The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private W A Read

Inscription - BELOVED, IF GOD SO LOVED US WE OUGHT ALSO TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER 1 JOHN IV.11.

Photograph by "Paul Narramore"

Private William Alfred READ, 648, Depot, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died, 24th June 1917, age 27.

Born at Kemsing, Sevenoaks, Kent, son of Alfred and Mary Ann Read, of 1, Alma Place, Bell Lane, Ditton, Maidstone, Kent.

1911 Census - 2 Ferndale, Bell Lane, Ditton, Maidstone, Kent - Alfred Read, head, age 56, married, nurseryman, nurseryman, worker, born Wilton, Wiltshire; Mary Read, wife, age 55, married 22 years, 3 children, all still alive, born Edmonton, Wiltshire; William Read, son, age 21, single, nurseryman, nurseryman, worker, born Kemsing, Kent; Frederick Read, son, age 19, single, printing general, general printing, worker, born Larkfield, Kent; Florence Read, daughter, age 13, school, born Ditton, Kent.

1st September 1914, enlisted; Foreign Service - 1st June 1915; 26th January 1916; 29th June 1916; 13th November 1916.

13th November 1916, Napsbury, Chronic Abscess Tubercule; 17th November 1916, Napsbury, several Abscess incised; 10th May 1917, Napsbury, ischiorectal abscess.

29th May 1917, Medical Report on an Invalid - Disability, Chronic Abscess Tubercular; 13th November 1915, Armenterres, Somme, origin; Swelling appeared about middle of October 15 over saezum? while on Duty with his Regiment which was engaged on the Somme offensive - admitted Napsbury November 13th with J?B? abscess over saezum? Operation November 17th, Pus evacuated - stitched. Healed by 1st intentention? but in two weeks broke down. Since which time he has hjad a successions of abscesses, right ankle, in rectal sheath, left wrist, buttock & ischiorectal abscess which pointed? through rectum; Disability, tuberculosis; Cause - Active Service in the trenches around Loos etc the proceeding Winter - Soldier was a strong you gardener according to his own statement when he was examined on joining - He has never been ill in his life except laid up one week with influenza years ago - & therte is no bad family history; Present condition - quite emaciated & steadily failing. Examination shows a discharging ischiorectal abscess right - another abscess about to point? in right buttock & scars of the abscesses referred to above. It is evident that sanatorium open air treatment is emphatically indicated.

31st May 1917, discharge to a Sanatorium approved.

21st June 1917, discharged as "no longer physically fit for War Service" due to sickness Silver War Badge issued. Served Overseas.

At time of Discharge, age 27 years & 8 months, height 5ft 6½ inches, freckled complexion, greenish grey eyes, light auburn hair, formerly gardener. Military character very good, honest & sober, gardener on enlistment. Total Incapacity. Pension awarded of 27/6 a week for 26 weeks conditional.

17th July 1917, Silver War Badge returned as owner deceased.

Buried at Ditton (St Peter) Churchyard, North West part, United Kingdom. Commemorated on Ditton War Memorial.

NOTE: Not included in Regimental History, or Soldiers Died in the Great War; but shown on CWGC web site.

This page was last updated on 14-Aug-2021.