Kingdon, J:Royal Field Artilleryno: 49756 Rank: Sergeant 1914-1920 WO 372/23/133352, WW1;

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KINGDON – CAMPAIGN MEDALS & MILITARY SERVICE (12th January 2014)

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Kingdon, J:Royal Field ArtilleryNo: 49756 Rank: Sergeant 1914-1920 WO 372/23/133352, WW1;

Recorded also as: Kingdon, John:Royal Field ArtilleryNo: 49756Rank: Bombardier 1914-1920 WO 372/11/167972, WW1;

Notes: Medals Card has him as John Kingdon, #49756 RFA as a Bombardier & who served in France from 19.01.1915; He was promoted to Sergeant & I believe was awarded the Military Medal; This is (John) JackKingdon born in late 1891 in Barnstaple, Devon, he was the Son of John E. Kingdon (b.1855), of Barnstaple, England, a Fisherman, Shipbuilder & Bargeman & Elizabeth ??, also from Barnstaple; (She may have been previously married as there is a Stepdaughter recorded living with the family in the 1891 Census called Elizabeth Jane Limebear, b.1875 Barnstaple, who marries Richard Johns in 1899 in Barnstaple & emigrates to Manitoba, Canada in 1906);In 1901 Jack Kingdon was aged 10 & living with his Parentsat #10, Signal Terrace, Barnstaple, Devon, his Father is a Shipwright & Bargeman; Further research indicates that John Kingdom aged 21 (born 1890 in Barnstaple) was serving as a Private in the 75th Battery, Royal Field Artillery in India in 1911 Census, & I believe this to be the same person; Unfortunately I have yet to find any record of this soldier’s enlistment date to confirm this This soldier first served in France from 19.01.1915;Medals Card on file for the award of the 15 Star, Victory & the British War Medals; I believe that he may have been awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field as well, recorded in the London Gazette Supplement dated 02.08.1918 on page 9243; (49756 Sjt. J. Kingdon, R.F.A. (High Wycombe); (He was theyounger Brother of #174744 Sergeant George Kingdon of the Royal Garrison Artillery);(He was also the Brother of Kingdon, Bruce: #622376, Private, Canadian Infantry (New Brunswick Regiment) who died in WW1);(He was also the Brother of Sydney John Kingdon, WW1 Merchant Seaman);

Kingdon, J R:Royal Army Medical Corps,No: 10452, Rank: Captain 1939-1945WW2;

Notes: There are WW2 records for a Captain (Temporary Major),J R Kingdon of the Royal Army Medical Corps being Gazetted on page 423 of the London Gazette dated 23.09.1943 for being Mentioned in Despatches in recognition of gallant & distinguished services in North Africa;Awarded the 1939-45 War Medal & the 1939-45 Star; Insufficient information to identify;

Kingdon, Jack:London Regiment No: 3980Rank: Private/Rifleman,1914-1920 WO 372/11– Died in WW1;RiflemanJack Kingdon #3980, "C" Coy. 1st/8th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) who died aged 20 on 27 December 1915, Son of the late John and Kitty Kingdon, of 53, North Street, Okehampton, Devon. Remembered with honour on the Loos Memorial, in France; Transferred from the Kingdom list:Kingdom, J:London RegimentNo: 3980Rank: Private1914-1920 WO 372/11, WW1;

Notes: This is Jack Kingdon born 1896 in Okehampton, son of John Kingdon b.1859 Stoke Cannon & Kitty Yeo, who married in 1879 in Okehampton; In 1901 Jack lived with his parents in Okehampton, his Father was a Railway Signalman; In 1911 Census Jack lives with his Widowed Mother at #53, North Street, Okehampton, Devon (a boarding house) & is a Post Office Messenger Boy; In 1914 Jack Kingdom was appointed as a Rural Postman in Ilfracombe; I believe that his Regimental #3980 indicates that he enlisted between 09.03.1915 & 01.04.1915; From his medals card it appears that Jack Kingdon served in France from 28.10.1915; According to a Devon Newspaper report in 1916 Jack Kingdon was shot in the heart by a German sniper; Note that in 1923 his Brother, Ernest William Kingdon b.1883 Okehampton applied for his medals, he is Jack’s next of kin on his WW1 Medals receipt, living #33, Nelson Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 in 1923, he had also served in WW1;2xMedals Cards on File, Kingdon, Jack & Kingdom J; Awarded the Victory & British War Medals & the 15 Star accordingly;(His Brother Herbert John Kingdon, born 15.12.1884 in Okehampton, served as #347413, a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy); (He was also the Brother of Kingdon, Ernest W:Royal Field ArtilleryNo: L/5257Rank: Acting Bombardier1914-1920 WO 372/11);

Kingdon, Jack:4th Battalion, Devonshire Militia,Rank: 2nd Lieutenant;1st Battalion, Devon Regiment, Rank: 2nd Lieutenant &Indian Army1914-1920 WO 372/11Rank: Captain & Major, pre-WW1 & WW1;Also Recorded as:Kingdon, J:86th InfantryRank: Captain1914-1925 WO 372/27, WW1 & post-WW1;

Notes: This is Jack Kingdon born 02.10.1883 in the West Indies, in St. Vincent, the son of Alfred Kingdon, a Barrister at Law, b.1853 in Kensington, London & Bessie Bruce Aitken from Glasgow, Scotland who married in 1879 in Leeds; (They are from the Thorverton Branch of the Kingdon family); (His Father Alfred Kingdon was a Barrister: Inner Temple 1878: Acting Attorney General in St Vincent in 1883; Solicitor General in British Guiana & Q.C. in that Colony in 1890; Senior Puisne Judge, British Guiana 1898/1900); In 1901 Census Jack Kingdon is a Boarding Scholar at the Agricultural School, at Winchester College, in Kingsgate Street, Winchester, Southampton; I believe that he later went to Oxford University in mid 1901, I believe that his parents lived in Sussex having returned from overseas; Jack Kingdon was first commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 29.11.1905 in the Militia 4th Battalion, Devonshires & later with the1st Battalion, Devon Regiment & then on 13.01.1906 as a British Officer of the Indian Army; He appears to have served in dual roles – Lieutenant J Kingdon (Indian Army) & Company Officer in Barbera, Somaliland with the Indian Contingent of the 6th Battalion, King’s African Rifles; Also with the Indian Army 86th Light Infantry, the 86th Carnatic Infantry at their HQ at St Thomas’ Mount; (Jack Kingdon was still a Lieutenant in 1912 & by now can speak Hindustani); He served as a Lieutenant from 29.02.1908 & as a Captain in the Indian Army in the 92nd Punjabis Regiment; (His parents lived in Chagford, Devon in the 1911 Census); His promotion to Captain was 29.11.1914 whilst serving with the 86th Carnatic Infantry, Indian Army; There is a Ship’s Passenger Record for a Captain J. Kingdon sailing from England to Bombay on 02.10.1915 on board the ‘Malwa’; At some stage later in his Army career he was Brigade Major G.S.O, 2nd Grade from 20.09.1918,which was later relinquished on 31.08.1919 whilst serving with the 86th Carnatic Infantry, Indian Army; This Officer was also awarded for distinguished service in connection with Military Operations in the Balkans & with the British Army of the Black Sea & promoted to Brevet Major on 03.06.1919; The London Gazette dated 17.05.1921 records the promotion of (Battalion Major) J. Kingdon, Indian Army to Major on 29.11.1920; The London Gazette dated 20.02.1925 records that The King had approved the resignation of this Officer’s commission on 01.01.1925; I don’t believe that he married & understand that Major Jack Kingdon died in Kenya of a heart attack on 15.10.1952; Medals Card for Captain Jack Kingdon on file;No Medals Card on file for Captain J. Kingdon;He also received the Somaliland Medal & Clasp which was awarded by the Somaliland Camel Corps HQ on 09.12.1916 & sent to India for issue;

Kingdon, James: Gunner, 9th Field Battery, 4th Brigade, Royal Artillery, (1861 Census record);

Notes: In the 1861 Census there is a record for a Gunner James Kingdon born 1839 in Barnstaple, serving in Christchurch Barracks, Hampshire with the 9th Field Battery, Royal Artillery; Unfortunately there is insufficient information to enable positive identification of this soldier, there is however, a James Kingdom born in Barnstaple in 1839; Needs more research;

Kingdon, James:Royal Engineers No: 105699Rank: Sapper 1914-1920 WO 372/11, WW1;

Notes: Also served as #WR289539 indicating that he served with a Waterways & Railway Unit; This Soldier served in Egypt from 30.12.1915; Initially there was no certain identification but further research following discovery of an entry Reference #212 in the Spring 1919 Absent Voters List for South Molton Division, Devon, Parish of Bishops Nympton for James Kingdon of Kerscott Cottage, who was serving with the 116th Railway Company, Royal Engineers as a Sapper #105699; This is James Kingdon born in 1886 in Rose Ash, Devon the son of William Kingdon, a Farm Labourer b.1863 Bishops Nympton & Charlotte Tucker Loosemore from Mariansleigh, Devon who Married in 1882 in Barton Regis; James Kingdon lived with his parents at Stone Lake, Bishops Nympton in 1891 Census; In 1901 Census James Kingdon lived with his parents at Higher Fyldon in North Molton & is an Agricultural Horse Carter on a Farm; In 1911 Census James Kingdon is aged 26, a Farm Labourer & living with his parents in Kerscott Cottage, Bishops Nympton, Devon; Medals Card on file for the award of the 15 Star, the Victory & British War Medals; (He could also be the Brother of one of the Ernest Kingdons who served in WW1 – See comments on Ernest ‘choices’ in this paper);

Kingdon, James: Royal Navy, Wills 1796;

Notes: There is a Royal Navy Wills Record for a James Kingdonof Blackawton, Devon, in 1796, serving onboard ‘HMS Bull Dog’; Admon was granted to Widow Elizabeth Kingdon (was this his Mother or his Wife?); (I have a possible child who was baptised as James Kingdom in Blackawton on 12.02.1793, son of James & Elizabeth Kingdom); There is no other information; ‘HMS Bulldog’ was a 16 gun sloop, launched in 1782, served in & won the Battle Honour for St Lucia 1796 in the French Revolutionary War & was later converted to a Bomb Vessel in 1798; No other information for this sailor or his family;

Kingdon, James:Welsh Regiment No: 2941Labour Corps No: 545103,Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/11– Died in WW1; PrivateJames Kingdon#2941, Welch Regiment, also transferred to #545103 of the 552ndHome Service Employment Company, Labour Corps, who died aged 36 on 26 July 1921; Son of Thomas and Hannah Kingdon; Husband of Elizabeth Kingdon, of 2, Cadle Cottages, Raven Hill, Fforestfach. Glamorganshire, Wales; Remembered with honour Fforestfach (Calfaria) Welsh Baptist Chapelyard, which contains two burials from WW1;He probably died in a Training Accident or from Illness or Disease;

Notes: This is James Kingdon born 2nd Q 1884 in Swansea, son of Thomas Kingdon & Hannah Jones b.1865 in Swansea, who married in Swansea in 1882; In 1901 he is living with his Widowed Mother in Chapel Street, Swansea, he is a Tram Conductor; In 1911 he is married to Lizzie (Elizabeth) Thomas, b.1887 Swansea), since 1905 and they have 2 living children, an earlier child had died; James is a Plasterer & they live at #2, Cadle Cottages, Ravenhill, near Swansea, his brother Thomas is a Mason boarding with them; James Kingdon Married Lizzie Thomas in 4th Q 1905 in Swansea; Private James Kingdon first served in France from 11.12.1915; James Kingdon has a UK Death Record 3rd Q 1921 Swansea 11a.957 Aged 36; Medals Card on file, for the award of the 15 Star, Victory & British War Medals;

Kingdon, James A:2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment,No: 6856Rank: Private, 3/4th Battalion, Devonshire RegimentNo: 3853,Rank: Private with ‘D’ Company, 6th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, No: 267027,Rank: Private,1914-1920 WO 372/11, pre-WW1 & WW1;

Notes: I believe that this is James Arthur Kingdon born in Exeter in 1883, son of ?? Kingdon b.?? ?? & ??; (This could be James Arthur Kingdon b.1883 in Dawlish who is living in Black Torrington, Halwell in 1891 Census with parents, James Kingdon b.1838 Swimbridge a Gamekeeper & Elizabeth? b.1850 Buckland Filleigh – but this needs more research; His Father James may well have served in the 11th Regiment of Infantry, as #49513 or #3727 who served 21 years in the Army, of which 12 years were in the East Indies; He served from 15.06.1855 to 01.05.1877);Enlistment dates for this number were between 03.01.1901 10.03.1902;Private James Arthur Kingdon was serving in St George’s Barracks in Malta in 1911 Census with the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment, he is single & aged 28. He obviously served before the WW1; He also served with the 3/4 Devonshire Regiment with the numbers #3853 & #267027; He also had additional Clasps and Roses for the 1914 Star which he had to have applied for; The records indicate that he first served in WW1 from 06.11.1914; The issue of the 1914 Star Clasp indicates that he had served under fire of the enemy in France & Belgium between 05.08.1914 & midnight 22/23.11.1914;Medals Card on file for the award of the 1914 Star & 1914 Clasp & Roses, the Victory & Bristish War Medals;This Record needs a lot more research by me?Lt Col Flick's book has Private J. A. Kingdon, #267027 serving with ‘D’ Company of the 6thBattalion the Devonshire Regiment:

Kingdon, James Alexander:#41577, Private, ‘F’ Company, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, New Zealand, WW1;

Notes: This is James Alexander Kingdon b.1880 in New Zealand, the son of Josiah Stephens Kingdon, b.1842 in Bodmin, Cornwall, England & Catherine Johnson who Married in 1868 in New Zealand; In 1905 & 1906 James Alexander Kingdon is recorded as a Labourer in Yaldhurst, Courtenay, Wellington, New Zealand; I believe that James Alexander Kingdon married Elizabeth Kennedy in 1907, I don’t believe that they had any children; In 1914 he is a Yardman & living with his wife in Raurimu, Waimarino, Bay of Plenty; James Alexander Kingdon enlisted with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, is recorded as having ‘Gone into Camp’ on 04.01.1917 & finally Embarked from Wellington for Devonport England with ‘F’ Company of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment on 14.03.1917 on board ‘HMNZT 29 Ruapehu’; By 10.10.1917 I understand that J.A. Kingdon was reported as being ‘Not a Severe Case’ but there are no details, was he simply sick? On 27.11.1918 there is a Casualty List #1009/2 for this Soldier, advising that he had been wounded; On the 17.07.1919 I understand that J.A. Kingdon was returning from the War to Raurimu, New Zealand on board the ‘HMNZT Briton’ sailing from Tilbury, England to Auckland; In 1919 electoral roll he is again recorded as a Yardman in Ohura, Waitomo; I seem to lose him then until 1935 & 1938 when James Alexander & Ann Kingdon, a Yardman, are living in Ongarue, Waimarino, Bay of Plenty; (I have no proof but would query whether his wife Elizabeth Kingdon died, changed her name or left him in the period prior to 1935 & would therefore suggest that James Alexander Kingdon remarried an Ann ??, although I have no records); In 1946 I found James Alexander & Ann Kingdon registered at Park Avenue, Otahuhu, Auckland; In 1949 James Alexander & Ann Kingdon are registered at #20, Peer Street, Selwyn, with no occupation shown & his spinster sister Frances Mary Kingdon is registered at the same address; In 1957 James Alexander & Ann Kingdon are registered as Pensioners at #28, Wilkinson road, SE6, Onehunga, Auckland; James Alexander Kingdon died in 1958 Aged 77, & I believe that his wife Ann Kingdon Died in 1963 Aged 89; (He was the Brother of Kingdon, Albert John:New Zealand, 1st Division Reservist, 1916 WW1);(He was the Brother of Kingdon, Charles Ford:New Zealand, 2nd Division Reservist, 1917 WW1);(He was the Brother of Kingdon, Stanley Craig:#8/3828, 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Army, WW1);(He was the Brother of Kingdon, George:New Zealand, 1st Division Reservist, 1916 WW1);

Kingdon, James George: Royal Navy, Continuous Service #832 & #40040; ADM 139/9 & ADM 188/5; (1855-1880 period);

Notes: This Sailor’s Records would indicate that he was James George Kingdon, born 18.03.1837 in Landport, Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire; He was the son of John Kingdon, a Shipwright b.1793 in Barnstaple, Devon, & Sarah Bevis from Portsea, who Married on 13.05.1815 in St Mary’s Portsea, Hampshire; In the 1841 & the 1851 Census James Kingdon lives with his parents in Spring Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire; I believe that James George Kingdon Volunteered for the Royal Navy 0n 01.07.1853 & served as a Boy until the 17.03.1855 when he signed on for a full 10 years service in the Royal Navy; I believe that his first ship was the ‘HMS Prince Regent’ (launched in 1823); I also believe that James George Kingdon served in the late stages of the Crimean War on ‘HMS Neptune’ as his name appears on the Medal Roll, the Baltic Medal being issued to him on 19.08.1857 when he was serving aboard ‘HMS Swallow’; In the 1861 Census Able Seaman Jas G Kingdon Aged 24 is serving on board ‘HMS Renard’ as Ship’s Book #51 Able Seaman, at Chefoo; I understand that James George Kingdon Married Elizabeth Elms (b.1836 in Sheffield) in Portsea in 1868; In 1871 Census James G. & Elizabeth Kingdon live at #14, Taylor’s Court in Portsea, he is still a serving RN Seaman; His 1st wife Elizabeth Kingdom (nee Elms) seems to have died in 1875 in Portsea Aged 39 & James George Remarried to Elizabeth Male, (b.1852 Portsmouth), in Portsea in 1877; In the 1881 Census James G & Elizabeth Kingdom, now a Royal Naval Pensioner, live in Eagle Cottage, Cottage Lane, Portsea, however, there is also a Census record for James Kingdon, Aged 44, ‘Not on Board’ ‘HMS Asia’ in Portsmouth & recorded as an AB Pensioner; In 1891 James & Elizabeth Kingdon live at #32, Alver Road, Portsea; In 1901 James & Elizabeth Kingdon live at #6, Ethel Road, Portsmouth; In 1911 Census James & Elizabeth Kingdon live at #6, Ethel Road, Kingston & East Southsea, Portsmouth; I believe that James George Kingdon Died in 1918 in Portsmouth Aged 81; Awarded the China Medal for service on ‘HMS Renard (Reynard)’ 1856-1860;(He is the Brother of Kingdon, Edward: Royal Navy, Continuous service #28405A; ADM 139/685); (He is the Father of the following - James John Kingdon, a Coast Guard Petty Officer #PO/128972 who Died in WW1 aboard HMS India on 08.08.1915 off Norway;- Kingdon, Charles Walter:Royal Field Artillery No: 47983Rank: Sergeant1914-1920 WO 372/11; - Kingdon, Edward Arthur: #220316 Leading Seaman, Royal Navy who served in WW1; - Kingdon, Harry: #208949 Leading Seaman, Royal Navy; - Kingdon, William George: Petty Officer 1st Class,#155575,Royal Navy);

Kingdon, James L:Highland Light Infantry, No: 4570,Rank: Private, & King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI), No: 64312,Rank: Private,1914-1920 WO 372/11, WW1;

Notes: I believe that with a Regimental number of #4570 that James L Kingdon served in the Territorial Force of the Highland Light Infantry in 1915 for WW1; This Soldier also served with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry as # 64312, probably the 1st or 2nd Battalions in 1916; Medals card on file for the award of the Victory & British War Medals;Insufficient Information to identify;

Kingdon, James William: Sergeant, Royal Marines, Discharged in the 1870’s;

Notes: There is a record for a James Kingdon, from Barnstaple, serving with the Royal Marines at their Barracks in East Stonehouse, Plymouth in 1861; There are other records, with little information, that indicate a Sergeant James Kingdon being Discharge from the Royal Marines in 1870/1871? I believe that this is probably James William Kingdon, born 1827 in Barnstaple, the son of William James Kingdon (b.1787/91 in Torrington, Devon) & Mary Baron Baker from Barnstaple who Married in 1822 in Barnstaple; In 1841 James Kingdon lived with his parents in Barnstaple but I cannot find him in 1851 Census? In 1861 I found a Sergeant J Kingdon serving at the Royal Marine Barracks, Plymouth Division, in East Stonehouse, Plymouth; James William Kingdon Married Elizabeth Ann Prout (b.1832 in Modbury) in Plymouth in 1862; In 1871 Census James & Elizabeth Kingdon are the Innkeepers at the ‘Salutation’ Pub in Castle Street in Barnstaple, Devon; In 1881 Census James & Elizabeth Kingdon live at #10, Green Lane, Barnstaple, he is recorded as a Greenwich Pensioner; In 1891 Census they live on their own means at #37, Richmond Street, Barnstaple; I believe that James William Kingdon Died at that address on 21.04.1894, he was aged ??; (He was the Father of Kingdon, Thomas Baron Baker: #113097,Royal Navy);