Keefe, J.
James Keefe, PO/4490, was a Serjeant in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, who had served aboard the HMS Alcantara. He had been awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

Born on 14 January 1871 in Bermondsey, London, he was in 1891 in the Royal Navy on board "Research" in the repairing basin at Portsmouth Dockyard.

died from wounds received in action on 4 March 1916, at the age of 42. He was buried at St James, in Dover. His wife Frances Rose later remarried and became Mrs Port, living at 50 St James Street, Dover.

The headstone at DV3 reads:

PO/44904 Serjeant WNLI
J. Keefe
HMS Alcantara,
4th March 1916, age 42.

The St James area suffered great damage in World War II. The archway is the remains of the bombed church.

Keen, J. T.
James Theodore Keen, G/4227, was born in Leigh near Cricklade, Wiltshire. His father was said to have been the owner of a brickfield and a keeper of bees. After his father died, his mother remarried, to a veteran of the Crimean war.

James left home and joined The Buffs. While stationed at the Dover Garrison he met and married, in 1904, Caroline Ellis. The couple spent many years abroad in the Far East and Africa, while James was on service as a full-time soldier. He served in the Chitral (1898) and South African Campaigns, and was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.   He left the army on a full pension, with the rank of Sergeant, and for a time was employed by someone living in Camden Crescent, Dover.

On the outbreak of the Great War James rejoined the colours on 3rd November 1914. He was stationed at The Citadel, and was possibly charged with training new recruits. Sadly, he developed stomach pains and died from peritonitis on 25th July 1916, at the age of 43. He is buried at St James, PF17. 

There were four children of the family; Floss, Nora, Phyllis, who was a baby when her father died, and one son, Jim. As the son of a soldier, he was educated at the Duke of York's Royal Military School, and later worked for the corporation in Dover. The three daughters all married soldiers.

In Ever Loving Memory of a Dearly Beloved Husband and Father James Theodore Keen (late Segt 9th Battalion "The Buffs") Who peacefully passed away July 25th 1916 aged 43 years Interred in St James cemetery, Dover "He obeyed his Country's call"	Weep not, dear wife, I am gone before, My pain on earth will be no more, With you I could no longer stay For death hath summon'd me away. Weep not for me, my children, dear, I am not dead, but sleeping here; My race is run, my course is spent, To you, dear children, I was but lent.

with thanks to Mike Farrell

Keightley G.

 
Gordon Keightley was born in the parish of St Mary's, Walmer, near Dover, in 1894. He enlisted at the Duke of York's, Chelsea, on 10 November 1910, gaining his commission on 23 February 1915. He transferred to the RNAS on 8 August 1916.

On 20 May 1917, with Unit. 2 Wing (Mudros), he was an observer in a Henry Farman over Phasos, Macedonia, spotting for HMS Raglan, which was shelling Kavalla. The plane was attacked by enemy aircraft and shot down; Temporary Sub Lieutenant Keightley was thrown out and killed. His pilot, Flight Sub Lieutenant James Douglas Haig, aged 18, from Australia, also lost his life. Both are commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Gordon Keightley on panel 61, buried at sea. .

He was the son of Temporary Lieutenant Henry Edward Keightley, RNVR, a Depot Adjutant at Crystal Palace, from 72 Kingsdown Avenue, Ealing, when he enlisted, and the brother of Temporary Sub Lieutenant Henry Stuart Keightley, RNVR

pictures with thanks to Andy and Michelle Cooper

Kemp, W. J.
William John Kemp, 3354, enlisted in Portsmouth and was a Serjeant in the 3rd battalion of the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own). He was killed in action on 20th December 1916 at the age of 24. He lies at the Philosophe British cemetery, Mazingarbe, France.

Born in Sandwich, he was the son of Mrs Annie Kemp of Vale Cottage, South Alkham, Dover.

Kennett, W. J. I.
William John Isgar Kennett, J/3433, was an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy, aboard HMS Lama.

He was born in Dover on 24 June 1892.  His parents, Percy, a bricklayer, and Jane Kennett were in 1901 living at 2 Union Row, Dover. When their son died Mr Kennet was living at 4 Military Road, Dover

William died from disease on 9 December  1915, and is buried in an unknown grave at the North Point Christian Cemetery, Kamaran Island. He is also commemorated on the Maala Memorial, No 2, Yemen.

Kennett, T. E.
Thomas Edward Kennett, 196592, an Able Seaman, was killed when his Submarine D2 was lost in the North Sea on 1st December 1914. He was 32. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. He left a wife, Mary A M Harvey (formerly Kennett, née Sayer), who lived at 101 Hillside Road, Dover. The couple had married in Dover in 1907.

Thomas' parents were William and Esther Kennett, also from Dover. He was the brother-in-law of Daniel Cannon, lost with the Formidable on New Year's Day 1915. 

A memorial service was held at his Parish Church, St Andrews at Buckland, for parishioners who had died on was service on Wednesday, 29th September, 1915. Part of the service for the burial of the dead was sung, with a dirge "Grant Rest, O Lord, to Thy servants with Thy saints". It concluded with the National Anthem, and it was proposed that the service should be repeated every three months.

Mrs Kennett remarried, to George Harvey, in 1918.

He died on Armistice day, from pneumonia following influenza, after returning home on leave with the BEF. He was buried with full military honours in St Mary's cemetery, Dover, in the same grave as his mother. The band of the Royal Fusiliers was in attendance, and the Last Post was sounded at the graveside. Members of the ASC acted as bearers.

His burial record lists him as a Transport Driver, aged 22, who died at Shorncliffe Military Hospital and was buried from Holy Trinity Parish. Mourners included Mr Keyton (father), Mrs Hudsmith and Mrs Baldock (sisters), and Miss W Morgan, his fiancée.  Among the floral tributes was one from his father, "in loving memory of my dear son, from his sorrowing dad", and one from his brother Joe (BEF Russia).

He was the son of Albert Walter Keyton, who became a civilian casualty in WWII on 17 November 1941.

Notes:

More information

this is the only person surnamed Keyton recorded on "Soldiers Died"

Joyce Banks' research discovered that his registration of death, the funeral report in the local paper, and the burial record, all have him named as Albert Thomas Walter Keyton

with thanks to Richard Thorpe

King. C.
C. King was a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve, which he had joined on the outbreak of the war, attached to the Dover Patrol. He had worked for the SEC Railway, captaining their Dover boats, and is commemorated on the memorial at the now Cruise Terminal, formerly Marine Station.

He was serving aboard the HMS "Albyn" when he was killed in an air raid on Calais on 2nd September 1917. He is buried in the Dunkirk Town Cemetery, France, II B 14. His death was mourned throughout Dover, as he had been devout person, and taken also great interest in the Dover branch of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society.  He left a wife and family, of 185 Folkestone Road, and his wife inserted the notice below in the Dover Express:

King E.
Edward King, 164296, was born in Dover on 9th March 1881. He had dark brown hair and blue eyes, and grew to be five feet and three inches in height. He worked as a stoker on one of the steam vessels and later on the pilot boats in Dover Harbour. Perhaps from this time date some of his tattoos, which included on his right forearm, a sailor, along with a handclasp and a horseshoe. On his left were a memorial, and a heart and flag emblem.

On 4th August 1904, at Charlton church, Edward married Harriet Bowman. She was the daughter of Thomas Bowman and his wife Annie, nee Allen, and was one of a very large family. Edward and Harriet had two children; a daughter, Iris, born in 1906, and a son, Edward Thomas.

Edward Thomas was born in 1913 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. His uncle, younger brother of Edward senior, had emigrated to Canada, and on his recommendation, Edward, Harriet, and Iris followed in 1912, living at 58 Brunswick Street, Brantford at his attestation in September 1915 (street index for 1915 states 7 Brunswick Street). Edward worked at Massey Harris, manufacturers of farm machinery; on his attestation document on 15th September 1915, at Niagara Camp, he is described as a Ranch Hand. 

Edward enlisted in the 84th Overseas battalion, and went for training in England. During his service he was awarded the Military Medal. He was serving as a Corporal in the 75th battalion (Central Ontario Regiment) when he was.killed at Paschendale on 2nd November 1917. He and another man had been killed instantly when a shell blew up in the dug-out where they had been sitting behind the front line. Two other men in the dug-out were uninjured, merely suffering for a few days from the effects of the blast.

The photograph is of Edward, Harriet, and their two children, taken in 1916, shortly before Edward left Canada for England. It was a poignant memento; Edward himself, in a letter to his father from the Front, had probably realised that he would not survive. He asked his father to ensure that Harriet and the two children should return to England, for he saw no future in Canada for them without him. In 1920, they did return, coming back to Dover, and living at 5 Pardoner's Way, Crabble. His father, also Edward, was then living at 19 Douglas Road, Tower Hamlets.

In 1929 Iris married James Crutchfield, son of casualty James Henry Crutchfield, and they later moved to Gillingham. Harriet remained with them until she died in 1953.

Edward King is commemorated on the Menin Gate memorial, in Belgium, and his name is also  inscribed here in the Canadian Book of Remembrance. A plaque at the Canadian works, Brantford, of the Massey Harris company, also bears his name.  

with thanks to Maggie Curtis
with thanks to an Ontario viewer

Remembrance at Brantford, Ontario Photos by courtesy of Bill Bowman

King, E. T.
Edward Thomas King, 055486, enlisted into the Army Service Corps, and at Grove Park was attested Private on 29th March 1915. He was then 27, and was a motor lorry driver, living at 26 Randolph Road, Dover.

He remained on shore until 17th April 1915 and then went to France between 18th April 1915 and 23rd November 1915. He returned on 24th November 1915 until 19th February 1916. At this date he appears to have been ill from disease contracted on service, as his attestation was sent to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.  He died from such disease on 20th June 1918.

 He was married to Clara Hilda King, formerly Husk, on 11th July 1912, at Buckland, Dover, and had two children, Hilda Clara Ruth born at Dover on 11th September 1912, and Caroline Louisa May, born 21st June 1914, also at Dover.  Mrs King had lived at 84 Union Street, and later had moved to Hastings.

with thanks to Joyce Banks

King, T. E.
Thomas Edward King, 233788, was a Petty Officer on the HMS Gaillardia, He died on 22 March 1918, when he was 29, and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, United Kingdom. The wreck lies in the North Sea.

He was the husband of Emily Minnie King, née Irons, of 5 Woolcomber Lane, Dover, father of Eveline, born 1912, and Violet, born 1918, and the son of Mr and Mrs King of 20 Noah's Ark Road, Dover. Mr King was a paperhanger in 1911, and in 1901, with the family living at 26 De Burgh Hill, was a carriage painter.

1918 - In ever loving memory of our dear beloved son ....We little thought his time so short, In this world to remain, Or that when from his home he went, He would never return again. We often sit and talk of him, And think how brave he died, But oh! how very hard I think, We could not say good-bye. Gone but not forgotten by his loving Mum and Dad.

1918 - In affectionate remembrance of my dear brother ... Safe at anchor now I rest, With many of our fleet, But once again I will set sail, Our saviour Christ to meet. From his brother Bert, and family.

The headstone is at Charlton. It reads:

Thomas King was the uncle of Alfred Clarke, who died in 1944, and the brother-in-law of Frank Booth, who died in 1940.

*King, W.
Walter King, possibly 202632, a Lance Corporal from the 2nd/4th battalion of the Queen's Own Royal West Kents (formerly 2918 The Buffs), who was killed in action in Egypt on 19 April 1917 and is buried at the Gaza War cemetery, Israel, XII D 8. He lived and enlisted in Dover.

This may also be Walter King, 3/2512, a Private in the 1st battalion of the Essex Regiment. He was born on 9 November 1889 in Dover, the son of Frederick William King and Martha Elizabeth née Richards. In 1901 the family were living at 58 Longfield Road, Dover, where Frederick, aged 57, was working as a  fitter's labourer and Martha, aged 52, was a washerwoman. With them were children Elizabeth, aged 18, working, Charlie, aged 16, a draper's porter, Hannah, aged 14, Ada, aged 12, Walter, aged 10, and Bertie, aged 6. The whole family were born in Dover. Walter died on 25 October 1915 and is buried in the Amzak Cemetery, Suvla, Turkey, grave I A 17.

One of them may be the W. King who is named on the SECR memorial. His occupation was a Labourer or Striker (information kindly supplied by Gina Baines)

Kingsford, A. C.
Aubrey Carlton Kingsford, G/5335, was a Corporal in the 7th battalion of The Buffs. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France, below, having been killed in action on 3 May 1917. 

He was born in Dover on 5 April 1887 and christened at St Andrew's on 22 June 1887. William had married Alice Maud Maxwell in 1875, however Aubrey's record of baptism at St Andrews has him as the son of William Pierce and Julia Mary. Mr Pierce was then a gasfitter, and the family were living at 31 Granville Street.

In 1891 the family were living at 1 Barton View Terrace, and at home then were the children Charles Edward W Kingsford, a gasfitter, born in 1875, Henry William, a plumber's assistant, born 1876, George Samuel, born 1880, Edmund/Edward John, born 1882, Winifred Elizabeth, 1885, then Aubrey, followed by Ernest Stephen, born 1889, and Eleanora, 1890. Amelia Irene M was born in 1892. The Kingsfords had moved to 11 Crabble Terrace by 1911, when only Amelia remained at home.

Aubrey enlisted in Dover, from a civilian role as a steward, on 5 January 1915 at the age of 27 years and 8 months.  Two days later he joined at Canterbury and was confirmed Private on 9 January 1915. He remained in England until 2 September 1915, thereafter serving in France until his death. He had suffered shellshock the year before he died, on 13 July 1916. His address was 51 Crabble Hill, the address of his father and named next-of-kin. Left, third from bottom, is Aubrey's name on the Arras memorial.

Aubrey's brother Edward Kingsford, below, also died. Two other brothers, Ernest and Charles, were also serving. Charles, licensee of the Dolphin between 1922 and 1925, and of the Golden Lion Inn between 1925 to 1932, became a Colour Sergeant with the Royal Engineers during the Great War, and  was awarded the DCM.   Two brothers-in-law were also serving, one assumed to be William Ellis, the husband of Emily Susannah, born 17 March 1878 and christened at St Mary's on 19 May 1878, the other George Rhodes, husband of Winifred Elizabeth.

The family had twelve children, four of whom had died by 1911. One of these was William Henry Kingsford who had lost his life in the South African War in 1901 during service with the AOC. The others were Daisy Nora, who died at the age of 5 in 1899,  John Sydney, who died in 1885, and Eleanora, who died in 1892, both  at 17 months old. They are all buried at Buckland.

In Memoriam - 1920
In loving memory of our dear brother Jack Kingsford, 7th The Buffs, who was killed in France, May 3rd 1917. Aged 30 years.

Note: Charles Edward William Kingsford married on 1 April 1907 Ellen Frances Charlotte Stanley, the daughter of Edward Gregory Stanley, who was the licensee of the Rose and Crown between 1900 to 1907, and seemingly the licensee of the Park Inn between 1905 and July 1911. Charles died on 16 April 1946 at 15 Bridge Street, Dover. He is buried at Charlton, and members of the R E Old Comrades Association attended his funeral.

William Pierce Kingsford died on 22 January 1928, aged 72. Alice Maud Kingsford died at 51 Crabble Hill in probably February 1932, aged 74. They are both buried at Buckland.

A cousin, Percy Charles Kingsford Simmonds DCM died at Vimy on 24 April 1917. He is commemorated on the memorial there. Born 16 April 1881 he was descended from Emily Susannah Kingsford, sister of William Pierce Kingsford. Right is a partial image of the detailed inscriptions, kept by the family in England in an album. The x marks the inscription, left, and the words read, "to dear Perce", "Ypres", and "monument".

records with thanks to Joyce Banks
photos with thanks to Peter Gibaud

Kingsford, E. J.
Edward (some records, Edmund) John Kingsford, 12486, was a sapper in the 10 Railway Co of the Royal Engineers. He was born in Dover and christened at St Mary's on 26 February 1882. Then the family were living at 44 Clarendon Street, and Mr Kingsford was working as a gasfitter.

Edward enlisted in Dover on 24 July 1900 as 6381 of The Buffs, aged 18 years and 6 months old. He bore a tattoo on his left fore-arm, of a jockey's head in a horseshoe over a V-shaped spur.

He had been a labourer in civilian life, perhaps a very superior sawyer with exemplary conduct (no offences in the past four years).. At that time his family had lived at 13 Barton View, Alexander Place, Dover.

Remaining in England until 4 July 1901, at the time of the census at Holmstone Camp, Lydd, he was sent to South Africa on 5 July 1901, and remained there until 27 October 1902. He gained the Queens South African medal with five clasps including; Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal.

On his return home he continued to serve until 23 July 1907, then becoming a Reservist between 24 July 1907 and 4 August 1914, being re-engaged as a Sapper on 24 July 1912.  He passed several classes of institution, including swimming in May 1904, and Wood Cutting by Machinery, at Superior and on 24 July 1916, Very Superior grades.

He was mobilised again on 5 August, remaining at home until 26 November 1914, when he embarked for France. There he remained until his death from wounds in 62nd Field Ambulance on 26 June 1916. He was 35, and is buried at Brandhoek Military Cemetery, Belgium, II E 14. At the foot of his headstone are the words, "Gone but not forgotten".

Amongst the effects sent home were his disc, postcards, and a greeting card. Sapper Singlehurst had a watch, field boots, field glasses and an engrave shell case belonging to Edward, which he was to bring home to Edward's family on his next leave. However, regulations forbade him to bring the shell case.

His brother Aubrey Kingsford, above, also died in the Great War, and another brother, William Henry Kingsford, died in the South African war.

with thanks to Joyce Banks

*Kingsnorth, C.
Charles Kingsnorth, 69680, was born in Dover, and enlisted in Ipswich. He was the son of George and Sarah Ann Kingsnorth, of 68 Newson Street, Ipswich. He was a Bombardier in the Royal Horse Artillery, J battery. He was killed in action on 1st December 1917, and is buried in the Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery, France, VII G 3.

Kite, A. A.
Alfred Albert Kite, 128825, was born and enlisted in Dover, and was a Private in the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) (formerly S4/28468 of the RASC). He was in the 14th Company. He was killed in action on 21st March 1918, and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, in France. 

Knell, L. W.
Leonard William Knell, Z/9865, was an Ordinary Seaman in the RN Volunteer Reserve, on the HMS Victory VI. Aged 18, he died at the Military Hospital, Western Heights, from pneumonia, and was buried on 16th October 1918 at St James cemetery, Dover, NY8. He had joined the Forces just six weeks previously, and had been in training at Crystal Palace.

His parents were Florence Emily and the late William Henry Knell, of 5 Russell Street, Dover.

Knight, H. W.
Hubert W. Knight, G/25960, was a Private in the 1st (or 10th) battalion of The Queen's Royal West Surrey regiment (formerly 38631 of the Royal Warwickshire). He died of wounds on 25 April 1918, when he was 19. He is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery in France, I XA 22. 

He was born in Portsmouth, the son of William John and Mary Knight, from 89 Stamshaw Road, Portsmouth, but enlisted and lived in Dover.

Knott, H. R. W.
Henry Richard Walter Knott, 7937, was in the South Staffordshire Regiment, 1st battalion. Having enlisted in Maidstone he became a Corporal. He died on 24 (26) October 1914 at Lanniluke and is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres, in Belgium, panel 35 and 37.  

He was the youngest son of William John Knott and Clara Letitia, née Clarke, who were married on 14 May 1881 at St Andrew, Buckland. The couple had fifteen children, of whom nine had died before 1911. The first was James William Henry, born 23 October 1881, when the family were at 4 Brookfield Cottages and Mr Knott was working as a labourer. James died in February 1896, his body taken from 15 Oswald Place where in 1901 lived Mary Ladd, his grandmother.

Mary Ann Elizabeth was born on 15 May 1883; the family were at 2 Mangers Place. She was followed by John Frederick Alfred, born on 2 March 1885. He lived till 1960. The family were at 1 Mangers Place when William John Edward was born on 5 January 1887; he died at the age of 17 in December 1904.

The family moved again to 2 Dodds Place, where Joseph George Thomas was born in 1889. He died on 11 March 1932 and is buried at Tilmanstone. In the 1891 census Mr Knott had become a platelayer. The family were at 14 Edgar Road, and there also were John Clark, Mrs Knott's father, his daughter Emily Clark and his granddaughter Clara Clark. By 26 April the family had moved to 11 Edgar Road, with Henry Richard Walter who was born on 6 March 1891.

Another move followed, to 10 Primrose Road. There were born Clara Betsy Matilda on 29 January 1894, Elizabeth Jane Louisa on 22 November 1895, who died at the age of four months, Annie Emily Louisa on 28 January 1897, and Rose Hilda Louisa on 8 July 1900, who died soon after birth. The remaining five children and five deaths at young age remain to be traced.

Mrs Knott died on 17 May 1904, and was buried at St Andrew from the family's new address of 22 Pioneer Road. By 1911 Henry had become a private in the 2nd battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment, and was at the Whittington barracks in Lichfield. Meanwhile, Mr Knott had moved again, living at 9 Mangers Lane with his mother Mary Ladd. He died in 1913, being buried at Buckland from 9 Mangers Lane.

announcement 1915

Knott, S. W.
Sidney William Knott, 5377 (541401),  was a Sapper in the Field Engineers, 519th London Field Company. He was killed in action at Palestine on 19th September 1918, when he was 27. He is buried at Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel. 

His father? was Mr F. Knott, of 289 London Road Dover, and his wife was Rose Knott, of 24 George Street, Buckland, Dover. He was born in Dover, but lived in Gillingham.

The headstone is at St Andrews, Buckland, and reads:
"In Affectionate Remembrance of A dearly beloved wife and mother Harriet M. Knott, Who passed away 22nd April 1921 Aged 66 years. Also of Sidney, Beloved son of above, Fell in action 19th September 1918 Aged 27 years. "Reunited" Also Francis Beloved husband of the above, Passed away 26th September 1932. Aged 77 years."

Knott, T. J.
Thomas  James Knott, 22520,  was a Sapper in the 23rd Field Company of the Royal Engineers. He was reported missing around the 25th January 1915, and confirmed as dead by the War Office sixteen months later. It was assumed that he had been buried in a trench rushed by the Germans at La Bassee. He was 24.He is commemorated on Le Touret memorial, in France.

Thomas' parents, Ernest and Kate, lived at Greenfield Road, Folkestone, and his uncle, A. W. Knott, lived at 20 Alfred Road, Buckland, Dover. He was born in Hougham and enlisted in Dover.