1908 in Selsey bill, Sussex & a third b.1911 in Portsmouth, Hampshire; Selsey bill is a headland on the Sussex/Hampshire border, 2 kids were registered in Westhampnett, Sussex which covered that area);

I believe that William Kingdon & Winifred Doris C Middleton were either separated or divorced between 1911 & 1914; William Kingdon was serving onboard ‘HMS Glory in 30.11.1915 as his Persian Gulf Medal clasp was forwarded to him there;

Winifred Doris C Middleton then appears to have run off to Australia & married a Royal Navy Boatswain, Alfred Moule Martin in Paddington, New South Wales, Australia in 1914; This British Sailor, previously served in the London Depot from 01.06.1913 until 26.06.1913 & was on loan to the Australian Navy for WW1, serving with them in Sydney from 27.06.1913 until 29.08.1917, before returning to England to serve out of the London Depot; Alfred Moule Martin was born in 1884 in Southwark, London & lived with his parents in Camberwell in 1891 Census; In the 1901 Census Alfred Moule Martin was a 17 year old 1^st Class Boy serving on board the shore based Gunnery Ship ‘HMS Cambridge’ in Devonport; In 1911 Alfred Martin is serving at ‘HMS Excellent’ Gunnery School on Whale Island, Portsmouth as a Seaman, Petty Officer & is recorded as being Single; (This is the same station that William Kingdon was serving at in 1911); However, I can find no records for Winifred Doris Constance Kingdon travelling or sailing to Australia, but I have found a returning English passenger on board the ‘SS Berrima’ sailing from Australia to England for Mrs. Winifred Martin Aged 31 (b.1889?) & a 2 year old daughter Stella Margaret Martin in February 1920, which may be her; I believe that Alfred M Martin Died in Devon in 1943 Aged 59, & that Winifred D C Martin Died in Kent in 1963 Aged 82; Alfred Moule Martin was awarded the WW1 Star, Victory & British War Medals & also paid a Bonus for having served in WW1 with Australian Forces;

I believe that William Kingdon lived at #80, Broadway, Sandown in the Isle of Wight & Married his 2^nd Wife, Ethel Kate Gilchrist in 1925 on the Isle of Wight, she was b.1896 in Newport, Isle of Wight; William Kingdon Died on 18.09.1939 at the County Mental Hospital, Whitecroft, Newcroft on the Isle of Wight Aged 58; His wife Ethel Kate Kingdon Died aged 62 in Sandown, IOW in 1959; William Kingdon was awarded the WW1 Star, Victory & British War Medals; He was also awarded the Naval General Service Medal & Persian Gulf clasp for service 1909-1914;


Kingdon, William: Book 1670, Exeter, Devon Militia for 1803;

Notes: The Devon: Exeter Militia List for 1803 has reference to a William Kingdon, Surgeon, who served earlier in the Militia but in 1803 was ‘Deleted – Discharged’; No other information;

Notes: The Devon: Exeter Militia List for 1803 has reference to a William Kingdon, Ironmonger, who served in the Militia; The record indicates that he was aged 21 years & was s single man, ‘ Willing to Serve as a Volunteer’; This would appear to be William Kingdon born 25.03.1782 & baptised on 02.04.1782 in Bow/Mint/George’s Meeting House, the son of “Iron Sam’ Kingdon & Jane Kent; (The Kingdon Book ‘A Second Look’ published in 1974 has detailed reference to this family);

Notes: There are numerous records for this Sailor, which indicate that he held the rank of Carpenter & was aged 21 years old when he first entered the Service. William Kingdon served from 24.05.1823 to 31.12.1854; His date of birth is not shown in the records but the ADM 196/75 listing has his rank as Carpenter, Serving from 25.11.1840 & ADM 196/29 records his rank as Carpenter 1^st Class serving since 01.01.1855; There is a Medal roll for the 1834 -1853 South Africa Medal which records Carpenter William Kingdon serving on HMS Castor during the Kaffir Wars, probably in Simons Bay during 1850 to 1853; This is probably William Kingdon born in 1802 or 1803 in Stoke Damerel, the son of Peter Kingdon, b.1765 in St Neot, Cornwall & Mary Williams from Stoke Damerel, who Married in 1791; William Kingdon Married Elizabeth Pengelley b.1809 in Devonport, in Stoke Damerel on 02.06.1830; I find William Kingdon in the 1841 Census with his wife & family, serving with the Royal Navy at that time & living in Temple Street, Portsea Town, Portsmouth, Hampshire; In the 1851 Census William is recorded as being a Warrant Officer at Sea (serving on HMS Castor) & his wife & family live at #12, Ross Street, Stoke Damerel; In 1861 Census William & his wife & family live at #4 Market Street in Stoke Damerel, William is still a Carpenter in the Royal Navy; In 1871 William Kingdon is aged 67 & a Pensioned Warrant Officer Royal Navy, living in Herbert Place, Stoke Damerel; In 1881 William & Elizabeth Kingdon live at #18, Ross Street, Stoke Damerel; William Kingdon dies in Stoke Damerel in 1888 Aged 84 & his Wife Elizabeth the following year in 1889 at the age of 80; Awarded the South Africa Medal for 1850 -1853;

Notes: I originally had very little information on this Royal Navy man but he was serving onboard ‘HMS Asia’ at the Battle of Navarino in the Ionian Sea on 20.10.1827, as a Carpenter’s Crew; Unfortunately there was no other information against his name? I now believe that this is William Kingdon b.1802/03 in Stoke Damerel, Devon, who served as Warrant Officer, Carpenter, #411 & #415 Royal Navy; I understand that he also served as ships #3 Carpenter Crew with ‘HMS Monarch’ in the Baltic & that his medals were issued to him via ‘HMS Royal William’ on 18.03.1857; He was awarded the Naval General Service Medal for service on HMS Asia, Navarino U/1257; Awarded the Baltic Medal; (He was the Father of Kingdon, Edwin Peter Pengelley: Royal Navy Volunteer #27890A & Royal Navy #63488; & Grandfather of Kingdom, Albert Edwin: Royal Garrison Artillery No: 213501 Rank: Gunner who served in WW1 in the Army);

Notes: This could be a William Kingdon also? This Mariner was born in 1772 or thereabouts & was serving on ‘HMS Perseverance’ in 1793; There is a Bishop of Winchester’s Marriage Licence record for William Kingden, aged 21 & Sarah Fry of Alverstoke, Hampshire, also aged 21, being married at Portsea on 02.07.1793 in Hampshire; I can find no other records;

Notes: There is an 1891 Census Record for the Royal Marines Barracks, East Stonehouse, Devon, which has William Kingdon, born 1864 in Exeter, serving asa Private soldier in the Royal Marines; Despite in depth searches, I have failed to identify this man; Insufficient information to identify;

Notes: The ADM 171/30 Records have a Medal Clasp issue for the Capture of Canton in 1857 in the First Chinese Opium War for Private Wm. Kingdon of the 15^th Company, Royal Marine Brigade; There is no other information other than a note that his medals were delivered to him in China in 1883, (probably in Hong Kong) where he was possibly still serving as a Marine? Awarded the China War Medal & Canton Clasp; Insufficient information to identify;

Notes: This is probably William Kingdom born in 1861 in Plymouth, the son of William Henry Kingdom, a Master Boatman & Boat Proprietor, b.1827 in Plymouth, & Emma Menhinnich from Cornwall who Married in 1853 in Plymouth; (There is however, some discrepancies in my records for this man – he may have been born as William Henry Kingdom or William John Kingdom; The Royal Marine Records have his date of birth as 09.09.1861 but there are no Kingdom or Kingdon children born in the Plymouth area during that period? However, I have concluded that this is probably the correct person as follows; In 1871 Census William Kingdon is Aged 10 years & lives with his parents at #8, Hoe Gate Place, Plymouth St Andrews; In the 1881 Census William Kingdon is aged 19 & lives with his parents still at the same address in Plymouth, he is a Waterman like his Father, (his Father’s wife in this census is recorded as Charlotte A Kingdon from Falmouth in Cornwall & his parents ages do not compute with earlier records? Further research indicates that his Mother Emma Kingdom died in 1876 aged 50 & that his Father William Henry Kingdom Married again in 1878 in Stoke Damerel, Devon, to a Charlotte Ann Doney, however, her maiden name was Charlotte Ann White & she had been previously Married to Thomas Doney, a Warder in Plymouth Charles & I believe that he had died in 1875 in Plymouth too); According to the Royal Marine records, William Kingdon Enlisted in the Plymouth Division of the RMLI on 09.08.1881; William Henry Kingdom Married Alice Mary Ann Gazzard, b.1866 Plymouth, in Plymouth in 1888 & in the 1891 Census they lived at #11, Hoe Gate Place in Plymouth; William Henry Kingdom is now a licensed boat owner; In 1901 William & Alice Kingdom still live at #11, Hoe Gate Place, Plymouth; In 1911 William & Alice Kingdom live at #22, Pier street, Plymouth; (He was the Father of Kingdom, Wilfrid Harold; #M25257, Royal Navy, Shipwright Class 2; ADM 188/1068); (Father of Albert Edward Victor Kingdom, #22079DA, Royal Navy Reserve); (His other son William James R. Kingdom probably served with the Militia in Plymouth); This family may need further investigation & research;

Notes: Initially enlisted as #4655 Devonshire Regiment; Also served as #662682 in the Labour Corps & #203059 4^th Reserve Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, & 2^nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment & #136461 RAMC; This is William ‘Willie’ Kingdon born & baptised South Molton 05.03.1881, the son of Thomas Kingdon b.1847 South Molton & Anne Heriford from Meshaw who Married on 29.04.1873 in South Molton; In the 1881 Census William Kingdon is aged 1 month & living with his parents at #89, East street, South Molton, Devon; Willie Kingdon continued to live in East Street, South Molton at #82 with his parents in 1891 & 1901; Willie was a Coach Builder & Journeyman Wheelwright; He married Emily Adelaide Thorne on 22.12.1902 in South Molton & lived at #22, North Street, South Molton in 1911 Census; William Kingdon enlisted on a Short Service basis for the duration of the War on 09.12.1915 aged 35 years & 9 months but may not have been called up until 15.06.1916 as he was placed on the Army Reserve list before being posted to the Devonshire Regiment; He served at Home from 15.06.1916 until 25.06.1917 & was then sent to France until 11.10.1917, transferred to the 4^th Reserve Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment & then posted to the 2^nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, serving with them in France before returning home on 18.12.1917; He also appears to have been attested with them as #203059; He suffered with some mild disability, (general weakness & weight loss) as he was hospitalised from 12.10.1917 to 07.12.1917 & was eventually transferred to the RAMC on 08.02.1918 but there is some confusion with his military & pension records here? He was transferred to the Labour Corps on 09.10.1918 with the 448^th Agricultural Company; He is recorded on the 1919 Absent Voters List for South Molton at reference 4666 but there are no service details given; I believe that he was demobilised on 19.04.1919; Willie Kingdon Died 08.01.1964 in South Molton; Medals Card on file; (He is the Brother of Kingdon, Fred: Devonshire Regiment No: 23938 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11);

Notes: This is William Kingdon born 1888 in Enfield, London, Middlesex, the son of Alfred Kingdon b.?? in ?? & ?? from ?? who Married in ?? in ??; William Kingdon (Kingdom) was aged 19 years & 8 months when he first Attested for the 3^rd West Riding Regiment Special Reserve in Bradford on 19.09.1908 for 6 years service, he was recorded as #9206; He served with the Special Reserve for a total of 93 days until 20.12.1908; William Kingdon then Enlisted in the Regular Army for a Short Service career, 7 years with the Colours & 5 years Reserve, with the West Riding Regiment/Corps on 20^th December 1908 in Halifax; He was aged 19 years & 11 months old, a Groom by trade, having worked for a Horse Trader in Leeds for 3 years, & declared that he was already serving in the Reserve in 3^rd Battalion, West Riding Regiment; His next of kin was his Father Alfred Kingdon of #3, Warwick Place, Leeds, Yorkshire & his brother, Ernest Kingdon who was serving on HMS Victory’ at the time; In January 1909, whilst serving with the 2^nd Battalion, he went Absent in Tidworth & was placed in detention prior to his District Court Martial on 21.01.1909; He was sent to detention for 14 days on 27.01.1909 & returned to duty on 10.02.1909, however he had tried to cut his throat on 02.02.1909 whilst in detention; By the 1^st of April 1909 he was found to be medically unfit for further service due to ‘Delusional Insanity’ & subsequently Discharged after only a further 102 days service; At discharge he gave an address in St Albans, Middlesex but this is unreadable on his file; I believe that he tried to cut his throat on 02.02.1909 although the wound was rather superficial & that a Court of Inquiry was held on 25.02.1909 at Victoria Barracks, Portsmouth; (He was the Brother of Ernest Kingdon who served on ‘HMS Victory’ in 1908/09?); For some reason I cannot locate any of this man’s family? Needs more research?

Notes: Enlistment dates for a soldier with this regimental number #5215 were between 05.01.1896 & 04.01.1899; Also served as #268191 with the Devonshire Regiment; Territorial Force Medal 1421 was issued, indicating service with the territorial force prior to 30.09.1914 & to have served in an operational theatre outside of UK between 05.08.1914 & 11.11.1918; Medals Card on file; (Insufficient information to identify further); Further research of Colonel Flick’s Diary for the 6^th Battalion the Devonshire Regiment reveals records for Private W. Kingdom #268191, serving with ‘A’ Company;

Further research of the Absent Voters List for 1919 reveals that this is probably William D. Kingdon, a Private with the 1^st/6^th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment who were serving in Mesopotamia & did not return home until August 1919; The address given in 1919 was #62, Westbridge Cottages, Tavistock, Devon, which has helped identify him; William Daniel K. Kingdon born in 1893 in Tavistock, Devon, the son of Edward Andrews Kingdon, an Iron Moulder, b.1867 in Tavistock & Elizabeth Jane Lucas b.1870 in St Ives, Cornwall who married in 1889 in Tavistock; In 1901 Census William is aged 8 & lives with his parents at #5, Madge Hill, Tavistock; In 1911 Census William Kingdon is aged 18 & is a Domestic Gardener living with his parents at #62, West Bridge Cottages, Tavistock, Devon; I believe that William D Kingdon Married Henrietta Woolway in Tavistock in 1921; (He is the Brother of Kingdon, Sydney C: Devonshire Regiment No: 1420 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11); I did not research further;
Kingdon, William Charles: Merchant Shipping & Mercantile Medals for WW1; BT 351/1/77264;

Notes: This is recorded as William Charles Kingdon born in 1894 in Cardiff, Glamorgan Wales; I have failed to find any other records other than his birth in 1894 in Cardiff? Insufficient information to identify;

Notes: Served in France from 09.02.1917; Medals issued 09.02.1923, address was “Floriston” Bridge Road, Torquay, Devon; William Edward Kingdon was educated at Trent College and University College Hospital, qualifying with the Conjoint Diploma in 1913 and graduating in 1915; His name also appears on the WW1 Roll for University of London; After graduating in 1915 he took up a House Appointment at Sheffield & then served in the Royal Army Medical Corps during WW1; William Edward Kingdon MB was promoted to Lieutenant on 05.05.1915 with the North Midland Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance of the Army Medical Services; This officer was again promoted to Captain on the 15.11.1915 with the same unit of the Royal Army Medical Corps; Throughout his life he was a careful Doctor, Clinician & Surgeon in UK & also whilst working in Jerusalem & Egypt on medical mission works; This is William Edward Kingdon born on 27.01.1888 in Sheffield, the son of William Edward Kingdon, a Tobacconist, b.1861 in Worcester & Annie Lock from West Buckland in Devon, who married in Barnstaple in 1^st Q 1886, later of Bemerton, Buxton, Derby; In 1891 Census William E Kingdon lived with his parents at #187 Granville Road, Sheffield Park, Sheffield, Yorkshire; The family lived in Sheffield in 1901 Census at #81, Fitzwalter Road, but William Kingdon aged 13 was a Pupil at Trent College, Long Eaton, Derbyshire alongwith another of his brothers (John Kingdon); In 1911 Census William Edward Kingdon is aged 23, an inmate medical student at the University College Hospital, Gower Street, St Pancras, London WC; William E Kingdon Married Anne Purdon in Erpingham, Norfolk in 1916; Captain W.E. Kingdon MB, of the RAMC, resigned his commission on 08.04.1921 but retained the rank of Captain; William Edward Kingdon Died on 06.02.1977 in Norfolk Aged 89, his wife having died in 1963; Medals Card on file; (Brother of Captain Arthur Francis Kingdon, 6th Bn., York and Lancaster Regiment, who died on 09 October 1917 on the Somme); (Brother of Kingdon, George Herbert: Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, Captain 1914-1920 WO 372/11 who also served in WW1);