Emergency Services News
DONATE
No Result
View All Result
  • Police
  • Body-Worn Camera Footage
  • National Crime Agency
  • Police Pursuits
  • Police Dogs In Action
  • Court Results
  • Ambulance
  • Fire Service
  • NHS
  • Assaulted on Duty
  • Must See Videos
  • Guest Blog
  • Hoax Calls
  • Rewards & Discounts
  • About ESN
  • Contact
Emergency Services News
No Result
View All Result

Services Held For Two Welsh Brothers In Arms Killed During The Great War

by John Johnson
24 June 2019
in Armed Forces
5 min read
0
5
SHARES
238
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Two military services took place yesterday on Wednesday 19th June on the western front to commemorate two Welsh soldiers killed during the Great War.

The rededication service for Captain (Capt) William Miles Kington DSO, The Royal Welsh Fusiliers, took place at the Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium and followed the burial service for an unknown soldier of The South Wales Borderers at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Béthune Town Cemetery, France.

The services, which were organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), part of Defence Business Services, were conducted by the Chaplain to 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh.

Capt William Miles Kington DSO (Copyright Winchester College), All rights reserved

Rosie Barron, JCCC said:

“It has been a privilege to work with The Royal Welsh to organise these two services.

“Now, more than 100 years after their deaths, it is vital that the sacrifices of such men are not forgotten.

“To share this experience with the Kington family has been an honour as he is remembered by his family today”.

The burial party from 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh lay the unknown South Wales Borderer to rest in Bethune Town Cemetery, Crown Copyright, All rights reserved

Capt Kington was killed in action having been hit by a shell. He was 38 years old.

Capt Kington’s body was recovered after the Great War, and he was buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery as an unknown Captain of The Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

As his grave was unidentified, he was commemorated on the Menin Gate.

The final resting place of Capt Kington came to light after researchers submitted evidence that suggested he had been found.

Further investigation to corroborate this finding was undertaken by the MOD’s JCCC and the National Army Museum enabling the identification of the ‘Unknown Soldier’s’ grave to be confirmed by the JCCC.

Capt David Hughes, 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, lays a wreath at the graveside of the unknown South Wales Borderer, Crown Copyright, All rights reserved

The Kington family said:

“We are extremely grateful for the hard work put in by all those who helped identify the final resting place of our great grandfather William Kington.

“It is wonderful to discover the effort that goes into preserving the memory of those who fought and died for their country”.

Group Capt Justin Fowler, Defence Attache Belgium and Luxembourg, lays a wreath at Capt Kington’s grave in Tyne Cot Cemetery, Crown Copyright, All rights reserved

Capt Kington was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

Having completed his training at Sandhurst, he joined 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh Fusiliers in September 1896.

He served in South Africa during the Second Boer War, 1899-1902, and was most notably present at the Relief of Ladysmith.

For his service in South Africa, he was awarded The Distinguished Service Order, the Queen’s South Africa Medal with 5 Clasps, the King’s South Africa Medal with 2 Clasps and was Mentioned in Despatches four times.

On the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, William re-joined 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh Fusiliers, deplaning at Zeebrugge on 7th October.

The family of Capt Kington and soldiers of The Royal Welsh participate in the rededication service at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Crown Copyright, All rights reserved

They arrived in the town of Ypres on 14th October 1914.

On 20th October they moved into trenches near Broodseinde.

One of his soldiers was later quoted as saying:

“He was a very fine officer, and would crack a joke in the trenches which would set us all laughing our sides out.

“It made us all mad to avenge his death”.

Unknown Soldier of The South Wales Borderers:

The remains of the unknown soldier of The South Wales Borderers were discovered during drainage work on the outskirts of Richebourg, near Neuve Chapelle.

He was identified as a South Wales Borderer through artefacts found with the remains.

Extensive research showed that this soldier was most likely a member of 1st Battalion The South Wales Borderers who was killed on 9 or 10 May 1915 during the Battle of Aubers Ridge.

However, the JCCC are unable to identify him due to there being too many soldiers of that battalion missing from that time.

Before you go...

We need your help. As former emergency services & armed forces personnel, we pride ourselves on bringing you important, fast-moving and breaking news stories & videos which are free from the negative bias which is often directed at the emergency services & NHS by some sections of the mainstream media.

One of the reasons we started 'Emergency Services News' back in 2018 was because we became tired of reading badly informed stories about the emergency services & NHS which seemed only ever to highlight negative aspects of the job.

We want to be the unheard voice of the remarkable men and women who serve in the emergency services, NHS and armed forces. And with around 500k page views each month, we are getting there!

As income from ads, the mainstay source of income for most publishers, continues to decline; we need the help of you, our readers.

You can support emergency services news from as little as £1. It only takes a minute. Every contribution, however big or small, is vital for our future.

Please help us to continue to highlight the life-saving work of the emergency services, NHS and armed forces by becoming a supporter.

SUPPORT EMERGENCY SERVICES NEWS
Share2Tweet1

Related Posts

WATCH | Footage Shows Moment Royal Navy F-35 Fighter Ditches Into The Sea
Armed Forces

WATCH | Footage Shows Moment Royal Navy F-35 Fighter Ditches Into The Sea

Royal Navy Hero Saves Mother & Son From House Fire
Armed Forces

Royal Navy Hero Saves Mother & Son From House Fire

British Troops In Mali Kill Two Armed Terrorists After Coming Under Attack
Armed Forces

British Troops In Mali Kill Two Armed Terrorists After Coming Under Attack

The UK Launches Its First Combined ‘Space Command’ Headquarters
Armed Forces

The UK Launches Its First Combined ‘Space Command’ Headquarters

Investigation Launched After Royal Navy Sailor Dies Following ‘Suspected Suicide’ Aboard HMS Kent
Armed Forces

Investigation Launched After Royal Navy Sailor Dies Following ‘Suspected Suicide’ Aboard HMS Kent

Senior NCO And Another Soldier Charged After Met Police Flying Squad Investigation
Armed Forces

Senior NCO And Another Soldier Charged After Met Police Flying Squad Investigation

Load More

Let us know what you think in the comments below Cancel reply

  • Police
  • Body-Worn Camera Footage
  • National Crime Agency
  • Police Pursuits
  • Police Dogs In Action
  • Court Results
  • Ambulance
  • Fire Service
  • NHS
  • Assaulted on Duty
  • Must See Videos
  • Guest Blog
  • Hoax Calls
  • Rewards & Discounts
  • About ESN
  • Contact
© Emergency Services News
No Result
View All Result
  • Police
  • Body-Worn Camera Footage
  • National Crime Agency
  • Police Pursuits
  • Police Dogs In Action
  • Court Results
  • Ambulance
  • Fire Service
  • NHS
  • Assaulted on Duty
  • Must See Videos
  • Guest Blog
  • Hoax Calls
  • Rewards & Discounts
  • About ESN
  • Contact

 

Loading Comments...