Memorial Boards in Borden
These are the names commemorated on Borden’s Parish Hall First World War Memorial Board.
Edward Alfred APPS
Lance Corporal, 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Military number G/15735.
Born on 21 April 1886 in Bobbing.
His parents were Edwin Alfred, a lime burner, and Emma née Payne.
He lived in Key Street in 1911 and 1917. He was employed as a lime burner.
Died on 3 May 1917, age 31, in Nord Par de Calais. He is commemorated on Arras Memorial, France.
Locally he is commemorated in Bobbing Church.
William John ARNOLD
Lance Corporal, 7th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Military number R/10751.
Born on 22 August 1891 in Borden.
His parents were Andrew James, a telegraph linesman, and Grace Elizabeth née Webb.
He lived in Rock Road, Milton Regis in 1901, 1911, and 1917. He was employed as a grocer’s apprentice.
Died on 11 April 1917, age 25, in No. 20 Casualty Clearing Station, Aveluy, France, from wounds. He was buried in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty, France.
Locally he is commemorated in St Paul’s Church Memorial in Holy Trinity Church, Milton Regis, Sittingbourne Baptist Church and Sittingbourne Lloyds Paper Mill Memorial.
Alfred Frederick BLAXLAND
Lance Corporal, 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment. Military number 163690.
Born in 1880 in Borden.
His parents were James and Mary Ann née Shaw.
He lived in 15 Stromness Road, Southchurch, Essex in 1911. He was employed as a general labourer.
In 1911 in Rochford, Essex he married Frances Paterson Jackson.
Died on 24 August 1915, age 35, in Turkey. He is commemorated on Helles Memorial, Turkey (including Gallipoli).
John Thomas DUNGEY
Stoker, Collingwood Battalion Royal Naval Divison, Royal Navy. Military number 278012.
Born on 6 June 1873 in Borden.
His parents were Thomas, a brickfield labourer, and Mary Ann née Kitney.
He lived in Chatham in 1901, 29 Sidney Road, Gillingham in 1911, and Chatham in 1914. He was a sailor.
In 1897 in Milton Regis district he married Lavinia Ann Bennett.
Died on 7 October 1914, age 41, in Antwerp. He is commemorated on Nieuport Memorial, Belgium.
Locally he is commemorated on St Paul’s Church Memorial in Holy Trinity Church, Milton Regis.
Arthur Edward FAULKNER
Corporal, 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Military number G/8976.
Born in 1889 in Boughton-under-Blean.
His parents were James, a market gardener, and Ellen née Gardiner.
He lived in Lunchfield Cottages, Thanington in 1901, 89 High Street, Milton Regis in 1911, and The Crown Inn, Upchurch in 1917. He was employed as a publican.
Died on 3 October 1917, age 28, in Pas de Calais, France, . He was buried in Windmill British Cemetery, Monchy-Le-Preux, France.
Locally he is commemorated in Upchurch Church.
Edgar HALES
Private, 1st/19th Battalion, London Regiment. Military number 7144.
Born in 1889 in Borden.
His parents were George Ernest, a bricklayer, and Jane née Tuddenham.
He lived in Railway Street, Newington in 1901, Water Works House, Keycol Hospital in 1911, and Kingsdown Villas, Station Road, Newington in 1916. He was employed as a assistant porter/manservant.
Died on 2 October 1916, age 27, in France. He is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, France.
Locally he is commemorated in Newington Memorial Cross and Newington Chapel Memorial.
Alfred Henry KING
Private, 20th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Military number G/53242.
Born in 1893 in Borden.
His parents were Alfred William, a brickfield labourer, and Sarah née Knights.
He lived in Breech Lane, Lower Halstow in 1901 and in 1911. He was employed as a baker.
Died on 16 April 1917, age 24, in Flanders. He was buried in Heninel-Croisilles Road Cemetery, France.
Locally he is commemorated in Lower Halstow Church and Memorial Wood.
Frederick LEAHY
Military Medal,
Mentioned in Despatches
Rifleman, 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Military number 3161.
Born in 1881 in Longport, Limerick.
Died on 15 April 1917, age 36, in France, from wounds. He was buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France.
George Daniel MILLS
Lance Corporal, 6th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Military number
G/15451.
Born on 22 September 1886 in Borden.
His parents were Thomas William, a brickfield labourer, and Annie Maria née Spice.
He lived in London Road in 1901 and 4 Bannister Hill in 1911. He was employed as a domestic gardener.
In 1906 in Milton Regis district he married Eliza Sanders.
Died on 3 May 1917, age 31, in France. He is commemorated on Arras Memorial, France.
He is also commemorated on Borden’s War Memorial Cross.
Photo curtsey of Vivien Smith.
Thomas SPINK
Private, 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Military number 24717.
Born on 24 September 1897 in Clopton, near Woodbridge, Suffolk.
His parents were George, a farm foreman, and Alice née Upson.
He lived in Mitchells Farm, Langford, Essex in 1911. He was employed as a farm labourer.
Died on 6 November 1917, age 19, during an enemy barrage whilst attacking Polderhoek Chateau, near Ypres in Belgium. He is commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
These are the names commemorated on Borden’s Parish Hall Second World War Memorial Board.
Charles George BROOME
Pilot Officer, Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Military number 84688.
Born on 5 December 1917 in West Kilburn, London.
His parents were Henry, an organ builder, and Minnie Alice née Thorp.
In 1939 in Strood district he married Marjorie Alice Cowell.
Died on 26 October 1940, age 22, in Wolphaartsdijk, Netherlands, whilst a crew member in a Hudson bomber, which was shot down by two German fighters. He was buried in Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern Cemetery, Netherlands.
Henry Francis CHAPMAN
Driver, Royal Auxiliary Service Corps. Military number T/14947154.
Born in 1927 in Milton Regis district.
His parents were Henry, a lorry driver, and Frances Emily née Fletcher.
He lived in 84 Church Lane, Lower Halstow in 1939 and 20 Brier Road, Borden in 1946. He was employed as a driver for Messrs Grensted.
Died on 17 April 1946, age 19, in 97th British General Hospital, Salonika, Greece. He was buried in Phaleron War Cemetery, Greece.
He is also commemorated on Borden’s War Memorial Cross.
Harry Shannon HOBBS
Sergeant, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Military number 1446460.
Born on 18 August 1921 in Milton Regis.
His parents were Edwin, a reelerman at the paper mill, and Louisa Maria née Mount.
He lived in 132 London Road, Sittingbourne in 1939 and 171 Borden Lane in 1943. He was employed as a paper tester at the paper mill.
Died on 5 May 1943, age 21, when his Hampden aircraft is presumed to have crashed off the Irish coast.
He is commemorated on Runnymede Memorial.
Locally he is commemorated on Bowaters Paper Mills Memorial.
David Joseph HOPSON
Flying Officer (Pilot), 15 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Military number 117427.
Born in 1922 in Milton Regis district.
His parents were Thomas Alexander, a hosiers salesman and special constable, and Dorothy Alice née Hopson.
Died on 19 February 1943, age 20, in Buren, Gelderland, Netherlands, whilst a crew member in a Stirling bomber which was shot down. He was buried in Ameland (NES) General Cemetery, Netherlands.
Locally he is commemorated in Borden Grammar School and with a Memorial Tree and Plaque in Central Avenue, Sittingbourne.
Frank Harold KEMSLEY
Ordinary Seaman, served on HMS Esk in the Royal Navy. Military number P/JX 279071.
Born on 14 November 1919 in Sittingbourne.
His parents were Jesse, a horse dealer, and Minnie née Mason.
He lived in 3 Wesleyan Villas, Key Street, Borden in 1921, 1939, and 1940. He was employed as an assistant groundsman at a county school for girls.
Died on 1 September 1940, age 20, when his ship, part of a fotilla on a mine laying operation, struck two mines going to the aid of HMS Express, which herself had stuck a mine 140km north west of Amsterdam.
He is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
He is also commemorated on Borden’s War Memorial Cross.
Frank MACKELDEN
Flying Officer, 466 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Military number 125698.
Born on 29 April 1915 in Lewisham.
His parents were Ernest James, a farmer, and Margaret née Thurston.
He lived in Thornall Farm, Newington in 1921, Lingfield, Bobbing in 1939 and 1943. He was employed as a farmer, assisting his father and an ARP group warden.
In 1939 in Milton Regis district he married Eveline Jessica Littlewood.
Died on 12 June 1943, age 28, in Mönchengladbach, Germany, whilst a crew member in a Wellington bomber crashed on the Dusseldorf raid. He was buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
Locally he is commemorated in Gore Court Cricket Club.
Kenneth James William THOMPSON
Private, 7th Battalion, Royal Hampshire Regiment. Military number 14709690.
Born on 18 July 1926 in Milton Regis.
His parents were William James, a dairy farmer and special constable, and Louisa Ethel née Wraith.
Died on 3 October 1944, age 18, in Drielse Rijndijk, Netherlands, during Operation Market Garden, fighting west of the bridges in the Valburg-Elst area. He was buried in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Netherlands.
Locally he is commemorated with a Memorial Plaques at Sittingbourne’s War Memorial.
He is also commemorated on Borden’s War Memorial Cross.
Research carried out by John Masters and Stephen Palmer.
On Saturday, 23rd August 2014 one hundred people met in Borden Parish hall to see the recently installed Memorial boards.
Borden Heritage Group members and Parish Councillors were joined by families and friends of those listed and were pleased to mark the completion of their project commemorating the service given in WW1 and WW2 by residents who served and returned to Borden.
Also listed are the names of those who died and are not on the Memorial in the grounds of the church of Ss Peter and Paul Borden.
Funding for the boards was raised by public subscription at The Queens Jubilee Street Party, and grants from Borden Parish Council, Swale Borough Council and Kent County Council. Following the dedication of the Memorial boards by Fr. John Lewis, twelve year old Ben Aspin played The Last Post.
Certificates recording the help given by others in gathering the information were presented by Christopher Masters, Chairman of Borden Parish Council.
Keith Ferrin MBE thanked everyone who had been involved in the project and said that Borden must be one of the few places where a project like this has been carried out.
During the interval guests were invited to look at displays recording memories; letters, photographs, certificates, medals, a Royal Marine uniform and a gas mask had brought to the event by some of the families represented.
A talk was then given by Keith Lainton entitled:
World War 1 it affected every family.