A kingdon – campaign medals & military service

Notes: This is Bert (Bertie) Kingdon born in 1886 in Bishops Nympton, the son of George Kingdon, a Labourer baptised 26.10.1851 in Bishops Nympton, Devon & Ann Kingdom b.1863 in Knowstone, Devon who married in 1881 in Knowstone, North Devon; In the 1891 Census Bertie Kingdon was living with his parents at Crosside Cottages in Knowstone, Devon; In 1901 Census Bert Kingdon was aged 15 & working as an Agricultural Labourer on Padmarsh Farm in Rose Ash, Devon; He probably enlisted much earlier than his entry date into WW1 on 06.11.1914, which is the date shown on his medal card, because I found a Bert Kingdon born in 1887 in South Molton serving as a Private in the 2^nd Battalion The Devonshire Regiment in Malta in 1911 Census; Military research for the Devonshires would indicate enlistment for a man with the regimental #8673 would have been between 23.01.1908 & 08.03.1909; It would be reasonably safe to assume that Bertie Kingdon also served in the local Militia as his name appears on a Militia Service List (1806 to 1915), & this may explain the earlier service number of #8673; This Bert Kingdon served with the 2^nd Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment & is also mentioned in C T Atkinson's book about the Devonshire Regiment under Bert Kingdon, No. 8673, & listed under Honours and Awards; He was awarded the Victory, British & 1914 Star Medals so must have served for the duration of WW1; The UK Spring 1919 Absent Voters List for South Molton Division, Devon, Parish of Rose Ash has reference #4152 to Kingdon Bert – Ash Moor (No service details given); The Rose Ash Victory Hall Memorial in Devon records a Corporal B. Kingdon of the Devonshire Regiment; Medals Card on file; (He is the Brother of Kingdon, Ernest: Devonshire Regiment No: 8737 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11); (He is also the Brother of Eli Kingdon who served in WW1 #3143, #2348 & #96658 RFA until 31.03.1919); (He is the brother of Kingdon, Frederick: #814692 139^th Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force; Rank: Private); (He is probably also the Brother of Kingdom, Francis W: Devonshire Regiment No: 1775 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11); I have not researched any further at the moment;

Notes: This Soldier also served as #41026 Gloucestershire Regiment & #5881 Leinster Regiment (The old Prince of Wales’s Royal Canadians); The Regimental number of #5881 Acting Corporal for the 6^th Battalion Leinster Regiment would indicate an enlistment date between 29.03.1899 & 13.03.1900, however the 6^th Battalion was not formed until the outbreak of WW1 so I’m confused? 6th (Service) Battalion Formed in Dublin, August 1914, as part of K1. August 1914: attached to 29^th Brigade, 10^th (Irish) Division. May 1918: left the Division and moved to France, arriving Marseilles on 1 June 1918. 7-19 June 1918: attached to 14^th Division. 19-28 June 1918: attached to 34^th Division. 20 July 1918: attached to 198^th Brigade, 66^th Division. 12 September 1918: disbanded in France; This is probably Bertram/Bertrum Kingdon born in 1890 in Bishops Nympton, Devon, the son of John Kingdon, an Agricultural Labourer b.1852 in Romansleigh, Devon & Mary Ann Lock from Bishops Nympton, who married in Bishops Nympton, Devon in 1873; In the 1891 Census Bertam Kingdon lived with parents at Knowles Downs, Bishops Nympton, Devon; In the 1901 Census Bertram Kingdon lives with his parents at Poole Cottage, Bishops Nympton; In the 1911 Census I believe that Bertram Kingdon was working as a Butcher & lodging in Middle Street, North Perrott, Somerset; At some stage prior to his Army Service Bertram Kingdon moved to Bridgend, Glamorgan, Wales as he Married Minnie Bertha Vines, b.1892 in Dursley, Gloucestershire, in 1914 in Bridgend; Bertram Kingdon served in France from 25.07.1915; Bertram Kingdon’s MIC card is marked to show his Service order as being #1 with the Army Service Corps, #2 with the Leinster Regiment & #3 with the Gloucestershires Regiment; Bertram Kingdon was Transferred to the Class Z Reserve on 15.03.1919; I believe that Bertram Kingdon dies Aged 56 in Bridgend, Wales in 1946; Medals Card on file; (He is the brother of Charles Kingdon who also served in WW1 as #28483 in the Grenadier Guards); (I believe that another Brother, John Kingdon born 1880/82 in Bishops Nympton served in the 2^nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment at the Battle of Colenso in the Boer War); (He is also a brother of William Kingdom who also served in WW1 as #19131 Devonshires & #P13292 Military Foot Police);

Notes: This is Bruce Kingdon who was born in Barnstaple, England on 21.04.1888; In 1891 Bruce Kingdon lived with his parents in Potters Lane, Barnstaple, his Father was a Fisherman; In the 1901 English Census, Bruce Kingdon was aged 13 & living with his parents at #10, Signal Terrace, Barnstaple, Devon, his Father is a Shipwright & Bargeman; Bruce Kingdon probably emigrated to Canada on 21.07.1910 to visit his step sister Elizabeth Limebeer, who had married Richard Johns in Barnstaple in 1899 & emigrated to Manitoba, Canada in 1905, on the ‘SS Empress of Britain’ from Liverpool to Quebec; Bruce Kingdon is Rooming with another Policeman & his family in Winnipeg City in the 1911 Census of Canada, he is a Winnipeg City Policeman, but this record indicated that he had arrived in Canada in 1906 & not in 1910?; Bruce Kingdon married Reta Viola Wilson on 02.11.1911 in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Private Bruce Kingdon enlisted at the age of 27 in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on 17.05.1915 stating that he was an ex Winnipeg City Policeman & that he had previously served with the Royal Garrison Artillery, (Volunteers) in Devonshire, England; His attestation papers give his birth date of 21.04.1888 in Barnstaple, Devon, England & indicate that he was already Married; His first attestation number was A23151, which was subsequently changed to #622376 when he joined the 44^th Overseas Battalion, CEF; I understand that his wife remarried to a William Arnold Drenner in Winnipeg on 01.04.1918; (He was probably the Brother of Kingdon, John (Jack): Royal Field Artillery No: 49756 Rank: Sergeant 1914-1920 WO 372/23); (The Brother of Kingdon, George: Royal Field Artillery No: 45713 Rank: Gunner & #174744 Sergeant George Kingdon of the Royal Garrison Artillery); (He was also the Brother of Sydney John Kingdon WW1 Merchant Seaman);

Notes: This is Bruce Edwin Kingdon, born 13.07.1918 in Castleford, Yorkshire (registered Pontefract), the son of George (Henry) Kingdon, b.1890 Barnstaple, Devon, a Sergeant in the RGA, & Lily Fawcett from Yorkshire, who Married on 01.12.1917 in Allerton, Bywater, Yorkshire; (His Father had earlier marital & illegitimate children problems throughout his Army career – which I have detailed under his own profile notes); I believe that Bruce Edwin Kingdon may not have Died in Action as there is a UK Death Record registration in Blyth, Suffolk for Bruce E Kingdon Aged 25 in 1944 - (2^nd Q 1944 Blyth 4a.1150), however, as the KOYLI’s saw a great deal of action at Normandy in June 1944 it is possible this Soldier may have been killed at home during training for the invasion?; Awarded the 1939-45 Star & War Medals; (He was the son of Kingdon, George: Royal Field Artillery No: 45713 Rank: Gunner 1914-1920 WO 372/11 – also recorded as Kingdon, George: Royal Garrison Artillery No: 174744 Rank: Sergeant);

Notes: This is Bridget Mary Kingdon, born in 1893 in Holsworthy, Devon, the Daughter of Reverend Frank Hawker Kingdon b.1860 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire & Jessie Freyberg from Belgravia, London who married in 1886 in Richmond, Surrey; In 1901 Bridget Mary Kingdon lived with her parents in the Vicarage in Bridgerule, Devon; In 1911 Census Bridget Mary Kingdon was studying Physical Culture in Middlesex & living with a maternal Aunt & Uncle Percy Freyberg at #47, Warwick Road, Ealing; On 01.10.1918 Bridget Mary Kingdon was an Officer Candidate promoted to Assistant Administrator at the Air Ministry in the newly formed Women’s Royal Air Force; On the 22.10.1919 Bridget Mary Kingdon relinquished her position with the WRAF upon completion of her service; (She is the Sister of Second Lieutenant Robert Claude Hawker Kingdon, Royal Field Artillery who died age 27 on 19 April 1917); (She was the Sister of Kingdon, Frank Denys: Royal Field Artillery Rank: Second Lieutenant 1914-1920 WO 372/11 who served in WW1);

Notes: There is a note for service in the Victorian Conflicts period for a C. Kingdon served as a “Room Steward” on board a ship named “Englishman”; None of this can be verified? The record has his birth year as 1895 in Cardiff but there are no C. Kingdon births in 1894, 1895 or early 1896 that match? The nearest possibility is an Ernest Clifford Kingdon born in the 4^th Q 1894 in Cardiff? I did not research any further;

Notes: I have a Medal Record from ADM 171/25 for Sailors who served on ‘HMS Swallow’ in the Crimean War (1854 to 1856) which indicates that 1^st Class Boy, C.G. Kingdon was present at the assault of Sebastopol; He was awarded the Sea of Azoff (Azov) Clasp; This Sailor needs more research to find out who he is;

Notes: ADM 171/133 records the issue of medals to Civilian Personnel C. Kingdon, who was serving as Mate on board a vessel named ‘Isieford’ during WW1; I can find no references for this vessel? However, the medal issue records delivery to the Royal Naval Armament Depot, Lodge Hill in Chattenden, near Upnor in Kent; Awarded the British War Medal; Insufficient information to identify further;

Also served as - Kingdon, Charlie Walter: #364586, Royal Navy, ADM 188/556, WW1;

Notes: It is my belief that the #1421 indicates enlistment before #2096, which was issued on 10.01.1881, & the fact that he was a Corporal in 1882 would indicate a much earlier date of birth than 1860? I have medal records for Corporal C. Kingdon, serving with the 19^th Regiment Hussars for service in the Anglo Egyptian War in 1882 & for having fought at the Battle of Tel el-Kebir on 13.09.1882, near Kassassin, Canal Zone, Egypt, (there were 374 of these medals issued to the 19^th Hussars); Originally the 19^th were raised in 1858 as the 1^st Bengal European Light Cavalry by the British East India Company for service in the Indian Mutiny, they became Light Dragoons in 1861 & were changed to Hussars in 1862 when they moved into the British Army; By 1885 this Regiment was known as the 19^th (Prince of Wales Own) Hussars; He was awarded the Egypt Medal & the Tal el Kebir Clasps; This Soldier needs more research to find out who he is;

Notes: This is Cecil James Kingdon born 27.01.1900 in Islington/Clapham, he was the son of Henry (Harry) Kingdon, a Fitter b.1866 in Stepney & Sarah (Sally) Chown, (b.1870 Kilburn), who Married in 1894 in Lambeth; In the 1901 Census Cecil Kingdon is aged 1 & living with his parents at #136, Hornsey Park Road, Wood Green, Middlesex; In the 1911 Census record Cecil James Kingdon is aged 11, living with his parents at #12, Luxor Street, Camberwell; Cecil James Kingdon Enlisted in the Army in 1915 but made a false statement regarding his age; He tried to enlist on 22.09.1915 claiming to be 19 years of age & was initially accepted; He was in service with the 138^th Hampstead Brigade for 284 days before being found out & was subsequently discharged at Cambridge Barracks, Woolwich, under King’s Regulations Para 392 (vi) on 01.07.1916; At his discharge time he stated that he intended to live in Islington and work as a Clerk, he was aged 16 Years & 157 days at that time; His address was #5, Rheidol Terrace, Islington; (See new notes below);

New Notes; Further research reveals that Cecil James Kingdon later successfully enlisted in the Royal Marine Artillery, as part of his Continuous Service on 07.05.1917; There is also a record for Cecil James Kingdon, Gunner 2^nd Class with a Royal Marine Artillery number of #15621 who was awarded the British War Medal; This record confirms that this is the same soldier as it gives his date of birth as 27^th January 1900 & his date of Enlistment as 07.05.1917; Subsequently we can assume that he served for the duration of WW1? I believe that after the war he went to Hong Kong at some time as there are numerous trips back to UK via ship, in 1927 he was a ‘Warder’ & travelled from Hong Kong with Una Maud Kingdon aged 20, who was probably his wife; (Did they marry in Hong Kong & was her name Una Maud Falla?); in 1934 he was a Warder travelling from Hong Kong with a 5 year old Louis F Kingdon, & I also note that Una Maud Kingdon, aged 26 & a 3 year old Marcel Harry Kingdon, both resident in Hong Kong also travelled to the UK in May 1934; (It appears that they travelled on different ships); I believe that they may have lived in the London area in 1935 as they had a daughter born in Islington in that year & she travelled with them in 1937 from Hong Kong on a visit to the Channel Islands; In 1939 he is a Warder coming from Hong Kong; in 1946 he is a Warder coming from Sydney, Australia; In 1947 he came from Hong Kong & is recorded as a Government Official going to stay at #69, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, he is aged 47; In 1951 to 1964 I found Cecil J & Una M Kingdon living at #44, Strathleven Road, Brixton, Lambeth, London, Middlesex, England; At some stage between 1965 & 1976 Cecil James & Una Maud Kingdon returned to Australia; Ancestry Public Trees on the internet have Cecil James Kingdon’s Death in 1970 in Australia but I have yet to be convinced of this as I have a record of Cecil James & Una Maud Kingdon living at #8, Campbell Street, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia in 1977 & in 1980; For his WW1 Service he was awarded the British War Medal; (He is the Brother of Kingdon, Henry Maurice: #J14253, Able Seaman, Royal Navy; ADM 188/675); (He was the Father of #36141 Louis Francis Edward Kingdon (born 03.01.1929 Hong Kong), Australian Navy in WW2);

Notes: This is Cecil Charles Whitfield Kingdon born on 26.03.1903 in Medstead, Hampshire; He was the son of Arthur Kingdon b.1868 in Basingstoke & Mabel Whitfield from Birmingham who married in King’s Norton, Birmingham, Worcestershire in 1895; (His Grandfather was Thomas Maton Kingdon b.1835 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, an Ironmonger & wealthy businessman); (His Father died on 17.12.1903 at the age of 35); In the 1911 Census he lives with his Mother, a widow living on private means in The Lodge, Alresford, Hampshire; In July 1920 there is a reference to Cecil Charles Whitfield Kingdon being made a Probationary Midshipman with the Royal Naval Reserve as from 01.09.1919; I believe that Cecil C W Kingdon Married Gladys Mary Lines in 1926 in Alresford, Hampshire; In 1930 I have found an Electoral Registration for Cecil Charles Whitfield & Gladys Mary Kingdon for #118 New Street, Market Hall Ward, Edgbaston, Birmingham, Warwickshire, however, there is a note that their actual abode is #67, Paradise Lane, Sparkhill Ward, Moseley, Birmingham; Cecil Charles W Kingdon died in 1982 in Bexley, Greater London Aged 79; (He was the Brother of Kingdom, Arthur G: Hampshire Regiment No: 355507 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11); I researched no further;

Notes: This is Charles Henry Kingdon born in the 3^rd Q 1891 in Barnstaple, probably the son of Charles Walter Kingdon b.1861 in South Molton (illegitimate son of Eliza Kingdon from Knowstone who married James Richards a Blacksmith from Pilton) & Mary Jane ?? from Barnstaple who married in 1887 in Barnstaple; If I am correct then in 1901 Census Charles lived with his parents in #3, Allen’s Court, Litchdon Street, Barnstaple; In 1911 the family lived at the same address but I did not find Charles Kingdon b.1892, however, this family had 11 children with only 7 surviving in 1911; This young man enlisted in 1915 & was Mobilised on 09.07.1916 in Barnstaple at the age of 24 years & 153 days age & was a Provision Manager living at #3, Market Street, Ilfracombe, Devon; He gave his Next of Kin as his Father, Charles Walter Kingdon living in Litchdon Street, Barnstaple, who I think was a Mason by trade or a Coal Porter; I believe that Gunner Charles Kingdon may have been wounded or sick at some point in his service as he was in the British Station Hospital in Hyderabad, Sind; He embarked for UK from India on 20.04.1920; Further research indicates that he did not join 69 Brigade in the Mesopotamia Expeditionary force as he was invalided to India with Dysentery on 08.12.1917; In October & November 1919 he appears to have suffered from Para Typhoid Fever but was fully recovered by mid December; Gunner Charles Kingdon served with the 3# Depot, Royal Field Artillery in Hilsea at the time of Discharge on 16^th August 1920 & gave his permanent address as #14, Litchdon Street, Barnstaple; Just prior to discharge he spent 1 month in hospital in Alexandria with an advanced case of Gonorrhea which he contracted in Bombay, India, & was transferred to England; I think that he served also in Afghanistan, North West Frontier in 1918/19 as he was awarded the Medal & clasp for that conflict; Unfortunately many of his service documents are unreadable; Only one late 1920 record has him as Gunner Charles H Kingdon; Further research reveals that Gunner Charles Kingdon #151312 served with the 21^st Brigade Royal Field Artillery & was awarded the India General Service Medal 1908 with Clasp inscribed “Afghanistan, North-West Frontier, 1919” under the provisions of Army Order No. 223, dated 3^rd June 1920, (Medal Roll on file); I believe that Charles Henry Kingdon died in Barnstaple in 1936 Aged 43; Medals Card on file; I did not research any further;

Notes: (I believe that this is more likely to be Charles Kingdon when I researched looking for suitable candidates); This is probably Charles William Kingdon b.1883 in Dawlish, Devon; If I am correct then he was the son of William Kingdon, a Gardener b.1852 in Silverton, Devon & Mary Ann Routley from Sowton, Devon, who Married in 1882 in Exeter St Thomas; In the 1891 Census Charles W. Kingdon lives with his parents in #8, Brook Street, Dawlish, Devon; In the 1901 Census he is 17 years old, working as an Apprentice Carpenter & living with his parents in Manor Row, East Dawlish; Unfortunately I failed to find this man in the 1911 Census? With two brothers serving in the Royal Engineers I have assumed that Charles Kingdon is part of this family; Medals Card on file for the Victory & British War Medals; (He is the Brother of Kingdon, Frederick R: Royal Engineers No: 286416 Rank: Sapper 1914-1920 WO 372/11 who Died in WW1); (He was the Brother of Kingdon, Arthur G: Royal Engineers No: T6886 Rank: Sapper, 1914-1920 WO 372/11); Needs more research;