Name
Lionel Nassau Kindersley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/11/1917
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
15th The King’s Hussars
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Panel 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Abbots Langley Village Memorial, Stained glass window, St Lawrence Church, Abbots Langley
Biography
Lionel Kindersley was born on 6th August 1897 in Kensington, London. He was the eldest son of Robert and Gladys Kindersley. Robert Kindersley was a businessman, stock-broker, merchant banker and public servant. By 1914 he was Director of the Bank of England and was living at Langley House in Abbots Langley. Robert and Gladys married in 1896 and had four sons and two daughters.
Lionel followed his father to Eton College and after joining up early in 1915 he attended Officers’ Training College. On leaving the College he joined the 15th Hussars as a Second Lieutenant and moved to France on 31st January 1916. He served with the 15th Hussars through the campaigns of 1916 and 1917 on the Somme and at Flers-Courcelette. In the Battle of Cambrai he was killed in action at Bourlon Wood on 25th November 1917, by which point he had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
His parents Sir Robert and Lady Kindersley were recorded as of Langley House, Abbots Langley at the time of his death.
His death was recorded in the January 1918 edition of the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine.
“We offer our sympathy and that of the whole Parish to Sir Robert and Lady Kindersley on the loss of their eldest son. They have done so much to interest themselves in and to make common cause with the people of Abbots Langley, and they may feel assured that their grief and sorrow is shared by all. Lionel Nassau Molesworth (‘Bo’ as he was familiarly known) Kindersley was killed in action on November 25th at Bourlon Wood, where he was most gallantly covering the retreat of his company. His C.O writes of him ‘He went up with a dismounted company formed from the Regiment, to support the Infantry in Bourlon Wood, where there had been terrific fighting. Almost immediately he went forward with his squadron to reinforce on the front line on the night of the 23rd and 24th. He was in action all through the 24th and the following night, displaying conspicuous gallantry and doing splendid work commanding bits of Infantry and his own men in the confusion. They beat off several counter-attacks and he was in at least two of our counter attacks and advances to restore the line. On the morning of the 25th he had orders to withdraw on arrival of fresh troops. He came back, and all might have been well (and he would likely have had distinction for his fine work), but was sent forward again until the relief was complete. He had only been back a few minutes when another German counter-attack was launched, and he was shot dead through the temple whilst encouraging his men. So passes a very gallant officer, whom we shall all miss much - he is a great loss to us’. Lionel Kindersley was of a most loving and amiable character, and yet with it all was absolutely fearless. He was a skilful athlete, and many of our boys here will remember many cricket matches played and his prowess with the bat and his keen enthusiasm. Whilst at Eton he won both the junior and senior hurdles and the Public Schools ' Hurdles Championship. He received his commission in the Hussars in May 1915 and was only 20 years old at the time of his death.”
The Hertfordshire Advertiser reported on 11th May 1918 “It is proposed to apply for a faculty for the removal of the present glass in the north wall of the chancel west of the organ chamber, to be replaced with new stained glass in memory of Lieut L. N. Kindersley, and also for the erection of a brass tablet bearing the name of Major Ranken, to whose memory the present window is erected.”
Lionel Kindersley was commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, France, on the Abbots Langley War Memorial, and on a stained glass window at St Lawrence Church, Abbots Langley.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
