Altrincham WW1 

Donald [Currie] Kingsley

Rank:PrivateNumber:Jun-74
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:1st Bn
Name of Rgt or Ship:Canterbury Rgt
Died:08/06/1917Age:24
Country of burial:Belgium
Cemetery or Memorial:Messines Ridge (N.Z.) Memorial
Town Memorial:Mobberley & Knutsford
Extra Information:
Born during the September quarter 1892 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/756,
the son of Charles & Eliza Jane Kingsley (nee Currie).

His mother - Eliza Jane Kingsley died in 1900, aged: 39.

1901 Census - Higher Lane, Lymm, Cheshire.   Son - aged: 8 - born:
Manchester.  Head of household - Charles Kingsley - Widower - aged: 37 -
occ: Manufacturer of Cotton Goods - born: Lymm.   Also 1 younger sister and
1 domestic servant.

His father married - Hester Dorothea Watson during the March quarter 1904
in the Warrington R.D. - ref: 8c/282.

1911 Census - Oakdene, Mobberley.   Son - aged: 18 - occ: Book Keeper -
born: Chorlton cum Hardy, Manchester.   Head of household - Charles
Kingsley - Married - aged: 48 - occ: Manufacturer of Cotton Goods - born:
Lymm.  Also - Hester D. Kingsley - Wife - aged: 31 - born: Cleethorpes,
Lincolnshire.   Plus 1 younger brother and 1 domestic servant.

Donald left England from Liverpool on the 21st November 1913 bound for
Wellington, New Zealand aboard the M.V. "Ayrshire" a 7,749 ton passenger
ship capable of transporting 205 passengers.  The Ship's Manifest records
that he was aged: 21 and employed as a Clerk.   At the outbreak of War, he
enlisted into the New Zealand Army and ended up in Belgian Flanders.

N.Z. Attestation Record - He attested into the N.Z. Army at Trentham on the
25th August 1915 and into 'C' Coy, the 8th RFTS.   His occupation was given
as: Fisherman, residing at Motucka.  For whatever reason, he exaggerated
his age, stating that he was born on the 28th June 1888.  He was 5 feet 11
inches in height and weighed 112 lb.  His chest measurements were 36 1/2
inches to 33 inches expanded.  He had Dark hair, Light Brown eyes and a
Dark complexion.

He married Ethel Rosamond Hawkes at Wellington on the 8th November 1915. 

He embarked from N.Z. on the 13th November 1915 arriving at Suez on the
20th December.   He joined his battalion at Ismailia on the 9th January
1916.  Admitted into a N.Z. Field Ambulance on the 19th February 1916,
rejoining his battalion on the 26th February.  He embarked for France at
Port Said on the 6th April 1916.   On the 10th September 1916, he was
attached to the 1st Division Headquarters Bomb Clearing, returning to his
battalion on  the 4th October 1916.

His widow was recorded as residing at 92 Abel Smith Street, Wellington, but
this was crossed out and his medals were to be sent to Mr. G. Homes, George
Street, Blenheim.

CWGC - Son of Mr. & Mrs. Charles Kingsley; husband of Ethel R. Kingsley of
George Street, Blenhein.  Native of England.

Listed only as Donald on the Mobberley Cenotaph.

Commemorated in The Mobberley Parish Council's Booklet - "1914-2014,
Remembering the Men from Mobberley who went to War for their Country" - per
Alistair MacLeod.


Memorials found on:
St. Wilfred's (Mobberley)
Altrincham & District Roll of Honour
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