Detailed information of the people whose names are on the Cirencester Memorials
Click here to see Introduction to this project for an explanation of why the names are or are not on each memorial. These pages outline what we know about the named people, in many cases, very little. If you find errors or have more information we would be pleased to know. Contact: WW1 @ cirenhistory.org.uk
The Names
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A chronological list of Cirencester deaths is available in Newsletter 61
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Keene to Lane…..
KEENE, Frederick A.
Memorial Parish Church FREDERICK A. KEENE
Memorial Hospital KEENE F.A.
123588 Private Frederick Arthur Keene. [?Frederick Allan Keene] 5th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles.
Born [c.1896. Cirencester].
Enlisted [location].
Died 17 September 1916. Aged 20
Memorial [Ref]. Memorial Vimy Memorial
Son of Mrs Maria Keene, Ontario. Grammar School Memorial, Bingham Hall, Cirencester.
In 1911 Census Frederick Allen Keene living at 89 Cricklade Street (age 13, scholar), with father, Reginald Keene, grocery and sweets dealer; with mother, Perina Keene (age 39), and sister, Caroline Mavis, age 6.
Missing, presumed dead, on Western Front. (Information courtesy of Peter Grace
KEENE, Ralph
Memorial Parish Church RALPH KEENE
Memorial Hospital KEENE R.
2014 Private Ralph Keene. 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Born [c.1897. Cirencester].
Enlisted [location].
Died 8 February 1915. [Aged]. Died. Home.
Grave 11.1230. Woolwich Cemetery
Cheltenham Chronicle & Glos’ Graphic, 20 Feb 1915, photo.
“Private Ralph Keene, 3rd Glos. Reg. who was accidentally killed on the railway near Woolwich on Feb 9. Son of Mr and Mrs Ralph Keene, 151 Cricklade Street.” In 1911 Census, Ralph Keene aged 14, living at 145 Cricklade Street, errand boy (draper’s).
Wilts & Glos Standard 4 March 1916
CIRENCESTER RESERVIST KILLED
Private W.V. Thomas, 1st Gloucestershire Regiment, formerly of Cricklade Street, Cirencester, who has been missing since November 7th 1914, is now reported as killed in action on that date. Private Thomas was a reservist and rejoined the colours at the outbreak of war. He leaves a widow, and one child. Private Thomas’s step brother, Private R. Keen, of the same regiment, was killed in an accident at Woolwich in the early part of February, and his father-in-law, Private R.C. Curtis, of the 3rd Worcesters, after being reported missing from November 12th 1914, is now also reported killed. Source: FB image 1916 03 25 Ref 336-7, 338 photo
KENT, Albert
Memorial Parish Church ALBERT KENT
Memorial Hospital KENT A.
7669 Corporal Albert Kent. 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Born [c.1886. Kemble].
Enlisted Cirencester.
Died 21 December 1914. Aged 28. Killed in Action. France Panel 17. Le Touret Memorial
Wilts & Glos Standard 23 January 1915
LOCAL WAR NOTES: CIRENCESTER SERGEANT KILLED IN ACTION
Sergeant Kent, who was [25 28] years of age, was a son of Mr and Mrs J. Kent of 5 Council Cottages, Cirencester, and a brother of Mrs C.W. Lusty of the Mason’s Arms, Beech Pike, and news of his death was conveyed to his parents by the following letter: January 11, 1915. Dear Sir and Madam, – I regret to say your son, Sergeant Kent, was killed in action on the 21st December 1914 in France. I was very fond of him as a sergeant, and he was much liked by the men of the Company. He had not been with us long and I have found him such a fine fellow. He was buried at a village called Festubert, in France. All of your letters which you have written to him I have burnt, as if they had been returned to you they would probably have been lost. Believe me, yours very sincerely, G.A. Sharpe, Q.M.S. A Company Glos. Regiment.
Source: FB image 1915 01 23 Ref 518. See also Ref 519 for photo.
Cheltenham Chronicle & Glos’ Graphic 30 Jan 1915, photo. “Sergt. Albert Kent. 1st Glos Reg. killed in action in France, Dec 21 1914 aged 28. Son of Mr & Mrs J. Kent, 5 Council-cottages, Cirencester and brother of Mrs C.W. Lusty, the Mason’s Arms, Beech Pike”
KENT, Alfred A.
Memorial Parish Church ALFRED A. KENT
Memorial Hospital KENT A.A.
22295 Private Alfred Augustus Kent. 10th (Service) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Born [c.1888. Cirencester].
Enlisted Cirencester.
Died 7 December 1916. Aged 28. Died of Wounds. France
Grave IV.D.1. Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension
Husband of Mrs L.V. Kent, 28 Castle Street. In 1911 Census, Alfred Kent, single, aged 23, living at 166 Gloucester Street, baker, with parents and siblings.
KENT J.
Memorial Parish Church Not recorded
Memorial Hospital KENT J. Staff Sgt. (Farrier) John Kent. 19th Battalion, Hussars.
Born [Date. Place].
Enlisted [location]. Died 26 October 1919. Aged 46.
Grave/Memorial. Cirencester Cemetery Section 3 (D22/1189). Not recorded by CWGC.
Husband of Gertrude Mary Kent. {22/1189}.
In 1911 Census, John Kent (age 37, c.1874, Cirencester) living at 55 Gloucester Street, porter for wine and spirit merchant; with his wife Gertrude and 2 year old son Ronald. Son-in-law to head of house, Jane Curtis, widow.
The gravestone in Cirencester Cemetery records the death of Gertrude Kent in 1962
KERSHAW, M.
Memorial Parish Church Not recorded
Memorial Hospital KERSHAW M.
2nd Lieutenant Milton Kershaw. 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Born [Date. Place].
Enlisted [location].
Died 7 November 1914. Aged 36. Killed in Action. France
Panel 22 and 34. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Cheltenham Chronicle & Glos’ Graphic, 21 Nov 1914.
“Lieutenant Milton Kershaw, 1st Glos. Reg. Killed in action. Was a professor at R.A.C. and was called to the colours shortly after outbreak of war. He was a very fine athlete.”
Wills and Administration: Probate date 14 Apr 1916. Death 7 Nov 1914. Milton Kershaw of Royal Agricultural College Cirencester. 2nd Lieutenant Gloucestershire Red. died 7 Nov 1914 at Ypres Belgium killed in action. Probate London 14 Apr to Henry Ambrose Pritchard Professor. Effects £163 10s.
The Times, Wed 18 Nov 1914, p4. The Fallen Officers. The Official Lists. Second Lieutenant M. Kershaw, Gloucestershire Regiment, was appointed to a second lieutenancy in the Special Reserves (Glos. Regt.) in August 1912. He was for some time attached to the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, contingent of the Officers Training Corps as second lieutenant.
Lecturer in Chemistry at R.A.C. (information courtesy of Peter Grace)
KILBY, Christopher
Memorial Parish Church CHRISTOPHER KILBY
Memorial Hospital KILBY C.
7258 Private Christopher Kilby. 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Born [c.1884. Place].
Enlisted Cirencester.
Died 17 May 1915. [Aged]. Died of Wounds. France
Grave/Memorial [Ref]. Cemetery/Memorial Menin Gate.
In 1911 Census, Christopher Kilby (age 27, c.1884, Cirencester) living at 10 Midland Road, domestic groom; married to Laura
KILBY, George
Memorial Parish Church GEORGE KILBY
Memorial Hospital KILBY G.
235620 Private George Seymour Kilby. Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (Yeomanry), Household Cavalry & Cavalry of the lIne (inc. Yeomanry & Imperial Camel Corps).
Born [c.1895. Preston].
Enlisted Gloucester.
Died 22 May 1916. [Aged]. Died. Turkey
Panel 60. Basra Memorial.
In 1911 Census, George Kilby, age 15 (c.1896, Preston) errand boy at grocer’s stores, living at 39 School Lane, Watermoor, with parents, John and Susan, and siblings
LAFFORD, Wilfred
Memorial Parish Church WILFRED
Memorial Hospital LAFFORD W.
760322 Sergeant Wilfred John Lafford. 28th Battalion, County of London Regiment, Artists Rifles.
Born [c.1891. Cirencester].
Enlisted London.
Died 30 October 1917. Aged 27. Killed in Action. France
Panel 153. Tyne Cot MemorialIn
1911 Census, Wilfred John Lafford (age 20, c.1891, Cirencester) boarder at 100 Endlesham Road, Balham, SW London. Single. Law Clerk. Law Society staff.
Wills and Administrations: Wilfred John Lafford of 4 Ashcroft Villas, Cirencester, Sergeant 28th Battalion County of London regiment died 28 Oct 1917 on active service in France. Administration Gloucester 28 May 1918 to George Lafford solicitor’s managing clerk. Effects £534 4s 4d.
Grammar School Memorial, Bingham Hall, Cirencester.
Cirencester Parish Magazine: No. 354, June 1918. Memorial dedicated at Holy Trinity, Watermoor, to Serjt. Wilfred John Lafford, late of Artists’ Rifles.
Wilts & Glos Standard Nov 24 1917
SERGEANT WILFRED LAFFORD KILLED IN ACTION
Sincere sympathy is felt in Cirencester with Mr and Mrs George Lafford, of Ashcroft, in the death in action on October 30th of their younger son, Sergeant Wilfred John Lafford, Artists’ Rifles, aged 27 years. Mr and Mrs Lafford have had the pain of undergoing some weeks of anxious uncertainty as to their son’s fate, and only learnt the worst on Monday last. His battalion was in the heavy fighting on October 30th, and the cessation after that date of his regular weekly letters naturally gave rise to anxiety. This was deepened by letters received by Mr and Mrs C.F. Hawkins, of Charlton House, from their son, a comrade of the Artists’, expressing sorrow concerning “poor old ‘Chick’ Lafford” – the name of which he was known amongst his school-fellows and friends. … Sergeant Lafford, who was an old Cirencester Grammar School Boy and a former member of the Parish Church Choir, was on the clerical staff at Law Institution, Chancery Lane, on the outbreak of the war. He joined the Artists’ Rifles in October, 1914, and went to France in January 1915 having been on active service ever since with the exception of three short leaves. For some months he was a member of the Commander-in-Chief’s bodyguard, and was on duty at more than one royal visit. He was more than once offered a commission, but preferred to remain with old comrades in the Artists’
.… Letter from friend, Chas. Hawkins:
“ … It appears that he with his men had to go to the aid of another Battalion on the 29th October, and in so doing his men got somewhat scattered, so Chick and some one else went around to try and find out where his sections were, and in so doing he was sniped, completely knocked out at once I understand.”
Source: FB image DSCN 3357 Buried Zonnebeke, West Flanders, Belgium
LAMBERT, Edgar W.
Memorial Parish Church EDGAR W. LAMBERT.
Memorial Hospital LAMBERT E.W.
R2002] [Rank] Edgar Wilfred Lambert. 7th Battalion], King’s Royal Rifle Corps.
Born [c.1895. Cirencester]. Enlisted [location].
Died 24 September 1917. Aged 23.
Grave/Memorial [Ref]. St. Peter’s Churchyard, West Bromwich, Staffs
Son of Henry James and Charlotte Lambert.
In 1911 Census living at 172 Cricklade Street, assistant draper, single; with parents and sister. Husband of M.A. Lambert, Tipton.
Death Certificate: Jul-Aug-Sep 1917, age 23, West Bromwich, Staffs 6b 695. Pension Records: total disablement, 20 Aug 1917. Died of pneumonia (information courtesy of Peter Grace
LANDER, James
Memorial Parish Church JAMES LANDER
Memorial Hospital LANDER J. 5132 Private James Richard Lander. 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. Born [c.1879. Cirencester].
Enlisted Cirencester.
Died 27 August 1914. Aged 35. Died of Wounds. France Grave B.13. Landrecies Communal Cemetery
Son of Richard and Sarah Ellen Lander of 4 City Bank View, Cirencester.
In 1891 living at 47 Lewis Lane, with parents and siblings. Served in South African campaign. With B Company, 26 August 1914, when Germans debouched from Landrecies and enfiladed their line of march; twice wounded, he continued to fire on enemy and bayoneted seven before being himself bayoneted and left for dead; brought in but died the next day and was buried by 4th Field Ambulance, captured at Landrecies whilst caring for wounded of 4th Guards Brigade [Wyrall: Regt History].
Debouch = of troops, issue from ravine, wood etc into open ground, merge into larger body Enfilade = fire from guns etc. sweeping line from end to end.
Wilts & Glos Standard 31 July
1915 PRIVATE JAMES LANDER
Only son of Mrs Lane, of City Bank View, Cirencester, and of the late Mr Richard Lander, of Cirencester. Private Lander, who belonged to the 1st Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment, was reported wounded and missing on the 26th August last [1914], having fallen in the retreat from Mons. No further intelligence was heard of him till Mrs Lane this week received an official intimation from the War Office that her son was reported killed. Private Lander was 35 years of age, and had served in the 1st Gloucesters for 18 years, having only three more years to serve to qualify for his pension. He served through the South African war, and held three medals. His father was formerly employed at the Cirencester Brewery and was himself an old soldier. Source: FB image 1915 07 31 Ref 282 and 283 with photo
LANE, W.
Memorial Parish Church WILLIAM LANE
Memorial Hospital LANE W.
10539 Lance Sergeant William Bruton [Britton] Lane. 5th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry.
Born c.1896, Bampton, Oxon.
Enlisted Hereford.
Died 20 December 1917. Aged 22. Died of Wounds.
Grave XIIIB 2. Nine Elms British Cemetery. Poperinge, Belgium.
In 1911 Census, William [Bruton/Britton] Lane (age 15, born c.1896, Challow, Berks), living at Plume of Feathers, 54 Watermoor Road, working as telegraph messenger. Nephew of head of house, Mr W. Keen.
Son of Agnes and the late William Lane, of Shotesham, Norwich, born Bampton, Oxfordshire.
Wilts & Glos Standard 12 January 1918
WATERMOOR SERGEANT KILLED IN ACTION
We record with regret the death of Sergeant W.B. Lane, of the Machine Gun Section, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, who was so severely wounded in action on December 19th as to succumb to his injuries the following day. Sergeant Lane, who was 22 years of age, was a nephew of Mr. W. Keen, of the Plume of Feathers, Watermoor, and was amongst the first to answer the call of King and Country, volunteering for service immediately on the outbreak of hostilities. Possessed of the true British sporting instinct, he was always keenly interested in athletics. He received his education at the Cirencester Council School during the regime of Mr. W. Harrison, and whilst there he held the school athletic sports championship of 1907-10. News of his death will bring regret to many friends and comrades in Cirencester.
Source: FB image 1918 Jan 5th to July 27th 1918 01 12 Ref 102, with photo
Wilts & Glos Standard 19 January 1918
THE LATE SERGEANT W. B. LANE
Letter of condolence from Captain of C. Coy. K.S.L.I. Source: FB image 1918 Jan 5th to July 27th 1918 01 19 Ref 111