No.325061, Private, William KIMMENCE
Aged 37
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William KIMMENCE was born in Withersfield (Risbridge Q3-1880 4A:519), baptised St Mary's Withersfield on 22nd August 1880, son of Thomas
Rash and Sophia KIMMENCE (née BINKS). For some reason CWGC have his father as William. 1881 census...Aged 8 months he was in Withersfield with his father Thomas KIMMENCE [42] farm labourer;his mother Sophie [36] trousers maker; brothers Charles [17] farm labourer, John [12] farm labourer and Robert [8]; sisters Amelia [14] trousers maker), Edith [5] and Mary A [3]. All were born in Withersfield. 1891 census...Aged 10 he was at Hanchett End, Withersfield with his parents;sister Amelia, Edith (hair weaver) and Mary Ann; brother Robert and lodger William KIDDY [27] farm labourer. He married Eliza BASHAM at Withersfield Parish Church on 19th May 1900. 1901 census...Aged 20, a mat weaver, he was at Withersfield with his wife Eliza [18] born Helions Bumpstead and their daughter Winifred Maud [6 months)born Withersfield. Birth of children here noted are from his Army records. Winifred died in 1904. A further daughter had been Ellen May [1902-1903] 1911 census...Aged 30, he was at 2 Snapes Yard, Haverhill with his wife Eliza; sons Horace William [29 June 1906] and William George [5th October 1910], daughters Elsie Maud [21 December 1905] and Violet Grace [6 November 1907]. All these children were born in Haverhill. They had had 8 children but 4 had died. His mother died in 1912 and his father in 1919 Son Clifford was born in February 1913. |
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William enlisted in Bury St Edmunds on 26th October 1914 in the 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. He gave his address as 3 Snape's Yard,
Haverhill (moving later to 41 Mill Road, Haverhill) a mat maker, born Withersfield, given age 34 years, 5 feet 7.5 inches (171.5 cm)tall,
chest 33" to 34" (83.8 to 86.4 cm). Embodied in the 5th Battalion on 26th October 1915. Transferred to 14th Battalion on
1st January 1917 and 1st/4th Suffolk on 14th June 1917 as he left Folkestone for Boulogne and the B.E.F. Transferred again on 5th July 1917
to the 1st/8th Royal Warwickshire Regiment, joining them in the field on 7th July, serving with whom he was killed on 27th August 1917. In 1920 his widow's address was 50 High Street, Haverhill. She received a pension of 31 shillings 3 pence (£ 1.57)for herself and five children. The South West Suffolk Echo reported on 6th October 1917 :- "Mrs Kimmence, of 50 High Street, Haverhill, has received notice from the War Office that her husband, Pte. W Kimmence of the Warwickshire Regt., was posted missing on August 27th." Then on 10th November 1917:- "Mrs. Kimmence of 50 High Street, Haverhill has been officially notified that her husband, Pte. William Kimmence, of the Royal Warwickshire Regt., was killed in action while with the Expeditionary Force in France on August 27th.He had previously been reported missing. For twenty years prior to enlistment he was employed as a mat maker at Messrs Gurteen and Sons Factory.He joined upon October 26th 1914. He was 37 years of age and leaves a widow and four children." They were part of 48th Division at the Battle of Langemarck. The battalion war diary has:- "...26th contd...The Coys moved into positions previously reconnoitred for them and dug themselves in as far as was possible under the appalling weather conditions.During the greater part of the night rain was falling and the ground became more and more difficult to traverse. Battn HQ was established at 28.C.12.c.40.75. August 27th - The morning gave promise of a fine day, but the ground was allowed no opportunity for drying, as several showers fell.The men remained concealed in their positions, apparently unobserved by the enemy until zero (1:55 pm.). The 5 Coys then attacked under cover of our artillery and M.G. barrage, but owing to the activity of the enemy's M.G.s and to a much greater extent the impassibility of the ground the final objectives laid down in operations orders were not gained. SPRINGFIELD however was taken and positions consolidated tot he E of the WINNIPEG-SPRINGFIELD road.During the action Captains SW PEPPER and H EWING became casualties, as did CSM Chalk of "D" Coy. During the night the Battn was relieved by the 1/4 Royal Berks. The Battn then made its way to REIGERSBURG CAMP on the W bank of the YSER CANAL." CWGC figures are 66 killed, of which 59 have now known grave, being commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial |
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