Halling Cemetery Wargraves Fallen
SAPPER
GERALD E BLACKMAN
Service Number: 23652
Regiment & Unit/Ship 29th Company Royal Engineers
Date of Death Died 13 November 1920
Age 33 years old
Buried/commemorated HALLING CHURCH CEMETERY
1914.
United Kingdom
Additional Info Son of Mr. J. T. Blackman, of the White House, Wouldham. Enlisted Aug. 1914. (Think this is wrong, other sources quote November-1912.)
Gerald enlisted 18-Nov-1912, and has a Great War Medal Index Card entry with the same regimental number as shown above. The Medal Index Card entry shows the additional unit information 29th Company, Royal Engineers. He was discharged 20-Apr-1919. Cause of discharge Para 392 xvi a - Sickness. He was reported wounded 27-May-1918. [Source: British Red Cross, Wounded & Missing List.]
Born in Wouldham on 07-Jan-1887. Baptised 13-Mar-1887 at All Saints, Wouldham. Parents John Thomas Blackman and Mary Anne Isabella Shannon.
Gerald Edward Blackman married Jessie Mahala White 19 –Aug-1915 at St John the Baptist, Halling. They had two children, Dennis Stewart born 12-Jan-1920 baptised 29-Feb-1920 at St John the Baptist, Halling. Gerald Spencer baptised 21-Aug-1921 at St John the Baptist, Halling.
Gerald Edward Blackman died Saturday –Nov-1920 at Charing Cross Hospital following an operation for heart trouble of injuries received in France. He was working at the War Office, Whitehall at the time he was taken ill. He was living at 8 Poynder Terrace, Halling. [Source Kent Messenger 27-November-1920]. He was buried in Halling Cemetery on 18-Nov-1920.
His grave is 3rd row on right hand side of gateway.
His father John Thomas Blackman married Mary Ann Isabella Shannon on 28-June-1884 at All Saints, Wouldham
He had a sister Eileen born 1885, Wouldham and a brother Leslie born 1890, Wouldham.
Gerald E Blackman Burial Record
PRIVATE
JACK VICTOR EDWARD EDWARDS
Service Number: DM2/228084
Regiment & Unit/Ship Army Service Corps
396th M.T. Coy. (Wandsworth)
Date of Death Died 24 June 1917
Age 20 years old
Buried/commemorated at HALLING CHURCH CEMETERY
United Kingdom
Jack Victor Edward Edwards was born 23-Sep-1896 and was baptised 06-Dec-1896 at All Saints, Wouldham. Parents Walter Edward Edwards and Sarah Elizabeth Kemsley.
DM2 prefix to his service number shows he was Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport Learner.
He died at The Second London General Hospital, Chelsea on 24-June-1917. He was killed in a tragic road accident while walking over Stanley Bridge, Kings Road, London. The Coroner’s Report is detailed in the Newspaper – West London Press 29-June-1917
He was buried at Halling Cemetery on 30-Jun-1917. [Register Entry 948]
Right hand section, third row. The grave is surrounded by a brown tiled wrinkled curb-stone [Source: CWGC Graves registration report]
His elder brother Walter also died in WW1 - 09-Jan-1918, At Sea, HMS “Racoon”
His father Walter Edward Edwards was born 12-October 1853 Streatham, London. He died 1937 at 3 Hollicks Cottages, Upper Halling. He was buried 07-Jan-1937 at St John the Baptist Cemetery. [Register Entry 1401] Walters’s wife Sarah Elizabeth Kemsley was born 1857 in Wouldham. She died 1933 at 3 Hollicks Cottages, Upper Halling and was buried 31-August-1933 at St John the Baptist Cemetery. [Register Entry 1322] They were married 28-June-1881 at All Saints, Wouldham.
From Newspaper article West London Press 29-Jun-1917
PRIVATE
RUPERT (REUBEN) HILLS
Service Number: 633370
Regiment & Unit/Ship London Regiment
20th Bn.
Date of Death Died 27 June 1918
Age 24 years old
Buried at HALLING CHURCH CEMETERY
United Kingdom
Country of Service United Kingdom
Additional Info Husband of Edith Hills, of Victoria Villas, Vicarage Rd., Lower Halling.
Reuben Rubendock Stimson Hills was born in 1894 at Knockholt, Kent. He was baptised at St Katherine, Knockholt on 04-February-1894. [Source Parish Records page 57 Entry453]
His parents Reuben Hills and Matilda Amelia Hasler. They were married 23-August-1890 St Katherine, Knockholt [Source: Page 61 Entry 122]
He married Edith Maud Bowles on 06-Apr-1918 at St John The Baptist, Halling, Kent.
He died 27-June-1918 at Shoreham Temporary Military Hospital and was buried 03-Jul-1918 – St John The Baptist, Halling, Kent [Source: Parish Records Page 121, Entry 966]
Right hand section, second row, 16th grave [Source: CWGC Graves Registration Report]
AIRCRAFTMAN 2ND CLASS
SYDNEY LEONARD HOLMES
Service Number: 636274
Regiment & Unit/Ship Royal Air Force
Date of Death Died 21 April 1940
Age 18 years old
Buried/commemorated at HALLING CHURCH CEMETERY
Row 7. Grave 35.
United Kingdom
Additional Info Son of Henry James Holmes and Ellen Edith Holmes, of Lower Halling.
Personal Inscription ALWAYS REMEMBERED
Sydney Leonard Holmes – born 23-Sep-1921 to parents Henry James and Ellen Edith. Baptised at Christ Church, Lower Birling 11-Jul-1922. Address at time of baptism was 2 Essex Road, Halling, Kent. Father’s occupation – Cement Labourer.
Buried at Halling Cemetery:
PRIVATE
WILLIAM CHARLES HENRY KEMSLEY
Service Number: 2331
Regiment & Unit/Ship Royal Army Medical Corps
2nd/1st Home Counties Field Amb.
Date of Death Died 10 February 1915
Age 16 years old
Buried/commemorated HALLING CHURCH CEMETERY
United Kingdom
Country of Service United Kingdom
Additional Info Son of Mrs. Kemsley, of 4, Garden Terrace, Halling.
Personal Inscription REST IN PEACE
Son of George Albert Kemsley and Harriett Underdown
Son of George Albert Kemsley, 1 Railway Place, Lower Halling. Born Snodland 20-June-1896. Educated Halling Board School. Joined the Royal Army Medical Corps Augist-1914. Died at Windsor 10-February-1915 of Cerebral Haemorage while training. Buried Halling Cemetery [Source: De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour]
Died 10-Feb-1915 Windsor, Berkshire. Cause of death – Cerebral Haemorage.
Buried at Halling Cemetery 16-February 1915
CHIEF STOKER
CHARLES THOMAS SHEEHAN
Service Number: 280159
Regiment & Unit/Ship Royal Navy
HMS “Swiftsure”
Date of Death Died 23 November 1915
Age 36 years old
Buried or commemorated at HALLING CHURCH CEMETERY
United Kingdom
Country of Service United Kingdom
Additional Info Son of Daniel and Emma Sheehan of Ditton, Maidstone
Not recorded on the Halling War Memorial
Son of Daniel Sheehan and Emma Roots. They were married 04-Aug-1862 at St Mary in the Marsh.
He was born 17-April-1876 in Birling.
Believe he married Evelyn Hurrell 1901 Malling
He died 23-November-1915 in East Malling of disease contracted while on active service in the Dardanelles [Source: Kent Messenger 23-November-1918]
Buried in Halling Cemetery on 27-November-1915
Kent Messenger 04-December-1915
MARJORY ELLEN ETHEL STARTUP
Born 17-April-1921. Baptised 26-Jun-1921 at St John The Baptist, Halling. Parents Alfred Startup and Leah Sophia Ellen Eves. Living at 12 Poynder Terrace. Fathers occupation – Chalk Digger.
Buried 29-Jan-1941 at St John The Baptist, Halling. Address – 226 High Street, Halling. Died at St Bartholomews’s Hospital, Rochester following an operation for appendicitis.
Marjory joined the Womens Royal Naval Service (W.R.N.S.) in August-1940
Chatham News 31-Jan-1941
Chatham News 07-Feb-1941
PRIVATE
ROLAND WOOLMER
Service Number: 72986
Regiment & Unit/Ship Royal Army Medical Corps
19th (formerly 35th) Coy
Date of Death Died 07 May 1918
Age 22 years old
Buried or commemorated at HALLING CHURCH CEMETERY
United Kingdom
Country of Service United Kingdom
Additional Info Son of Alfred Roland Woolmer and Lily Rosetta Woolmer, of 1, Victoria Terrace, Halling.
Baptised 05-Apr-1896 St Michael & All Angels, Cuxton, Kent,
Burial 11-May-1918 St John The Baptist, Halling, Kent
Maidstone Telegraph - Saturday 25 May 1918
Many readers will regret to hear of the death of Pte. Roland Woolmer, R.A.M.C., elder son of Mr. Mrs. R. Woolmer, Victoria Terrace, Lower Halling, which took place on May 7th from pneumonia, after ten days' illness, at the Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington, Lancashire. Pte. Woolmer's untimely end, at the early age of 22, came as a shock to his parents and relatives, who are much respected in the parish. Born at Halling, he became a chorister in the parish church at eight years of age, and so remained until enlisting. He was the first boy at the Halling Council School to receive the silver medal awarded by the Kent Education Committee for perfect attendance, punctuality and good conduct. He also did excellent work as Patrol Leader in the Boy Scouts. On leaving school he was employed in the bakery of Mr. J. E. Gammon, Snodland, and became a general favourite. Joining the Colours on November 1st, 1916, he proceeded to the Western Front on August 29th, 1916, but only remained there about a month owing to ill-health. He was invalided to Warrington, where he soon became convalescent, and was then sent to duty at the Orthopaedic Hospital, Shepherd's Bush. Here he was employed for 16 months, gaining the respect and esteem of patients and nurses alike by his zeal and attention to duty. About three weeks ago he was seized with a cold, and, curiously enough, was drafted again to Lord Derby's Hospital, Warrington, where he succumbed as stated.
The funeral, which was of a non-military character, took place on the following Saturday amid many manifestations of sorrow, the body being laid to rest in the New Burial Ground, Halling, in the presence of a large concourse of friends. The cortege was met at the church by the Rev. E. C. Linton (Vicar) and the surpliced choir, the coffin being covered with the Union Jack and many beautiful floral tributes. The service was conducted by the Vicar, and the Rev. A. Linton (curate) presided at the organ during the singing of Psalm xxxix, and the hymn "Christ will gather in His own." As the body was borne from the church to its last resting place the choir chanted Psalm xc., and at the graveside "On the resurrection morning" was sung.
Roland Woolmer
Born 1896 Halling, Kent. Baptised 05-Apr-1896 St Michael & All Angels, Cuxton, Kent
In 1911 with parents Alfred Roland & Lily & 2 younger siblings Lilly Rosetta and Arthur Frank. Also a Boarder Arthur Albert Smith. At 1 Victoria Terrace, Lower Halling, Nr Rochester
Father a Cement Labourer at a Cement Works. Roland a Bakers Boy. Boarder is an Engine Driver at Cement Works.
Soldiers Effects:- £6.1.04 & War Gratuity £11.10 to mother Lily R
Awarded Victory & British Medals
Service Record:-
He attested 1.11.1915. RAMC
Embarked 5.9.1916 with 28 Field Ambulance
Then to No 22 CCS, then No 20 Train(?), then No 20 Gen XXX.
Returned to England 24.9.1916
25.1.1917 Aldershot 35 Company
Granted G C Badge
29.3.1918 RAMC Depot Blackpool
Then No 19 Company Chester
7.05.1918 At Warrington Became Non effective by Death
[Source South East History Boards]