The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private H W Vallins

Private Henry William VALLINS, 240466, (1979) 2nd Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, (formerly 1st / 5th Battalion), Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died, Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, 31st July 1916, age 32.

Born Bromley, Kent, son of Frederick and Sarah Eliza Vallins, of 42, Bromley Crescent, Bromley, Kent.

1911 Census - 57 Southlands Road, Bromley, Kent - Frederick Vallins, head, age 58, married, general labourer, worker, born Bromley, Kent; Sarah Vallins, wife, age 59, married 39 years, 8 children, 7 still alive, born Limehouse, London; Henry Vallins, son, age 24, single, gardener, domestic, worker, born Bromley, Kent; Ada Vallins, daughter, age 24, single, dressmaker, worker, born Bromley, Kent.

Enlisted Bromley, Kent, age 28. Resided 57 Southlands Road, Bromley, Kent. Formerly gardener.

Home 8th August 1914 to 28th October 1914; 29th October 1914 to ?????; Mesopotamian Infantry Force "D" 22nd August 1915 to 29th March 1917.

8th August 1914, enlisted & posted 1st / 5th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 18th September 1914, appointed Lance Corporal; 14th August 1915, reverts to Private; 29th August 1915, posted Asiatic Force.

13th April 1918, War Office to Infantry Records - "A postcard addressed to No.240466 (1979) L/Cpl H Vallins, 1/5th Royal West Kent Regiment, arrached 2nd Battalion, Prisoner of War in Turkey, was returned from Turkey, with an endorsement to the effect that Vallins was deceased. The relatives were informed that no confirmation of this statement had been received, and that, pending the result of further enquiry, it would not be accepted as correct for official purposes. They should now be informed that enquiries in Turkey have produced no indication that L/Cpl Vallins is still living; and that in view of the fact that he has never been reported by the Government of Turkey as having reached any of the Internment Camps of that country, and has apparently never communicated with his relatives since the fall of Kut, it is feared that there no longer be any reason to question the accuracy of the endorsement on the returned postcard; and it has, accordingly , been accepted for official purposes. Non effective documents should now be prepared, the date of death being taken as "between 29.4.16 and 29.3.17."

24th April 1918, Presumed Prisoner of War, unofficially reported died whilst a Prisoner of War, captured at Ku-al-Amara 29.4.16.

Statement of Relatives - Widow, none; Children, none; Father, Frederick Vallins, 57 Southlands Road, Bromley, Kent; Mother, Sara Eliza Vallins, 57 Southlands Road, Bromley, Kent; Brothers- George Albert Vallins, age 40, 42 Ba ?????; Sisters - Sarah Elizabeth Hampton, age 46, 157 Manor ?????; Annie Maria Steer, age 44, Lyndhurst ???????; Matilda Warner, age 42, 4 Bickley ????; Minnie E Payne, age 38, 1 Hilby? Cottrage, ?????.Grandparents, none; Nephews / Nieces, none; Uncles / Aunts, none.

Commemorated at Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Islahie Memorial. 217., Iraq. Commemorated on Bromley War Memorial.

NOTE: Regimental History and Soldiers Died in the Great War both show service No. as 240466; CWGC shows 1979.

This page was last updated on 16-Dec-2022.