Name
William Herbert Kimpton
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
East Surrey Regiment
13th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
William Kimpton was born in the spring of 1898 in London. He was one of ten children (four sons and six daughters) born to William and Mary Kimpton. In the 1901 Census William (senior) was employed as a General Porter at Leavesden Asylum, and the family lived at Rose Cottage, Asylum Road, Troley Bottom, Abbots Langley. By the time of the 1911 Census the family still lived at the same address, and whilst William (senior) worked as a General Labourer at the Asylum, William (junior) was employed as a Butcher’s Lad.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour first recorded William in January 1915, serving with the 4th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. His brother Alfred was also serving with the same unit at the time. William’s Medal Roll indicated that he went to France on 5th October 1915 and by December 1915 the Roll of Honour showed that William had been transferred to the 9th East Surrey’s.
William was reported wounded in the September 1916 edition of the Parish Magazine, whilst still serving with the 9th East Surrey’s. By January 1918 he had been transferred to the 13th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment, and in June of that year the Parish Magazine recorded that William was reported missing. In the July 1918 Parish Magazine the Vicar noted that William had
“previously been reported missing but now reported Prisoner Of War in Germany”.
A family member commented that he had been captured whilst serving with the 13th East Surrey’s and had spent time imprisoned in the infamous “Black Hole of Lille” en route to a camp in Germany.
William remained a Prisoner of War until the end of the War. His Medal Roll noted that he was demobilised on 12th April 1919.
William Kimpton survived the War, as did his brother Arthur and his cousin Joseph Kimpton.
Additional Information
Formerly 4th & 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment & a Prisoner of War.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
