The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private S Townsend

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Private Sy(i)dney TOWNSEND, G/607, 6th Battalion,  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment,  died of wounds, (gun shot wound, buttock & right thigh), 1 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, Flanders France, 9th April 1918.

Born Bromley, Kent, son of Richard & Caroline Townsend, 21 Hawkesworth Road, Bromley, Kent.

1911 Census - 21 Hawkesworth Road, Bromley, Kent - Caroline Townsend, head, age 46, widow, married 27 years, 12 children, 11 still alive, domestic, at home, born Bishopstone, Sussex; John Townsend, son, age 19, brewers carman, worker, born Bromley, Kent; Sidney Townsend, son, age 17, carpenters labourer, worker, born Bromley, Kent; Rowland Townsend, son, age 15, gardener domestic, worker, born Bromley, Kent; Alexander Townsend, son, age 13, born Bromley, Kent; Charlotte Townsend, daughter, age 8, born Bromley, Kent; Harold Townsend, son, age 6, born Bromley, Kent; Fred Sanson, boarder, age 21, gardener domestic, worker, born Dorchester, Dorset; George Wilkins, boarder, age 17, bricklayer, worker, born Horsham, Sussex; William Wilkins, boarder,age 16, labourer building, born Horsham, Sussex.

Enlisted Bromley, Kent, age 21, height 5ft 10¾ inches, weight 143lbs, fresh complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair, scar left eyebrow, scar right elbow, scar left shoulder, scar left shoulder blade. Formerly painter.

Home, 29th August 1914 to 31st May 1915; BEF, 1st June 1915 to 9th April 1918.

29th August 1914, enlisted; 30th August 1914, joined Battalion at Bromley; 1st September 1914, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 3rd September 1914, posted 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 14th May 1915, appointed unpaid Lance Corporal; 1st June 1915, embarked; 6th October 1915, wounded, gun shot wound face (nose); 14th October 1915, 12th Divisional Infantry Base Depot, joined for Duty; 30th October 1915, rejoined Battalion; 2nd March 1916, reverts to Private at own request; 15th March 1916, wounded at duty, slight; 20th March 1916, attached 12th Divisional School of Instruction for Stoke Mortar Course; 24th March 1916, rejoined Battalion; 21st October to 31st October 1917, leave to England; 5th April 1918, wounded in action; 7th April 1918, 1 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, gun shot wound, buttock & right thigh.

14th October 1918, date when Separation Allowance of 8/9 a week payable to mother will cease.

7th July 1919, Statement of Relatives - Widow, none; Father, none; Mother, Caroline Townsend, age 57, 21 Hawkesworth Road, Bromley; Brothers - Richard Townsend, age 33, 49 Cooper Road, Bromley; Oliver Townsend, age 31, 26 Herbert Road, Bromley; Ernest Townsend, age 29, 58 Purbross Road, Brixton; Roland Townsend, age 24, 21 Hawksworth Road, Bromley; Alexander Townsend, age 22, 21 Hawksworth Road, Bromley; Edwin Townsend, age 18, 58 Purbross Road, Brixton; Harold Townsend, age 15, 21 Hawksworth Road, Bromley; Sisters - Martha Sansom, age 35, 3 Newbury Road, Bromley.

Buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, XXXIII. F. 12A., Pas de Calais, France. Commemorated on Bromley War Memorial.