The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Major P Hastings

Warrior Chapel, St Mary's Church, St Mary's Road, Wimbledon, Merton, Greater London

Photograph by "Mary-Ann Turnbull"

Major Percy HASTINGS, 1st Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died of wounds, received in action, at Crepy-en-Valois, France, 2nd September 1914, age 41.

Born 5th October 1872, Wandsworth, eldest son of William Smith & Constance Hastings of 2 The Grange, Wimbledon, SW.

Two sisters & two brothers.

Resided Dry Hill Road, Tonbridge, Kent.

7th March 1894, Gazetted Second Lieutenant; 25th March 1896, promoted Lieutenant; 16th July 1902, promoted Captain; 21st March 1912, promoted Major.

Served on the North West Frontier of India 1897-98, (medal with Clasp).

1909 September Quarter, Stourbridge Registration District, married Kathleen Hatton, of Great Bealings, Suffolk.

1911 Census - Moonda, London Road, Tonbride, Kent - Percy Hastings, head, age 38, married, Captain in Army, born Wandsworth, Surrey; Kathleen Hastings, wife, age 26, married 1 year, 1 child, born Hagley, Worcestershire; Laura Ann Hobbs, servant, age 43, married 15 years, 1 child, not alive, cook, born Tunbridge Wells; Fanny Brewer, servant, age 26, single, parlour maid, born Brighton, Sussex; Grace Relf, servant, age 28, single, nurse, born Mayfield, Sussex; Diana Hastings, daughter, age 11 months, born Tonbridge, Kent; Juliet Hastings, sister, age 35, single, born Streatham, London, SW.

**26th April 1913, born Dublin, Ireland, son Mark Hastings.

15th August 1914, posted BEF.

6th January 1915, Probate - Percy Hastings of 4 Longfield Terrace, North Circular Road, Dublin Major in Royal West Kent Regiment, died 2nd September 1914, at Bethancourt, France. Probate London 6th January to Kathleen Hastings, widow, Clement Hastings no occupation & Ernest Edward Bird, Solicitor. Effects £8678 2s 1d.

Buried at Perreuse Chateau Franco British National Cemetery, 1. C. 4., France. Commemorated at Charterhouse School, Godlaming, Surrey.

Commemorated - In Warrior Chapel, St Mary's Church, St Mary's Road, Wimbledon, Merton, Greater London, SW19 7BP; Inscription - PERCY HASTINGS/MAJOR/1ST BATTN. QUEEN'S OWN/ROYAL WEST KENT REGT./DIED OF WOUNDS AT / BETHANCOURT FRANCE/SEPTEMBER 2ND 1914/AGED 41 YEARS/

** Mark Hastings, Squadron Leader Royal Air Force 77 Bomber Squadron. (Whitley Mk.Vs) Driffield, Yorkshire Shot down during a raid on Frankfurt in Whitley P4948 29 June 1940 Crew of 5 all lost. Son of Major Percy Hastings (Royal West Kents) and Kathleen Hastings of Great Bealings Suffolk. Aged 27. Buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany. Commemorated at Langton Matravers, Malthouse School War Memorial, Dorset.

Newspaper report - HASTINGS - On June 29 1940 reported missing, after night flying operations over Germany, now officially presumed killed. Squadron Leader Mark Hastings, RAF, dearly loved only son of the late Major Percy Hastings, Royal West Kent Regiment, and of Mrs Hastings, Tong, Shifnal, Shropshire and beloved brother of Diana Longe, aged 27. A memorial Service will be held in Tong Church on Sunday February 16, 1941, at 12 noon.

This page was last updated on 13-Oct-2025.