The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private A J Rayson


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Private Alfred James RAYSON (alias Alfred James HUMPHREY), L/10444, 1st Battalion,  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, death presumed on or after, 22nd July 1916.

31st May 1895, born Hunton, Maidstone, Kent, son of  Elizabeth Ann Humphrey.

Enlisted  Chatham, Kent, age 19 years & 181 days, height 5ft 7½ inches, weight 112lbs. Resided Broad Oak Hill, Woodstock, Sittingbourne, Kent. Formerly general labourer.

Home 20th August 1914 to 1st February 1915; BEF 2nd February 1915 to 22nd July 1916.

20th August 1914, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 22nd January 1915, Fort Tilbury, absent from 6.30 until apprehended in London at 11.30pm, awarded 14 days Field Punishment No.2. by Commanding Officer for absence; 2nd February 1915, posted BEF & 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 3rd February 1915, 5 Infantry Base Depot; 15th February 1915, joined Battalion, In the Field; 8th February 1916, deprived of 21 days pay;


27th April 1916, Statutory Declaration by No. - "I No.10444 Alfred James Rayson, now serving as a Private in the 1st Royal West Kents, do solemnly and sincerely declare that I was enlisted on 28th day of August 1914, under the name of Alfred James Rayson, which name I now declare to be my correct name but which I desire to change to that of Alfred James Humphrey. Humphrey being the name of my adoptive father. I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the provisions of an Act made and passed in the sixth year of the reign of King William the Fourth, Chap.62, entitle the "Statutory Declarations Act" 1835. 

Declared before me at Head Quarters, III Army, British Expeditionary Force, France, this twenty sixth day of April 1916. - Adrian Clark, Captain AAG, Third Army, Commissionor for Oaths.

This change of name being made on active service it was impracticable to make it by Deed Poll - Adrian Clark, Captain.


22nd July 1916, posted missing.

25th March 1920, Statement of Relatives - Father, Walter Humphrey, age 65, Stile Bridge, Marden, Kent; Mother, E A Humphrey, age 63, Stile Bridge, Marden, Kent; Brothers - G D  Humphrey, age 23, High Street, Sittingbourne, Kent; Sisters - Charlotte E Robinson, age 36, High Street, Hoo, Rochester, Kent; Edith C Ellen, age 35,  High Street, Hoo, Rochester, Kent; Minnie E Rairon?, age 32, County? Lane, Wareham, Dorset; Florence E Adams, age 30, Mill Lane, Eastry, Dover, Kent; Beatrice A Humphrey, age 22, Maidstone, Kent; Dorothy E? Humphrey, age 11, Stile Bridge, Marden, Kent; Grandparent, May A  Hardinge, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent;  Aunts - Mrs H Baker, North? Street, Cowden, Kent; Mrs H Smithers, High Street, Cowden, Kent; Mrs M Ashby,  North? Street, Cowden, Kent; Mrs T? Richardson, Tooley? Street, London Bridge, (sister of Elizabeth A Humphrey, before marriage).

Commemorated at Thiepval Memorial, Pier & Face 11C, France.


London Gazette 30th April 1918.

SOLDIERS' BALANCES UNDISPOSED OF.

In pursuance of "The Regimental Debts Act, 1893," notice is hereby given that there is available for distribution amongst the Next of Kin or others entitled the sum of money set opposite to the name of each of the deceased Soldiers named in the lists which are published with this notice in the London Gazette and the "Army List," and are also to be seen at the Regimental Depots throughout the United Kingdom.

Applications from persons supposing themselves entitled as Next of Kin should be addressed by letter to "The Secretary, War Office, Park Buildings, St. James's Park, London, S.W.," and marked outside "Effects."

R. H. BRADE. War Office, April 30, 1918.

List CCCCCXII of the Names of deceased Soldiers whose Personal Estate is held for distribution amongst the Next of Kin or others entitled.—Effects 1917-18.

Rayson A J. (alias Humphrey A.J.), Private, Royal West Kent Regiment,               £1     19s    11d


This page was last updated on 09-Aug-2021.

Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason