Stephen Kettle
Police Constable, Nottinghamshire Constabulary.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Stephen Kettle was born in 1889 at Bourne, Lincolnshire, he was the son of the late Thomas Kettle a labourer and Sarah Ann Kettle née Pick of East Gate, Bourne.
His father Thomas was born in 1862 at Cowbit, Lincolnshire, he died in 1899 aged 37 yrs, his mother Sarah Ann Pick was born in 1860 in Bourne they were married on 19th July 1882 at Bourne, they had two further children, Anne Mary born 1883 and William Edward born 1886.
In the 1911 census Stephen had joined the Army he is shown on the census as bing 23 yrs born in Bourne, he was a lance Corporal serving with the 1st battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, in Aden.
His brother, William Edward Kettle (born 19/7/1885), was also a police constable and enlisted in the Lincolnshire Regiment 1st Bn on 5 August 1914, Western Front 26 August 1914, discharged 4 March 1916 (died 1964).
1911 Census: Military (Overseas Military), bachelor age 23, Lance Corporal 1st Bn Lincolnshire Regiment, serving in Aden 1910-1912 then returned to UK. Joined Nottinghamshire Constabulary on discharge but as a reservist he was mobilized 4 August 1914 and was on the Western Front by 14 August 1914. Killed by shell fire on the Paschendale Ridge and commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial.
Listed on Nottinghamshire County Council register of employees who served (Nottinghamshire Archives ref CC CL 2/12/1/1 which contains a transcript of letter of condolence sent to Mrs Kettle (mother) from the company commander, 1st Lincs Regiment BEF, on 4/10/1917:
I feel that I must write a few lines to express my very deep sympathy for you in the loss of your son, Colour Sergeant Major Kettle.
I was commanding A Company on October 4th when the Battalion took part in a big attack on the German trenches and your son’s conduct was magnificent as it always was in action. He came right through with the Company until we captured our final objective, nearly a mile behind the German front line. He would certainly have received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallantry if he had lived.
He was killed by a shell that evening and I think there is no doubt that death was instantaneous and quite painless.
He is a very great loss both to the Company and the Battalion for he was very popular and a very good soldier, in fact there are few men who could leave such a very difficult gap to fill.
I’m afraid it is almost impossible to say anything to help you in your great loss, but I cannot help feeling that it is some satisfaction that he died in the course of a most successful attack; part of the terrible price that must be paid for every great victory.
With all sympathy, I am, Yours very sincerely, D F Neilson, Captain
[Captain Donald Frances Neilson, killed in action 15 April 1918]
Stephen Kettle
Inscription on Tyne Cot Memorial. Photograph Tony Lumb