KIMMENS, Edward


No.G/24449, Private, Edward KIMMENS
Aged 25


1st Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
formerly No.2013, East Surrey Regiment
Killed in Action on Saturday, 4th November 1916


Edward Kimmens was born on 8th February 1891 in Stoke by Clare (Risbridge Q1-1891 4A:706), baptised in St John the Baptist, Stoke by Clare on 26th April 1891, son of Walter and Sarah KIMMENS (née FRENCH).


1891 census...Aged 2 months, he was at The Green Cottages, Mill Lane, Stoke by Clare with his father Walter KIMMENS [35] labourer; his mother Sarah [36]; brothers Alfred [5] and Harry [3]. All were born in Stoke by Clare.

1901 census...Aged 10, he was at Lower Green, Stoke by Clare with his parents; brothers Alfred and Harry (both farm labourers) and sister Clara [5] born Stoke by Clare.

1911 census...Aged 20, a farm labourer, he was at The Green, Stoke by Clare with his parents; brother Alfred and sister Clara. All 4 siblings survived.

His Army "Soldier's Effects" form gives his legatees as his 2 brothers and sister Clara CUTMORE.


He enlisted in Clare, when resident in Clare.
The war diary has them at Lesboeufs, and recorded as exhausted by the weather and the ground. Hostile fire was heavy during the day and our own artillery bombarded BARITSKA TRENCH and orders were to attack that trench on the 5th, this time with the entire brigade,not just 1 battalion as on the 3rd. "C" Coy was to occupy the front line trench known as NEW TRENCH. Their CO had the scheme explained to him at Batn HQ but unfortunately conditional verbal instructions were given to him not to advance until and unless he saw the attack of the WORCESTERS on his right developing and unless he had sufficient men to attack with. It was considered the main attack would be made by the WORCESTERS.
"C" Coy arrived in position in ANTELOPE TRENCH about 5am but only 70 strong,the remainder having lost the way in the darkness and bad state of ground and failed to find NEW TRENCH before daylight on 5th.

CWGC records show 9 men killed in that muddle, only two having a known grave.

Below, the trench lines can still be seen in the fields.




Edward Kimmens is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, pier and face 5D/6D

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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