The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Lance Corporal A E Wightman

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Lance Corporal Arthur Ernest WIGHTMAN, G/12479, 8th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment,  killed in action, Flanders France, death presumed on or after, 21st March 1918.

Born Stockton, Wiltshire, son of Walter & Jane Ellen Wightman.

20th March 1887, Stockton, Wiltshire, baptism of Arthur Ernest Wightman, son of Walter, (coachman), & Ellen Wightman.

1911 Census - Henry VIII Inn, Hever, Kent - Walter Wightman, head, age 70, married, publican, own account, born Great Thornham, Suffolk; Ellen Wightman, wife, age 60, married 33 years, 5 children, all still alive, born Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk; Arthur Ernest Wightman, son  age 23, single, barman, worker, born Stockton, Wiltshire; Leslie George Ball, grandson, age 5, born London; Julia Mitchell, servant, age 38, single, general servant, born Ruckinge, Kent; Albert Baldwin, boarder, age 25, single, ostler, worker, born Heathfield, Sussex.

Enlisted Edenbridge, Kent, age 29 years & 60 days, height 5ft 9½ inches, weight 155lbs, defective teeth.  Resided Henry VIII Inn, Hever, Kent / 179 Leavesden Road, Watford, Hertfordshire. Formerly barman.

Home 8th December 1915 to 15th June 1916; BEF 16th June 1916 to 21st March 1918.

8th December 1915, enlisted; 8th December 1915, to Army Reserve; 1st March 1916, mobilized; 3rd March 1916, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 16th June 1916, posted BEF & 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 22nd August 1917, appointed unpaid Lance Corporal; 13th December 1917, appointed paid Lance Corporal; 21st March 1918, posted missing.

2nd December 1918, date when Allotment of Pay of 5/7 a week payable to mother will cease.

27th August 1919, Statement of Relatives - Widow, none; Children, none; Father, none; Mother, Ellen Wightman, 179 Leavesden Road, Watford, Hertfordshire; Brothers - None; Sisters - Ellen Mabel Wightman, age 40, 441 London Road, Thornton, Hertfordshire; Ethel Hun, age 39, 24 Burney Street, Greenwich, South London; Myrtle Ball, age 37, 179 Leavesden Road, Watford, Hertfordshire.

Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial, Panel 58 and 59, Somme, France & on War Memorial, St Peters Church, Hever, Kent.