A kingdon – campaign medals & military service

Notes: The Devon: Exeter Militia List for 1803 has reference to a Francis Kingdon, Lacemaker who served in the Militia; This is probably Francis Kingdon baptised 31.10.1781 in St Peter’s Cathedral, Exeter, the son of Zachariah Kingdon, b.1746 & Elizabeth Ball, b.1773, a family of Exeter Coach Lace & Fringe Makers; I believe that Francis Kingdon Married Mary Ann Bodley on 07.03.1818 in St Mary Steps, Exeter; Mary Ann Bodley came from an elder branch of the family of which came Sir Thomas Bodley, statesman to Queen Elizabeth & founder of the Bodleian Library in Oxford, England; In 1821 I think that Francis & Mary Ann Kingdon were living in Fore Street, Exeter? In the 1951 Census Francis & Mary Anne Kingdon live at #24, High Street, Exeter St Stephen; In the 1861 Census Francis & Mary ann Kingdon are Retired Lace Makers & live in South Town, Kenton, Devon; I understand from the Kingdon Family Book, 1932 version, that Francis Kingdon died on 15.01.1867 in Kenton, Exeter, Devon, Aged 85; (He was the Great Grandfather of Zachary Harris Kingdon, OBE. Principal Electrical Engineer in HM Dockyards); (He was the Great Great Grandfather of Kingdon, George Bodley: Lieutenant Commander, Royal Navy & Flying Officer in Royal Air Force; ADM 196/150; - Died in WW2);

Notes: The ADM 188 Register of Seamen’s Services has reference to a Francis John Kingdon, born 02.09.1869 in Barnstaple, Devon; His official Naval number #130259 would indicate issue between 01.01.1885 & 31.12.1885; I have searched all Kingdon & Kingdom births for September 1869 in the Barnstaple Area but failed to find any records for this person; Unable to identify;

Notes: Medals Card on file for the Victory & the British War Medals; Insufficient information to be able to follow further; Same person as below?

During his Military Service Francis Richard Kingdon was stationed in Edinburgh 21^st June 1878; Home service from 19^th June 1878 to 10^th January 1881; South Africa from 11^th January 1881 to 23^rd January 1888; Service in Natal 11^th February 1881; Transvaal in 1881; Bechuanaland in 1885; Zululand in 1884 – 1887; In Aldershot Signal Training 1888; Home Service 24^th January 1888 to 1^st January 1889; South Africa from the 2^nd January 1889 to 12^th July 1889; A Total of 8 years Army Service & 4 years Reserve Service;

Aged 39 he attested for the Body Guard of the Field Marshall Commander-in-Chief in South Africa at Bulawayo on 30^th October 1900;

Francis Richard (Frank) Kingdon was involved in a skirmish whilst serving with Commander in Chief’s Bodyguard, in the Boer War, on 3^rd January 1901 at Reitz; Unfortunately he died as a result of his injuries on 4^th January 1901; His service number in the Commander in Chief’s Bodyguard was #22447; At the time of his attestation in October 1900 he was 38 years old; He declared that he was a member of the Police Force in Bulawayo, Rhodesia; His next of kin was given as Miss F Kingdon of Barnstaple (but I failed to find her or work out who she was?).

Notes: This is Frank Kingdon who Served as #4022 in 145 Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery having enlisted on 27.09.1915 in Stockport & was then discharged on 20.12.1915 under King’s Regulations Para 392 (iii).c on Medical Grounds; I think that he served as well as #M/344511 in the Army Service Corps being called up for Service on 09.09.1917 & finally being discharged on 24.11.1919; This is probably Frank Kingdon born in 1897 in Stockport, Cheshire; At his first Short Service enlistment in Stockport in 1915 he was aged 19 years & 40 days, was a Storekeeper by trade & lived at #8, Forrester Street, Heaton Norris, Stockport with his Mother Elizabeth Kingdon; He was Discharged as not being likely to become an efficient soldier on 20.12.1915; Frank was the son of William Kingdon b.1858 in Oxton, Birkenhead & Elizabeth Saxon from Stockport who married in Stockport 1887; In 1901 Census the family lived at #72, Oxford Street, Stockport, his Father was a Cotton Machine Roller Operator & Frank Kingdon was aged 3 years; In 1911 this family lived in #8, Forrester Street, Stockport Third, Stockport, the records indicate that they had 11 children of which 5 had died by 1911, Frank Kingdon aged 13 was living with them; I have a suspicion that he tried to sign up for WW1 service in 1915 but was only just aged 17 & therefore was discharged; Now we turn to other records for Frank Kingdon as #M/344511 in the Army Service Corps, the M prefix indicating that he served with a Mechanical Transport Unit; The date was 09.09.1917 & Frank Kingdon was now aged 19 years & 11 months, a Hoist-man living at #38, Love Lane, Stockport; He now gives his next of kin as his Father William Kingdon of the same address; The records are obliterated but I believe that at some stage he was in the Central Military Hospital in Chatham, probably just before his second & final discharge from the 613 Motor Transport Company on 24.11.1919, suffering from Malaria, which he may well have contracted when he served in Egypt; I believe that he was awarded some form of pension; Awarded the Silver War Badge #20124 from the Royal Garrison Artillery (Dover); RGA Records Card & ASC Medals Cards on file;

Notes: This Officer first served in France from 31.10.1917; This is Frank Denys Kingdon born on 04.09.1898 in Holsworthy, Devon, son of Reverend Frank Hawker Kingdon b.1860 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire & Jessie Freyberg from Belgravia, London who married in 1886 in Richmond, Surrey; In 1901 Frank lived with his parents in the Vicarage in Bridgerule, Devon; In the 1911 Census Frank Kingdon was a 12 year old Boarder at a Private Boarding School in Upcott House, at Burn Hill House in Okehampton, Devon, which I believe was attached to the Vicarage; He was promoted from an Officer Cadet Unit to 2^nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery, Special Reserve of Officers on 31.08.1917; Frank Denys Kingdon studied Mathematics at Hertford, Oxford University in 1920; In the London Gazette of 02.12.1918, 2^nd Lt. Frank Denys Kingdon, Royal Field Artillery (Special Reserve), attached to 29^th Battery, was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry; (When heavy enemy fire killed 2 men & wounded several others of his battery he organized a stretcher party & got them to a place of safety under heavy shelling. By his example of coolness he kept the battery in action & saved several lives. Later, while observing under heavy enfilade fire, he showed marked devotion to duty, & kept up communication with his battery by visual, & got back valuable information); In the London Gazette of 01.04.1920 2^nd Lieutenant F. D. Kingdon MC was promoted to Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery on 28.02.1919; On 01.04.1920 Lieutenant F.D. Kingdon MC relinquished his Command but retained the rank of Lieutenant; Frank Denys Kingdon became the Governor of the Upper Nile Province between 1946 & 1949, prior to that he travelled extensively to the Sudan through Egypt & in Military Service between 1920 & 1937; He also held Sudanese Political positions & appointments in White Nile, Bahr al-Ghazal, Blue Nile, Kordofan & Upper Nile provinces between 1921 & 1948; He was awarded the Order of The Nile in 1932; His Diaries are held in Durham University; Frank Denys Kingdon died in 1971 in Devon Aged 72; Medals Card on file; His medals card records that he applied for his medals on 29.93.1923, including El Dulim & Sudan, address given as Bridgerule Vicarage, Holsworthy, North Devon; Medals were issued on 15.05.1923; I believe that he was awarded the Military Cross? (He is the Brother of Second Lieutenant Robert Claude Hawker Kingdon, Royal Field Artillery who died age 27 on 19 April 1917); (He is the Brother of Bridget Mary Kingdon, Women’s Royal Air Force in 1918);

Note: In order to have this number Frank G. Kingdon must have enlisted initially with a Special Reserve Battalion or one of the Territorial force Battalions, his WW1 military records indicate Enlistment on 11.06.1908, however he probably was not mobilised until WW1; Corporal Frank Kingdon was Discharged under King’s Regulations Para 392 (xvi) on 26.12.1916 for Wounds he had received; He was wounded in action at Es Sinn on 08.03.1916; The records show that he served with ‘C’ Company of the 6^th Battalion The Devonshire Regiment overseas during his service; For his service as a Private in the Devonshire Territorial Force Frank Kingdon was also awarded the Territorial Force War Medal; As a Corporal he also appears on the Silver War Badge list; Following further research this Devonshire Soldier’s name is mentioned in Colonel Flick’s Devon Regiment Diary Book on page 70-71 which confirms his Regimental Number & his wounds at Es Sinn; This is Frank (Frederick) Greenslade Kingdon born in 1878 in South Molton, Devon, he was the son of John Keys Kingdon, a Cabinet Maker, b.1844 South Molton & Mary Webber Greenslade from Charles, Devon who Married in 1868 in South Molton; In 1881 Census Frank Kingdon lives with his parents at #10, Duke Street South Molton, Devon; In the 1891 Census Frank G Kingdon is a 12 year old scholar living with his parents at #11, Duke Street, South Molton & in 1901 he is aged 22 & a General Carpenter still living in Duke Street, South Molton with his parents; Frank Greenslade Kingdon Married Susie Ann Loosemore in 1905 in South Molton, she was born ca.1880 in Rose Ash, Devon; In 1911 Census Frank Greenslade Kingdon works as a Journeyman Carpenter living at #40, East Street, South Molton in Devon; I believe that Frank & his Wife Susie both Died in Devon in the 4^th Q of 1960, both aged 82; Frank Kingdon was Awarded the Silver War Badge #96685; Medals Card for Frank G. Kingdon only on file, Awarded the Territorial Force Medal, the Victory & the British War Medals; No Medals Card on file for F. Kingdon; (He was the Brother of Kingdon, Percy: Devonshire Regiment No: 267684 Rank: Acting Sergeant 1914-20);

Notes: This is Frank Neville Kingdon born 21.03.1893 in Yeovil, Somerset, England; He is the son of William Henry Kingdon, a Railway Clerk, b.1862 in Barnstaple, Devon & Annie Tilley b.29.02.1860 in Dorchester, Dorset who married in 1889 in Dorchester; In 1901 Census Frank N Kingdon is aged 8 years & living with his widowed Father (his Mother died in 1894) at #21, Colmer Road, Yeovil, Somerset, England; On 11.04.1910 Frank Neville Kingdon is aged 17 & is working for the Great Western Railway as a Cleaner in the Bristol Division; On 04.02.1911 Frank Neville Kingdon was discharged from the Great Western Railway because he decided to emigrate to Canada; On 03.04.1911 he sails from Liverpool to Portland, Maine on the ‘SS Southwark’ at the age of 18 years anticipating working as a Farmer in Ontario; On 11.02.1916 in Mount Forest, Ontario, Frank Neville Kingdon enlists in the Canadian Expeditionary Force as #928576 & is sent to the 153^rd Battalion; He gave his NOK as his Father, William Kingdon of #23, Elton Road, Bishopston, Bristol England & his own address as Conn, Ontario; (The 153^rd (Wellington) Battalion, CEF was based in Guelph, Ontario; It started recruiting in late 1915, sailed to England on ‘SS Olympic’ on 29^th April 1917 & was absorbed into the 4^th & 25^th Reserve Battalions on 07.05.1917); I believe that Frank Neville Kingdon served in England & France until his return to Canada on board the ‘SS Northland’ on 05.04.1919 from Liverpool to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada for dispersal to the 4^th Reserve Battalion; He again gives his Father as his NOK & his proposed address as Mount Forest, Ontario; (I believe that he is the Brother of Mark Leslie Kingdon, #23346 & #6747 who served in UK with Territorials 6^th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment & later with the 4^th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force); I researched no further;

Notes: This is Frank Stanley Kingdon born on 08.07.1886 in Stamford Hill, Hackney, London, (He was baptised on 01.08.1886 in Upper Clapton, St Matthews Church), the son of William John Kingdon, a Gardener, b.1852 Somerset & Louisa Jones from Hoxton, Middlesex who married on 26.04.1883 in Hackney & who lived at #16, Winslade Road, Clapton, Hackney; In 1891 Frank S Kingdon lives with parents at #7, Barry Road in Willesden; In 1901 Frank Kingdon was aged 14 & working for the Railway as a Carboy, living with his parents at #32, Barry Road, Willesden; Frank Stanley Kingdon first joined the Army for duty on 15.03.1917 at White City, London, Aged 33 years, he was a Motor Mechanic in Sloane Square, London, he was first attested on 10.12.1915 at Chelsea Town Hall aged 29 years & 115 days; He served in East Africa as a Fitter in the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) from April 1917 to May 1918 & suffered with Malaria in November 1917; He was sick enough to warrant several hospital periods in UK & Overseas in Dar es Salaam; He was Transferred to the Reserve on 24.10.1919; His civilian address was given as #3, College Place, Kings Road, Chelsea, London, SW3; Frank Kingdon appears to have been awarded a Pension for having contracted Malaria whilst in the Army; I think his wife was Daisy Matilda Ward from Leamington Spa who he married on 16.01.1910 in St John’s, Leamington, Warwick; In 1911 Census Frank & Daisy Kingdon live at #20, Barry Road in Willesden (his parents still live at #32), Frank is a Laundry Carman; Their children were Frank Stanley Kingdon born 07.08.1910 Willesden; Frederick Ernest Kingdon born 03.04.1912 in Willesden & Albert T V Kingdon born 05.03.1915 in Chelsea; The family continued to live at #3, College Place, Chelsea until the 1930’s; In 1935 Frank Stanley & Daisy Matilda Kingdon lived at #1, Groom Place, City of Westminster; In 1938 they were at #17, Whittingstall Road, Fulham but had returned to #1, Groom Place in the City of Westminster in 1939; I believe that Frank Stanley Kingdon died in Brent, London in 1966 Aged 79 & Daisy Matilda Kingdon died in 1968 in Greater London, Aged 82; Medals Card on file; (He was the Father of Albert Thomas Victor Kingdon, Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve, who served in WW2);

Notes: Enlistment dates for this Regimental #2283 were between 02.09.1914 & 14.10.1914; This Soldier also served as Corporal Kingdon #21047 in the Machine Gun Corps; I believe that he served in France from 17.03.1915; I understand that Frank V Kingdon lived most of his life in London; This is Frank Vyvyan Kingdon born in India in 1894, son of Oliver Kingdon, b.1857 Clerkenwell who served in India as a Warrant Officer & Maud Matilda Bateman from Cork, Ireland, who married in Bengal, India in 1882, returning to UK around 1895; In 1901 Census Frank Kingdon lives with his parents Oliver & Maud Kingdon in Goring Road in Southgate, Enfield, Middlesex; In 1911 Frank Vyvyan Kingdon was a scholar, aged 16, living with his parents at #84, Brownlow Road, New Southgate, London; In 1927 Frank Vyvyan Kingdon Married Gladys Rosalie Beryl Stephens from Bath in Somerset; Frank Vyvyan Kingdon Died in Christchurch Hospital, Hampshire on 01.11.1965 whilst living at ‘Pentiles’. #71, Dilly Lane, Barton-on-Sea, New Milton, Hampshire, he was aged 70 years; Medals Card on file; (Brother of Captain Oliver Kingdon MC who Died in WW1 in 1918 in France); (Son of Oliver Kingdon #1120 6^th Dragoon Guards 1873 to 1891); (Also the Brother of Lieutenant George Alfred Blee Kingdon, Royal Field Artillery);

Notes: With a regimental number of #7862, this soldier’s enlistment would have been between 24.01.1904 & 09.03.1905; There are records to indicate that Private Frank Wm. Kingdon #7862 originally enlisted on 05.01.1905 & was Discharged under King’s Regulations Para 392 xvi for Sickness on 07.04.1916 & also indicating that he had served overseas; Private Frank W Kingdom #7862 appears to have initially gone to Africa on 24.08.1914 & his MIC indicates that he was ‘Discharged’; Another MIC is on record for a Temporary Sergeant, F.W. Kingdom, attached to the Nigeria Regiment, his records state that he ‘Resumed Civil Duties’ but there are no dates or indications as to what this means? This record also confirms that he first went to Africa on 30.09.1914;

This soldier could be Frank William Kingdom born in 1888 in Knossington, Somerset, the son of James Kingdom, a Gamekeeper, b.1839 Swimbridge & Elizabeth ?? from Buckland Filleigh who married in ?? in ??; In the 1891 Census Frank William Kingdon lived with his parents at the Market House in Black Torrington, Halwell, Devon; I think his mother is a Widow living in Attleborough, Norfolk in 1901 Census but I failed to find Frank William; In the 1911 Census I have found a Frank William Kingdon b.1887 in Exeter, serving as a Private in the 2^nd Battalion The Devonshire Regiment in Malta; However, on the 26.08.1915 I did find a Frank William Kingdon of the Military returning from Lagos Nigeria on the ‘SS Mendip’ & he gave a contact as a Mrs. Fox of Kewstoke, Somerset; Despite searching the 1911 Census for Kewstoke, Weston Super Mare & locating a Fox family I can find no link to Frank William Kingdon or Kingdom; Awarded the Silver War Badge #226276 under #7862 Private Frank William Kingdon; Medals Card for T/Sgt. F.W. Kingdom, attached to the Nigeria Regt. is on file for the Victory & the British War Medals, however this MIC is also marked, ‘on 1915 Star Roll, col/5/40-11; Medals Card on file for award of the 1915 Star for #7862 Private Frank W. Kingdom, Devon Regt. & marked ‘Discharged’; The Medals Record Card for Private #7862 Frank Wm Kingdom (changed to Kingdon) indicates award of the Victory & the British War Medals; I did not research this Soldier any further as there is too much conflicting information; There may be two different soldiers here?
Kingdon, Fred: Devonshire Regiment No: 23938 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11, WW1;

Notes: Also served as #70395 2/8 Battalion Worcestershire Regiment; This is (Fred) Frederick Kingdon b.1885 in South Molton, a Boot Maker from Barnstaple; He was the son of Thomas Kingdon, a Gardener, b.1847 South Molton & Anne Hierford b.1847 in Meshaw who married on 29.04.1873 in South Molton, Devon; In 1891 Census Fred Kingdon lived with his parents at #82, East Street, South Molton & also in 1901 when Fred was aged 16 & a Shoemaker’s Apprentice; Fred Kingdon was aged 31 years & 6 months when he enlisted in Barnstaple on 08.12.1915, he gave his address as #7, Pulchrass Street, Barnstaple, Devon; He also gave his next of kin as his wife Henrietta Emma Francis Kingdon (nee Rudall) who he married in the Parish Church in Barnstaple on 16.11.1910; (His wife was born in Teignmouth in 1880); In 1915 he was with the Army Reserve until being mobilised on 01.06.1916; He served with the 2^nd & 3^rd Battalions of the Devonshire Regiment in the first 2 years; He served at Home from 08.12.1915 to 10.11.1916; Served in France from 11.11.1916 to 29.03.1917; He may well have been wounded or sick (Trench Foot I believe) in 1917 as he was at the Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park in June of 1917; He served at Home station between 30.03.1917 & 27.03.1918; He was sent back to the front line in France again on 28.03.1918 & stayed there until 27.11.1919; However, one record has his theatre of War as Egypt in 1919; He was wounded in September of 1918 in France I believe; He may well have served in Alexandria in 1919; He was transferred to the Class Z Reserve in Warwick on 28.06.1919 & finally Discharged on Demobilisation on 31^st March 1920 having served a total of 3 years & 209 days; Medals Card on file; (He is the Brother of Kingdon, William: Wiltshire Regiment No: 203121 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11);

Notes: The 8^th (Service) Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment was formed as part of the New Army in Preston in September 1914 & were sent to France in late July 1915; The Silver War Badge record for this soldier indicates that Private Fred Kingdon #72672 Royal Defence Corps, Enlisted on 16.11.1914 & was Discharged on 18.09.1918 having been declared Unfit for Service (King’s Regulations 392) due to wounds received, at the age of 35 years; This would indicate that he was born ca.1883; This also records that he had served overseas; His service with the RDC was obviously brought about by his having been wounded previously & subsequently not fit to be returned to the war front? The Medals Card for #8/17311 Private Kingdom F. 8^th East Lancs Regt. states that he first served in France 01.08.1915, that he also served as #72672 Royal Defence Corps & that he was Discharged on 18.09.1918; Awarded Silver War Badge #B15344; 3x Medals Cards on file; Insufficient information to enable identification, (there is however, a Frederick Kingdon born 1883 in Barnsley, Yorkshire?);