The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Lance Sergeant A E Skinner

Inscription - "LOVE AND REMEMBRANCE LAST FOREVER"

Photograph by "Family Friend"

Lance Serjeant Albert Edward SKINNER, 202537, 2nd / 4th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, (formerly 1811, The Buffs), killed in action, Egypt, 4th November 1917, age 30.

Born Pluckley, Kent, son of Joseph and Clara Skinner, of The Street, Great Chart, Ashford, Kent.

4th December 1887, Pluckley, Kent, baptism of Albert Edward Skinner, son of Joseph and Clara Skinner.

1911 Census - Coolinge Farm Cottage, Folkestone, Kent - Frederick Pilcher, head, age 52, married, cowman, dairyman, worker, born Crundale, Kent; Annie Pilcher, wife, age 48, married 27 years, 4 children, all still alive, born Sellinge, Kent; Willie Pilcher, son, age 22, single, milkman, worker, born Folkestone, Kent; Arthur T Pilcher, son, age 20, single, milkman, worker, born Folkestone, Kent; Bertie G Pilcher, son, age 8, born Folkestone, Kent; Albert E Skinner, boarder, age 23, single, cowman, dairyman, worker, born pluckley, Kent; Harold Whitehead, boarder, age 21, single, cowman, dairyman, worker, born Bonnington, Kent; Bert Pooley, boarder, age 25, single, cowman, dairyman, worker, born Dover, Kent.

Enlisted Ashford, Kent.

9th August 1915, posted Balkans Theatre of War.

Kentish Times: 9th February 1918: Mr & Mrs Skinner of the Street, Great Chart have received official news of the death of their eldest son, Sergeant Albert Skinner of the Royal West Kents. Sergeant Skinner joined the Buffs in October 1914 and proceeded to Gallipoli where he was attached to the Royal West Kents. Leaving the Dardanelles he went to Egypt and was wounded in the attack at El Arish . After being in hospital for several months he rejoined his unit and was killed by a shell at Tel el Khuweil-Feir, north of Beersheba .

In a letter received from the Colonel it stated: 'Sergeant Skinner was killed while advancing against the Turks on 4th November. He was buried where he fell in a little valley below the hill which was eventually taken from the enemy. Not only his own platoon but the officers and men of the whole battalion lost a great friend when Sgt Skinner was killed. He was with the battalion from the formation and was always so cheery and good hearted even in the hardest times.'

Buried at Beersheba War Cemetery, G. 25., Israel. Commemorated Great Chart Cross, War Memorial, Ashford, Kent.

Link to BBC Remembrance Wall

This page was last updated on 26-Mar-2022.