Name
Edward Alexander Duckett
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
London Regiment
13th (County of London) Princess Louise’s Kensington Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Edward Duckett was associated with Abbots Langley through marriage. On 1st February 1919 he married Jessie Carter from Abbots Langley at St Lawrence Church in the village. At the time of the wedding Edward was 29 years old and served as a Sergeant Instructor with the 13th Battalion of the London Regiment, the “Kensington’s”. His Medal Roll indicated that Edward had served with the “Kensington’s” from the beginning of the War and had left for France on 3rd November 1914.
At the outbreak of War the “Kenisngton’s” had mobilised at Abbots Langley, and had remained at the village until 3rd November 1914, when they left for France. It is presumed that Edward met Jessie Carter during this period, and having survived the War returned in February 1919.
Edward was born at Chelsea in the spring of 1891. He was one of five children (two sons and three daughters) born to William and Louisa Duckett. In the 1901 Census William worked as a Greengrocer. By the time of the 1911 Census Edward had moved from the family home, and was living with his uncle and aunt, Alexander and Serela McKitterick at 35 Dartrey Road, Chelsea. Alexander worked as a House Painter, and Edward worked as an Assistant at a Crucible Manufacturer. At some time before 1914, Edward had enlisted as a Territorial Soldier with the “Kensington’s”, and mobilised with the battalion at the outbreak of War on 4th August 1914.
Jessie Carter was born in Abbots Langley in 1895. She was one of ten children born to William and Maria Carter. Her father, a Blacksmith was not recorded in the Census for 1901, where her mother, Maria was listed as the Head of the Household. Maria worked as a Domestic Servant and the family lived at Asylum Road, Abbots Langley. By 1911 the family had moved to Marlin Square, and had taken in two Boarders, and a Laundry Maid from the Asylum at Leavesden. At this time Jessie worked at a Brush Factory as a factory-worker.
Jessie’s brother, Frederick, joined up with the 1st Hertfordshire’s in October 1914, and was Discharged Disabled in September 1918, and spent the rest of the War serving with the Labour Corps.
Edward Duckett survived the War, as did his brother in law Frederick Carter.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
