Name
Kenneth Bentley Hambling
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/04/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
201394
Norfolk Regiment
1st/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
JERUSALEM MEMORIAL
Panel 12 to 15
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial to the missing in Israel, Palestine and Gaza.
UK & Other Memorials
South Mimms Village Memorial, Old Bedfordians- WW 1 Roll of Honour (Bedford School)
Pre War
Kenneth Bentley HAMBLING was born in Thrapston, Northamptonshire, in the early part of 1895, son of Alfred John William Hambling a Draper and Eliza Fanny Hambling (nee Allen). The youngest of their five children.
1901 Census records Kenneth aged 6, living with his parents, and brother Stephen (20) a Medical Student, in High Street, Thrapston, Northants. The family had three live-in Servant’s a Cook, Housekeeper and Housemaid, plus four boarders, a Milliner, two Draper’s Assistance and a Draper’s Apprentice.
In September 1910, Kenneth aged 15, travelled to London to enlist as a Merchant Navy Apprentice for four years, leaving in September 1914.
1911 Census, Kenneth would have been at sea, his mother Eliza, brother Lionel (21) and sister Ethel (32) were living in South Mimms, Herts, they had a live-in Domestic Servant. His father Alfred was living in The Green, Southgate, Middx, his occupation is given as a Draper.
Wartime Service
Kenneth enlisted at Mill Hill, London on 5th May 1915, into the 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment for the duration of the war and issued with the service number 5770. Giving his age as 20 years, his occupation a Farmer and his address as South Mimms Road, Barnet, Middx.
He was transferred to the 3rd/4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiments and issued with the service number 201394, on 5th January 1916, He left with his Battalion for Egypt on 18th January 1916, from Devonport aboard HMTS RMS Megantic, arriving at Alexandria, Egypt, on 28th January 1916. He was posted to the 1st/4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment on 4th February 1916. Promoted to Lance Corporal on 9th March 1916, reverting to Private on 7th April 1916, at his own request.
He was killed in action on 19th April 1917, aged 22, probably during The Second Battle for Gaza. (Second Battle of Gaza 17th – 19th April 1917). He has no known grave he is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial to the missing in Israel and Palestine (including Gaza). Panel 11 to 15.
Additional Information
His effects of £7-03s-04d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £9, went to his father Alfred J W Hambling.
1921 Census records Alfred and Eliza Hambling living at The Plough Cottage, South Mimms, Middx. Son Lionel Hambling MC is living with his parents.
His brother Lionel Hambling served with the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, enlisting as a Private (Service Number 15483) rising through the ranks to Lieutenant, he was commissioned on the 26th June 1917, he survived the war. He was awarded The Military Cross.
Kenneth’s service record is available on-line at Find My Past UK www.findmypast.co.uk and Ancestry UK www.ancestry.co.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
www.bedfordregiment.org.uk Brian Lodge
