Dawlish World War One Project

All three sons enlisted in the war in the Royal Engineers, and were awarded British War Medals and Victory Medals. Charles William Kingdon was a Driver, service no. 172009.  Arthur George Kingdon left Dawlish ca. 1907 and moved to Rainhill in the Liverpool area to work as a Tiler and Slater. He married Catherine Ann Hooper in 1911. During the war he lost an eye as a Sapper, service no. (T) 6886 in the Royal Engineers.

Surviving Army records show that Frederick Robert Kingdon enlisted in 1913, aged 23, and was placed in the Royal Engineers, service no: 24849. He had been working as a plumber and living with his parents at 36 Manor Row, Dawlish. In time he became a Sapper, service no. 286416.

“G” Depot Company, Royal Engineers, appears to have been placed at Chatham and may have provided a posting for those wounded at the front. Nothing further of FRK’s service record can be found here.

The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette reported the inquest at which it was found that Frederick Robert Kingdon died from an accident. While out shooting rabbits he shattered his arm and died through loss of blood. It was also reported that he lost a limb in the war. He is on the records of the Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service which may suggest that he was still receiving medical attention from war injuries.

Frederick Robert Kingdon was the grandson of William and Eliza Kingdon. William (1828- ) was a sawyer, born in Thorverton, mid-Devon. Eliza (1832- ) was from Newton and in 1861 they were living at High Bullen, Silverton with five children, all born in Silverton:  William , son, 8 (1853- ), Louisa, dau, 6 (1855- ),  Mary Ann, dau, 4 (1857- ),  Ellen Eliza, dau, 2 (1859- ),  and George, son, 3 mths (1860- ).

In 1882 young William married Mary Ann Routley. By 1891, William and Mary Ann Kingdon were living at 8 Brook Street, Dawlish, with four children, all born in Dawlish, indicating that they had lived there at least since 1884:  Charles William, son, 7 (1884- ),  Arthur George, son, 5 (1886- ),  Annie, dau, 3 (1887- ), and Frederick Robert, son, 1 (1890-1919). (GRO birth ref 1890, N.A., Apr-Jun, vol 5b, p 100),  and two boarders: Robert Routley, 23 (1868- ) a gardener,  Robert Shelston, 28 (1863- ).

Ten years later they were at Manor Row (continuation of Brook Street) with another daughter: Alice, dau, 8 (1893- ).