Name
Albert Kinnard(*1)
6 February 1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/10/1918
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Driver
52587
Royal Engineers
5th Pontoon Park
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MONTECCHIO PRECALCINO COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Plot 7. Row A. Grave 11.
Italy
Headstone Inscription
LEAD KINDLY LIGHT LEAD THOU ME ON
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
Albert, sometimes Bertie, was born 6 February 1882 in Hitchin(*2) and his parents were Mark and Margaret Kennard.
In 1891 the family were living at Charlton House, Kew, Surrey. Present were both parents: Mark (58) and Margaret (48), Mark was a living on own means. Their children were: Fredrick (24), Rose R (17), Bertie (9) and Frank W (b 12/6/1883).
For 1901 the records are difficult, but it seems likely that Mark and Margaret were inmates in the Richmond Union Workhouse (in Richmond) as the birth locations for both match. Their trades were recorded as an engineer and domestic cook respectively; however their children have not been located.
Bertie and his brother, Frank, were admitted to Rolls Road School, London on 12 June 1893, while living at 262 St James Road.
Alfred married Mary Eugenie Harman(*3) (b 10/3/1885) in St Antony Church, Nunhead on 2 February 1901.
By 1911 Albert and Mary were living at 38 Creeland Grove, Catford Hill, Catford, London S E. Albert was working as a general labourer for a cocoa manufacturer. The census recorded they had been married for 10 years with 2 children, both living. They were Lilian Eugenie who was born on 27 October 1902 and baptised on 13 November 1902 in the above church, and Mable Rose born on 9 April 1905
Later another child was born, Hubert Edwin who was born on 30 November 1911.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War database records that he was born in Hitchin and enlisted in Greenwich, Kent.
Wartime Service
Albert enlisted as a driver in the Royal Engineers on 18 September 1914. In those records it was recorded that he was born in Hitchin and 32 years and 122 days old and working as an engineer’s labourer. He was described as 5’ 5” tall, 127 lbs with a dark complexion, grey eyes and brown hair, and tattooed with an anchor on his left forearm with a 35 ½ chest when full expanded.
He was transferred to the 82nd Field Company on 27 September 1914, then 5th Bridging Train on 4 June 1915 and embarked for France on 17 March 1916.
In August 1916 the Regimental Paymaster received an anonymous letter from Catford where Alfred’s wife was living, it read “I think (the) Government would benefit if they sought into the character of the wife of Driver Kinnard 52587 R. E. now in France a better husband never was, and the way she is carrying on with soldiers all of the night and takes them home is a proper disgrace her address is 55 Burford Road, Perry Hill, Catford.”
On 6 October 1917 Albert was admitted to 39 Casualty Clearing Hospital with influenza, that recorded that he was in Italy at with that 5th Pontoon Park, Royal Engineers and attached to the School of Cookery. He was treated for that illness for 12 days but then appears to have developed bronchial pneumonia and died on 17 October 1918.
Additional Information
After his death £12 1s 0d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow and children on 29 January 1919 and then another 16s 1d on 3 April 1919. Later another £6 3s 4 to his widow on 11 December 1919 and £12 6s 8d on 6 February 1920.
His pension cards record Mary Eugenie Kinnard as his widow and as his next of kin/dependant, living at 55 Burford Road, Perry Hill, Catford, Lewisham SE. It also records their children as Mable Rose born (B 9/4/1905) and Hubert Edwin (b 30/11/1911). She was awarded a grant of £,7 paid on 14 November 1918 and then a pension of 25 5d a week from 28 April 1919 for her and her children.
His widow received his effects were sent on 3 December 1919, they included 4 coins, a notebook, card, pipe, disc, 2 razors, photos, knife, mirror, badge and a purse.
his war medals on 28 May 1922
*1 Kinnaird in the SDITGW and on some records such as some census Kinnard.
*2 Hitchin according to his service records, but Croxley Green, Hertfordshire (1891 census) Kew, Surrey (1911 census).
*3 In one record her middle name appears as Elizabeth.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
