The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private D T Friend

Private David Thomas FRIEND, G/21053, 1st Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 3rd October 1917.

Born Bermondsey, SE, son of James Joseph & Eliza Friend, 7 Paulin Place, Bermondsey, SE

31st March 1907, St Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey, David Thomas Friend, age 19, bachelor, warehouseman, 7 Paulin Place, father James Joseph Friend, sackworker, married Isabella Elizabeth Sherwood, age 19, spinster, sackworker, 7 Camarthen Place, father George Charles Sherwood, leather dresser.

Children - David Joseph Friend, born 11th September 1907, Bermondsey; Henry Albert Friend, born 23rd February 1910, Bermondsey; John Eli Friend, born 11th January 1913, Bermondsey; Edward Stephen Friend, born 31st July 1915.

1911 Census - 7 Paulin Place, Bermondsey, SE - Eliza Friend, head, age 59, widow, 15 children, 6 still alive, born City of London; David Friend, son, age 23, married, porter railway, goods station, born Bermondsey; Isabella Friend, age 23, daughter in law, married 4 years, 3 children, 2 still alive, tester, tin works, born Bermondsey; Amy Friend, daughter, age 21, single, packer, provisions merchant, born Bermondsey; David Friend, grandson, age 3, born Bermondsey; Henry Friend, grandson, age 1, born Bermondsey; George Gilbert, boarder, age 19, single, shedman, leather manufacturer, born Walworth.

Enlisted London, Middlesex, age 27 years & 11 days, height 5ft 4½ inches, weight 119lbs, sallow complexion, brown eyes, brown hair, scar left wrist & forearm tattoo FLBR?. Formerly leather tanner.

Home 2nd September 1914 to 25th July 1915; BEF 26th July 1915 to 3rd October 1917.

2nd September 1914, enlisted & posted Depot, Middlesex Regiment, Service No.3354; 5th September 1914, posted 12th Middlesex Regiment; 12th January 1915, Colchester, not complying with an order; 31st January 1915, Colchester, absent from 12.00 midnight until10.00pm on 1st February; 21st February 1915, Colchester, improperly dressed on Church Parade; 11th April 1915, Colchester, absent until 7.00am 14th April 1915, forfeits 3 days pay; 25th July 1915, embarked; 15th September 1916, transferred to Royal West Kent Regiment & posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 25th November 1916, 14 Field Ambulance, PUO, to Casualty Clearing Station; 8th December 1916, Etaples, 40 Infantry Base Depot; 15th December 1916, joined Battalion; 16th March 1917, 14 Field Ambulance, JCT foot, to 2/3 Lancs Field Ambulance; 19th March 1917 to 33 Casualty Clearing Station; 28th March 1917, rejoined Battalion, "B" Company; 7th April 1917, Boulogne, to Transportation Troops Depot; 16th April 1917, transferred to Royal Engineers; 17th April 1917, posted Sapper, 298th Railway Company, Royal Engineers, platelayer, proficient, Service No.247934; 25th August 1917, re-transferred for the benefit of the Service to 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 5th September 1917, Etaples, 40 Infantry Base Depot; 24th September 1917, rejoined Battalion, "B" Company.

29th April 1918, pension of 31/3 a week awarded to widow & five children.

1st June 1920, Statement of Relatives - Widow, Isabella Elizabeth Friend, 11 Bantry Place, Spa Road, Bermondsey; Children - David Joseph Friend; Henry Albert Friend; John Eli Friend; Edward Stephen Friend; Brothers - James Andrew Friend, age 41, 87 Hanworth, Road?; ????? Friend, age 39, Spa Road, Bermondsey; Sisters - Mrs Jane? Rowe?, age 37, 11 Bantry Place, Spa Road, Bermondsey; Harriet Norman, age 35, 14 Vauban? Street?, Bermondsey; Amy? Friend, age 30, 92 Enid? Street, Bermondsey.

13th February 1921, widow living at U Block, 266 Guinness Buildings, Pages Walk, Bermondsey. SE.

Commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial, Panel 106 to 108, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen. Belgium.

This page was last updated on 14-Feb-2019.