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Acrise School

The parish of Acrise to the north of Folkestone is shown as Acryse on some

data sources, and in the Doomsday Book it is recorded as Acres. Acrise Public

Elementary Mixed School was built in 1875 at a cost of £1,100 and was

enlarged in 1908 for 88 pupils. In 1920 the memorial plaque shown above was

originally erected in the school, and was unveiled by General Sir William

Henry Mackinnon, G.C.B., K.C.V.O. The school has subsequently been

converted into a residential dwelling, and the plaque was removed and

relocated at the Village Hall, Swingfield Minnis in January 1959, since which

time it has been moved and reerected in the parish church of St. Martin,

Acrise, Folkestone, Kent. The inscription above those commemorated says:-

IN PROUD AND HONOURED MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING

SCHOLARS OF THIS SCHOOL WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING

AND COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR

Below the names of the nine former scholars of the school is the inscription:-

"THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE"

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Attached to the memorial plaque is an additional plaque, which unlike some

others seen, it is wholly in keeping with the original plaque and is inscribed:-

THE ABOVE PLATE WAS REMOVED FROM ACRYSE SCHOOL GIFT OF

J. E. ELDRIDGE UNVEILED BY SIR HENRY MACKINNON DECEMBER

1920 GIVES GREAT PLEASURE TO HAVE IT ERECTED IN THIS HALL

JANUARY 1959

The above inscription is clearly making reference to the time of the memorial

plaque being relocation to the Village Hall, Swingfield Minnis. Thanks are

due to Theresa A. Hoad for very kindly providing the above photograph for

inclusion here, and to Liam J. Scullion for assisting with the transcriptions.

The Great War 1914 -1919

ATKINS, WILLIAM. Private, G/9807. 6th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Friday 4 August 1916. Aged 25. Born Ottinge, Elham, Kent. Enlisted Folkestone, Kent. Resided Swingfield, Dover, Kent. Son of Thomas Atkins and Charlotte Atkins (née Dawkins) of Smallden Cottage, Wooton, Canterbury, Kent. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 5D, and on the Swingfield, Kent Great War parish tribute. When the 1901 census was conducted, the Atkins family lived at Hood Farm, Acrise, Kent. Head of the house was 46 year old Northbourne, Kent native Thomas Atkins, who was employed as a Shepherd on a Farm. At the time of the 1911 census, 20 year old William was employed as a Waggoner, and was residing as a boarder at Gibbletore Lodge, Wootton, Canterbury, Kent. Head of the house was 33 year old Denton, Canterbury, Kent native Joseph Deal who was employed as a Farm Labourer. On the evening of Thursday 3 August 1916 the 6th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) prepared to take part in an attack, during the fighting on the Pozières Ridge near the village of Thiepval on the Somme. The battalions’ objective being a trench system of enemy strong points called “Ration Trench”, zero hour was set for 23.15 hours, but just over two hours prior to the battalion going on the offensive enemy artillery bombarded their trenches, fortunately some French gunners were quick of the mark and returned fire with gas shells which silenced the German artillery and doubtlessly saved the lives of some of the waiting Buffs, eventually the attack was launched at the planned time, after successfully attacking, capturing and consolidating their gains following the action the battalion were relieved and retired to Martinsart Wood where a roll call was taken which revealed that the battalion had lost 4 officers and 114 men in this action. Following his death, William was initially recorded as missing, but in March 1917 the Army Council made the decision that for official purposes it was too be assumed that he had died on 4 August 1916.

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BAILEY, SIDNEY JOHN. Private, G/7643. 7th (Service) Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died Thursday 28 September 1916. Aged 25. Born Arpinge, Folkestone, Kent. Enlisted and resided Rye, Sussex. Son of Shadrach Henry Bailey and Eliza Bailey (née Thompson) of Aldington Villas, Station Road, Lyminge, Folkestone, Kent. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 5 D and 6 D, also on the Lyminge, Folkestone, Kent civic war memorial, and in the Great War Book of Remembrance at The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment War Memorial, Holy Trinity Church, Guildford, Surrey. At the time of the 1911 census, Sidney was residing at Horton Park, Monks Horton, Stanford, Hythe, Kent and was employed as a Dairyman. Head of the house was Sidney’s 24 year old brother Thomas Henry Bailey, who was a fellow native of Arpinge and employed as a Cowman. During the Great War, Thomas served in the Army Service Corps having enlisted at Dover, Kent on Wednesday 22 December 1915 ‘For the Duration of the War.’ When he enlisted, Thomas’ home address was 173, High Street, Cheriton, Folkestone, Kent. On Saturday 1 July 1916 during the first day of the ‘Battle of the Somme 1916,’ Sidney’s battalion which was in the 55th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division fought at the village of Montauban, which resulted in 7 officers and 174 other ranks being killed in action, 9 officers and 284 other ranks wounded plus 58 being posted as missing. The battalion held the line until Monday 3 July, when it moved back to Bronfay Wood. On Wednesday 12 July the 55th Brigade was moved into the front line near Trônes Wood, and was detailed to capture the wood the next day. At Trônes Wood the battalion lost 4 officers and 22 other ranks, 7 officers and 150 men were wounded, plus 2 officers and 44 men posted as missing. The battalion was withdrawn from the line for re-enforcement, and 315 men arriving in mid July. Following a spell of training on a relatively quiet area of the Western Front near the town of Armentières, Nord, France on Friday 8 September 1916 the 7th (Service) Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) returned to fight on the Somme battlefield. On Thursday 26 September the 55th Brigade waited in readiness, as other brigades of the 18th (Eastern) Division attacked at the village of Thiepval, who suffered heavy casualties, the result of which was the Sidney’s battalion being attached to the 53rd Brigade. On Thursday 28 September, Sidney’s battalion took part in a costly attack on the German position the Schwaben Redoubt, which was a strongpoint constructed near the village of Thiepval. The initial casualty roll for the battalion recorded that 1 officer and 45 other ranks had been killed in action, in addition to which 10 officers and 252 other ranks were shown as wounded and 87 other ranks posted as missing, with Sidney being amongst those recorded amongst those in the latter category of casualty. A revised final casualty roll recorded the deaths of Captain Henry Lloyd Martin and 96 other ranks, of the 97 who lost their lives, 59 have no known graves and are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Having initially been posted as ‘Missing,’ subsequently the Army Council made the decision that for official purposes, it was to be assumed that Sidney and the others recorded who had been recorded as ‘Missing’ had died all died on or after 28 September 1916.

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ELDRIDGE, THEODORE THOMAS STEPHEN. Private, 3137. 1/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry. Died Thursday 30 December 1915. Aged 32. Born Brede, Sussex. Enlisted Canterbury, Kent. Resided Folkestone, Kent. Son of Thomas Edgar Eldridge and Catherine Eldridge (née Dive) of "The Nest," Swingfield, Dover, Kent. Husband of Alice Eldridge (née Setterfield) of "The Homestead," Hoad Corner, Swingfield, Dover, Kent. Commemorated at Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery, Turkey. Special Memorial C. 357, and on the Folkestone, Kent, civic war memorial. Formerly 99116, Royal Field Artillery. Although Theodore was a native of Brede, Sussex, he had not lived at Brede for very long as when the 1891 census was conducted the Eldridge family resided at Ridge Row, Acrise, where 44 year old Guestling, Hastings, Sussex native Thomas Edgar Eldridge, who was employed as a Carpenter was recorded by the enumerator as being the head of the house. Theodore’s marriage to Alice Setterfield was recorded in the Elham, Kent, Registration District during the third quarter of 1908. At the time of the 1911 census, 26 year old Theodore was recorded as being the head of the house at 10, Dudley Road, Folkestone, Kent, and was employed as a Police Constable. When he enlisted in the army on Monday 31 May 1915 ‘For the Duration of the War,’ Theodore stated that he was 31 years old, married and employed as a Shoeing Smith, and residing at 10, Dudley Road, Folkestone, Kent. He was attested to serve in the Royal Field Artillery which he joined at Woolwich on the day after enlisting. After serving for only 6 days at No. 4 Depot, Royal Field Artillery at Woolwich, Theodore was discharged from the army due to “Not likely to become an efficient soldier.” The term not likely to become an efficient soldier, was used to cover a multitude of reasons for the discharge of other ranks from the army during the Great War and at other times, in Theodore’s case it was due to his skill level as a Shoeing Smith being below the high standard required by the British army at the time. He took a trade test as a Shoeing Smith at The Station Veterinary Hospital at No.4 Depot, Royal Field Artillery at Woolwich. Bearing in mind that Theodore was serving as a Police Constable when the 1911 census was conducted, it would seem likely that his time spent working as a Shoeing Smith prior to enlisting in the army was of only a short duration. Following his discharge Theodore subsequently enlisted in the Royal East Kent Yeomanry. The date of Theodore’s death is of particular significance to the 1/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry, as during the night of Thursday 30 December 1915, its survivors of Gallipoli were evacuated from the peninsular, departing from “V” Beach under the cover of darkness. From the time that the1/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry had arrived at Lemnos Harbour onboard the 46,439 ton SS Olympic on Friday 1 October 1915, several of its officers and other ranks had contacted various diseases, notably Enteritis, and that some deaths suffered by the1/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry were due to disease, as opposed to the actions of the soldiers of the Ottoman Empire. At the time of his death, Theodore’s home address was recorded as being at 10, Dudley Road, Folkestone, Kent.

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FAGG, J. No matching trace of this casualty has been accessed as he or she has been commemorated on the Acrise School memorial plaque. Only two Great War casualties are commemorated as J. Fagg by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, they were John Richard Fagg of the West Kent Yeomanry (Queen's Own). John was born, enlisted and resided at Maidstone, Kent, which is also where he is at rest. The other casualty was John Thomas Fagg of the 6th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). He was born and resided at Goodnestone, Kent and enlisted at Canterbury, Kent. There are a number of reasons why it has not been possible to positively identify the casualty commemorated at Acrise. It is possible that for a variety of reasons he or she had served in the Great War whilst using an alias. Another possibility is that the casualty was known locally by all and sundry by a name or names (usually a forename) other than that which he or she had since birth. The latter form of variation was, and still is particularly prevalent when a son had/has the same forename or forenames as their father. Adding to the difficulty trying to positively identify the correct person commemorated, is the fact that the Acrise Public Elementary Mixed School whilst quite small, in addition to Acrise residents it appeared to have had at various time children from the nearby parishes of Swingfield, Paddlesworth, Arpinge, Selsted, Whitegate, and Denton. Hopefully, the above casualty is not numbered amongst the thousands of men, women and children that are still not commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as being victims of the two world wars. HAMBROOK, ASHTON JAMES. Sapper, Deal/1293(S). Royal Marines, 3rd Field Company, Divisional Engineers, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. Died Thursday 18 November 1915. Aged 35 Born Acrise, Folkestone, Kent on Saturday 29 May 1880. Son of Frederick Hambrook and Ann Hambrook (née Smith). Husband of Emily Hambrook (née Marsh) of the Red Lion Hotel, Denton, Canterbury, Kent. Buried Pieta Military Cemetery, Pieta Northern Harbour, Malta, G.C. Grave Ref: D. VII. 4. When the 1881 census was conducted, the Hambrook family resided at Brandred Farm, Acrise. Head of the house was 33 year old Lyminge, Kent native Frederick Hambrook, who was a Farmer of 245 acres employing 4 men and a boy. It was seem likely that the census address was also where Ashton was actually born. The marriage of Ashton to Emily Marsh was recorded in the Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, Registration District during the second quarter of 1910. At the time of the 1911 census, Ashton was the head of the house at 7, Burlington Street Barry Dock, Glamorgan, Wales, and was employed as a Silksman. Also recorded by the enumerator as being at home on the night of the census was 30 year old Canterbury, Kent native Emily Hambrook, and 7 month old Barry, Glamorgan, Wales native Reginald Hambrook. Ashton enlisted in the Royal Marines on Tuesday 9 March 1915. He was in a Draft for the 3rd Field Company, Divisional Engineers, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, Royal Marines on Monday 4 October

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1915 for service with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. Ashton joined his unit on Wednesday 27 October 1915. On Tuesday 16 November 1915 he was admitted as a patient at St. George's Military Hospital, Malta, where at 09.00 hours two days later he died from Dysentery. Prior to residing at the Red Lion Hotel, Denton, Ashton’s wife had lived at 2, Cross Roads, Upper Walmer, Kent, which is probably where his family was living when Ashton had enlisted in the Royal Marines.

HART, CHARLES. Private, G/23525. 6th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Tuesday 3 October 1917. Aged 41. Born Acrise, Folkestone, Kent. Enlisted and resided Folkestone, Kent. Son of Thomas Hart and Lucy Hart. Husband of Florence Elizabeth Hart (née Claringbowl) of 17, Stuart Road, Dover Road, Folkestone, Kent. Buried Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy-le-Preux, Pas de Calais, France.

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Grave Ref: I. N. 9. Also commemorated on the Folkestone, Kent civic war memorial. Charles’ marriage to Ramsgate, Isle of Thanet Kent native Florence Elizabeth Claringbowl was recorded in the Elham, Kent, Registration District during the fourth quarter of 1901. At the time of the 1911 census, Charles was recorded by the enumerator as being the head of the house at 17, Stuart Road, Dover Road, Folkestone, Kent and was employed as a Carpenter. Prior to enlisting in the army, Charles had been employed as a Carpenter by Otto Marx who was a Builder of 73, Penfold Road, Folkestone, and Charles had also worked for another Folkestone Builder; Stephen Thomas Binfield of 227, Dover Road. In addition to his ‘day job’ as a Carpenter, Charles also had a grocery business in Warren Road, Folkestone, where his wife Florence also worked. By marriage, Charles was related to Folkestone North Ward Borough Councillor R. E. Claringbowl. During the morning of Tuesday 3 October 1917, the Headquarters of the 6th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) was lightly shelled by German artillery. An attack to be carried out by the 7th (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment which was in the front line on the left flank of Charles’ battalion, was planned to commence at 12.50 hours on the same day, at which time the weather was fine but misty. Royal Flying Corps airman flying above the trenches of the Wancourt Line, had despite the prevailing mist spotted and quickly reported that a number the German trenches, primarily ‘Badger’ and ‘Beetle’ trenches contained an excessive number of enemy soldiers, who appeared to be massing for an attack, and they also reported that fresh barbed wire entanglements had been put in place by the Germans. Resultant of the aircrews reports, the planned Royal Sussex Regiment attack was cancelled, and was later substituted by heavy artillery bombardments of the German trenches for a full four hours between 14.30 hours and 18.30 hours, with ‘Badger’ and ‘Beetle’ trenches having been designated as prime targets for the guns. Having had only a few minutes notice to prepare for it, the earlier cancelled attack by the Royal Sussex Regiment was commenced at 20.00 hours and was carried out by two patrols of that regiment. Under the cover of a protective artillery barrage, the Royal Sussex Regiment patrols embarked on a raid on an enemy trench complex named ‘Spoon Trench’ but found it to strongly held and due to same was only able to make little headway. Although fortunately none of the raiding parties personnel were killed, but a number of them received wounds, and due to the numerically superior opposition were forced to withdraw having taken one German soldier prisoner. Following the raid by the Royal Sussex Regiment, the enemy artillery then shelled the 37th Brigade front line, when yet again the 7th (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment suffered no fatalities but Charles’ battalion had 33 casualties inflicted on it, including the deaths of an officer and 8 other ranks. Charles and his friend 35 year old former Postman, Henry Cuttress from Aldington, Ashford, Kent had been previously taken to one side by a Company Sergeant Major serving in the their battalion, and were told to assist a when possible Second Lieutenant Phineas Freedman. Serendipity or call it what you will, resulted in Charles, Henry and 24 year old Phineas dying together when their trench received a direct hit by a shell. None of the three apparently suffered

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any cuts etcetera, as they died as the result of the air being sucked away by the exploding shell, and were later found by some of their comrades still sitting upright. The three of them were later laid to rest in adjacent graves at the village of Monchy-le-Preux. Initially the wives of Charles and Henry received news that their husbands had been wounded, but subsequently both received the unwelcome news that their husbands had in fact been killed in action on the Western Front (no location mentioned) on Tuesday 3 October 1917. Headstone photograph shown above is courtesy of Patrick D. Scullion.

HEYMAN, ARCHIE WILLIAM. Private, L/10443. 6th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Monday 14 August 1916. Aged 19. Born and resided Swingfield, Dover, Kent. Enlisted Dover, Kent. Son of William Heyman and Julia Heyman. Buried Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: IX. E. 3A.

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Also commemorated on the Swingfield, Dover, Kent Great War parish tribute which is in the form of a memorial plaque, which is located in the Lych Gate of the redundant parish church of St. Peter. When the 1901 census was conducted, Archie was only 3 years of age, and as such it is possible that the census address was also where he was actually born, it being Frogshall Cottages, Canterbury Road, Swingfield, Dover, Kent. At the time of the 1911 census, the Heyman family resided at Forge Cottage, Acrise, Folkestone, Kent. Head of the house was 55 year old Acrise, Folkestone, Kent native William Heyman who was employed as a Gardener. Archie’s mother was born at Madras, India. Unfortunately, Archie’s army service papers appear to be numbered amongst those which were destroyed during or resultant of an enemy air raid in 1940, but his regimental number is that of a soldier who had enlisted in The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) as a regular soldier early in the Great War, at which time he was probably only 17 year of age. As with virtually ever other casualty that is at rest at Etaples Military Cemetery, Henry died of wounds, which combined with the fact that he was not an a commissioned officer, it has not been possible to add here with any degree of certainty when, where or how he suffered the wounding during the Battle of the Somme from which he subsequently succumbed. Thanks are due to Patrick D. Scullion for providing the photograph above for inclusion here. MARSH, R. No matching trace of this casualty has been accessed as he or she has been commemorated on the Acrise School memorial plaque. Please also see the additional comments appertaining to J. FAGG as for the most part, the same is applicable with this casualty. A total of only 40 R. MARSH Commonwealth Great War casualties are commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, one of which almost certainly the elusive former Acrise Public Elementary Mixed School pupil. Only two Great War R. Marsh casualties with a Kent connection have thus far noted whilst researching, and they are 29 year old Petty Officer, Richard Henry Marsh who was the son of Richard Marsh and Maria Emma Marsh of 3, Railway Buildings, St. Dunstans, Canterbury, Kent. He died on Sunday 9 May 1915 whilst serving as a member of the crew of H.M. Tug Fanny which was lost in an accidental sinking; three ratings were drowned, two of them are buried at Ismailia, near Suez, Egypt. Richard was born at Minster, Isle of Thanet, Kent on Thursday 4 March 1886. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, and the Canterbury, Kent civic war memorial. The other Kent casualty was Richard Marsh, who was serving as Driver T/33168 with the No.1 Depot Company (Aldershot), Army Service Corps when he died on Sunday 9 January 1916 aged 21. Richard was born at the village of Brabourne, Ashford, Kent and enlisted at Canterbury, Kent. He was the son of John Wiliam Marsh and Mary Ann Marsh of Great Rusham Farm, Wingham, Canterbury. Buried Willesborough Cemetery, Church Road, Ashford, Kent. Grave Ref: N.74. It would seem likely that at the time of his death, Richards’ parents were still residing at 81, Kennington Road, Willesborough Lees, Willesborough, Ashford, Kent, which is where the family was living at the time of the 1911 census.

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MAY, WILLIAM. Sergeant, 270065. “B” Company, 10th (Royal East Kent and West Kent Yeomanry) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Tuesday 13 November 1917. Aged 27. Born Acrise, Kent. Son of William May and Emma May of Newlands Farm, Selsted, Dover, Kent. Buried Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Grave Ref: D. 78. Commemorated on his parents grave at St. Peter’s Churchyard, Swingfield, Kent. Formerly Private, 1535, 1/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry. When the 1891 census was conducted, William was only 7 months old and residing at the May family home at Winterage, Elham, Kent. Head of the house was 31 year old Temple Ewell, Dover, Kent native William May (senior) who was recorded by the enumerator as being a Farmer. The 1891 census address was also probably where William (junior) was actually born. The family was recoded as living at the same address at the time of the 1901 census. When the 1911 census was conducted the family was recorded as living at Winterage Farm, Acrise, Folkestone, Kent, and 20 year old William (junior) was employed as a Farm Labourer. Winterage Farm appears to actually be the same location as when the previous two censuses had been conducted. When William arrived in the Balkan war theatre (Gallipoli) on Wednesday 24 September 1915, he was serving as a Sergeant in the 1/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry. He was numbered amongst the officers and other ranks serving in the Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles, who were posted to serve in “B” Company, 10th (Royal East Kent and West Kent Yeomanry) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) on Thursday 1 March 1917. Prior to his death, William had served with the 1/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry at Gallipoli, and had fought in Egypt and Palestine. In the early part of the Great War, Kantara where William is at rest was an important point in the defence of Suez against Turkish attacks, and marked the starting point of the new railway east towards Sinai and Palestine, begun in January 1916. Kantara developed into a major base and hospital centre and the Kantara War Memorial Cemetery was begun in February 1916 for burials from the various hospitals, continuing in use until late 1920. After the Armistice, the cemetery was more than doubled in size when graves were brought in from other cemeteries and several of the desert battlefields, notably those at Rumani, Qatia, El Arish and Rafa. The date of death for William as shown above, is that shown on his Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemoration, but it was noted by the transcriber of these brief tributes that on some of the data sources accessed when researching, that William’s date of death is shown as being on Wednesday 31 October 1917 during the ‘Battle of Beersheba.’ As all of the 13 other ranks in the 10th (Royal East Kent and West Kent Yeomanry) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) who fell on Wednesday 31 October 1917 during the battle, are all at rest at Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel, William was probably wounded on the day that they fell, and succumbed to his wounds in hospital at Kantara, Egypt on Tuesday 13 November 1917. Their headstone shows that William May (senior) died on Friday 16 July 1926 aged 67, and his wife Emma May died on Tuesday 29 March 1927 aged 64.