Name
Benjamin Daintree Hillsdon (poss Hillsden)
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/10/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
202923
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KING'S WALDEN (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD
At East end of Church.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
No Headstone Inscription.
UK & Other Memorials
Kings Walden Village Memorial, St Mary's Church Memorial, Kings Walden
Pre War
Benjamin was born in Whitmore, Staffordshire in 1889 the son of Ben Hillsdon (B 1855 in Garsington, Oxfordshire) a Coachman and Eliza (nee Everett) Hillsdon (B 1853 in Heckfield, Hampshire. Baptised Benjamin Daintry Hillsdon in St Mary and All Saints Church, Whitmore, Staffordshire on 3rd March 1889.
1891 Census records Benjamin aged 2, living with his parents, sisters Emily 9, Elizabeth 6, Alice 4, Almira 3, Barbara 1 and brother Walter 8, in Whitmore, Staffordshire. 1901 Census records Benjamin aged 12, living with his parents, Brothers Walter 18, William 6, sisters Alice 14, Almira 13 and Barbara 11, in Whitmore, Staffordshire. By 1911 Benjamin now aged 22, had left home and was working as a Groom at the Kilburn Stables, Oakham, Rutland & Leicestershire. He was boarding in a room over the stable block.
Benjamin married Alice Maud Smith the daughter of William and Elizabeth Smith of Kings Walden, Herts, in February 1916. It is believed they had one daughter Vera C. Hillsdon.
Wartime Service
Benjamin enlisted in Bedford, Beds. Posted to the Queens Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment with the service No 202923. He served with the 3rd/4th Battalion, 1st/4th Battalion and 6th Battalion.
He was severely wounded and sent back to the UK for treatment, at the 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford. He died of his wounds on 16th October 1918. He was buried in St Marys Churchyard, Kings Walden, Herts, on 21st October 1918.
The Hertfordshire Express reported on the 26th of October 1918:
"DEATH IN HOSPITAL - CAPTAIN HARRISON'S GROOM SUCCUMBS TO WOUNDS
We regret to report that Private Benjamin Hillsden [sic] , Royal West Kents, has died in hospital from wounds received in action. Last week we reported that one of his legs and a finger had been amputated.
Private Benjamin (Bob) Hillsden was a King's Walden soldier, and was wounded in action on September 27. He was groom in the stables of Captain J. F. Harrison, and joined up in December 1916. He came home with trench fever the following year, and returned to France last March. Mrs. Hillsden is a daughter of Mrs. Simkins, formerly of the Crown Inn, Ley Green. Mrs. Hillsden and the deceased's mother were both able to visit him in hospital."
Additional Information
His effects of £6-1s-0d, pay due and £10, War Gratuity went to his widow Alice M. Hillsdon.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Derry Warners
Jonty Wild
