Name
Joseph Kiff
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/08/1915
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
9065
Bedfordshire Regiment
'D' Coy., 2nd Bn.
"D" Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 10 and 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford,
Not on the Boxmoor memorials,
We are not aware of any memorial in Two Waters
Pre War
Son of Mary Ann (nee HART) KIFF of Watford and James KIFF.
His parents married 8 June 1878 at St Paul’s, Langleybury, Herts. James died 1926 in the St Alban’s, Herts, district aged 67; Mary died 1945 in Watford aged 86, and was buried 10 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
Joseph was born 7 August 1888 in Boxmoor, Herts, and attended first Croxley Green, Herts, Infants’ School; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 17 May 1897 to 26 March 1902. He resided in Watford.
On the 1891 Census, aged 2 he lived in Bushey, Herts, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 11 he lived in Watford, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1911 Census, a Private in the 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment aged 21, he was stationed at Stanhope Lines, Aldershot, Hants.
Wartime Service
He originally attested 17 October 1906 at Watford for the Militia, 4th Bedfordshire Regiment: a general labourer aged 18 of Watford, 5’7¾” tall, unmarried, C of E.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 6 October 1914, and was killed in action in the front line trenches north-east of Festubert.
Additional Information
His bother Leonard died 16 February 1915 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
