Category Archives: Other Regiments

Percy Francis Kington

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Other Regiments, Y.M.C.A.

Percy Francis Kington
Rifleman 554923
16th Battalion London Regiment, Queens Westminster Rifles

Kington PF grave

Percy Francis Kington  was the son of John and Marion Kington (nee Blow) of 1, Hamilton Road. He was one of six children according to the 1901 census. No records have been found of Percy in 1911. He is believed to have been born in 1899.

He is buried at Maroeuil British Cemetery, in the Pas-de Calais,  location IV. H.11.  He died on 16th March 1918, killed in action, in the build up to the German Spring offensive which is officially deemed to have begun on 21st March 1918. Percy was about 19 years old.

Percy Francis Kington is also commemorated on the family grave in the Reading cemetery.  His name can be found on the kerbs in Division 62, 13103.  The headstone bears the names Kington, Hooper-Blow and Greaves.  (Berkshire Family History Classification is 62D41) His name is commemorated on the Alfred Sutton School memorial and also that of the YMCA

Frederick Reginald Johnson

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments

Frederick Reginald Johnson DCM
Private 62889 57th Coy.,
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)

Division 78
Extension

F R Johnson DCM citation 1of2 F R Johnson DCM citation 2of2

 

Frederick Reginald Johnson  was the only son of Arthur and Louisa Johnson,  of  99, Elm Park Road, Reading.  He is commemorated on his parents grave.  His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.  Panel 154 to 159 and 163A..  He died on 21st  September 1917, aged 24.

At 5.40am on 20th September 1917 what was subsequently called the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge began. New tactics by the British limited objectives to what could be taken and held.  The artillery planning was precise and troops advanced behind a creeping barrage.  South of the Menin Road the advance was successful in the face of heavy German resistance.  Inverness Copse, Glencourse Wood, Veldhoek and part of Polygon Wood were taken on the 20th September.  The German strong point of Tower Hamlets held out until 23rd September.  There was severe fighting and much loss of life on both sides with the Allies repulsing counter attack after counter attack.  The ground was churned up and German air attacks made carrying casualties even more difficult.  Many injured men and the bodies of the dead were lost  in barrages and artillery fire from both sides.  It is not known exactly when or how Frederick Johnson met his death but his body became on of the 34,888 of the Missing named on the Tyne Cot Memorial

The 1911 census indicated that he assisted his father in the family Bakery.

Alfred James Jarman

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments

Alfred James Jarman
Private 231149 Dorset Yeomanry (late Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars)

 Division 67
Extension 

Jarman AJ photo Jarman AJ Rcem commJarman AJ grave

Alfred James Jarman,  was the third son of  Mr and Mrs J. T. Jarman of 21, New Road, Reading, and the husband of Elizabeth Gwendoline Jarman, of 14, Wood Street, Eastville, Bristol.  He is commemorated on the headstone of what is believed to be the grave of his brother and sister, number 13930.

It is not clear whether he was killed in action at Warvillers or whether he died of wounds.  The date of his death is given as August 10th 1918.   Alfred Jarman is buried at Caix British Cemetery, location I. A. 11.

Caix was occupied by British troops in March 1917 and lost in the German spring offensive in March 1918.  The village was recaptured on 8th August 1918 by Canadians.  The Cemetery was made after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields and smaller cemeteries.  It is possible that Alfred Jarman was originally buried in Cayeux Chateau German Cemetery, as twelve cavalry men, were buried there in August 1918 by the Canadians.