Waight, J. H.
Joseph (John?) Henry Waight, G/5967, was born in London and christened on 4 April 1888 at Christchurch. His parents were George William Waight, a lighterman, and his wife Elizabeth Rose,  née Greagsby, who had married in 1886.

His mother died on 1 June, just after Joseph was born, and he was brought up in Dover by  his aunt, Sarah Jane, née Waight, and her husband, Thomas George Stockbridge. In 1891 the family were living at 5 Bulwark Street, when Thomas was a mariner, and then years later they were living at 10 Percival Terrace, with Thomas working as a sawyer's labourer. George, Joseph's father, remarried, to Maria Jane Ridley, in 1890.

Joseph lived and enlisted in Dover and became G/5967, a Private in C company of the 2nd battalion of the Buffs. He died of wounds on 5th May 1915, when he was 27, at the Rawal Pindi British General Hospital, Wimereux, and is buried at Wimereux communal cemetery in France, 1 G 1A.

His wife was  Ellen Waight, née Hulkes from 155 Clarendon Street, where in 1911 she had been living with her mother Eliza Jane, a widow.  The couple married in 1913, and in 1914  the couple possibly had a son, Joseph H T Waight. In 1918 Mrs Waight remarried, to Victor Charles Vidler, and the family lived at 1 Beaconsfield Villa, Hardwick Road, Maxton, Dover, from which address Mrs Vidler applied for her first husband's medals. Mrs Vidler was living at 12 North Street when Mr Vidler died in 1931.

Wall, T. W. 
Thomas Walter Wall, 168982, was a Gunner in the 90th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery. (Another report says he was a Signaller, from the Brigade HQ staff, and formerly of the 2.1st Kent Battery, Territorial RFA). He was 19 when he died from wounds received in action on 23rd October 1916. He is buried at Etaples military cemetery in France, VIII C 9.

He enlisted and lived in Dover, and was the son of Thomas and Mary Ann Wall, of 8 Millais Road, Dover. They referred to him as their "beloved son".

The stone at Charlton cemetery reads:

Waller, F. W.
Frederick William Waller, 3/11187, was a Company Serjeant Major (Wo class 2) in the 8th battalion of the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). He was killed in action on 7th August 1915, at the age of 38, and is remembered on the Helles Memorial, Turkey.

He was born in Kamptee, India, but enlisted in Dover. His wife was Charlotte Waller, of 41 Maison Dieu Road, Dover, earlier of 55 Snargate Street, Dover, and she referred to him as her "dearly beloved husband", wishing him to rest in peace. 

Walsh, P. J. 
Percy John Walsh, 8639, was a Rifleman in the 2nd battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles. Born in Newry, County Down, he enlisted in Dublin.

In 1911 he was stationed at the Citadel Barracks on the Western Heights in Dover. In 1912 he married Mabel Susannah Moore in Dover. She was the daughter of Richard Moore, a railway guard, and his wife, Elizabeth, and in 1911, aged 22, she was living with them at 46 Limekiln Street and working in a laundry. Mr and Mrs Walsh had one daughter, Eileen.

Rifleman Walsh was killed in action on 26 October 1914, and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial in France.

On 8 May 1916 at Holy Trinity, Dover, Mrs Walsh, then living at 68 Limekiln Street, remarried. Her new husband was Charles William Harris. He was a Sergeant in the 1st Battalion of the East Surreys, then stationed at the Grand Shaft Barracks, Western Heights.

In 1924 Mrs Harris, living at 25 Victoria Dwellings, requested that Percy's name should be commemorated on Dover Memorial. Mrs Harris had also previously lived at 220 Old Folkestone Road.

Walter, E. J. 
Edward James Walter, G/9460, was a Private in the 2nd or 4th battalion of the Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own). .

He was born in Dover and enlisted there on 21 March 1915, going over to Mill Hill four days later. He was 35 years and nine months on enlistment, and had been employed as a Miner. His last tour of duty with the BEF began on 17 August 1915, and he was killed in action on 25th January 1916. He is buried at the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres in France, IX E 48

His wife was Emily Eliza Walter, nee Bowman, whom he'd married at Charlton on 26 March 1899. They had seven children: George Alexander, born 11 August 1899, Fred Ernest(?), born 1 July 1901, William Henry, born 1 May 1902, Jessie Emma Margaret, born 27 January 1906, Emily, born 12 July 1907, Daisy Annie, born 12 December 1908, and Helen, born 10 July 1911. All the children were born in Dover.

Three of his sons are pictured with him (above, left). The picture that appeared in the newspaper after his death (centre) was taken from this image.

with thanks
attestation Joyce Banks

Ward, S. G. 
Sydney George Ward, T/203220, was a Private in D company of the 1st/4th battalion of the Buffs (East Kent Regiment). He was 23 when he died on 16th August 1918. He is buried in Ranikhet New Cemetery Plot B, Row 11, Grave 232, and remembered on the Madras 1914-1918 memorial, Chennai, India, Face 8.

He was born in Faversham in Kent, and enlisted and lived in Dover. He was the son of Arthur Allan Ward (1874-1973) and Alice Alexandria, née Fisher, who married in Faversham in 1893. He had also three sisters, all born in Dover: Minnie Gladys in 1897, who married Charles Fittall in 1917, Emily May in 1901, who married Arthur Beer in Dover in 1927, and Winifred Alice, born in 1909, who married Cyril Lambert in 1937 in Dover. A son, Sidney, was born to Mr and Mrs Fittall in 1918. Charles Fittall died in 1949.

Waters, W. 
William Waters, 8593, was a Private in the King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment). He was in the 1st battalion. He died on 17th September 1914 and is commemorated on La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial in France.

Born and enlisting in Liverpool, he was the husband of Lottie Mabel Waters, of 3 West Street, Dover. 

"He's gone, the one we loved so dear,
To his eternal rest.
He's gone to heaven we have no fear,
To be forever blest."  (Oct 1914)

Watson, G. 
George Watson, 9181, was born in Folkestone and enlisted in Dover, and was a Private in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 2nd battalion, with the Labour Corps, as 671630.

He lived at Enfield, Middlesex, and died there on 1st November 1918, being buried at Edmonton Cemetery, Middlesex in the United Kingdom.

Watson, R. C. 
Robert Charles Watson, G18662, was known as "Micky". He was a Private in the 7th battalion of The Buffs, and was reported missing on 3 May 1917.  He is commemorated on the Arras memorial.

He enlisted and lived in Dover, and was the youngest son of Robert Watson and his wife, Catherine, of Bench Street, Dover, who previously had lived at 24 Wyndham Road, Tower Hamlets. In 1891 the family were living at the back premises of 187 Snargate Street, with Mr Watson working as a fireman on a steamship, and two children at home, Edith Maria, 4, and Harry James, 7 months. By 1901 they were at 5 East Street, with Mr Watson working as the stoker of a stationery boiler. At home then were Edith, then a packer in a steam laundry, Harry, Lily Florence, 8, Kathleen Alice, 5, and Charles Robert, 3.  By 1911 Mrs Catherine Watson, employed as a laundry maid, was living at Round Tower Cottage, Priory Hill, with Lily, then a laundry maid, Kathleen, a domestic, and Robert. Two children had died; one was Alexander, who died as a tiny baby.

Mr and Mrs Watson had another son, Harry, and three sons-in-law serving. The sons-in-law were probably Thomas William Foad, a seaman, whom Lily had married on 7 February 1912 at St Bartholomew, Charlton (enlisting as Private in the Buffs on 8 November 1915), William Alfred Cornish, the husband of Edith Maria Watson; the couple married on 1 January 1905 at St Bartholomew, Charlton, and William C. Sims of Slade's Green, whom Kathleen had married at St Augustine's church, Slade's Green, in May 1916

The notes below were from wreaths laid on Armistice Day 1937:

"In loving memory of my dear son and our brother, Pte R C Watson, The Buffs, missing - From Mother, Sisters, and Brothers-in-law. "Ever Remembered""
 

"In loving memory of our dear uncle, Pte R C Watson, The Buffs, From CSM and Mrs Edwards, Shirley and Derek (Grantham)"

Watts, A. H.
Arthur Herbert Watts, L/10044, was a Lance-Corporal, but was made Sergeant of the Field. He served in the 1st battalion of the Buffs. He died in action on 21st July 1916, and is buried at the South Menin Road cemetery in Belgium.

Born in Deal, and enlisting and living in Dover, he was the son of Mr Walter and Mrs Edith Watts of 4 Bulwark Street, later of 38 Old Folkestone Road, Dover. He is on the right in the picture, and on the left is his brother Walter (below), who also fell.

Watts, W. E. A. 
Walter Edward Alfred Watts, G/5428, pictured above with his brother, was also born in Deal and lived in Dover, but enlisted in Canterbury. He became a Private in the 6th battalion of the Buffs. He was 22 when he died on 3rd July 1916, having returned to active service after convalescing from wounds received at the Front. 

He is buried at Lonsdale cemetery, Authuile, France.

right - in memoriam July 1942

Wayte, J. N. 
John Nathan Wayte, T/2181, was a Private in the 1/4th battalion of The Buffs. He was born, enlisted, and lived in Dover. Aged 20 years and 9 months, he was accidentally drowned at Kampte, India, on 19th February 1915. The Buffs had gone to India the previous October. He is commemorated on the Kirkee 1914-1918 Memorial in India.

He was "the beloved son" and youngest son of Thomas and Mary Wayte, from 170 Clarendon Street, Dover. He had served in the special reserve of The Buffs at Canterbury, and afterwards had joined the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, being stationed at Aldershot. He was unfortunately discharged as medically unfit. He had worked at Snowdown Colliery for a considerable period.

Where John was drowned was where his parents had been first stationed in India. Mr Wayte was a pensioner from the RGA, and had gone out to India in 1863, and was stationed in various areas for over eighteen years. One of his daughters, Mary, was born in Burma.  After returning he worked a couple of years at Dover Castle before leaving the service and then completing over twenty years in the Ordnance Department. Mr Wayte died on 2 August 1916, after suffering a stroke on 22 July, and was buried at St James, with a party from the RGA acting as bearers and followers.

John's brothers and brothers-in-law were all serving. George was in the 1st Mountain Battery of India, Tom in the RHA at the Front, and had previously served in the South African war, and Ernest in the 32nd Company of the RGA. Brotheers-in-law were Private Watts, a reservist formerly employed by the SECR who had rejoined in August 1914 and was serving in the Royal Lancaster Regiment, having been a reservist, and William Pearson.

A sudden change to Gods command he fell,
He had no chance to bid his friends farewell,
Affliction came, without warning given,
And bid him haste to meet God in heaven.

with thanks to Joyce Banks

Webb, H. C. 
Henry (Harry) Charles Webb, G/29723, was a Private in the 10th battalion of the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), who had lived at 134 Union Road, Dover. He died on 25th October 1918.

He was born in Bekesbourne, and enlisted in Canterbury. Mrs Mackenzie, from 49 Union Road, was his next friend. 

Welch, D. 
David Welch, D5236, was in the Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to the 149th RN Field Ambulance of the 63rd RN division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

He died on 27th September 1918, at the age of 26, and is buried at the Louverval Military Cemetery, Doignies, France.

He was born in Auchterderran, Fife, Scotland, and he enlisted in Perth.  He was the son-in-law of Mrs M Foster of 1 Percival Terrace, Winchelsea, Dover.

Wellard, G. J.  
George James Wellard, G/1354, had been a well-known fruit and fish seller before he enlisted in Canterbury. He joined the 2nd battalion of the Buffs as a Private when war began, and was wounded on 3 April 1915. After a few days convalescence he went back to the firing line, and was then reported wounded and missing on 24 April. By 12 August his death was confirmed. He was 34, and is commemorated on the Menin Gate memorial in Belgium.

He was born in "Uffam", Dover, the son of Lewis George Wellard and his wife Eliza. In 1891 the family were living at 1 Bowling Green Lane, a lodging house of which Mr Wellard was the manager. Children at home then were Lewis George, 16, a pony cart driver, Albert Edward, 6, Arthur C, 2, and Ernest W, four months, as well as George James, 11. Annie Louise was born in 1893. Mr Wellard died in 1895 at the age of 46, and Mrs Wellard remarried in 1898 to William Burnap, a painter and decorator.

George married in 1905 to Minnie Florence Smith. The couple had several children, amongst them George Smith, Percy, and Arthur. In 1911 they were living at 4 Pleasnat Row. Minnie later lived at 9 Seven Star Street.

George Wellard was cousin-by-marriage to casualties Eddie and Henry Crascall and brother-in-law to Walter Albert Mills

Wells, A. J. 
Arthur John Wells, 35960, was in the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). He was a Private in the 37th battalion. He was formerly 9405 in The Buffs.

 He was killed in action on 26th August 1918, after two and a half years service, and is buried at Gommecourt Wood new cemetery, Fonquevillers in France. 

Born at St Mary's and enlisting in Dover, he was the son of the late Mr A J Wells and Mrs Wells, who lived at 75a Biggin Street. Their other son, S. Wells (right) was also serving, with the Royal West Kents in Mesopotamia.

There is another Arthur John Wells, also from Dover, who lost his life in the Great War. He was L/9498, a Private in the 2nd battalion of The Buffs. He was born at Buckland, Dover and lived in Dover, but enlisted in Canterbury. He died in action on 25th February 1915 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate.

The gravestone, left, is at St Andrews, Buckland. It reads: "In Loving Memory of Alfred George Wells. Who died as a result of a railway accident at the Crosswall Gates on June 3rd 1916. Aged 27 years.
Also Ernest Wells, Who died of wounds received in action, December 3rd 1918. Aged 19 years.
Also to the memory of Arthur Wells, Killed in action in France, February 25th 1915. Aged 20 years. "In the midst of life we are in death"

Wells, E.
Ernest Wells, 46753, was born in Dover and lived at 1 Brookfield, Place, Buckland. He was a volunteer before he joined up at Canterbury to become a Rifleman in the Rifle Brigade, and was posted to the 2nd/10th battalion of the London Regiment (Prince Consort's Own) (formerly TR/13/58251TR).

He died of wounds 3rd December 1918, when he was 19. He was buried on 7th December at Buckland cemetery in Dover, United Kingdom, D2194. The ceremony was conducted by a senior Chaplain to the Forces.

He was the son of the late Mr and Mrs Wells, of Dover.

West, W. 
William West, 2116, was a Rifleman in the 4th battalion of the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own). He enlisted at Chatham. He was drowned at sea from the SS Princess Alberta, on 21st February 1917, and is commemorated on the Mikra Memorial, Greece. He was 31.

He was born at Dover, and lived at Temple Ewell. He was the son of John and Frances West, of 4 Dour Terrace, Temple Ewell, Dover.    

Whiles, T. P. 
Thomas Percy Whiles, G/29544, was a Private in the 10th battalion of the Queen's Own (Royal West Kents). He was born in Dover and enlisted in Canterbury. He died on 25 October 1918, and is buried at the Harlebeke New British Cemetery, Belgium, II C 12. He is also commemorated on St Mary's memorial.

Born in 1899, he was the son of Thomas Whiles and his wife Louisa, formerly Mercer. Mr Whiles was a general labourer, born in Brenchley, Kent, while Mrs Whiles had been born in Yalding, Maidstone. The couple were married in 1883 in Dover. In 1891 the couple were living at Poutts Cottages, Yalding, with their six-month daughter, Florence (Ermyntrude), with Mr Whiles working as a general labourer. They had moved by 1901 to 34 Adrian Street, where they had been joined by Louisa Matilda Olive, born 23 November 1894 (given as 1892 in the 1939 register), and by Thomas Percy. By 1911 the family had moved to 3 Youdens Court, Dover, and had another daughter, Nora Annie, born in the Bridge area in 1903. One other child had died, possibly infant Albert Edwin A, in 1890.

In 1924 Mr and Mrs Whiles laid a wreath at the memorial "In affectionate remembrance". On Armistice Day 1928, another wreath was laid for "Sgt A. G. Smith and Pte P. Whiles" (sic).  Mr Whiles died on 19 March 1932 at the Dover infirmary, aged 78. He was described as being "late of the RGA", and was given a semi-military funeral with a gun carriage, and bearers and two buglers from the Lincolnshire regiment. Mrs Whiles, then at 72 Beaufoy Road, died on 10 April 1938, aged 73, her funeral leaving from her daughter Louisa's home at 25 Astor Avenue. The couple are buried at St Mary's.

Thomas was the brother-in-law of Augustus James Smith, who married Thomas' sister Louisa in 1911.

Whiteman, E. G. 
Evelyn Guy Whiteman, D3258, enlisted in Canterbury, and was a Sergeant in B squadron of the 4th Dragoon Guards (Royal Irish) (Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line including Yeomanry and Imperial Camel Corps). He was struck by a shell at Pecy on 6 September 1914 when advancing in the firing line, and died three minutes afterwards in the arms of the Squadron Sergeant Major, without regaining consciousness. He was 24

He was buried by his comrades at Pecy, who, according to their Captain, R McGillycuddy, deplored his loss and expressed their sincere sympathy to his parents, and is now recorded at the Perreuse Chateau Franco-British National Cemetery, France, 1 D 34.

Born in Sandhurst, Hawkhurst, Kent, he was the son of Nelson, a tram driver, and Eliza Hannah Whiteman, from "Woodlands", River, Dover, and lived in Dover (18 Buckland Avenue?). On 29th September 1915 a memorial service was held for him and a number of other parishioners lost in the war at Buckland church, Dover.  

Wickes, T. R. E.
Thomas Raymond Edward Wickes, 910689, had worked for Mr Hogbin of Woolcomber Street before enlisting in Dover. He joined the Royal Field Artillery and became a driver in the 222nd Brigade.

He was killed on 4th May 1917, in Mesopotamia, when he was 19 years old. He had been riding the lead horse in a gun team, but in the rough conditions had fallen off and then been run over. He is commemorated on the Basra memorial, in modern Iraq.

He was born in Dover, one of five children, four brothers and a sister, and he was the second son of the late Thomas Wickes of Dover and Mrs Fishbourne of 13 Lowther Road, Dover. 

with thanks to Mr D Morris

Wickham, C. E.  
Charles Edward Wickham, 68089, was a Private in the 7th battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (formerly 6858 2/5th Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment). He enlisted and lived in Paddington. He was 29 when he died on 30 December 1917, and is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial in France.

Born in Dover, he was the eldest son of Mr George Henry ("Harry") Wickham and his wife Emily Jane, née Sawyer, of 19 Clarendon Place, Dover. The couple had married in 1887. They had made their home at 10 Ladywell Place by 1891, with Mr Wickham working as an ostler;  Charles was then aged 2. By 1901 Charles had a brother, Henry, just one month old, and two sisters, Emily, 4, and Gladys, 2. They were living at 84 Clarendon Street, and Mr Wickham had become a marine porter. Ten years later, living at 19 Clarendon Place, Mr Wickham had become a house painter. Charles had left home; he was in lodgings at 1 Birley Street in Battersea and working as a chemist.

Two years later he married Grace Sparling in the Paddington area. They had two daughters, Eileen in 1914 and Joan in 1916. Mrs Wickham later moved to 17 North Road, Brightlingsea, Essex.

George Henry (Harry) Wickham was the brother of Frank and William (below), thus Charles was their nephew. For many years Charles' family laid a wreath at the Town Memorial each Armistice Day, and inserted In Memoriam notices in the local newspaper.

	(above) In Memoriam December 1937 (left) In Memoriam January 1929

with thanks to Simon Randle

Wickham, F. 
Frank Wickham, 260279, enlisted in Dover, and was in the 1st/6th battalion (Territorial) of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (formerly 2746 of The Buffs). A family story is that he was on his way home to England when he died of wounds in Havre hospital on 13 October 1917, when he was 40. He may have been wounded at the battle of Broodseinde Ridge, on 4 October 1917.

He now lies at Sainte Marie cemetery, Le Havre in France. The words at the bottom of his headstone read, "At Rest".

Born at Hougham, he was the son of the late Police Constable George William Wickham and his wife Eliza Ann, née Church. In 1871 they were living at 5 Adrian Court, Dover, with their children George, then 4, and Alice Louisa, then just 1.  Mr Wickham was working as an upholsterer warehouseman. By 1881 Mr Wickham had become a Police Constable, and the family had moved to Bowling Green Terrace. Alice had died the year before, but the family had been joined by four other children; Edith Annie, 9, Ellen Bertha, 7, William Ernest, 5, and Frank, 3.

PC Wickham died in 1886, aged 46, and in 1891 Mrs Wickham, living at 9 Bowling Green Hill, was working as a shop assistant. Her daughter Edith was a domestic servant, while William was helping by working as an errand boy. Frank was still at school. By 1901 Frank was working as a Bell Diver's Assistant, helping to construct Dover Harbour.

The next year, 1902, on Christmas Day, Frank married Annie Ashby. The couple had six children, all born in Dover: Ellen May, born 1903, Agnes Eliza, 1905, Frederick Frank, 1906,  Harry George, 1908,  Frank William, 1910, and Annie, 1912. There was probably also another daughter, Bertha, who died as a baby in 1907. The family were, in 1911, living at 5 Durham Hill, with their father still working as a Diver's Attendant.

William, below, was Frank's brother, and Charles, above, was his nephew, the son of his brother George.

In memoriam 10 October 1919

note: Little Frank, born 1910, served as Sergeant in The Buffs in WWII. He was taken Prisoner of War. He survived, and on 22 September 1945 at St Paul's RC Church, Dover, married Rosalie Mary Smith from 6 Caroline Place, Dover.

with thanks to Simon Randle

Wickham, W. E.
William Ernest Wickham, G/13557, was a Serjeant in the Buffs. He was in the 6th battalion and had gained the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal. He had joined the Territorials, 4th Buffs, on 20 April 1908 at Herne Bay and re-engaged several times. He became a Corporal in 1910. On 9 September 1914, at Margate, he signed an agreement to accept liability in the event of a National Emergency to serve in any place outside the United Kingdom. To denote this he was entitled to wear a badge on the right breast of his uniform.

William went to Aden on 5 August 1915 and served there until 4 February 1916.   On 16 January 1917 he was posted to the 6th Buffs , and appears to have joined them in the field just a fortnight or so before he went missing on 3 May 1917. His body was never found; he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France.

He was the husband of Eliza Jane Wickham, née Foad, of 1 York Terrace, King's Road, Herne Bay, Kent, in which town he had enlisted. The couple had married in 1897, and in 1901 they were living at 1 Orchard Road, Herne, Blean, with William working as a house decorator. They then had two children, Ethel Bertha, 3, and Ernest William, 1.

The family had moved by 1911, to 1 Hanover Street, Herne Bay. There they had two more sons, Charles George, 10, and Frederick Arthur, 3. Two other children had died in infancy. When he enlisted his sister, then Mrs Edith Annie Pout, was also living at Herne Bay, at 23 Stanley Road. She had three children; William, Alice, and Frank.

Born in Christchurch (Dover), William was the  brother to Frank, above, and an uncle to Charles, above