A kingdon – campaign medals & military service

Notes: This is most likely Ernest Kingdon born in 1889 in Bishops Nympton, Devon, the son of George Kingdon b.1851 Bishops Nympton & Ann Kingdom from Knowstone (she was the daughter of William Kingdom b.1819 & Eliza Howard) who Married in 1881; In the1891 & 1901 Censuses Ernest Kingdon lives with his Parents at Crosside Cottage, Knowstone; I believe he enlisted before 1911 as there is a Private Ernest kingdon, Aged 21, serving with the 2^nd Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment in Malta in the 1911 Census; The UK Spring 1919 Absent Voters List for South Molton Division, Devon, Parish of Rose Ash has reference #4154 to Kingdon Ernest – Ash Moor (No service details given); The Rose Ash Victory Hall Memorial in Devon records Private E. Kingdon a Private in the Devonshire Regiment; Medals Card on file; (He is the brother of Kingdon, Frederick: #814692 139^th Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force; Rank: Private); (He is also the brother of Kingdon, Eli: Royal Field Artillery No: 2348 Rank: Driver 1914-1920 WO 372/11, who served in WW1 also); ); (He is also the brother of Kingdon, Bert: Devonshire Regiment No: 8673 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11); (He is also the Brother of Kingdom, Francis W: Devonshire Regiment No: 1775 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11);

Notes: Served with the Royal Irish Fusiliers Infantry Unit, Dublin; Enlisted for WW1 service on 05.09.1914 & was Discharged on the 19.10.1914 under AO.265/17.2(d).s for Sickness, which was issued in this case to a Soldier who under the amended conditions, which stated that the badge will, subject in every case to the approval of the Army Council, be issued only to the individuals specified below, who have served with the military forces subsequent to the 4th August, 1914: (d) Those who, have served as soldiers and being now over military age, have been discharged otherwise than for misconduct; The Royal Irish Fusiliers were also known as ‘Princess Victoria’s’; His name does not appear on the Boer War for issue of the Queen’s South Africa Medal Roll for the Royal Irish Fusiliers so he may not have served there; He may well have served in India; Silver War Badge #299447 awarded; Medals Card on file; Initially there was insufficient information to be able to follow further, however:-

Additional Notes: Following contact with this man’s Grandson (living in Canada) in September 2012;

I believe that this is Ernest Kingdon born in Battersea, London on 26.08.1882 & Baptised on 29.09.1882 in Battersea; He was the son of William Kingdon, a Painter, b.14.06.1840 in Taunton & Mary Ann Rose b.14.06.1854 from Bristol, Gloucestershire, who probably Married in 1870 in St Saviours, Southwark, London I believe; (His parents lived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1881 as Ernest’s elder siblings were mostly born in Canada); In 1891 Wales Census Ernest Kingdon aged 8 lives with his parents at #4, Crofts Street, Roath, Cardiff, Wales, they are also at the same address in the 1901 Census; However, I cannot find Ernest Kingdon in the 1901 Census, I assume that he was in the Army already; Ernest Kingdon Married Elizabeth Emily Flyn, Flynn or Flyng in the 3^rd Q 1903 in Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, she was born in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England on 27.01.1881, Baptised on 20.02.1881 in Bristol & was working as a Tailoress in 1901 Census living in Roath, Cardiff with her parents; In 1911 Ernest & Elizabeth Kingdon lived at #78, Edenbridge Road, Bush Hill Park, Enfield, Middlesex & he was a Ladies Tailor;

(He is the Brother of Kingdon, Gordon William: Chelsea Pensioner (No other details), No Military Records but may have Served in the Guarding & Fighting in the Khyber Pass in Afghanistan); (His Brother was probably Kingdon, Sidney Walter: #8147, Manchester Regiment); (I also now believe that his Father was probably Kingdon, William: Private, #3063, 2^nd European Light Infantry, East India Company Army); This Family needs a little more research although I am in touch with a descendant since August 2012 & will request clearer details;

Could this also be - Kingdon, Ernest J: #21183, Trooper, 2^nd Brabant’s Horse, Boer War; WO 127/3?

Kingdon, Ernest: Devonshire Regiment No: 1833 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11, WW1;

Notes: The Regimental Number of #1833 would indicate enlistment around 10.01.1914; Also served as #265375 Devonshire Regiment, the 6 figure number being given when the Territorial Force renumbered in 1917; This is Ernest William Francis B. Kingdon Illegitimate son of Mary Ellen (Nellie) Kingdon b.1881 South Molton (she later married Arthur Percy Herbert in 1907 in Lutterworth); Ernest Kingdon was born on 01.02.1898 South Molton & lived with his Grandparents Edwin (Ned) Kingdon b.1858 Kings Nympton & Mary Jane Gregory in 1901 & 1911 Census; Ernest Married Annie Bellew on 21.05.1921 in South Molton; Ernest Died on 16.06.1951 in South Molton Aged 53; Research of Colonel Flick’s Diary reveals that #265375 Lance Corporal E. Kingdon served with ‘D’ Company, 6^th Battalion the Devonshire Regiment; He is recorded on the Spring 1919 Absent Voters List for #14 Cooks Cross, South Molton, Devon; Medals Card on file;

Notes: There are draft enlistment papers for Ernest Arthur Kingdon in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada dated 14.05.1918; I believe that this is Ernest Arthur Kingdon born 28.07.1894 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 1901 Census Ernest A Kingdon is aged 6 & living with his parents in Minnedosa, Manitoba; At the age of 16 years Ernest Kingdon is a ‘Servant’, probably on a Farm, living in Marquette, Manitoba in the 1911 Census; In the 1916 Census Ernest Kingdon aged 21 years is a Farm Labourer living at Saltcoats, Saskatchewan, he gives his tribal origins as Welsh; At the age of 23 years & 10 months Ernest Arthur Kingdon was drafted into the 10 M.D, 1^st Depot Battalion, Manitoba in Winnipeg on 14.05.1918; He gives his date of birth as 28.07.1894 in Minnedosa & his Mother Minnie Kingdon as his NOK, with an address of Clanwilliam P.O., Manitoba; His trade is recorded as being a Farmer; (He is the Brother of Alfred Henry Kingdon who served with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in WW1); (He is also the Brother of Albert Kingdon who served with the Canadian Forces); (He is also the Brother of #922649 Sapper William Henry Kingdon of the Canadian Engineers Regiment in WW1); I did not research further;

Notes: Served with 17^th Battalion The Welsh Regiment (The First Glamorgan Bantams, so called because of the generally reduced height of the recruits) with the old #26151 & also with the Labour Corps in Nottingham with the new #352048 in the 302^nd Company; The 17^th Battalion seems to have been raised in Cardiff in early 1915 & was composed mainly of miners; Ernest Greg Kingdon Enlisted on 15.01.1915 & was Discharged on 24.11.1917 at the age of 28 due to Sickness under King’s Regulations Para. 392 (xvi) (a) (i) probably having suffered an impairment during his service; According to the records he had served overseas at some time; This is Ernest Gregory Kingdon, one of Twin boys born on 01.05.1888 in Neath, the illegitimate sons of Elizabeth Grace Kingdon b.1873 in Neath; In the 1891 Census they lived with their single Mother & her parents in a Cottage in the Slaughter House in Eastland Road, Neath, the boys Grandfather is Thomas Kingdon a Market Toll Collector who was born in High Bray Devon in 1823; In 1901 the boys still live with their Grandparents in a Cottage in Eastland Road, Neath, alongwith step siblings; The boys Mother did marry a Thomas Ellis in 1892 in Neath but she Died on 14.12.1898 in Neath Aged 25, their Step Father will marry again; Ernest Kingdon Gregory Kingdon also worked as a Shed Labourer for the Great Western Railway Company at Neath Station from 13.05.1907 but he appears to have been discharged on 09.12.1907; I did not find him in the 1911 Census, however, I understand that Ernest Kingdon Married Ada M Jones in 1912 in Pontardawe; I believe that Ernest G Kingdon Died in Pontardawe in 1927 Aged 38; Silver War Badge #289218 awarded; Medals Card on file;

Notes: The nominal roll of the 2^nd Brabant's Horse, a colonial unit of the Boer War of 1899-1902 indicates an Ernest Kingdon, Trooper, #21183; There were two units of Brabant's Horse, both raised in Queenstown, South Africa. 1^st Brabant's was raised on 5.11.1899 and 2^nd Brabant's in January 1900. Both were about 600 strong and both were disbanded in Cape Town on 31.12.1901; The units were mainly made up of South African Colonials, Australians, British & Canadians where they saw much action against Boer Commandos; (Brabant’s Horse are mentioned several times in Conan Doyles book “The Great Boer War”); This Soldier probably enlisted in the 2^nd Brabant’s Horse on 24.11.1900 & appears to have been discharged on 30.05.1901; This is probably Ernest John Kingdon born 1880 in Exmoor, the son of Master Blacksmith & Postmaster William Kingdon b.1839 in North Molton & his 2^nd Wife Mary Elizabeth Vellacott from Lynton who Married in 1875 (William’s 1^st wife Elizabeth Jane Fry Died in 1869); In 1881 Ernest J Kingdon is 6 months old living with his parents at the Simonsbath Post Office; In 1891 he is 10 years old & with his parents at the same address; In 1901 & 1911 Ernest J Kingdon is recorded as a Farmer but living with his parents still at the Simonsbath, Exmoor Post Office; Medals Awarded: Queen’s South African Medal plus Date Clasp for 1901; State Clasps - Cape Colony 11.10.1899 to 31.05.1902; Orange free State 28.02.1900 to 31.05.1902; Transvaal 24.05.1900 & 31.05.1902; Battle Clasp - Laing’s Nek 12.06.1900 (Natal); I did not research further as there is some suspicion that I may have the wrong man;

Notes: This is Ernest John Kingdon born on 07.02.1887 in Peckham Rye, Camberwell, baptised on 20.03.1887 in Dulwich, the son of Benjamin George Kingdon, a Greengrocer, b.1858 in Taunton, Somerset & Elizabeth Turner b.1854 in Taunton, who married in 1884 in Taunton, Somerset; In 1891 Census Ernest Kingdon is with his Mother visiting Grandmother Sarah Turner at #84, East Reach, in Taunton, Somerset; I believe that his Father was better known as George Kingdon & that Ernest Kingdon & his sister Gertrude were admitted on 02.07.1894 & attended Ackmar Road Infants School in Hammersmith & Fulham until 23.03.1895, at that time they were living at #82, Rectory Road; In the 1901 Census Ernest Kingdom Aged 14 was a Boarder at #2, Ivy Cottage, Alers Road, Upton Bexley, Kent as a General Labourer, (his parents were running a Laundry business in Bexley, Kent); His Royal Naval Number would indicate enlistment between 01.01.1902 & 31.12.1902; In the 1911 Census #220465 Ernest J Kingdon, a Stoker, Aged 24 & single is serving on board ‘HMS Cadmus’ in Hankow, China; I believe that he was promoted to Senior Petty Officer & served in WW1 as he was awarded medals whilst serving aboard ‘HMS Greenwich’ on the Naval Medals Roll; His Royal Navy Good Conduct Medal was issued on 12.04.1922 to ‘HMS Columbine’, the Torpedo Boat Destroyer Depot in Queensferry; I understand that Ernest John Kingdon died in 1971 in Bexley Aged 84; ADM 171/140 records the issue of his Royal Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal; Awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory & the British War Medals; (He is probably the Brother of Kingdom, F: Royal Horse Artillery No: 54710 Rank: Driver 1914-1920 WO 372/11 – see also Kingdon, Frederick G T: Royal Horse Artillery No: 54710 Rank: Driver 1914-1920 WO 372/11); (Also the Brother of Kingdon, Walter Henry: #K22413, Stoker 1^st Class, Royal Navy; ADM 188/911); I did not research any further;

Notes: This is Ernest William Kingdon born in 1883 in Okehampton, Devon, the son of John Kingdon b.1859 in Stoke Canon & Kitty Yeo b.1854 in Inwardleigh, who married in 1879 in Okehampton; In 1891 Census Ernest W Kingdon lives with his parents at #2, Station Cottages, Okehampton, his Father is a Railway Signalman; At the age of 16 Ernest William Kingdon joined the Railways as a Cleaner & on 16.06.1898; In 1901 Census Ernest W Kingdon is living in Honiton, Devon as a Railway Porter; By 07.06.1906 he was at Waterloo as an Assistant Train Guard; In 1911 he was a Train Guard but I cannot find him on the Census; His Railway Records indicate that he volunteered for Army Service on 27.05.1915; Ernest W Kingdon appears to have first gone to France 26.11.1915; His Railway Records indicate that he was demobilised from WW1 service & returned to train duty 09.05.1919 & there is a note on the records which states that he was a ‘Disabled Ex Serviceman’; His medal card records that he reverted from Acting Bombardier to Private at his own request on 05.05.1916? Medals Card on file; (He is the Brother of Kingdon, Jack: London Regiment No: 3980 Rank: Private / SEE ALSO: Kingdom, J: London Regiment No: 3980 Rank: Private, who Died in France on 27.12.1915); (His other Brother was Herbert John Kingdon, born 15.12.1884 in Okehampton, served as #347413, a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy);

Notes: This MIC card reads Edwin J Kingdon but there is a Silver War Badge Roll which reads Erwin John Kingdon for the same man; Also served as #35792 Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry & #44143 Royal Warwickshire Regiment; I believe that this is Erwin John Kingdon because his birth was in 1900 according to the Silver War Badge record; I consider him to be Erwin John Kingdon, born in Helston, Cornwall on 28.11.1899 & baptised in Helston on the 10.04.1900; He was the son of James Kingdon, a Police Constable, b.1873 in Linkinhorne, Cornwall, (baptised on 10.01.1878 in St Ive, Cornwall) & Lucy Heddon from Petherwin Water, (baptised 09.02.1879 in South Petherwin) who married in South Petherwin on 15.06.1898; In the 1901 Census Erwin John Kingdon lives with his parents at # 64, Godolphin Road, Helston, Cornwall; In the 1911 Census Erwin John Kingdon lives with his parents at #20, Beacon, Camborne, Cornwall; This soldier served for some time, from 19.03.1918 until being Discharged under King’s Regulations Para 392 (xvi) (a) for Sickness at the age of 19 years on 05.05.1919; The records indicate that he had served overseas at some point; I believe that Erwin John Kingdon Died at the age of 20 in Redruth, Cornwall in 1920; He was Awarded the Silver War Badge #B/208871 when serving as a Private, #44143 in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment; Medals Card on file for the award of the British War & the Victory Medals;

Notes: There is very little to go on here but there is a record for an Able Seaman Esau Kingdon serving with the Royal Navy on a ship only recorded as C.A? The record gives his birth year as 1850 in Barnstaple, Devon;

The only Esau Kingdon born in that year 1850 was actually born in South Molton, Devon & is the son of John Kingdon, an Agricultural Labourer b.1816 South Molton & Catherine ?? from North Molton who Married pre 1832 in Devon; In 1851 Census Esau Kingdon lives with his parents in Back Lane, South Molton, Devon; By the 1861 Census his family have moved to Glamorgan in Wales & Esau Kingdon is aged 10, a Scholar & living with his parents in Aberavon; I have failed to find Esau Kingdon in 1871 but if I am correct then he was serving in the Royal Navy & probably engaged overseas in the 9^th Cape Frontier War (the last of the Xhosa Wars) in 1877 to 1878; There is a Marriage Record for Esau Kingdon & Emily Thompson, (baptised 13.10.1850 Pensford, Somerset) in 1874 in Neath, Glamorgan, Wales; I believe that Esau Kingdon then decided to follow one of his brothers to the USA & he emigrated to Chicago, Illinois, via Philadelphia on 23.09.1879; In the 1880 US Census I found Esau Kingdon aged 29, living with his Brother John Kingdon in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois (This record is almost unreadable); I could not find the 1890 US Census for Chicago, Illinois, however Esau Kingdon appears to have applied for US Naturalisation on 06.12.1893 giving his Brother John Kingdon as a witness; He gives his address as 677 Hoyne Avenue in Cook county; In the 1900 US Census Esau & Emily Kingdon live in Winnebago Avenue, West Town, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois; All data information fits his profile & he is now working as a Stationary Engine Engineer, the records state that his wife emigrated to USA in 1880; I failed to find a Death record for Esau Kingdon but his Wife Emily is recorded as a Widow & living with their married daughter Emily Fross in Chicago in the 1910 Census for Cook county, Illinois; I did not research further;

Kingdon, Eustace W: Welsh Regiment No: 59624 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11, WW1;

Notes: This Soldier’s Records have him as Eustace W Kingdom; This is Eustace William Kingdon born 03.12.1895 in Newton Nottage, Glamorgan, Wales, a son of John Kingdon, a Greengrocer, b.1862 in Newton Nottage, Glamorgan & Mary Wylde from Laleston, Glamorgan, who married in 1888 in Bridgend, Glamorgan, Wales; (Grandson of John Kingdon b.1830 North Molton, Devon & Mary Rees from Newton, Glamorgan, Wales & Great Grandson of Philip Kingdon b.1801 North Molton & Ann Smith b.1804 North Molton); In 1901 Eustace W. Kingdon lived with his parents in Church Street, Newton Nottage, Glamorgan; In 1911 Eustace W. Kingdon is living with his parents at Chestnut Cottage, Newton, Glamorgan, working as a Butcher’s Assistant; I believe that he was first attested on 02.04.1917 Aged 21, working as a Coal Haulier; It was noted that he had already lost the greater part of his little finger; He served about 6 months in England before being posted to France where he served for 13 months until he was Wounded in Action on 30.08.1918 with a Shrapnel Wound to his leg; He was shipped to England & treated in hospital in Aberdeen, Scotland; On 23.01.1919 he was again declared fit for military service & discharged from hospital with a 7 inch scar, however, a Medical Board assessed him fit for discharge with only a 30% disability; Private Eustace William Kingdom was Transferred to the Reserve on 22.02.1919 & gave his Father’s address as Rock Cottage, Church Street, Porthcawl, Glamorgan, Wales & his discharge address as #2, Greenmeadow Cottage, Newton, Porthcawl; He was awarded a Pension; I believe that Eustace William Kingdon Married Mary A. Hartrey in Bridgend in 1923 & that he died in 1987 in Mid Glamorgan aged 91; Medals Card on file; (He was the brother of Kingdon, Philip Henry: 226^th Overseas Battalion, No: 100529 Rank: Private Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force); (He was the Brother of Kingdon, Albert John: 226^th Overseas Battalion, No: 100873 Rank: Private Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force); (He was the brother of Kingdon, Arthur R, (Richard Arthur Kingdon): Royal Welsh Fusiliers No: 75494 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11, who Died in WW1 on 14.06.1918 in Flanders); I researched no further;

Notes: There is a Canadian record for a Captain F C Kingdon, commissioned on 14.02.1914, having served with the 63^rd Regiment, The Halifax Rifles during WW1; I believe that he was promoted to Major on 15.07.1920 & continued to serve with the 2^nd Reserve Battalion until at least the 15.01.1924; I doubt very much if this Officer served overseas in Europe as the Halifax Rifles were destined to remain in Canada to protect the Fortress of Halifax in Nova Scotia; I failed to find any further records for this man; Insufficient information to identify further;

Notes: I believe that he served with a Territorial Force of the A.S.C. but also Served with the Army Service Corps with the Regimental #T4/249765, the prefix ‘T’ indicating that he served in a Horse Transport Unit; Served in France since 13.04.1915; Disembodied on 08.05.1919; This is Fletcher Monroe Kingdon born in 1890 in Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, the son of Oliver Kingdon, Headmaster of a Board School, b.1858 in South Molton, Devon & Fanny Susannah Nutt b.1860 in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, who married in 1882 in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales; In 1891 Fletcher M Kingdon lives with his parents in the Board School, Bishopside in Pateley Bridge; In 1901 Census he lives with his parents in School Road in Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire; At the age of 20 in 1910 Fletcher M Kingdon sails on the SS Lusitania from Liverpool to USA, he is a Clerk; In 1911 his Father Oliver Kingdon was the Enumerator for Pateley Bridge Census & lived in The School House, King Street; Fletcher Monroe Kingdon Married Letitia May Wissler b.1894 Leeds, in St Martin’s Church, Potternewton in Leeds on 15.09.1920; I believe that Fletcher M Kingdon dies in 1960 in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire aged 69; Medals Card on file; (He is the Father of Oliver Wissler Kingdon who was awarded the DFC in WW2 in August 1941);