Stockwell War Memorial

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Henry Louis Frederick Bonnetaut Nadaud

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H. L. F. B. Nadaud
Major, London Regiment, 24th (County of London) Battalion (The Queen’s)
Killed in action at age 39 on 21 March 1918
Son of the late Mr L. B. Nadaud and of Mrs L. B. Nadaud, of 100 Lansdowne Road, London, SW8.
Remembered at Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-Le-Grand, France; at Westminster Cathedral; at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Clapham

Henry Nadaud is remembered on the memorial at the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral, London

Information from 47 Division, 142 Infantry Brigade war diaries: 24th Battalion London Regiment (The Queens), 1915 Mar. – 1919 May (available from National Archives)
Thursday 21st [March, 1918]
Heavy enemy bombardment and many gas shells – opens about 3a.m.  6a.m. Battalion to [?].  7a.m. move up through barrage to 2nd Defence System (about Q. 17. a and c.) “A” and “B” font line – “C” and “D” support. In position about noon.
Casualties in METZ and moving up :- Lt. Col. G. E. Millner, D.S.O., M.C., Wounded – Major Nadaud, Killed – Lieut H. S. Mitchell, Killed. – 2/Lieut G. B. Poland, Killed. R.S.M., H.W. Norris D.C.M., Killed. Major T.O. Bury assumes command.
Remainder of day we work on trenches. Raids reported on our Divisional Front but attacks on flanks to north and south.

nadaud-2
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Friday 22nd [March, 1918]
Fairly quiet day. Consolidating our positions. 2/Lieut H. Whitehead to Depot for course.
2/Lieut D/O’Kell to Depot as T.O. 2/Lieut A. C. Bean from Depot reports for duty.
Transport at EQUANCOURT. Bodies of Major. H.L.F.B. Nadaud and 2/Lieut G. B. Poland buried in civilian cemetery.
Midnight. – Front lines retire through us.

Information from the 1911 census
In 1911 Henry Nadaud, then aged 32, lived at 100 Lansdowne Road with his parents, Louis Nadaud, 59, a retired civil servant, born in Soho, and Marie Nadaud, 53, whose birthplace is described as “France Resident”, his brother Charles Nadaud, 28, an electrical engineer, and aunt, Theresa Nadaud, 57, born in Soho. Henry is described as a bank clerk for the London Joint Stock company and he and his brother were born in “London, Surrey”, which may mean Lambeth. Maud Gough, a 22-year-old single domestic servant from Portsmouth, lived in.
Information from the 1901 census
Henry (listed as Henri) Louis Nadaud is listed on the census at Dover as a 22-year-old single passenger on the  Empress Mail Steamer, a banker’s clerk born in London.

Frank Radcliffe King

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F. R. King
Second Lieutenant, The King’s (Liverpool Regiment), “D” Coy. 14th Battalion
Killed in action at age 30 on 14 September 1916
CWGC: “Son of George Edward King, J.P. (Alderman and Guardian for the Borough of Lambeth and Mayor of Lambeth 1928-29), of 57 Aytoun Road, Stockwell, London, and the late Julia Constance King.”
Remembered at Doiran Memorial, Greece

Information from the South London Press, October 1916

The South London Press reported his death in October 1916 and quoted from a letter from King’s Commanding Officer Colonel Lambert to his father “I regret to say your son was killed two days ago fighting gallantly. We had taken a position held by the Germans, and he and the bombers guarded our right flank and did great execution. He will be a great loss to the regiment, as he was so keen, and a most promising officer, but he died a soldier’s death. The regiment fought splendidly, and though we had heavy casualties – four other officers in the battalion being killed – we caused great losses to the Germans. My sincere sympathy in your bereavement.” A friend stated that King had been made Bombing officer of his battalion, but did not want his parents or sisters to know as this would have worried them. 

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 Frank Radcliffe King, 25, was working as an insurance clerk with the Law Union and Rock Insurance Company. He lived with his parents and 3 of his siblings at 57 Aytoun Road, Stockwell, where the family occupied 8 rooms. Frank’s father, George Edward King, 57, described himself as a schoolmaster and headteacher working for London County Council. He was born in Gorleston, Suffolk. His mother, Julia Constance, 54, was from Islington, north London. They had 5 children, 3 of whom lived at home:
Constance Dorothy King, 30, a schoolmistress and assistant teacher working for the London County Council, born in Brixton
Frank Radcliffe King, 25, born in Stockwell
Kathleen Muriel King, 23, a schoolmistress and assistant teacher working for the London County Council, born in Stockwell
Information from the 1901 Census
The family lived at 57 Aytoun Road in 1901. The census includes Frank’s other siblings
Ethel King, 18, a pupil-teacher, born in Brixton
Ernest King, 16, a clerk with an insurance company, born in Stockwell

Sydney Frank Kemp

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S. F. Kemp
Second Lieutenant, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, Bucks Batallion
Killed in action age 34 on 16 April 1918

Awarded Military Cross

See Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for an account of the attack in which Kemp died.
CWGC: “Eldest son of Frank John and Ellen Kemp, of 40 Lansdowne Gardens, London; husband of Eva Kemp (formerly Wisdom), of 10 Ross Street, Rochester.”
Remembered at St. Venant-Robecq Road Cemetery, Robecq, Pas de Calais, France

Brother of Hugh John Kemp.

At the time he enlisted on 26 August 1914, Sydney Frank Kemp worked as a prison warder. His paperwork includes the information that he had served in the 7th Hussars of the Line and had been discharged in 1905, having served his term.
It is therefore a little surprising to see the number of transgressions on Kemp’s conduct sheets. His crimes were all committed while he was serving in the ranks of the 11th Hussars of the Line; that is, before he was given a commission. Kemp’s crimes included absence from reveille, absence from billet, drunkenness, leaving the ranks without permission, neglecting to obey an order, making an improper remark to a warrant officer and ditto to a commanding officer. However, someone must have spotted his military talent, as in April 1917, after serving 3 years and 29 days, he was transferred to England, where he joined the 3rd Reserve Cavalry Regiment, moved to the Officer Cadet Battalion at Berkhamsted in June, and joining the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

This may have given Kemp the confidence and motivation he needed. Kemp and his fellow officers were described by Major G. K. Rose writing in The Story of the 2/4th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (1920) as “an infusion of new blood and vigour,” and he and the officer who was killed with him in the attack of 17 April 1918 were “capital officers.”
Sydney Kemp, 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 8 stone, blue-eyed and fair-haired, married Eva Wisdom at St. Barnabas church on 3 February 1916.  He was the eldest of 11 children of Frank John and Ellen Kemp of 40 Lansdowne Gardens, Stockwell. Eva later moved to Rochester.

H. Hunter

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There are two tentative identifications for H. Hunter – Harry Hunter and Hugh Hunter, who is named on the war shrine at St Michael’s Church, Stockwell Park Road, London SW9 0DA. Research on this is ongoing.

H. Hunter
(Harry Hunter)
Second Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps
Died of wounds age 30 on 5 November 1917
CWGC: “Son of Robert and Ann Mercy Hunter, of Clapham, London.”
Remembered at Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France

Information from the 1911 census

Harry Hunter, 22, was one of 5 children of Robert Hunter, 54, an organ builder born in Lambeth, and Ann Mercy Hunter, born in Stockwell. The family lived at 87 High Street, Clapham, where they had 9 rooms, with Ann Esther Hunter, 56, sister to Robert. The 5 children, all of whom were born in Clapham, were:
Alfred Robert Hunter, 25, and George Frederick Hunter, 22, organ builders like their father
Harry Hunter, 24, and Robert Moore Hunter, 19, clerks in the civil service
Mary Adeline Hunter, 14
Ada Ody, 26, a domestic servant born in Paddington, lived with the family.

Information from The Saleroom

Harry Hunter was born in 1887, second son of Robert Hunter, an organ builder who lived at 87 High Street, Clapham, London. Pre-war he was a keen motorcyclist and was selected as a goalkeeper to play for Southampton F.C. during the 1913-14 season. Recorded as a Civil Service Clerk upon his initial enlistment in the 28th Battalion, London Regiment, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps. Hunter died as a result of injuries suffered whilst serving with 1 Aeroplane Supply Depot on 5 November 1917, no doubt whilst delivering much-needed aircraft to the front lines. He is buried in the Wimereux Communal Cemetery, besides being commemorated upon the Stockwell War Memorial and at Holy Trinity, Clapham Common.

Hunter is recorded in All the Saints: A Complete Players’ Who’s Who of Southampton F.C. as one of 19 members of the Club to have died during the Great War; sold with the recipient’s Royal Flying Corps cap badge, a bronze Streatham Motorcycle Prize Medal, 30mm, engraved to the reverse, ‘Members Hill Climb. April 16th 1910. Class I. 2nd. H. Hunter,’ and copied MIC and research.

John Herriott

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J. Herriott
Lieutenant, Machine Gun Corps, 41st Coy.
Died of wounds, age 26 on 17 February 1919
Awarded Military Cross
Son of John and Mary Herriott, of 50 Milton Road, Herne Hill, London. Native of London.
Remembered at Etaples Military Cemetery, France

Two of John Herriott’s brothers, Andrew Herriott and Archibald Herriott, also died.
For information from the 1911 on the Herriott family, see Andrew Herriott’s entry.

Military Cross citation, Supplement to the London Gazette 30 July 1919

For conspicuous gallantry and good work. During a counter-attack on September 29th, 1918, near Menin, the infantry with whom he was co-operating withdrew to a line 400 yards behind him. He covered their withdrawal; then, seeing that he could inflict casualties from where he was, he decided to remain in position. For two hours he was well in front of the infantry and engaged the enemy on two sides. From his position, to which he brought a second gun for the purpose, he was able to cover the infantry advance when the situation was restored.

George John Hatch

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G. J. Hatch
Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps and London Regiment, 17th Battalion
Died age 20 on 6 April 1917
CWGC: “Son of John Cosens Hatch and Maria Hatch, of “Meadlands,” Pickwick, Corsham, Wilts. Born in London.”
In 1917 the death of George John Hatch was announced on page 1078 of Flight, listed in the Roll of Honour among those “Previously missing, now reported killed”.
Remembered at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France.

Information from the 1911 census

The Hatch family lived at 9 St Johns Road (now called St John’s Crescent), Brixton, where they had 11 rooms. George John Hatch’s father, John Cosens Hatch, was the manager of a vinegar brewery. We can speculate that this may have been Beaufoy’s Distillery on South Lambeth Road. John Hatch, 48 in 1911, was born in Stonehouse, Devon. His wife Maria Hatch, 49, was from Southwark. They had 4 children, all born in Lambeth:
Florence Hatch, 25
Hilda Hatch, 23
William E. Hatch, 19, a bank clerk
George John Hatch, 14
A nephew, 33-year-old George Foster, single and born in Peckham, also lived in the house, as did Violet Winter, a 21-year-old single domestic servant from Chelmsford, Essex.

Information about George Hatch from specialist watch collector Robert Stokes

Lt. George John Hatch (Nov 20, 1896 – April 6, 1917) was a WW1 Royal Flying Corps aerial reconnaissance pilot who was killed in action over Arras, France by German war ace Lieutenant Wilhelm Frankl. George’s death (and that of his observer Cpl Ernest Langridge) was part of the “Bloody April 1917” offensive along a 100-mile stretch of northern France. By the end of April, the British had lost 250 aircraft, and some 400 aircrew had become casualties.

George was born in Brixton, London in 1896; by 1911, his family moved to Stockwell. He attended City of London School, where he was a cadet in the Officers Training Corps. On Oct 1, 1914, George enlisted in the 17th (County of London) Battalion of the London Regiment (Poplar and Stepney Rifles), and was quickly promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. He was wounded in July 1915 at the Battle of Loos (Belgium).

Lt. Hatch volunteered to join the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in October 1916, and completed his pilot training in November. On December 6, 1916, he was promoted as a Lieutenant and assigned to the 8th Squadron, headquartered in Bellevue, France. “The Squadron specialized in the Corps Reconnaissance role, carrying out contact patrols and artillery spotting in close cooperation with the army. The squadron flew in support of the Battle of the Somme in the summer of 1916 and the Battle of Arras in April–May 1917.”

George Hatch’s watch

George Hatch acquired his trench watch shortly after his promotion to the RFC; it is engraved “Lt. G. J. Hatch / RFC”. He used it continuously; the silver case is corroded and the original leather strap is well-worn. Hatch’s watch was acquired by Russ Cook (Basildon, Essex) in 2014 at a second-hand market: “I recently bought this trench watch at one such market. I am not an expert on these, but it felt right, and I was very taken with the very sad story that emerged when I read the accompanying paperwork. The box, with the watch had just been thrown in another larger box, as if it had just been discarded. On the case back is a dedication to an officer in the RFC, Lt. G. J. Hatch [Royal Flying Corps, precursor to the RAF], with a very old handwritten note giving the history of the young man, who tragically was killed in action 6/4/17….”

Inside a small (3 ½” x 1 ½” x 2”) leather-covered box, Russ found Lt Hatch’s watch, and the following hand-written note: “Lt. George John Hatch R.F.C. ~~  K in A 6/14/17 ~~ 17th County of London Battalion ~~ The London Regiment Poplar and Stepney Rifles”

The events of April 6, 1917

Lt Hatch and his observer, Cpl Ernest Langridge, were flying reconnaissance over the German lines near Arras, France in their Royal Aircraft Factory BE2e biplane (Serial # A2879) on the morning of April 6, 1917. “The BE2 was originally designed without any provision for armament.While some crews flew entirely unarmed, or perhaps carried service revolvers or automatic pistols, others armed themselves with hand-wielded rifles… this weaponry proved to be of questionable effectiveness. It was still necessary for the observer to be located over the center of gravity, in front of the pilot… In this awkward position, his view was poor, and the degree to which he could handle a camera (or, later, a gun) was hampered by the struts and wires supporting the center section of the top wing. In practice, the pilot of a B.E.2 almost always operated the camera, and the observer, when he was armed at all, had a rather poor field of fire to the rear, having, at best, to shoot back over his pilot’s head.”

Lt Wilhelm Frankl

Lt Wilhelm Frankl, commander of Jasta 4  (“Hunting Squadron”), had already shot down three British aircraft with his Albatros fighter plane during the early morning hours of  Friday, April 6, 1917. “At 09:30 Frankl was airborne again, this time to intercept a reconnaissance  plane from 8 Sqn RFC. After 25 minutes’ chase the British aircraft falls to the ground north-east of Boiry. The crew – Lt. G. J. Hatch and Cpl. E. Landridge – do not survive. It is the fourth victory scored on this day by Lt. Frankl…”

Lt. Frankl, son of a Jewish merchant, was one of Germany’s most honored Aces, with 20 confirmed kills. In 1916, he becomes the first and sole German pilot of Jewish descent to be awarded the Pour le Mérite. He was shot down and killed two days later on Easter Sunday 1917. “He was buried with due military honors at the Berlin-Charlottenburg cemetery… In the thirties, after the Nazi party gained power, Frankl’s name disappeared from the official lists of medal holders because of his Jewish nationality. Only forty years later, in 1973, was Frankl restored to the pantheon of German fighter ace.”

Lt George Hatch and Cpl. Ernest Landridge were buried at the Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery lies just south of the town of Souchez and 11.4 km. north of the center of Arras.

With grateful thanks to Robert Stokes for permission to use his research.