A kingdon – campaign medals & military service

Notes: The Devon: Exeter Militia List for 1803 has reference to a Richard Kingdon, a Draper who was willing to learn to use arms & may have served in the Militia; In 1803 Richard Kingdon was aged 31 (born ca.1772) & single; Not identified further;

Notes: There are records of a Mariners Will for Richard Kingdon of Stepney Middlesex dated 17.03.1692, although I believe that this was probably 1691; Richard Kingdon left all to his mother Alice Kingdon of Stepney & granted admon to his widow, Alice of Stepney; I believe that this Mariner was probably from Dartmouth originally although I failed to identify him; (Probably the Brother of another Mariner from 1682, Robert Kingdon); Needs more research;

Notes: There are more records for this soldier in the Australian Military Files; This is Richard Vincent Kingdon born in 1894 in Carlton, Victoria, Western Australia; He is the son of Richard Kingdon, an Iron Moulder, & Agnes Clara Byrnes of Woodbridge Terrace, Midland Junction, Western Australia; Richard Kingdon enlisted in Perth aged 23 years & 3 months, he was a Saddler by trade & attested for the Army on 26.10.1917; He had previously served with the Citizen Force, 88^th Infantry in Australia; During his WW1 Service he served in France & Belgium from 15.09.1918 until 1920 when he was returned to Australia on board the troopship ‘Bremen’; (In 1919 in Belgium he was charged for cantering a horse on a paved road, was insolent to an NCO & was not wearing his ID Discs, all contrary to good order & military discipline); I believe that Richard Vincent Kingdon Married Carrie Elizabeth Lord Salter, an English girl, on 31.10.1919 in Bath, Somerset, England; Richard Kingdon returned to Australia on the ‘Bremen’ on 14.06.1920 & was discharged from the Army on 14.08.1920; In 1925 Richard Vincent & Carrie Elizabeth Kingdon lived in Doyle Street, Cottesloe Beach, North Fremantle, Western Australia & he was working as a Barman; In 1931 & 1937 this family lived in #35, Johnson Street, Peppermint Grove, Claremont, Fremantle & he was a Fitter’s Assistant; In 1943 & 1949 this family lived at #23, Ord Street, Nedlands, Perth, Western Australia & he was a Labourer; In 1954 & 1958 this family lived in North Lake Road, Melville, Fremantle & he was a Civil Servant; I understand that this family may well have still been living in Fremantle as late as 1980? Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal & the Victory Medal; (He is the Brother of Kingdon, William Matthew: #2939, Private, Australian Infantry, Australian Imperial Force; who Died in WW1);

Notes: This Soldier served in the Indian Mutiny in the Field at Oudh, East Indies from 04.02.1858 to 13.06.1858 including the Siege of Lucknow from 16^th March 1858; He did not serve in the capture of Delhi & did not serve in the Defence of Lucknow; Richard Kingdon Died on 13.06.1858 in India; Awarded the Indian Mutiny Medal & the Lucknow Clasp, but these were returned due to his death; Insufficient information to identify further;

Notes: This is Richard Clyde Kingdon born in 1919 in Neath, Glamorgan, Wales; He was the son of Thomas Henry Kingdon, a Butcher b.01.06.1878 in Neath, & Agnes Wyatt, b.06.09.1881 in Port Talbot, Wales who Married in Bethany Chapel, Port Talbot, Glamorgan on 04.07.1904; Gunner Richard Clyde Kingdon Died during WW2, between 31.05.1940 & 02.06.1940, Aged 21, at the Defence & Evacuation of British & Allied Forces at Dunkirk in Europe & he is Remembered With Honour in the Dunkirk Memorial in France, Column 13; He is also remembered on the Pontardawe Roll of Honour in Glamorgan, Wales; At the time of his death, his parents were living at Cilybebyll in Glamorgan, Wales; Awarded the 1939-45 Star & the 1939-45 War Medal;

Notes: I have no Regimental Number or Unit information for this soldier & subsequently no other records than his Enlistment Form, which has a reference to #1027101; I believe that this is Richard Henry (Harry) Kingdon born 10.11.1880 in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada; He was the son of George Samuel Kingdon, a Cooper, b.16.12.1842 in Peterborough, Ontario & Sarah Elizabeth Rook b.26.07.1849 in Ontario, who Married on 17.05.1870 in Newburgh, Ontario; (I believe that his Grandparents were William Kingdon, a Cooper, b.1806 in Chawleigh, Devon, England (who emigrated pre 1838) & Theresa Thirza Corneil b.1816 in Ireland, who emigrated to Canada in 1824/1825; I believe that they Married pre 1840 in Ontario); In 1881 Census Richard H Kingdon is aged 5 months & lives with his parents in West Peterborough, Ontario; In 1891 Richard Henry Kingdon aged 10 years lives with his parents in West Peterboro; In 1901 Census There is a Henry Kingdom aged 21 who fits Richard Henry Kingdon’s profile lodging as a Barber in East Toronto, Ontario; On 15.06.1903 in Peterboro, Ontario Richard Henry Kingdon, a Barber, Marries Ethel Sarah, or Sarah Ethel, Montgomery (she was born 04.02.1883 in Bridgenorth, Ontario); In 1911 Census Henry & Ethel Kingdon live in Peterboro West, he is a Barber & they already have 3 of their 5 children living with them at that time; On 08.06.1916 at the age of 35 years Richard Henry Kingdon enlisted in the Canadian Army for WW1 but I have no way of knowing if he served? He gave his wife’s name Ethel Sarah Kingdon as his NOK & his occupation as a Barber; I believe that Richard Henry (Harry) Kingdon Died on 22.04.1955 in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada;

Notes: His Regimental number #2095 would indicate an enlistment date between 10.08.1914 & 02.10.1914; Also served as #200523 with 1/1 South Wales Borderers (The Brecknockshire Battalion) & was promoted to Sergeant; He served in the 6c Asiatic Theatre of War from 03.07.1915 which was probably the time the Regiment was moving from Aden back to Bombay & where they stayed for the duration of the War; This could be Richard James Kingdon born in 1894 in Swansea, the son of James Kingdon b.1861 in Swansea, a House Painter, & Emma Isabella F. Allen from Leeds who married in Swansea in 1885; In 1901 Census Richard J Kingdon aged 7 lives with his parents At #23, Wye View Terrace, Builth Road, Llanelwedd, Radnorshire; In 1911 the family still lives in the same place & Richard James Kingdon is aged 17 & a Timber Merchant’s Clerk; Medals Card on file; Insufficient records to enable further research of this soldier;

Notes: Also served as #23616; Transferred to No.2 Company Western Driver Training, Royal Army Service Corps as #4T/53913, the T prefix indicating that he served with the Horse Transport section; This is Richard Thomas (Tom) Kingdon born on 17.10.1899 in Cardiff on his Army Records & in Somerset on the 1911 Census, the son of Richard Kingdon, a Timber Haulier & Coal Labourer, b.1864 in Somerset & Sarah Down from Canton, Glamorgan who married in Somerset in 1885; In 1901 Census Richard Thomas Kingdon lived with his parents in Canton, Glamorgan; Richard Thomas Kingdon was aged 17 years & 281 days when he Attested for Short Service in WW1 on 25.07.1917 in Cardiff, he gave his trade as a Warehouseman & his address as #36, Andrews Road, Llandaff North, Cardiff, which is where this family lived in the 1911 Census; Calling himself Thomas Kingdon he first joined for duty on 05.11.1917 in Cardiff as he had been kept on the Reserve due to his age; He did serve in France in May 1918 & was posted to the Cheshire Regiment on 07.06.1918; In August 1919 he was transferred back to the RASC & finally demobilised on 16.09.1919; Richard Thomas Kingdon Died in South Glamorgan in 1976 Aged 76; Medals Card on file; (He is the Brother of Kingdon, John: Machine Gun Corps No: 102248 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11 who may also be recorded as: Kingdon, John: Welsh Regiment No: 26214 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11);

Notes: The Exeter Militia List for 1803 has reference to a Robert Kingdon, a Joiner who served in the Militia; Insufficient information to identify;

Notes: The prefix of R4 on his Regimental Number probably refers to his working with a Remounts Section in the Army Service Corps; Private Robert Kingdon Enlisted with the Royal Army Service Corps on 04.11.1915 at the age of 41 years & 10 months, he gave his trade as Labourer & stated that he was married; He gave his address as Puriton, Bridgewater, Somerset; His Medal Card indicates that he was probably discharged under the Silver War Badge system; Further research confirms that he was Discharged on 29.01.1919 under King’s Regulations Para 392 (xvi) due to Sickness in Woolwich; He is recorded as never having served overseas; This is probably Robert William Kingdon born 1874/75 in Bedminster, Somerset, the son of Robert Kingdon b.1850 in West Monkton, Nr. Taunton, Somerset & Mary Ann Edwards b.1850 from Wilton, Nr. Taunton who married in 1870 in Taunton; In 1881 Census Robert Wm. Kingdon Aged 6 is living with his parents in Taunton; His Father must have died pre 1891, probably in Wells, Somerset in late 1884 Aged 33, because his Mother remarried to a Labourer Frederick Clark from Wedmore, Somerset in Taunton in 1885, & in the 1891 Census Robert Kingdon is a Labourer aged 16 & living in Church Street, Puriton, Somerset; In 1901 Census Robert Kingdon now aged 26 is a Quarry Labourer living with his now Widowed Mother, Mary A Clark) in Puriton, Somerset; At the time of enlistment in 1915 he gave his Next of Kin as his Daughter Kate Kingdon, #4, Wembdon Road, Bridgewater at the time of his enlistment, which seems a little odd; The records indicate that he was married to Flora Annie Chedzey/Chedzoy, (born on 18.12.1878 in Puriton), on 29.09.1902 in Bridgewater, Somerset; I believe that his other daughters Flora Dorothy Sophia Kingdon was born on 18.04.1903 in Puriton & Lucy Alice Matilda Kingdon born 23.05.1906 in Puriton; In 1911 Census Robert & Flora Kingdon live in Puriton, he is a Stone quarry Labourer; The census records that they have been married for 8 years & have 3 children but 1 had died previously; In 1917 he was diagnosed with Corneal Opacities in both eyes & required glasses; I understand that he was declared No longer physically fit for War Service on 29.01.1919 & was discharged under King’s Regulations Para 392 with a Chronic Rheumatism disability, having served for 3 years and 87 days, all his military service was in Home stations; I understand that Robert W Kingdon died in Bridgewater, Somerset in 1942 Aged 67; I believe that his wife died in Taunton in 1975 Aged 96; Awarded the Silver War Medal #511386; No medals but Medals Card on file; (I believe he was the Son of Kingdom, Robert: Continuous Service #36669A, Royal Navy; ADM 139/767);

Notes: This is Robert Kingdon born in Leeds who probably also enlisted in Leeds; There is a Robert Kingdon born in Leeds in 1898 but I find it hard to believe that this is our man as he would have only been 20 years old at the time of death & probably too young to have been a Corporal; Medals Card on file; This Soldier needs more research as insufficient data to follow up accurately; Death was reported in the Craven Herald;

Notes: The Royal Navy Register of Seamen has #31337, Robert Kingdon, born 20.03.1838 in Bristol, having Volunteered for Service on 01.09.1856; I believe that this is probably Robert Kingdon b.1838 in Bristol, however, the birth date shown in the Royal Navy files may very well be incorrect as there were no Robert Kingdon births in Bristol area in 1837 or 1838 that match; He was the son of John Christopher Kingdon, a Wood Engraver b.1812 in London, & Mary Ann ?? from Alliford, Somerset, who Married ca.1836; In the 1841 Census Robert Kingdon lived with his parents in Square Lane, Bristol St Pauls; In 1851 Census Robert Kingdon is aged 14, an Errand Boy, living with his parents in Bristol, St Michaels; In 1861 Census Robert Kingdon is aged 24 & is an Ordinary Seaman serving onboard the 90 Gun ship ‘HMS Caesar’ off Corfu in the Mediterranean Sea; In 1871 Census Robert Kingdon is aged 35, still single, an Able Seaman serving onboard ‘HMS Danae’, stationed North America & the West Indies, positioned in Bermuda Dock at the time of Census; I failed to find any definite naval records for this sailor after this period; Needs more research;

Notes: There are records of a Mariners Will for Robert Kingdon of Stepney Middlesex dated 1682; Richard Kingdon left all to his mother Alice Kingdon of Stepney; I believe that this Mariner was probably from Dartmouth in Devon originally, although I failed to identify him; In 1680 there was an interesting action in which the name of Robert Kingdome is mentioned. Apparently this is believed to be the Robert Kingdon who by his will proved 8 Sept 1682, left all to his mother Alice: “and for the confirmacon thereof doe at the sealing hereof give as livery & seazon into the hands of her my said loving mother one English peece of Coyne called by the name of sixpence.” A certain Gregory Sugar was Captain and part owner of the barque “Danby” bound from the port of London to Tangier, thence to Calio & Venice. The crew included Robert Kingdome, amongst others: Part of their pay was to be retained in the Captain’s hands until their return to London. They took cargo & a troop of soldiers to Tangier, discharged there and made for Venice. At Leghorne the defendants mutinied on the ground that the skipper was not paying their money, & they all deserted. Proceeding very shorthanded, the ship was attacked by Algerian pirates & owing to the absence of defendants, Captain Sugar could not defend his ship, so that it became a prize to the pirates & he barely escaped with his life. Returning overland, the defendants sued the Captain in HM Court at Westminster & “threatened to prosecute him to his utter ruine unlesse yr Orator will pay them such further wages and Sallarye as by mutuall contract & agreement were reserved in yr Orator’s hands till ye safe returne of ye Shippe as aforesaid.” The court was informed “Poor Captain Sugar is destitute, in consequence of the loss of his ship due to the mutiny & cannot pay them & unless their Lordships intervene he looks like ending his days in the Fleet prison”. I understand that the crew was eventually paid & that Captain Sugar went on to serve in the Royal Navy; (Probably the Brother of another Mariner from 1692, Richard Kingdon); Needs more research;

Notes: I believe that this is Robert Kingdon born on 29.12.1884 in East Budleigh, Devon, birth registered in 1885 in Exeter St Thomas, Devon; If I am correct, then he is the son of Robert Frank Kingdon, a Clerk of Works b.1852 in East Budleigh, Devon, & Ellen ?? who married in 1879; In the 1891 Census Robert Kingdon lived with his parents in Lower Budleigh; In the 1901 Census Robert Kingdon was a Boarding Student at Kings School, Ottery St Mary, Devon; He probably served in the Royal Navy from around 1910 through the WW1 as an Engineering Lieutenant; I failed to find him in the 1911 Census? I failed to find a Marriage for him but believe that he married a Mary ?? at some time? In 1916 I understand that Robert Kingdom was a Temporary Engineering Sub Lieutenant with the Royal Naval Reserve serving on the Yacht “Valhalla”, his seniority dates from 26.07.1916; On 05.02.1918 he was promoted to Engineering Lieutenant; Robert Kingdom served on board the Yacht “Valhalla II” in 1917 & the “Wallflower” in 1919; I believe that he retird in 1920 but may have continued serving with the RNVR/RNR until late 1928; Robert Kingdom was living at #7, Shooters Hill, London SE.18 in the 1940’s & Died in the Stone House Mental Hospital, in Cotton Lane, Dartford, Kent on 05.02.1948 Aged 63; Probate at his death was given for his wife Mary Kingdom; Awarded the Britsh & the Victory War Medals; Needs more research:

Notes: This is George Robert Kingdon born 17.01.1886 in Holborn, London, one of 9 children, the son of Richard George Kingdon or George Richard Kingdon, a Printer, b.1861 in Holborn & Mary Ann Stoneman from Covent Garden, Strand, London who married on 18.04.1881 in Lambeth; George Robert Kingdon was Baptised in Holborn in the City of London on 21.02.1886; In 1891 Census George Kingdon lives with his parents at #69 Mollinson Road, Battersea; On the 10.04.1893 George Robert Kingdom entered Cator Street School in Southwark, he had previously attended school in Clapham; The family were living at #59, Cator Street at that time; In 1901 Census George Robert Kingdon lives with his parents in Camberwell & is a Print Machine Operator, (His Father Died in 1910 Aged 47); In 1911 Census George Kingdom aged 25 lives with his Widowed Mother at #28, Cator Street, Camberwell, London, he is a Printer’s Assistant; I believe that he was married on 17.09.1911 to Emily Boyes from Sussex in North Peckham, they had one daughter, Ethel Agnes Kingdon born 17.05.1912 in Camberwell; Before the War he was a Machine Manager in London; Gunner George Robert Kingdom #208295 served with the 22^nd Reserve Battery Royal Field Artillery & first joined for duty on 01.01.1916 in Camberwell & was Transferred to the Reserve on 25.02.1919; His Discharge address was given as #5A, Well Street, Albany Road, Camberwell, London; He was awarded the Military Medal according to his Pension Sheet in his records; He served in France from June 1917 until September 1918; He appears to have been Gassed in September 1918 in France, he also suffered from Rheumatism; He was initially treated in the 1^st Australian Hospital in Rouen & then transferred to England to the Dundee Royal Infirmary; I believe that George Robert Kingdon Dies in London in 1948 Aged 63; Medals Card on file; (He is the Brother of Kingdon, Richard: Royal Field Artillery No: 2274 Rank: Driver 1914-1920 WO 372/11 also served WW1);