Welcome to
Kent Online Parish Clerks

Newspaper Abstracts - Military News

Transcribed by Michael Coomber, graciously provided to the Kent OPC for display.  Contributors of additional abstracts are noted by their initials placed in square brackets at the end of the source citation.

      Some Time ago one COTTERELL, a private Man in the Surry [sic] Militia, was tried at a Court-Martial at Rochester for Mal-Practices, and being found guilty, was brought into the Vines to receive his Punishment of 500 Lashes, and to be drumm'd out of the Regiment:  But he appealed to a General Court-Martial, which being granted, he was again found guilty, and his former Sentence confirmed.

      The Fellow was this Day brought into the Vines, tied up to the Halberds, and received 200 Lashes in Part of his Punishment, and is to have the Remainder in a few Days.  It is said he is an old Offender.  At the same Time another Man of the same Regiment of Surry Militia received 50 Lashes, being found guilty of Theft.

Source:  Whitehall Evening Post or London Intelligencer, Tuesday, October 30, 1759; Issue 2125.

      DESERTED from his Majesty's West Kent Regiment of Militia, commanded by his Grace the Duke of Dorset:

JOHN WALTER, six feet one inch high, brown hair, grey eyes, brown complexion, 21 years of age, born MARDEN in Kent.

JOHN FOWLER, five feet eight inches high, light brown hair, grey eyes, light complexion, 21 years of age; he is a thin man, with a large nose.

THOMAS STEVENS, five feet nine inches high, dark brown hair, grey eyes, brown complexion, 19 years of age, was born at MARDEN in Kent.

WILLIAM STENT, five feet seven inches high, black hair, dark eyes, dark complexion, 27 years of age, went off in a dark coating (surtout?), white waistcoat and a plain hat; is supposed to be in the neighbourhood of Hemlock court, Temple-bar.

JOHN BARNETT, five feet nine inches high, black hair, grey eyes, black complexion. 32 years of age.

WILLIAM COOMBER, five feet seven inches high, dark-brown hair, dark complexion, 21 years of age, a tooth out before.

      Whoever secures any of the above Deserters, so that they may be brought to justice, shall receive from the commanding Officer of the said regiment at Winchester Camp, or of John MARTIN, Agent, at (?) No. 218, Piccadilly, the sum of twenty-shillings, over and above what is allowed by Act of Parliament for apprehending deserters.

Source:  General Evening Post ( London, England ), Thursday, June 25, 1778; Issue 6943.

6 Aug 1778

      Deserted from Coxheath Camp, from the Second Battalion of the First ( or Royal ) Regiment of Foot, commanded by his Grace the Duke of Argyll, on the 28th of July, 1778.  William WATTERMAN, aged 18 years, 5 feet 6 inches and a half high, fair complexion, dark brown hair, hazle eyes, by trade a Labourer, born in the parish of Great Pickham in the county of Kent.

      Deserted from Coxheath Camp, from the Second Battalion of the First (or Royal) Regiment of Foot, commanded by his Grace the Duke of Argyll, on the 1st August, 1778.  GEORGE PLACE, aged 18 years, 5 feet 5 inches and three quarters high, brown hair, dark brown eyes, swarthy complexion, by trade a Labourer, born in the parish of Hairne [Herne] in the county of Kent.

      Whoever will apprehend any of the above Deserters, and lodge them in any of his Majesty's gaols, so as they may be brought to condign punishment, shall receive One Guinea (one pound one shilling) per Man over and above his Majesty's allowance by Act of Parliament, by applying to the Commanding Officer of the said Regiment at Coxheath, or to Messrs. Ross and Gray, Agents, Conduit-street, London.

Source:  London Chronicle ( London, England ), Thursday, August 6, 1778; Issue 3382.

CHATHAM April 10 -

      A Regimental Court-Martial sat on Friday last on Edward HEXTILL, a marine, for desertion, and which found him guilty.  This soldier was tried at the last assizes for Kent, on a charge of robbing the Pay Serjeant's Office, in the marine barracks, and acquitted for want of evidence.  As no doubts were entertained by the Officers of his being guilty of that crime, it is supposed the Court has inflicted a very severe punishment, for the aggravated offence for which he was now tried by military law.

Source:  World (1787) ( London, England ), Wednesday, April 11, 1792; Issue 1648.

Canterbury - Dec 6

      Additional barracks are preparing in this city, for the reception of more troops.  Lord Fielding's regiment of Fencibles come in this week;  they are to be followed by two troops of Major Dering's.  The former consist of about 380;  the latter 160.  There are already stationed here, part of the 11th (Light) Dragoons, 360;  a troop of the Royal Horse Artillery, 170;  a detachment of Foot Artillery, 200;  and two regiments of Militia, the Royal Lancaster, 930;  and the South Hants, 550 - making in the whole near 2,800 men.

Source:  The Times (London, England), Friday, Dec 12, 1794.[SDY]

CANTERBURY, Nov. 22.

      A few days since, Lieut.-General FRANCIS DUNDAS embarked on board the Immortalité frigate, at Deal, and sailed along the French coast from Calais to Boulogne;  the frigate, by the General's desire, stood very close into the Bay of Boulogne, and met with a warm reception from the batteries:  the shells in particular were so well thrown, that one of them fell very near the bow of the frigate, and burst at the water's edge.  From the observations made by the General, the army collected at Boulogne and the adjoining coast, is by no means formidable, 20,000 men form the extreme of their disposeable force;  and the part of it at Boulogne is not more than a counter-part of Major-General MOORE'S brigade at Shornecliffe.  The whole of the troops were encamped;  and the coat formed a chain of batteries, evidently constructed more to protect themselves, than to aid the invasion of this country.

      The camp at Shornecliffe expects to break up on Monday next.  The 4th, or King's own, and 53d light infantry, will march to Hythe barracks;  the 59th are to occupy Shornecliffe barracks, and the 95th, or rifle corps, the remaining part of Shornecliffe barracks, and the forts on the coast near Hythe, etc.  The West Kent and Berkshire Militia for Brabourn Lees;  the East Middlesex not yet fixed.

      We have the pleasure to anounce, that Colonel Mackenzie, of the 52d regiment, is rapidly recovering from the severe effects of his fall, as stated in a former paper.

      Yesterday the camp on the Lines at Brompton, near Chatham, was broke up, when the regiments proceeded for their winter cantonments as follows:  The brigade of Guards occupy the Upper Barrack at Chatham;  the West Middlesex, Ospringe Barracks, where they arrived yesterday;  the Derbyshire and Warwickshare for barracks in this City.  The first division of the Derby will march in this day the second division follow to-morrow, and the Warwickshire follow in succession.

Source:  The Times (London, England), November 23, 1803, p. 3, Number 5874.[SDY]

Source:  The Times (London, England), July 28, 1804, p. 3, Number 6085.[SDY]

      The encampments in the district of Canterbury will break up for winter quarters on or about the 1st of November.  General Wynyard's brigade of Guards, from Barham Downs, will occupy Deal Barracks;  and General Stewart's brigade, the 18th (1st battalions) and 53d regiments, are said to be destined for the city of Canterbury.

Source:  The Times (London, England), October 27, 1804, Number 6163. [SDY]

Source:  Jackson’s Oxford Journal, Saturday, November 14, 1807, Issue No. 2846. [SDY]

Source:  London Gazette, Issue 16341, published on the 10 January 1810, pp 7-8.[SDY]

Source:  Caledonian Mercury ( Edinburgh, Scotland ), Thursday, September 15, 1836; Issue 17982.

Source:  The Times, Tuesday, Nov 01,1853; pg.10; Issue 21574; col B.

      A surgical operation of a very interesting character was performed at Fort Pitt Hospital, CHATHAM, on Monday, on a soldier named Thomas DANCE, belonging to the 12th Lancers, who had his arm amputated for the second time, in consequence of the frightful injuries he received from being bitten by a ferocious horse in the Crimea.  DANCE was engaged at Balaklava drawing water for troops, and whilst so occupied saw a horse, with mane & tail erect, galloping furiously towards him.  In a moment the horse seized him in his mouth, threw him down, and, kneeling on his body with is his fore legs, commenced tearing his clothes off, lacerating his breast and shoulder in a frightful manner.  The poor fellow put out his hand to protect the lower part of his body, when the animal seized it in his mouth and bit it off.  Some of his comrades coming to his succour, armed with stout clubs, the ferocious beast was beaten off.  Before, however, the horse could be secured, he bit off a finger of another man, and severely injured the shoulder of the veterinary surgeon of the regiment.  He was of Arab breed.  DANCE's arm was amputated just above the wrist.  He was soon afterwards send to England.  It was found necessary to amputate the remaining portion of the arm on Monday, and he is now doing well.  He was formerly in the 15th Hussars, from which he volunteered. - South Eastern Gazette.

Source:  From The Morning Chronicle ( London, England ), Thursday, October 4, 1855; Issue 27698.[SDY]

11 Aug 1886

      Prince Albert Victor on Friday presented new colours to the East Kent Regiment, popularly known as the Buffs, now stationed at Dover.

Source:  The Derby Mercury ( Derby, England ), Wednesday, August 11, 1886; Issue 8952.

9-Jun-1900

      HALL, the 30th May, killed in action at Faberspruit, S. Africa, Frank Alexander HALL, Paget's Horse, Imperial Yeomanry, eldest son of the Rev. Alleyne and Mrs. HALL, Chevening Rectory, Sevenoaks, aged 24 years.

Source:  The Times, Saturday, Jun 09, 1900; pg.1; Issue 36164; col B.

26 Sep 1914

      The Hon. Cuthbert James (late Captain East Surrey Regiment), son of Lord Northbourne, has been appointed Captain in Kitchener's Army (Infantry Division).  It will be remembered he volunteered for the front as soon as war was declared.

Source:  Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury, 26 September, 1914

CAPT. JACKSON RETURNS TO FRONT. -

22 Jan 1915
      Captain C. B. Jackson, 2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, son of Mrs. Lawrence Jackson, of Updown House, Eastry, who was wounded near Armentieres, on October 22nd, has sufficiently recovered to return to the Front as Aide-de-Camp to his uncle, General Sir Herbert Plumer, K.C.B., in command of the 5th Army Corps.

Source:  Dover Express, January 22, 1915

8-Jun-1917

      FORSTER. - Killed in action, on the night of the 30th May, 1917, Walter Johnson FORSTER, Captain, East Lancashire Regiment, only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. FORSTER, 18, Mountfield - gardens, Tunbridge Wells, aged 23 years.

Source:  The Times, Friday, Jun 08, 1917; pg. 1; Issue 41499; col B.

8 Jun 1917

      HARPER. - Killed in action, on the 1st June, Alan Gordon HARPER, M. A., B.Scc. Lieut., R. A. F., the dearly loved second son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter HARPER, Rosebank, Bromley, Kent, aged 28.  Madras papers, please copy.

Source:  The Times, Friday, Jun 08, 1917; pg. 1; Issue 41499; col B.

16-May-1927

      Flight-Sergeant Richard William GRAYSTON, R.A.F., of Manston, was killed in a motor-cycle accident yesterday.  He was riding along the Trivoli-road into Margate when he apparently lost control.  His machine struck the kerb [sic] and dashed into four trees, one after the other, in a distance of 25 yards.  Grayston received severe injuries to his head and body, and died almost immediately.

Source:  The Times, Monday, May 16, 1927; pg.16; Issue 44582; col B.

R.A.F. AIRMEN KILLED IN IRAQ.

21-Nov-1927
        (From our correspondent )BASRA, Nov. 20
A Royal Air Force aeroplane crashed at the Shaibah aerodrome yesterday and burst into flames.  The pilot, Sergeant A. A. COLE, a native of Epsom, and the mechanic, CONLON, belonging to Margate, were killed.  They were buried at the military cemetery to-day.  A Court of Inquiry will be held tomorrow.

Source:  The Times, Monday, Nov 21, 1927; pg.14; Issue 44744; col E.

N.C.O. REMANDED -

26-May-1939
      Sergeant Leslie Ronald Thorne DUNN was charged at Margate Police Court yesterday with being a deserter from the Middlesex Battalion of the Royal Engineers and was remanded to await a military escort.  Detective-constable NORRIS, of Margate Police, said that he saw DUNN walking on the main road towards Margate.  He said his name was DAPMAN and produced a letter to prove it.  He was taken to the police station and when further questioned agreed he was Sergeant DUNN.  He said, "I will await an escort."

Source:  The Times, Friday, May 26, 1939; pg. 11; Issue 48315; col A

DEATH ON ACTIVE SERVICE -

13-Oct-1939
      On Oct. 10, 1939, killed on duty whilst night flying, Raymond Edward Stanford BROWN, R.A.F, dearly loved younger son of Mr. and Mr. George BROWN, of Sandgate, Kent, and beloved brother of George BROWN, R.A.F., and Florence SENDER and Marie MILSON, aged 19 years.

Source:  The Times, Friday, Oct 13, 1939; pg.1; Issue 48435; col A.

16-Sep-1942

      GODDEN - On Sept. 10, 1942, at the Military Hospital Pretoria, S. Africa, S/L. Lewis Iden GODDEN, R.A.F.. early beloved elder son of Mr. and Mrs. L. L. GODDEN, Hillboro', East Malling, Kent, aged 32.

Source:  The Times Wednesday, Sep 16, 1942; pg. 1;Issue 49342; col A.

11 Nov 1944

      Mr. and Mrs. Fenney's son Pte. Austin Fenney is home from Switzerland, to which country he escaped after the fall of Italy, where he had been a prisoner of war nearly two years.

Source:  Deal Walmer Sandwich and East Kent Mercury, November 11, 1944

13-Mar-1945

      Privates W. Arthur WICKS, 19, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, of Chapel Lane, Bearsted, Maidstone, and Sidney BAKER, 20, The Queen's Royal Regiment, of Fairshaw Road, Hoylake, Cheshire, were killed by a mortar-gun explosion.  The Folkestone Coroner yesterday returned a verdict of "Accidental death" in both cases.

Source:  The Times, Tuesday, Mar 13, 1945; pg. 2; Issue 50090; col E.

12 KILLED AT AIR DISPLAY - MOSQUITO CRASHES ON CARS.

MARGATE, Sept.19 ( From our Correspondent )

      Twelve persons, including three children, lost their lives when a Mosquito aircraft crashed on a road crowded with occupied cars during a Battle of Britain air display at Manston on Saturday.  Three persons are in hospital with multiple burns, and two of them are in a critical condition.  Six others were discharged after treatment for burns.
      The pilot, whose wife saw the accident, had led a flight of three aircraft in high-speed formation flying before breaking away to give an exhibition of aerobatics.  He had twice dived at over 400 m.p.h. and then roared past the public enclosure.  Gaining height he began a slow roll from which he did not pull out.  The machine crashed on a road crowded with people and cars.  The petrol tanks exploded and burning debris was scattered in all directions, setting fire to several cars.  The intense heat hampered the work of rescuers and three victims were burnt to death in one car.
      One of the victims, Mrs. Gertrude ANDREWS, whose husband is with the R.A.F. in Malta, was cycling along the road with her three-year-old son in a basket on the carrier.  Her 11-year-old son was cycling ahead and was unaware that his mother and brother had been killed until later in the day when he reported to police that he could not find them.  Mr. Guy FARR, 33, a solicitor, of The Close, Wilmington, Dartford, his wife, and two young children had a fortunate escape.  Their car caught fire and they were pulled out by farm workers.  After treatment in hospital for burns they were allowed to go home.
      The Mayor of Margate, Alderman W. J. PERKINS, to-day opened a fund to assist relatives of victims, and the local branch of the R.A.F. Association has promised a donation from the proceeds of its appeal made during the Battle of Britain week.  At Margate Parish Church this morning, when a commemoration service was held to mark the close of Battle of Britain week, two minutes' silence was observed for the victims.
      The following is a list of the dead :-

Miss Marjorie G. D. ASTELL, 42, of Grange Cottage, Chislehurst:
Stuart Graham CHIESMAN, 13, of Calderwood, Chislehurst:
Frances Claire LEWIS, 13, of First Avenue, Kingsgate, near Margate:
Peter Charles SCOTT, 19, of Addiscombe Road, Margate:
Charles Edward TAYLOR, 35, of Marden Avenue, Ramsgate :
Mrs. Muriel LAWRENCE, 48, Dane Valley Road, Margate:
Mrs. Gertrude ANDREWS, 38, of Dane Gardens, Margate, and her son Brent ANDREWS, 3 :
Frederick Edward RUSTIN, 67, of Bletchley Road, Bletchley, Bucks :
Miss Marie ALLAN, 21, of Merrick Square, London, S.E. :
Flight Lieutenant G. H. HANSON, 29, pilot of the aircraft, and
Flight Lieutenant J. MARTIN, 46, of Farnborough, Hants, the navigator.

Source:  The Times, Monday, Sept. 20, 1948; pg.4; Issue 51181; col F.