New CWGC Commemorations

[Terry Denham]

CWGC added the following 'new' WW1 casualties to its Debt of Honour database today – Monday 1st June.

L/Cpl George Kelly NAPPER

21003 16th Bn, Bedfordshire Regiment

Died 02.07.19 Age 31

Buried: Marlow Cemetery, Bucks, UK

Bmdr Percy Harold WEBSTER

128675 Royal Field Artillery

Died 31.08.19 Age 27

Buried: Cudham (SS Peter & Paul) Churchyard, Kent, UK

NOT FORGOTTEN

L/Cpl NAPPER was put forward on 07.02.09 on behalf of member, June Underwood.

Bmdr WEBSTER was put forward on 30.12.08 on behalf of Cicely Ballam. Bmdr Webster died after discharge due to the effects of gas poisoning.

[stevem49]

Never Forgotten

[chrisharley9]

May They Rest In Peace

[Will O'Brien]

Raising a belated glass to the memory of George & Percy. Raising another to June & Cicely

[1690philip]

Well done to Terry and the team.

Phil

[GrahamC]

Not one will be forgotten

[Neil Clark]

Now that's odd - I also submitted this man in October 2008! I wonder why the duplication wasn't picked up on?

Nevermind, the main thing is that he's now commemorated...

WEBSTER P.H

Cudham Civic War Memorial, Kent.

Bombardier 128675 Percy Harold WEBSTER. Royal Field Artillery (RFA). Died Gas Poisoning (Enemy Action) 31 August 1919 aged 27 years. Born Cudham, Kent. Resided 5 Coronation Terrace, Westerham Hill, Cudham, Biggin Hill, Kent. Son of James and Mary Jane Webster of 4 Coronation Terrace, Westerham Hill, Cudham, Kent. He is believed to be buried in an unmarked paupers grave somewhere in Cudham, Kent probably at the nearest Parish Burial Ground or churchyard?

Burial place now confirmed by visit to Cudham - CUDHAM (SS. PETER AND PAUL) CHURCHYARD, ORPINGTON

Percy died at his home residence - 5 Coronation Terrace, Westerham Hill, Cudham, Biggin Hill, Kent.

At the time of the 1901 census, the Webster family resided at Westerham Hill, Kent. Head of the house was 45 year old Brastead, Kent, native James Webster who was employed as a Farm Carter. Prior to enlisting in the army, Percy was employed locally as a Farm Labourer, and after being discharged from the army having been badly gassed, he returned to his former civilian occupation. At the time of his medical discharge from the Royal Field Artillery, Percy was awarded a Silver War Badge and its accompanying certificate of service. The Silver War Badge, sometimes erroneously called the Silver Wound Badge, was authorised in September 1916, and took the form of a circular badge with the legend "For King and Empire-Services Rendered" surrounding the George V cypher, as shown above. The badge was awarded to all of those military personnel who were discharged as a result of sickness or wounds contracted or received during the Great War, either at home or overseas. On Sunday 31 August 1919, Percy died resultant of having been gassed during the Great War. Percy’s death certificate which was signed by Doctor H.D. Hofman M.D., records cause of death as (1) Gas Poisoning – Diabetes Mellitus, 8 months. (2) Diabetes Coma, 24 hours. Percy’s mother Mrs. Mary Jane Webster who was present at his death recorded her late sons death in the Bromley, Kent, Registration District on Thursday 4 September 1919. Unfortunately, Percy’s war related death is at this time, numbered amongst the many thousands of Commonwealth casualties of both world wars who were not officially commemorated by the then Imperial War Graves Commission.

NOT FORGOTTEN!