A kingdon – campaign medals & military service

Notes: This Sailor’s official naval number would indicate enlistment between 01.01.1918 & 31.12.1918, the prefix ‘SS’ indicates a Short service enlistment of 5 to 7 years; The ADM gives his birth date as 20.05.1903 in Bristol, Gloucestershire; This is William Ernest Kingdon born 20.05.1903 in Clifton, Bristol, England, the son of Thomas Henry Kingdon, a British Soldier, b.1868 in Bristol & Blanche Mary Vear from Bedminster, Gloucestershire, who married in Bristol on 11.04.1898; His Father served in the South African Boer War & in WW1 & was a bit of a drunkard who was discharged from the British Army as unfit in 1916 & died of heart failure in 1917; ; His sister was Nellie May Kingdon born 09.10.1898 in Clifton, Bristol; His Brother was Thomas Charles Henry Kingdon born 25.06.1900 in Clifton, Bristol, who was probably forcibly emigrated to Ontario in January of 1913 as a “Home Child” aboard the ‘SS Hesperian’; His Father had obviously abandoned his family, but where was his Mother? Did his mother die or abandon her children? I checked the 1911 UK Census & found a female Kingdon lodging at #37, Ambre Vale East in Clifton, Bristol, which could be her; In the 1911 Census there is a record for a William Kingdom, aged 7 (b.1904 Bristol) as a School boy under a Foster Mother at a Bristol Board of Guardians, Poor Law Service School & Children’s Home at #6, Beechwood Bank, Charlton road, Fishponds, Bristol, Gloucestershire; The ADM 171/160 & ADM 171/162 records indicate that William Ernest Kingdon served for a much longer period than the initial short service enlistment with the Royal Navy & I believe that he served in the Devonport Division & claimed his Long Service Medal on 10.07.1942 under his Official Naval Number of #20735; He was issued the Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service & Good Conduct Medal; (His Father was Kingdon, Thomas Henry: Rifle Brigade No: S1075 Rank: Corporal 1914-1920 WO 372/11 who also served as #9082 in the Rifle Brigade); (He is the Brother of Kingdon, Thomas Charles: 2^nd Depot Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force No: #3327602, Rank: Private); I did not research further;

Notes: This Sailor’s Official Naval Number would indicate enlistment between 01.01.1916 & 31.12.1916 & the ‘M’ prefix would suggest that he was an Artificer or an Artisan; In the ADM records this is William Every Kingdon born 23.12.1901 in Mile End, London (registered 1902 in Mile End Old Town); I failed to find him in the 1911 Census; (I do have a possible death for a William E. Kingdon Aged 21 in Portsmouth, Hampshire in 1923, but this needs further research); Insufficient information to initially identify;

Notes: I do not believe that this man actually served in WW1, but he is recorded as a Reservist in the 2^nd Division Roll in 1917 & is designated as Class D, a Reservist who has 3 children; His address is given as a Farmer in Gore, Southland, New Zealand; This is William Fletcher Kingdon born in Kirwee, Selwyn, Canterbury, New Zealand in 1871, the son of Nehemiah Stephens Kingdon & Mary Grose Webber who Married in Bodmin, Cornwall in 1862 & who sailed from London, England on 30.09.1865 to New Zealand arriving in Lyttelton on 01.01.1866 on board the ‘Mermaid’; In 1896 William Fletcher Kingdon is recorded as a Farm Assistant in Gore, Mataura, Southland; I believe that William Fletcher Kingdon Married Jean McKenzie in 1896; From 1900 to 1919 William Fletcher & Jane Kingdon are recorded in Gore, he is a Farm Assistant; His wife Jean Kingdon was not recorded after the 1919 Electoral Roll for Gore yet I cannot find any death records for her? In 1928 only William Fletcher Kingdon is registered in the electoral lists, he is a Farmer in Gore; In 1935 & 1938 he is recorded as a Farmer in Waimumu, Mataura, & in 1946 a Farmer in Mandeville, Wallace, Southland; From 1949, 1954 & 1957 William Fletcher Kingdon is recorded as being Retired, living in Mandeville, Wallace; William Fletcher Kingdon Died in 1958 Aged 87; (See his family ancestry in the ‘Kingdon Book – A Second Look’, published in 1974); (He was the Brother of John Wesley Kingdon, 1^st Division, Reservist, New Zealand, 1916, WW1);

Notes: Medals Card on file; Insufficient information to identify correctly;

Notes: I have a William George Kingdon on a list of Royal Air Force Officers showing a date of 06.01.1899 (which is probably his birth date?) in the UK files AIR 76/277/107; The MIC card for this man shows that he was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant & also served with The Royal Sussex Regiment as #66431; On 23.03.1918 Temporary 2^nd Lieutenant W.G. Kingdon (Royal Air Force) was noted to be a temporary 2^nd Lieutenant with the Royal Sussex Regiment; The London Gazette Supplement dated 18.10.1920 has an entry for temporary 2^nd Lieutenant W.G. Kingdon of the Royal Sussex Regiment, relinquishing his commission on completion of service, 26.01.1919 but retains the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant; Medals applied for on 07.04.1923 & issued on 21.04.1923 to address, #1, Crown Street, Harrow, Middlesex; This is William George Kingdon born 06.01.1899 in Harrow, Middlesex, baptised on 19.02.1899 in Greenhill Parish, the son of Frank Kingdon, a Butcher b.1873 in Silverton, Devon & Ellen Stock from Farnham, Surrey, who Married in 1898 in Farnham; In 1901 Census William George Kingdon lives with his parents in Harrow on the Hill; In the 1911 Census this family are incorrectly recorded as Kingston & not Kingdon, William George Kingdon is aged 12 & living with his parents at #29, west Street, Harrow, Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex; I believe that he was still single in 1928 & living with his parents in Crown Street, Harrow, Middlesex; Records indicate that William George Kingdon Died on 01.09.1970 in St Albans Aged 71; Medals Card on file;

Notes: This is William George Kingdon born 1874 in Portsea, Portsmouth, the son of James George Kingdon, a Royal Navy Seaman, b.1837 in Portsmouth & his 1^st Wife Elizabeth Elms b.1852 from Portsmouth who married in 1868 in Portsmouth; I believe that his Mother Died in 1875 in Portsea Aged 39 & his Father Married Elizabeth Male, b.1852 Portsmouth, in Portsea in 1877; In 1881 Census William Kingdon lives with his parents at Eagle Cottage, Cottage Lane, in Portsea, Hampshire; This Petty Officer’s Official Naval number would indicate enlistment between 01.01.1890 & 31.12.1890; In 1891 Willm. G. Kingdon is a Royal Navy Crew member aged 17 on board the Boy’s Training Ship ‘HMS St Vincent’ in Portsmouth Harbour; In 1901 Census William Geo. Kingdom is a Petty Officer 1^st Class serving on board the Battleship ‘HMS Ramillies’ stationed in Valetta Grand Harbour, Malta; In 1905 William George Kingdon Married Jane Moul, b.28.11.1885 (registered 1^st Q 1886) in Portsmouth, in Portsmouth; William Kingdon was eventually promoted to Chief Petty Officer, & in the 1911 Census was still serving in the Royal Navy & he living with his wife & young family at #9, Wimpole Street, Landport, Portsmouth; Naval & Marine Personnel Medal records for 2^nd Commissions, indicate also that Petty Officer W.G. Kingdon #155575 served onboard ‘HMS Philomel’ in Somaliland between 1908 & 1910; In 1912 I believe that he was serving on ‘HMS Sentinel’ in Portsmouth; I understand that William G. Kingdon may have died in Surrey in 1963 Aged 89; I believe that he had brothers all serving in the Royal Navy, James John, Harry & Edward Arthur Kingdon & another brother serving in the Army, Charles Walter Kingdon, all born in Portsea; Medals Record Roll on File; Awarded the Africa General Service Medal also; (He is the Brother of James John Kingdon, a Coast Guard Petty Officer #PO/128972 who Died in WW1 aboard ‘HMS India’ on 08.08.1915 off Norway); (He was also the Brother of Kingdon, Edward Arthur: #220316 Leading Seaman, Royal Navy who served in WW1); (He was also the Brother of Kingdon, Charles Walter: Royal Field Artillery No: 47983 Rank: Sergeant 1914-1920 WO 372/11, who served in the Royal Navy as a boy & then in the Army in WW1); (He is also the Brother of Kingdon, Harry: #208949 Leading Seaman, Royal Navy); (He was the Son of #40040 James George Kingdon, Royal Navy);

Notes: Medals Card on file; (Insufficient information to identify accurately);

Notes: The prefix SS/ in the Regimental number denotes Supply Special (Butcher, Baker, Clerk, etc.); Also served with the Royal Engineers as #WR/267615 (prefix denotes Waterways & Railways) & again recorded with the Royal Engineers as #250381; Served in France from 10.01.1915; Medals Card on file; (Insufficient information to identify accurately);

Notes: Enlistment dates for this 2705 regimental number were between 02.01.1889 & 11.06.1890; Also served as #266045 with the Devonshire Regiment; Also awarded the Territorial Force War Medal; Colonel Flick’s 6^th Battalion the Devonshire Regiment records has Private W. H Kingdon, #266045 serving with ‘C’ Company, posted to Salonika on 09.12.1918; Medals Card on file; (Insufficient information to identify accurately);

Further Notes: [The Spring 1919 Absent Voters List for South Molton, Devon Division, Parish of Queens Nympton has reference to a George Kingdon of Cheyney, (No service details given)? I now know that they were Brothers]; This is William Henry Kingdon born in 1888 (there is some queries on this date) in George Nympton, Devon; He was the son of William Kingdon, an Agricultural Labourer, b.30.03.1863 in Kings Nympton & Elizabeth Jane Webber from Chulmleigh who Married in 1884 in South Molton, Devon; In 1901 Census William H Kingdon lives with his parents in George Nympton Village; In 1901 Census is a Cattle Boy aged 14 on the Sampson Farm in Kings Nympton, his parents live in the farm cottage; In 1911 William Henry Kingdon lives with his parents at Cheyney Cottage in Queens Nympton, he is a 23 year old Farm Labourer; William Henry Kingdon volunteered for overseas service on 14.09.1914 aged 26 at a Pay rate of sixpence a day & sixpence Family allowance; He was recorded as a Farmer; At that time he was single & living in Queens Nympton, he gave his date of birth as 22.01.1886? He appears to have been taken on Devonshire Regimental strength on 14.09.1916; He served with ‘C’ Company of 1^st / 6^th Battalion Devonshires, recorded on the rolls, from 01.05.1917; He served in India as his records have him embarking on leave on 30.04.1918 & disembarking on 25.07.1918; He was Drafted to Salonika at some point & finally struck off strength on 09.12.1918; William Henry Kingdon Married Mary Jane Bosson from North Molton, Devon in 1920; I believe that William Henry Kingdon Died aged 73 years on 24.12.1960, & his wife died 14.05.1966 aged 76; (He is the Brother of Kingdon, George: Devonshire Regiment No: 1424 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11 - Also Recorded as: Kingdon, G: Devonshire Regiment No: 265174 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/24);
Kingdon, William H D: Royal Engineers No: 278909 Rank: Sapper 1914-1920 WO 372/11, WW1;

Notes: Medals Card on file; (Insufficient information to identify accurately);

Notes: This is William Henry Kingdon born 15.12.1880 in Brixton, Lambeth, Surrey, the Son of John Kingdon, a Carpenter b.1851 in South Molton & his 1^st wife Elizabeth Piller from Drewsteignton, Devon; In 1891 Census William Kingdon lives with his parents at #123 Mayall Road, Lambeth, his Father is a Carpenter; In 1901 Census William Henry Kingdon is now 20 years old & also a Carpenter, living with his Father & Step Mother, (Mary Cecilia Coomber from Hastings, who married his Father in 1894 in Lambeth), in Mayall Road, Lambeth; In 1911 Census William Henry Kingdon is aged 30 & a Carpenter living with his Father & Step Mother at #72 Mayall Road, Herne Hill; This Soldier’s Army Records have many references to numerous units he was posted to throughout his service; William Henry Kingdon was aged 36 years & 7 Months when he enlisted on 03.07.1916 in Camberwell for service as #5498 &/or #54683 In the Reserve Unit 6^th Sherwood Foresters Territorial Battalion of the Nottingham & Derbyshire Regiment, he was single & living with his Father in Herne Hill; I believe that he was transferred from the Reserves on 23.11.1916; (His Step Mother died 19.08.1918, aged 49, whilst living in Rattray Road, Lambeth where it appears William Henry Kingdon continued to live after his discharge from the Army); William Henry also served as #185478 with the 356^th (HS) Works Company of the Labour Corps in 1917; He also served as #6253 with the 37^th Works Company, Durham Light Infantry; Obviously his Carpenter & Joiner skills kept him on the move throughout his service; I believe that he was discharged on 03.02.1919; There is no Medals card on file; (He is the Brother of Abraham John Kingdon also enlisted in the Royal Marines, Kingdon, Abraham John: Register Number: #11852; Division: Royal Marine Light Infantry: Portsmouth Division); (Brother of Kingdon, George Charles: Register Number: #11322; Division: Royal Marine Light Infantry: Portsmouth Division); I have not researched any further information;

Notes: There are enlistment papers for William Henry Kingdon in Camp Hughes, Manitoba, Canada dated 08.07.1916; I believe that this is William Henry (Harry) Kingdon born 05.07.1898 in Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada, the son of Henry (Harry) John Kingdon, a Shoemaker, b.01.04.1867 in Wales who emigrated to Canada in 1888 & Minnie ?? b. 02.09.1868 in England who emigrated to Canada in 1890, who were probably Married in Canada in ca.1891/92? In the 1901 Census William Henry Kingdon is recorded as Henry Kingdon aged 2 & living with his parents in Minnedosa, Manitoba; In the 1906 Census William Kingdom is aged 7 & living with his parents in Marquette, Manitoba; At the age of 11 years William Kingdon is living with his parents in Minnedosa; In 1916 Census William Kingdon is recorded as being aged 18, with no occupation, living with his parents in Russell, Manitoba; William Henry Kingdon was aged 18 years when he enlisted in Camp Hughes on 08.07.1916; He was drafted into the 200^th Battalion, Canadian Engineers Regiment, Overseas Expeditionary Force; He gave his birth date as 05.07.1898 in Minnedosa & his Father Harry Kingdon as his NOK living in Clanwilliam, Manitoba; He also gave his own address & occupation as a Butcher living in Russell, Manitoba; There are records for #922649, Sapper W.H. Kingdon returning to Canada on the ‘SS Olympic’ in late 1919 for transfer to the Canadian Engineer Railway Battalion (CERB) which gives his residence address as Clanwilliam & his Mother as his NOK; (Researchers should note & read up on the problems returning Canadian Soldiers faced when trying to find work in Manitoba & the resulting riots); (He is the Brother of #3345970 Private Ernest Arthur Kingdon who served with the Canadian Army in WW1); (He is also the Brother of Albert Kingdon who served with the Canadian Forces); (He is also the Brother of Alfred Henry Kingdon who served with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in WW1); I did not research further;

Notes: There is a Militia Service Record List for 1806-1915, which includes a William Henry Kingdon born 1878 in Swansea, Glamorganshire; This is probably William Henry Kingdon b.1879 in Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales, the son of Richard Kingdon b.1854 in Bratton Fleming, Devon & Mary Rees from Swansea who married in 1876 in Swansea, Wales; (William Henry Kingdon is the Grandson of John Kingdon b.1817 Bratton Fleming & Grace Bale b.1815 in Parracombe); In 1881 Census Wm. Henry Kingdon is aged 1 year & living with his parents at #8, Park Terrace, Swansea, his Father is a Police Constable; In 1891 Census William Henry Kingdon lives with his family in St Thomas, Swansea, his Father is a Police Constable; In 1901 Census I did not find this William Henry Kingdon; In the 1911 Census, William H. Kingdon is aged 31, still Single & living with his Retired ex Police Sergeant Pensioners parents in Ystodwen Villas, Llandebie, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, he is a Prudential Assurance Agent; He may well have been in receipt of a Chelsea Pension as a William Kingdon b.1878 in Swansea is listed there; (His Father’s Death Probate in 1926 indicates that William Henry Kingdon was working as a Colliery Store Clerk); (He is the Brother of Kingdon, Alfred James: Army Service Corps No: TS/742 Acting Farrier Sergeant 1914-1920 WO 372/11); (I believe that he was also the Brother of #4480 Richard John Kingdon who served 18 years with the 1^st Battalion, the Welsh Regiment & re-enlisted in 1914 for WW1);

Notes: There records for a William J Kingdon Called up under the Canadian Military Service Act of 1917 in Ottawa, Ontario on 28.11.1917, category B2, Temporary in #3 Signal training Depot, & signed by the Officer Commanding 1^st Depot Battalion, E.O. Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force; There are no other WW1 Military Records for this soldier that I can find; I believe that this is William James Kingdon, UK Birth Record 1^st Q 1894 St George, Hanover Square, London; The enlistment record has William J. Kingdon Aged 22 years & 10 months, Born 09.12.1893 in Pimlico, London England; His address is recorded as living at #214, Main St, Ottawa, East Ontario, his trade is noted as a Fireman, & his Nok given as his Mother, Elizabeth Kingdon, address unknown; He Lived at #214, Main St, Ottawa, East Ontario & had previously served in the Active Militia but had been discharged a/c Medically Unfit; Further research reveals that in the 1901 UK Census, Wm Jas Kingdon born 1897/8 Pimlico is a Visitor with a Clayton Family, William & Sarah & Daughter May, a Bricklayer from Welshpool, Montgomeryshire; William James Kingdon aged 7 at that time may have been an orphan or a foster child or Nurse Child? This family live at #1, Myrtle Road, Walthamstow, Essex; In previous census records they also have Nurse Children living with them. I also found the following immigration record for a passenger sailing from Liverpool UK to Halifax, Nova Scotia on ‘SS Mongolian’ on 25.03.1911 – arriving Halifax 08.04.1911 – William Kingdon Aged 17, has no trade but intends to Farm in Ontario; In the 1911 Canadian Census there is a W. James Kingdon born December 1893 in England, working as a Domestic in Osgoode, Russell, Ontario; I did not research any further;

Notes: Prefix M2/ on his Regimental number denotes that he was an Electrician; Served in France from 28.11.1914 with the Royal Army Service Corps; This Soldier was on the Class Z Reserve after the War but no dates are given on his MIC card; Medals Card on file; (Insufficient information to identify accurately);

Notes: This is William John Kingdon born 13.11.1890 in Farnborough, Hampshire; He was the son of William Kingdon, a Gardener b.1862 in Wibley, Surrey, & Lucy Wattridge from Southampton who Married in 1890 in Farnham, Hampshire; In 1891 William Jno Kingdon lived with his parents at Bifrons Lodge, Sycamore Road, Farnborough; In 1901 William John Kingdon lived with his parents at #22, Richmond Place, Alverstoke, Hampshire, his Father was a Market Gardener at that time; William John Kingdon joined the Royal Navy between 01.01.1909 & 31.12.1909 as his official navy number would indicate & was serving as a Stoker, #K4383, on board ‘HMS Jupiter’ (Gunnery Training Battleship) at Weymouth Bay, Portland, Dorset in 1911; According to the Royal Navy’s WW1 Records Stoker Petty Officer W. J. Kingdon served in the Great War; On the ADM 171/107 Medal Roll he was serving on ‘HMS King George V’ at the end of WW1; there is a UK incoming passenger record for Naval Ratings ex Malta arriving on board the vessel Moreton Bay, at Southampton on 13.12.1930, Chief Stoker William J Kingdon of the Royal Naval Barracks in Portsmouth is on this list Aged 40; Subsequently I would assume that William John Kingdon served for many years with the Royal Navy, probably more than 20 years; His Long Service Medal was issued on 24.10.1924 & sent to him on the Aircraft Carrier ‘HMS Hermes’; I believe that William John Kingdon died in Surrey in 1977 Aged 86; Awarded the 1914-15 Star, The British War Medal & the Victory Medal; Also awarded the Royal Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal; I did not research further;

Notes: The ADM records have this Sailor born 09.10.1878 in Antony, Cornwall; His Official Navy Number #183694 would indicate enlistment between 01.01.1895 & 31.12.1895 & that he was a Seaman; Unfortunately there are no other records; I believe that this is William John Kingdon b.1878 in Wilcove, Antony, Cornwall, & that he was the son of John Joseph Kingdon, a Royal Navy Stoker, b.23.09.1853 in New Passage, Stoke Damerel, Devon & Ann Maria Deacon, b.1852 in Wilcove, Antony, Cornwall, & who Married in 1877 in Cornwall; In the 1881 Census William Kingdon is Aged 2 & living with his Mother & her parents at #9, Wilcove, Antony in Cornwall, she is recorded as being a Stoker’s Wife, & I believe that young William’s Father was serving onboard ‘HMS Iron Duke’ in Hong Kong; In the 1891 Census William J Kingdon lives with his parents at #13, Morice Street, Stoke Damerel, Devonport, his Father is a Royal Navy Pensioner; William John Kingdon’s Father Died on 04.10.1891 in Stoke Damerel Aged 38; I understand from the records that William John Kingdon enlisted into the Royal Navy in 1895; I failed to find him in the 1901 Census Records & have presumed that he was probably serving in the Royal Navy at that time; Towards the end of 1901, William John Kingdon Married Louisa Clara Hoyle, (b.1881 Wilcove, Cornwall), in Devonport, Devon; Their children, of which there are 2, were born in Wilcove, Cornwall so I assume that they returned there from Devon between late 1901 & early 1903? In the 1911 Census William & Louisa Kingdon are living in Wilcove, Antony, Cornwall with William’s Widower Grandfather William Deacon & his Widowed Mother Maria Kingdon, William is a Farm Labourer; (Noted that their eldest child Stanley William G Kingdon (b.31.03.1903 Wilcove) is visiting with a Hoyle family Uncle in Torpoint, Cornwall, & is recorded as an 8 year old Scholar); (He is the Son of Kingdon, John: #82600, Stoker, Royal Navy; ADM 188/76/189); I researched no further;