The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private R Eley


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Private Roger ELEY, G/16706,  6th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, death assumed as on or after 3rd May 1917.

Born East Sutton, Kent.


1911 Census - Divers Farm, East Sutton, Kent - Eli Eley, head, age 64, married, farm labourer, born East Sutton, Kent; Sarah Eley, wife, age 63, married 40 years, 7 children, 6 still alive, born East Sutton, Kent; Percy Eley, son, age 35, general labourer, born East Sutton, Kent; Roger Eley, son, age 34, gardener, born East Sutton, Kent.


4th September 1912, Maidstone, Kent, married Edith Reynolds, spinster.

Enlisted  Maidstone, Kent, age 38 years & 165 days, height 5ft 10½ inches. Resided 7 Milton Street, Maidstone, Kent / 28 Rawdon Road, Maidstone, Kent. Formerly stoker.

Home 11th December 1915 to 31st December 1916; 1st January 1917 to 3rdMay 1917.

11th December 1915, enlisted; 12th December 1915, to Army Reserve; 22nd July 1916, mobilized; 25th July 1916, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st January 1917, posted BEF & 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 3rd May 1917, posted missing.

27th June 1917, letter from widow, Edith Eley -  "I have received information from friends residing in this town that my husband Pte R Eley 16706 6th Royal West Kent Regiment was killed on the 3rd May. A friend of mine has written to his mother stating that a Corporal with whom my husband was in the same draft, saw him killed. I should certainly like this statement verified. It has been a suspense to me since I heard from The War Office on the 6th June reporting my husband missing since May 3rd.Will you kindly see into this matter nad give me a definite answer."

4th July 1917, letter from widow, Edith Eley -  "Yours to hand. Many thanks. The soldier who gave  information that my husband was killed was Cpl Soane,  D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, I did not receive this news direct from Cpl Soane but through a friend who informed him."

Commemorated at Arras Memorial, Bay 7, Pas de Calais, France.

External link to East Sutton Roll of Honour


This page was last updated on 31-Oct-2018.

Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason