War Memorial
Borden’s War Memorial was dedicated on 3rd January 1920 and is a Portland stone column mounted on plinths and topped with a Gothic cross.
It was designed by Mr. Marshall Harvey of Sittingbourne, and erected by Messrs. Millen and Chrisfield of Sittingbourne.
The service was conducted by the Vicar, Reverend C. B. G. Barrett, with parishioners, bereaved relatives and some of Borden’s sons, in uniform, still serving. The service was followed by an eloquent address from Colonel J. F. Honeyball, V.D., J.P.
The service concluded with four Royal Marine buglers sounding the ‘Last Post.’ The Borden bells, half-muffled, rang out a solemn requiem.
The War Memorial commemorates 19 men from the First World War and seven names from the Second World War were added.
In June 1920 a Parish Room was opened by Mrs Meers, as a war memorial. It stood opposite the entrance to School Lane. The Parish Room was replaced in 1987 with a new Parish Hall, situated in School Lane.
These are the names commemorated on Borden’s War Memorial for those lost in World War One.
Sydney John BENTLEY
Gunner, 40th Battery 25th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Military number 915813.
Born in 1896 in Borden.
His parents were John Cornford, an agricultural labourer, and Mary née Nicholls.
He lived in Dental Terrace, Key Street in 1901 and 2 Westlands, London Road in 1911. He was employed as a clerk in butchery department at the Co-Op.
Died on 11 April 1918, age 22, in France, during gas shelling. He was buried in Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte, France.
Granville Dabson FLACK
Private, 10th (Royal East Kent and West Kent Yeomanry) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Military number 270274.
Born in 1888 in Borden.
His parents were Edwin Charles, a butcher and grocer, and Clara Olive née Spittle.
He lived in General Store, The Street, Borden in 1901 and General Store, The Street, Borden in 1911. He was employed as a stock dealer and grazier.
Died on 21 October 1918, age 30, in No. 32 Casualty Clearing Station, Bois de Bouche, France, from wounds caused by a gas shell. He was buried in Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, France.
Charley Wilfred FUGGLE
Gunner, D Battery 242nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Military number L/22957.
Born in 1894 in Tunstall.
His parents were Archibald Ernest, a coachman, and Louise née Culmer.
He lived in The Cottage, Tunstall in 1901, Green Dragon Court, Southwark in 1911, and Maypole Inn, Borden in 1918. He was employed as a porter in a drapery warehouse.
Died on 14 March 1918, age 24, in Belgium, during shelling in Belgium. He was buried in La Clytte Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Alfred HONEYSETT
Corporal, 6th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Military number 4876.
Born in 1893 in Borden.
His parents were James, a farm baliff on Cryalls Farm, and Jane née Lampkin.
He lived in Yew Tree House, Oad Street in 1939 and Cryalls Farm Cottage in 1916. He was employed as a farm labourer.
Died on 14 March 1916, age 23, in France . He was buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France.
Locally he is commemorated in Sittingbourne Congregational Church.
His brother Sidney was also lost in the war.
Sidney HONEYSETT
Corporal, 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Military number G/4877.
Born in 1890 in Borden.
His parents were James, a farm baliff cryalls farm, and Jane née Lampkin.
He lived in Yew Tree House, Oad Street in 1939 and Cryalls Farm Cottage in 1917. He was employed as a farm labourer.
Died on 26 October 1917, age 27, in Belgium. He is commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
His brother Alfred was also lost in the war.
George Henry JORDAN
Private, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Military number G/13312.
Born on 18 April 1896 in Little Norwood Farm, Bobbing.
His parents were Frederick William Friars, a farm labourer, and Ellen née Thomas.
He lived in Upper Funton Farm, Iwade in 1911, and Chestnut Street Farm, Borden in 1917. He was employed as a farm labourer.
Died on 24 June 1917, age 21, in France. He is commemorated on Loos Memorial, France.
Edwin Thomas Charles MAY
Lance Corporal, 8th Battalion, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Military number G/21970.
Born in 1883 in Aylesford.
His parents were Edwin Charles, a bricklayer, and Mary née Waterman.
He lived in Aylesford in 1901, Dental Terrace, Key Street in 1911 and 1918. He was employed as a grocer’s assistant.
In 1909 in he married Winifred Alice.
Died on 28 March 1918, age 35, in France. He is commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, 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 the Parish Hall WW1 Memorial Board.
Photo curtsey of Vivian Smith
Charles Douglas NORRINGTON
Gunner, 15th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Military number 79351.
Born in 1895 in Borden.
His parents were Charles Douglas, a corn miller, and Charlotte Emma née Barrett.
He lived in 30 Borden Lane in 1911 and 1917. He was employed as a dryerman’s assistant, paper maker.
Died on 29 October 1917, age 22, in 10th Canadian Field Ambulance Hospital, Ypres Salient. He was buried in Potijze Chateau Lawn Cemetery, Belgium.
Locally he is commemorated in Sittingbourne Baptist Church and Sittingbourne Lloyds Paper Mill Memorial.
His brother Frank was also lost in the war.
Frank NORRINGTON
Private, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Military number G/4374.
Born in 1893 in Borden.
His parents were Charles Douglas, a corn miller, and Charlotte Emma née Barratt.
He lived in 24 Borden Lane in 1901 and 30 Borden Lane in 1911. He was employed as a hand at paper mill.
Died on 15 September 1916, age 23, in France. He was buried in Guillemont Road Cemetery, Guillemont, France.
Locally he is commemorated in Sittingbourne Baptist Church and Sittingbourne Lloyds Paper Mill Memorial.
His brother Charles was also lost in the war.
George PERCIVAL
Private, 1st/5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Military number T/202275.
Born in 1881 in Rodmersham.
His parents were Henry, an agricultural labourer, and Martha née Matthews.
He lived in 22 West Lane, Sittingbourne in 1901. He was employed as a paper mill worker.
Died on 9 August 1917, age 36, in Iraq. He was buried in Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq.
Locally he is commemorated in Sittingbourne Lloyds Paper Mill Memorial.
Thomas Frederick SEAGER
Petty Officer Stoker, HMS Hawke., Royal Navy. Military number 294712.
Born on 14 July 1880 in Gillingham, Kent.
His parents were William, a labourer, and Maria Elizabeth née Barden.
He lived in HMS Grasshopper, Harwich in 1911, and Wesleyan Villas, Key Street in 1914. He was employed as a sailor.
Died on 15 October 1914, age 34, in 155km north east of Aberdeen. He is commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial.
Horace Arthur SELLEN
Private, 56th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Military number 123751.
Born in 1892 in Sittingbourne.
His parents were Henry Lancelot, a fishmonger, and Lottie Elizabeth née Hunt.
He lived in 25 Berry Street, Sittingbourne in 1901 and 1911, and Bankside, Chestnuts, Borden in 1918. He was employed as a clerk in coal factory.
Died on 31 March 1918, age 26, in 3rd Scottish Hobhill Hospital, Springburn, Glasgow, from gas poisoning (Shell) and broncho pneumonia. He was buried in SS. Peter and Paul’s Churchyard, Borden.
Ernest Albert William SMITH
Corporal, C Sqdn., 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers. Military number 4882.
Born in 1896 in Borden.
His parents were Henry Albert, a wheelwright, and Eliza Mary née Price.
He lived in Acacia Terrace, London Road in 1901, 1911, and 1918. He was employed as a baker’s boy.
Died on 6 May 1918, age 21, in Somme, France. He was buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France.
Albert Edward STEERS
Private, 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Military number 12024.
Born in 1886 in Borden.
His parents were Lawrence Walter, a builder’s carter, and Charlotte née Redshaw.
He lived in 13 Borden Lane in 1901. He was employed as a paper mill labourer.
Died on 1 December 1917, age 31, in Cambrai, France. He is commemorated on Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France.
His brother Alfred was also lost in the war.
Alfred STEERS
Private, 59th Protection Coy, Royal Defence Corps. Military number 27580.
Born in 1866 in Borden.
His parents were Lawrence Walter, a builder’s carter, and Charlotte née Redshaw.
He lived in 3 Laburnum Place, Milton Regis in 1911 and 1917. He was employed as a mason’s labourer.
In 9 April 1898 in Lynsted he married Elizabeth Nix.
Died on 5 April 1917, age 51, in Bromley Cottage Hospital. He was buried in SS. Peter and Paul’s Churchyard, Borden.
Locally he is commemorated in Sittingbourne Lloyds Paper Mill Memorial.
His brother Albert was also lost in the war.
Herbert Mark TYMAN
Private, 8th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Military number G/18520.
Born in 1897 in Milton Regis district.
His parents were Mark, a blacksmith at brick manufacturer, and Elizabeth née Brown.
He lived in 57 Chalkwell Road, Milton Regis in 1901, 9 Apsley Villas, London Road in 1911, and Briar Cottage, Key Street in 1918. He was employed as a market gardener.
Died on 16 October 1918, age 21, in France. He is commemorated on Vis-En-Artois Memorial, France.
Locally he is commemorated in Milton Regis Council Schools, Milton Regis Memorial Cross and St Paul’s Church Memorial in Holy Trinity Church, Milton Regis.
Osbourne Ethelbert WINCH
Private, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Military number G/13289.
Born in 1888 in Milton Regis district.
His parents were Ernest and Ann Elizabeth née Gilbert.
He lived in Isleworth, Middlesex in 1911, and 25 Liverpool Street, Dover in 1917. He was employed as a printer for the East Kent Gazette.
In 1916 in Dover district he married Elsie Agnes Taylor.
Died on 30 April 1917, age 29, in Endell Street Militart Hospital, Covent Garden, from wounds in the hip and head caused by shrapnel at Bethune. He was buried in St. Bartholomew’s Churchyard, Bobbing.
Locally he is commemorated in Sittingbourne Baptist Church and Sittingbourne Lloyds Paper Mill Memorial.
Frank YOUNG
Private, 6th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Military number 242232.
Born in 1899 in Borden.
His parents were William, a waggoner on farm, and Elizabeth née Honey.
He lived in Street Farm Cottage, Borden in 1901, 1911 and 1918.
Died on 18 August 1918, age 19, in France. He was buried in Meteren Military Cemetery, France.
These are the names commemorated on Borden’s War Memorial for those lost in World War Two.
Frank (BARRATT) BRADLEY
Serjeant, 13th/18th Royal Hussars, Royal Armoured Corps. Military number 7935083.
Born on 17 December 1913 in Hotel l’Europe, Leicester Square, London. He was registered as Barratt and later documents record him as Bradley, though no reason has been identified.
His parents were Bertram Frank Athelstan Bayspoole, a fur trade merchant, and Florence Mary née Barratt.
He lived in Glenmoor, Pemberton Road, Lyndhurst, Hampshire in 1921 and at 88a High Street, Sittingbourne in 1945.
In 1940 in Westminster district he married Eveline Beatrice Grunewald.
Died on 20 January 1945, age 31, in Holland. He was buried in Sittard War 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 the Parish Hall WW2 Memorial.
Claude Dennis Delacour DE LABILLIÈRE MRCS, LRCP 1929
Surgeon Lieutenant Commander, served on HMS Fiji in the Royal Navy.
Born in 1904 in Cannes, France.
His parents were Reverend Charles Edgar Delacour and Evelyn Georgina née Harrington.
He lived in 7 Cranfield Road, Bexhill in 1921 and The Homestead, Borden in 1941.
In 8 June 1933 in St. George, Hanover Square, London he married Frances Christine (Kitty) Wright Lawley.
Died on 23 May 1941, age 37, in Crete, when is ship was sunk by German aircraft bomb attack. He is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
His son is General Sir Peter Edgar de la Cour de la Billière, KCB, KBE, DSO, MC & Bar, DL, former Director SAS and Commander-in-Chief during the Gulf War.
Richard IGGULDEN
Able Seaman, served on SS Tanimbar in the Royal Navy. Military number C/JX 215435.
Born on 7 June 1920 in Sittingbourne.
His parents were Richard James, a fitter man paper mills, and Esther née Blunden.
Died on 14 June 1942, age 22, in Skikda, Algeria. He is commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial.
Locally he is commemorated in Borden Grammar School, Sittingbourne Holy Trinity Church and Bowaters Paper Mills Memorial.
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 a assistant groundsman at 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 the Parish Hall WW2 Memorial.
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 in Sittingbourne WW2 Memorial Plaques.
He is also commemorated on the Parish Hall WW2 Memorial.
George William WEBZELL
Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Military number 185118.
Born on 5 May 1913 in Milton Regis.
His parents were George Frederick, a stokehole maintenance and auxiliary fire service, and Ada Hannah née Evans.
He lived in 9 Hamson Terrace, Ramsgate in 1921 and 1939, and 10 Brier Road, Borden in 1944. He was employed as a paper mill reeler assistant.
In 1937 in Milton Regis district he married Doris May Churchill.
Died on 22 October 1944, age 31, in , whilst a crew member in a Liberator VI, on a search and rescue operation to locate two US Thunderbolts. Flying at 800 feet, the two starboard engines stopped and the plane was forced to crash in a paddy field. He was buried in Madras War Cemetery, India.
Locally he is commemorated in Bowaters Paper Mills Memorial.
Research was carried out by John Masters and Stephen Palmer.
