Seddon, J. H.
Remembered on the St James Church Memorial, we believe John Hugh Seddon to be Private 94389 of the Sherwood Foresters formerly of the Royal Engineers who died on 26 March 1918 and who is buried at St Sever Cemetery Extension, France. VI J 2B

Born in Folkestone in 1885 to James Louis Seddon and his wife Ann (probably née Gardner and married in 1879 in the Folkestone area) he moved with his family to Dover. Living in 1901 at 23 Clarence Street John was then recorded as boiler maker's assistant while his father born in Ashford and aged 48 was a boiler maker. Also at that address were Mary and Winifred John's younger sisters and his younger brother Henry and his niece Bertha

In 1905 John married Eliza Spice Moysey in Dover and they had at least three children; Annie, baptised at St James on 15 November 1911, Winifred, baptised on 11 August 1915, and Lena, baptised on 20 February, 1918. The family were living at 24 Golden Cross Cottages and by the time Winifred was born John was no longer a boilersmith but serving in the Royal Engineers

with thanks to Michael McInery
with thanks to Joyce Banks

Sedgwick, W.   
see Sedgwick, F. (2)

Simmons, S. J.
Sydney James Simmons, 55548, was a Private in the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) 199 Company. He died on 10 October 1917 and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium, Panel 154 to 159 and 163A 

He was the fourth son of Mrs Simmons from Snargate Street and had helped his mother in business for several years. She had two other sons serving at the time one on the cross channel service and the other in France. All five of her sons had taken part in the Great War one having gone out with the original expeditionary force. He was in the retreat from Mons and took part in most of the heavy fighting in the early days of the war. He was eventually seriously wounded and invalided from the Army

Private Simmons commanding officer wrote that his death was instantaneous "He died in the most gallant manner. Under heavy fire, he kept his gun firing, and by his devotion to duty helped to win one of the victories of which we are all so proud. He was one of the best men in the company and his loss will fall heavily on officers and men alike" The officer continued, "I am proud to have served in the same company as your son and I feel deeply for you in your great sorrow"

with thanks to Joyce Banks

Smith, C. H. V.     
Charles Henry Vernon Smith, was a Captain in the Canadian Army Medical Corps. He had studied at the McGill University Montreal to obtain his medical degree. Five feet eleven inches tall with grey eyes and dark brown hair he enlisted on 13 September 1915. He died from pneumonia on 1 November 1918 aged 32 and is buried at Seaford Cemetery, Sussex. A 652

Captain Smith was born in Oxford, Grenville, Canada, on 15 July 1886 and was the son of the Rev William and Mrs Smith. He was the husband of C H V Smith of "Barra" 13 Marine Parade, Dover  

At the bottom of his gravestone are the words: "Greater love hath no man than this to lay down his life for his friends"

image from the Canadian Virtual Memorial

He was born in Alkham and lived at River but enlisted in Canterbury. He was the son of Stephen and Ada Emily Smith from the Royal Oak, River, Dover

Smith, F. H.
Frank Herbert Smith, 265814, was a Private in the 19th Battalion of the Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) (formerly 2746 of the East Kent Regiment). He was born in Bermondsey and had enlisted in Canterbury. He had already served through the South Africa campaign and rejoined on the outbreak of the Great War.

He married at the Register Office, Dover, on 4 August 1906 to Lucy Morton; both then gave their address as 28 Chapel Place, and both their fathers, Samuel Smith, a leather dresser, and George Maddison Morton, a Sergeant Instructor of Volunteers, were deceased. In 1911 Frank Smith was working as a general labourer and living at 6 Adrian Place, Dover. At home then with the couple were children Frank Maddison Smith, b 1906, Maud Mary Victoria Smith, b 1908, and Mary Constance Smith, b 1910. Another son, Robert Ernest was born in 1913, followed by Richard Morton in 1915. Twins Joyce and Sydney Charles later joined the family.

Private Smith, of 6 Market Court, Market Street, Dover, died suddenly in hospital at Lowestoft on 17 February 1918 at the age of 48 (Dover Express says 42). A report from the Norwich Mercury, 20 February 1918, states that he had been in the canteen at the North Parade having some beer on the Saturday evening he died. He helped clear the canteen, but although perfectly sober, cheerful, and seemingly in good health, he was found at 21.40 collapsed and breathing heavily in the lavatory at Warren Hall, North Parade. He was taken to hospital at 23.30, but by 00.30 he was confirmed dead. A post mortem revealed that a small aneurism of the main artery at the base of his brain, which had been present some time, had ruptured. The doctor suggested that anxiety and worry may have contributed to the rupture as this would raise the blood pressure; Private Smith had lately been worried about his wife and family as his wife had not been very well.

Private Smith was buried on 23 February at St James's, Grave KG 32. The coffin was borne to the cemetery on a gun carriage and was covered with the Union Flag. There were full military honours at the funeral with the band of the East Surrey Regiment present and with three volleys fired over the grave and the sounding of the Last Post.

Mrs Smith was amongst the mourners with her son Master Frank, and daughter Miss Maudie.  Amongst the many floral tributes were those from his sorrowing wife and children and from Frankie, Maudie, Mary, Bobby, and Dicky. Also sending flowers were The Officers, WOs, NCOs, and men of Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, Lowestoft, and the Day Star Mission workers. Sergeant Sole and two Privates of the Queen's were also in attendance.

At the foot of his headstone are the words, "Duty Well Done".

inquest report with thanks to Peter Clarke
photos of Frank Smith and his family by courtesy of Anna Taylor

Private Smith is also commemorated on the Liverpool Street Station, London, memorial which commemorates the Staff of the Great Eastern Railway who lost their lives in the Great War.

Stainfield, W. G.
Walter George Stainfield was a Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He died of pneumonia at Rochester Hospital (Fort Pitt) on 19 November 1918 aged 31(33?) He was the son of Mr and Mrs Stainfield from 243 Stockbrook Street, Derby, and the husband of Mrs Frances Sophy Stainfield from 48 Douglas Road, Dover. His address at death was 24 Kimberley Terrace 

He was buried on 26 November 1918, at Charlton Cemetery, Dover I H 18 with full military honours, six officers of the RGA acting as bearers. The band of The Buffs played Chopin's Funeral March on the way to the cemetery and the RGA supplied the firing party with, after the committal, three volleys being fired over the grave. Trumpeters played the Last Post. His parents had travelled from Derby to be present

Mrs Stainfield née Hampton sent a floral tribute "from his sorrowing wife and baby"  The baby was Dorothy Georgina baptised at St Bartholomew's on 3 April 1919

Stock, H. R.
Hubert Reginald Stock was a Second Lieutenant in the 1st battalion of The Buffs. He had been promoted from Colour Sergeant on arrival at the Front and within a few days of his promotion on 25 October 1914 he was killed. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Panel 2

Born in Ireland, he was the son of Mr and Mrs Edwin Stock of 49 London Road. Mr Stock was a pensioned army sergeant who had also worked as a publican in Surrey, and, when living in Folkestone in 1901, as  a canteen manager. Mrs Zillah Stock, née Freeman, later lived at 41 London Road. Hubert was brother to John, below, and there were four sisters, Violet, Grave, Eva, and Laura.

Colour Sergeant H Sayer of the battalion wrote "Our casualties were over 300 for two days, but this could not be avoided with the force we had against us. We have since learnt that we have a German Army Corps against our battalion. I suppose you have seen the list of officers killed and wounded of the battalion most of them were caused by shell fire. I don't know how we lived through it' we all thought that we had seen our last sunrise

The enemy came on in hundreds and the worst shot could hardly miss them. It was beautiful in a sense although awful to see them go down but still they came on. The honour list should be full of Buffs but I'm afraid that scores of deserving deeds went unnoticed

We were the only battalion of our brigade engaged for two days and we received a great message from our divisional commander. We are all proud of ourselves but prouder of those who fell doing their duty

I suppose you've heard of poor Stock being killed. He had his commission but did not know it. He died two days before it came. Shot through the head he lived for three hours but never spoke a word. He was specially recommended for good work done a few nights previously and would have made a name for himself"

A further letter states "At the time of his death he was in command of his platoon which he had the day before most ably and gallantly led against a German trench. For this I had recommended him to the Commanding Officer. He was killed in the trenches when looking out. His death was painless he being hit through his head. We all of us grieve for a gallant comrade and sympathise with you in the loss of so gallant a son" 

Stock, J.
Brother to Hubert, above, and born in Gibraltar, Serjeant Major (Mech) John Stock, M/150048, of the RASC died on 8 July 1919, aged 25. He is commemorated on the Delhi Memorial, India, buried  Peshawar (Right) B.C. XLV. 59.

Within a few weeks of his death, his father, Edwin also, died at the age of 76.

Stokes, C. L.
Charles Lewis Stokes, 128815, was a Pioneer in the 2nd battalion in the Special Brigade of the Royal Engineers  Enlisting in Canterbury and born and living in Folkestone he was the son of Henry and Alice Stokes of 16 Mayfield Avenue, Dover. In 1911 the family had been living at 1 Albert Road, Folkestone, where Henry Stokes, born at St Lawrence, Ramsgate, was working as a dairyman. Charles was an apprentice in the grocery trade, while his younger sister, Lily Emily May Stokes, was a scholar. 

He died on 27 June 1916 at the age of 22.He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. Pier and Face 8A and 8D

Stokes, F.
Frederick Slade Stokes, Royal Navy, was born on 13 July 1880 and served during the early part of the war before being invalided out. He died in 1916, aged 36, leaving a widow, Emily, née Swinerd, whom he had married in 1910, and two children.

The family lived in Peter Street, and in 1911 at 7 Devonshire Road, when Frederick was a signalman for the Harbour Board. Living with them was her sister, Ellen, a papermill hand. Both had been born in the parish of Holy Trinity, Dover. In 1901 he had been an Able Seaman with "Sans Pareil", at Minster, Sheppey.

He was brother to six other Stokes men serving in the war, three of whom died. Four are pictured below with their mother, while one, Leonard Stokes is probably on the Town Memorial and so is here

They were the sons of Albert Stokes and his wife Ellen, née Everitt, who had been born in India. All their children were born in Dover: Charles, Martha, Frederick, Arthur, Walter, William, Ellen, Frank, Edwin, and Leonard. In 1881 they lived at 10 Folkestone Road, with Mr Stokes working as a pork butcher. They were at Sunny Bank Cottages in 1891, and Mr Stokes was a chicken butcher. Charles had begun work as an errand boy. By 1901 the family was at 7b Edred Road, Dover, and Walter, below, was working as a railway porter, while his brother William was a labourer. Mr Stokes was a poulterer fisherman.In 1911 he was a cowkeeper, and the family had moved to Fan Hedge, Vale View Road.

Stokes, W. 
Walter Henry Stokes, 60764, was a Private in the Royal Fusiliers 8th battalion. He died on 30 August 1917 and is buried at the Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy-le-Preux, France. I L 1

His widow, Mabel Alice, née Hayes, and two children, Mabel and Walter Charles, lived at Anchordown Villa, River, Dover. In 1911 they had been living at 82 Lyndon Crescent, Folkestone, and Walter had been working as a hotel porter and keeper.

 

Lance Corporal Frank Stokes was invalided home from the Front and went to Shoreham. His wife lived at Folkestone. In 1911 he had been working as a servant in the Queens Hotel, at 2 Sandgate Road, Folkestone	William Stokes was serving in Egypt. His wife and two children were living at Margate
Edwin Stokes was a Driver in the Army Service Corps Motor Transport. His wife lived at Margate	Mrs Ellen Stokes, their mother, lived at Liverpool Street, Dover. Her husband, Albert, may have died in 1883, aged 39.

Street, G.F.
George Frank Street, 201620, was a Corporal in the 2nd/4th battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He was 29 when he died  at St Quentin on 28 March 1918 from wounds received in action that day. He is buried at Namps au Val, France. I E 1

His wife was Helen Street who died not long afterwards and his mother was Kate Street from "Estcourt" 112 Elms Vale Road, Dover, widow of Harry Street. He was their eldest son

1919 - "Only those who have lost dear ones are able to tell. The pain that is felt in not saying farewell"

George's grave is on the left first row in  the wide view