Name
Maurice Kenward
1899
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/08/1918
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
306067
London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)
1st/5th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Letchworth memorials
Pre War
Maurice Kenward was born in 1899 in Kilburn , London to Burford Shields Kenward, stationer’s assistant, and Alice Mary (nee Churchman).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Russell (born 1887). Maurice, together with John Churchman (born 1873, brother of Mary Alice) were living at 33, Hopefield Avenue, Willesden.
Maurice’s father died in 1902.
On the 1911 Census Maurice (at school) was living with his widowed mother (a confectioner,) his maternal grandparents, John (born 1838) & Elizabeth (born 1835) and their daughter Charlotte (housekeeper born 1875) at Bagshot Road, Sunningdale.
His mother later came to live at "Oakleigh" Meadow Way, Letchworth, Herts.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Maurice who was enlisted as Rifleman 306067 in 1st/5th (City of London) Battalion (London Rifle Brigade) as part of 169 Brigade, 56th (London) Division.
He probably went to France to join his Battalion close to his eighteen birthday in 1917 when he would be eligible for active service. The Battalion took part in the Battles of Arras at 1st Battle of Scarpe (9-14 May), 3rd Scarpe (3-4 May) before moving to Ypres to participate in the Battle of 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele) at Langemarck (16-17 Aug), later in 1917 the took part in Operations at Cambrai at Tadpole Copse (21 Nov), Bourlon Wood (23-28 Nov) and German counter attacks (30 Nov-2 Dec). In 1918 they took part in the Battle of Arras (28 Mar 1918).
Maurice was killed in action on 10 Aug 1918 during a quiet period in the Trenches (no major offensive but still sniper and Artillery fire). His remains were not recovered and his is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £1 13s 9d was paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
