Name
Wilfred George (George W on St Mary's Ch) Kitchener
19 August 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/10/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
18797
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 48 to 50 and 162A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock
Pre War
Wilfred George Kitchener was born in Baldock, Herts on 18 August 1895, the son of Charles and Rachel Kitchener, and baptised in Baldock on 6 October 1895. He was one of nine children but one had died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Royston Road, Bygrave, Baldock, where his father was working as a maltster's labourer. They remained in Baldock in 1911 but had moved to Norton Street, at which time 15 year old Wilfred was working as a maltster's labourer.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Bedford and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, serving in Belgium and France with the 4th Battalion.
Wilfred was killed in action on 30 October 1917 during the Second Battle of Passchendaele (Battle of Ypres 1917), when, according to the war diary, their attack was held up by very heavy and boggy ground surrounding the Paddebeek stream and they were only able to advance about 150 to 200 yards. Casualties were high with two officers killed and six wounded, 52 other ranks killed, 180 wounded and 23 missing.
Wilfred has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £13 and pay owing of £6 19s and his mother received a pension of 3s 6d a week, later increased to 5 shillings a week.
N.B. On the St Mary's Church Memorial, Wilfred is listed as George W Kitchener.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
