Stockwell War Memorial

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France

James Larcombe

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J. Larcombe
Service no. R/14879
Rifleman, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 7th Battalion
Killed in action aged 20 on 15 September 1916
Remembered at Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France

Information from British Army WWI Service Records 1914-1920

James Larcombe, a 19-year-old compositor from Stockwell, joined the King’s Royal Rifle Brigade on 3 August 1915 at Battersea. He stood 5 feet 3½ inches tall and weighed 112 pounds. His chest measured 35½ inches, which he could expand by 3 inches. He wore glasses.

There was just one disciplinary matter in his file. In March 1916 he was disciplined for hestitating to obey an order. His punishment was three days CB (confined to barracks).

His short Army career ended just over a year later at the Battle of the Somme, where he was missing in action and then declared dead.

On 2 November 1916,  Louisa Larcombe, his bereaved mother, wrote to the Rifles Record Office from her home in Hubert Grove, confused by information she had been given and clinging to hope.

Dear Sir,
I regret to inform you that I have been notified from the War Office that my son, Private J. Larcombe, R/14879, B. company, 7th Platoon, 7th Battalion, K.R.R., was missing after being in action on 15th Sept. last, there has also being [sic] one of his letters returned marked on the outside wounded on the 21st/9/16 and present location uncertain. Dear Sir as I am very anxious to know what has become of him, I should be most gratefully obliged if you could [make a] few inquiries about him off some of the lads that was with him on that date or any other possible way and kindly oblige.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. L. Larcombe

There is no record of the Army’s reply, if any.

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 James Larcombe was a 13-year-old schoolboy, living with his family in 5 rooms at 21 Hubert Grove, Stockwell. Robert Larcombe, 58, was a tram conductor, born at Crewkerne, Somerset. Louisa Larcombe, 49, was born in Bow, east London. His parents had had 5 children (2 had died). The children on the census were:
Robert Larcombe, 18, a clerk at the Conservative Club, born in Newington, London
Louisa Larcombe, 16, a machinist (blouse-making), born in Newington
James Larcombe, 13, born in Lambeth

William George King

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W. G. King
Service no. 51125
Private, Royal Army Medical Corps, 30th Amb. Train
Born in Chelsea; enlisted in London; lived in Lambeth
Died in an accident on 10 January 1917, aged about 40
Remembered at St. Pierre Cemetery, Amiens, Somme, France

National Roll of the Great War 1914-1918

KING, W. G., Private, R.A.M.C.
He volunteered in January 1915, and shortly afterwards crossed to France. Whilst in this theatre of war he was engaged on duties of an important nature on the ambulance trains, by one of which he was unfortunately run over and killed in January 1917. He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.
“His memory is cherished with pride.”
23, Wilcox Road, Wandsworth Road, S.W.8.

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 William George King, 33, lived in 3 rooms at 23 Wilcox Road, Stockwell. William was born in Chelsea and earned his living as a house painter. His wife Margaret Annie King, 28, was born in Lambeth. They had a one-year-old daughter, Edith Mabel King, born in Lambeth. Seilia May Mitchell, a 22-year-old “needlewoman” from Stoke Newington, boarded with the family.

William G. Kightly

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W. G. Kightly
Service no. 127770
Private 2nd Class, Royal Air Force, 2nd Aircraft Depot
Died 11 December 1918, aged about 34
Remembered at Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France

This identification is somewhat tentative as there is no supporting evidence that the W. G. Kightly listed on the CWGC database is the man listed on the 1911 census at Clyston Street. However, there is only one entry on the CWGC database for that name and none in the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919 database.

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 William G. Kightly, 26, was living with his wife and child at 2 Clyston Street, Clapham, where they had 1 room. He gave his occupation as bottle washer and his place of birth as Battersea. His wife, Florence May Knightly, 23, was born in Peckham Rye. They lived with Lilly Annie Stocks, 10 months, a “nurse child” (foster child) born in Clapham, London.

Information from the 1901 Census

In 1901 William G. Kightly was a 17-year-old errand boy living with is family at 31 Motley Street, Battersea. His father, William F. Kightly, 51, was a blacksmith, labourer and “hammerman” born in Wolverton, Buckinghamshire, and his mother, Mary A. J. Kightly, 47, was born in Lambeth. Their daughters Emily Knightly, 19, and Jessie Kightly, 14, were general domestic servants. Other children named on the census were Harry Kightly, 13, May Kightly, 9, and Jennie Kightly, 6.

William Keys

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W. Keys
Service no. 2009
Lance Serjeant, Seaforth Highlanders, 4th Battalion
Enlisted in London
Killed in action age 34 on 9 May 1915
CWGC: “Son of William Keys, of 18, Mandalay Road, Clapham, London, and the late Nancy Kelly Keys.”
Remembered at Le Touret Memorial, France

Information from the 1911 censusIn 1911 William Keys was 29 and working as an assistant schoolmaster at a London County Council school. He lived at home with his parents and siblings at 5 Grantham Road, Stockwell, where the family occupied 7 rooms. His father, William Keys, 59, described himself as a miller at a grain drying works. He was born at Glenavy in County Antrim, in Ireland. His mother, Agnes Keys (who may also have been known as Nancy) was 55 and came from Ballynahinch in County Down. They had had 9 children, of whom 8 survived in 1911 and 7 lived at Grantham Road:
Sarah Keys, 31, a telephone supervisor for the National Telephone Company, born at Riverstown Killucan, County Westmeath
William Keys, 29, assistant schoolmaster, born at Riverstown Killucan, County Westmeath
Emily Ann Keys, 27, a clerk at the Post Office, born at Riverstown Killucan, County Westmeath
Agnes Dorothea Keys, 25, no occupation given, born in Leixlip, County Kildare
David Keys, 22, a clerk at a glass merchants, born in Lambeth
Francis Herbert Keys, 20, a student, born in Lambeth
Edith Mary Keys, 18, a “civil service student”, born in Lambeth

Hugh John Kemp

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H. J. Kemp
Service no. L/3287
Lance Corporal, 16th (The Queen’s) Lancers, “C” Sqdn.
Born in South Norwood; enlisted in London; lived in Clapham
Died of wounds age 22 on 22 October 1914
CWGC: “Son of Frank John and Ellen Kemp, of 40 Lansdowne Gardens, South Lambeth, London.”
Remembered at St Andre Communal Cemetery, Nord, France

Brother of Sydney Frank Kemp

Information from the National Archive Pension records

Hugh John Kemp joined the 3rd London Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery (Territorial Army) on 16 February 1909. He gave his age as 17 years and 2 months and stated that he was a clerk at “A. Stedall”. He was 5 feet 5½ inches; his chest measurement was 33 inches, with 3 inches expansion. Kemp’s physical development was “good”, although the officer who completed the form had started to write “poor” but struck it out.

On 10 February 1911 Kemp left the Territorial Army to enlist in the regular army. He joined the Lancers of the Line. By now he had grown to just over 5 feet 6¾ and his chest was 36 inches.

Information from the censuses

In 1911 Frank J. Kemp, 55, a hop factor’s clerk, and his wife Ellen Kemp, 52, headed a large family living at 40 Lansdowne Gardens, where they occupied 11 rooms. Frank and Ellen had had 12 children, of whom 11 survived.
Frank was originally from West Wickham in Kent and Ellen from Pebmarsh in Essex. Their large family consisted of
Sydney F. Kemp, 26, working in “fruit farming”, born in Peckham, who died in 1918
Constance P. Kemp, 24, a shorthand typist, born in New Cross
Thomas C. Kemp, 21, a colonial agent’s representative in the drapery trade, born in New Cross
Winifred M. Kemp, 20, another shorthand typist, born in East Dulwich
Mabel E. Kemp, 16, not working, born in South Norwood
Leslie A. Kemp, 15, a junior clerk, born in South Norwood
Ivy G. Kemp, 14, at school, born in South Norwood
Doris F. Kemp, 12, at school, born in East Dulwich
Stanley E. Kemp, 10, at school, born in Nunhead
In addition, there was a nephew, Frederick H. Kemp, 26, a musician born in Brixton, and a niece, Ivy Nicholls, 16, a dressmaker’s assistant, born in Hamptonshire, Middlesex.
In 1911 Hugh John Kemp, 19, was at the barracks of the 16th Lancers at Woolwich Common – he was a private.
He appears on the 1901 census as an eight-year-old. At that time, the family was living 45 Nunhead Lane, Camberwell. Hugh John is listed as having been born at South Norwood. Sydney (given as Sidney) is described as a stockbroker’s clerk.

Francis John Kellow

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F. J. Kellow
Service no. 381862
Private, The King’s (Liverpool Regiment), 1st/6th Battalion, formerly 3120, London Rifle Brigade
Born in Stockwell; enlisted in London; lived in Stockwell
Died of wounds age 22 on 8 September 1918
CWGC: “Son of John George Kellow, of 14, Lingham Street, Stockwell, London.”
Remembered at Pernes British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France

National Roll of the Great War 1914-1918

KELLOW, F. J., Private, King’s (Liverpool Regt.)
He volunteered in November 1915, and until January 1918, when he was drafted to France, was engaged on duties of an important nature with his unit. Whilst overseas, he fought in the second Battle of the Somme, the Aisne, and the Marne, and on September 8th, 1918 he gave his life for the freedom of England at the fourth Battle of Ypres. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.
“Thinking that remembrance, though unspoken, may reach him where he sleeps.”
14, Lingham Street, Clapham Road, S.W.9.

Information from the censuses

In 1911 14-year-old Francis John Kellow was living in a 3-roomed flat over the family shop at 12 Lingham Street, Stockwell. His father, John George Kellow, 43, was a shoemaker from Torquay, Devon; his mother, Emily Kellow, 42, was from Brixton. There were 2 siblings (only 3 of his parents’ 6 children survived):
Reginald Kellow, then 12;
Mabel Kellow, then 8.
Archibald William Chappell Kellow, 27, John’s brother, also lived with them.

In 1901 the family was living at 102 Landor Road.