Kingsley Vale Weston
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Kingsley was the eldest son of Sydney Frank Weston and Jessie Mary Maria Weston nee Rayner. His father was an accountant with Nottingham Corporation's Water Department.Sydney Weston was born in Chipping Ongar, Essex, in 1867 and Jessie Rayner (Weston) in Camberwell, London, in 1864. They were married on 7 June 1892 in Walthamstow, Essex, and had three sons; Kingsley Vale (b. 1894), Maurice Sydney (b. 1896) and George Grenville (b. 1900). All the boys were born in West Bridgford, Nottingham.Kingsley's father had lived in Nottingham before his marriage and in 1901 he and and his wife were living at 19 Epperstone Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, with their three sons, Kingsley (6), Maurice (4) and George (8 months). They employed a general domestic servant, Nellie Sells (17).The family was still living at the same address in 1911. Kingsley (16) was described as a part-time student while his two brothers were still at school. Kingsley and his brother Maurice were still living at home when they enlisted in the army. Maurice served as a second lieutenant with the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) and was killed in action in France on 27 April 1917 (Thiepval Memorial).Their father, Sydney, died on 16 August 1932; he and his wife were living at 73 North Road, West Bridgford. Sydney's widow, Jessie, died over twenty years later on 31 October 1954; she was then living at 10 St Helen's Road, West Bridgford.The surviving brother, George, married Dorothy Alice Boot in 1929. George died on 3 October 1957; address 10 St Helena Road, West Bridgford. His wife survived him.
He was wounded in action, probably on 1 April 1918, and evacuated to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, where he died on 10 April 1918. He was interred in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery on 17 April 1918 (St Pauls 9791).
CWGC headstone has the additional inscription: 'Also in memory of 2nd Lt Maurice Sydney Weston, Notts and Derby Regiment, killed in action 27.4.1917'CWGC record, 'extra information': Son of Sydney Frank and Jessie M M Weston of 19, Epperstone Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham. His brother Maurice Sydney also fell.Probate: Weston Kingsley Vale of 19 Epperstone-road West Bridgford Nottinghamshire lieutenant in HM army died 10 April 1918 at the Royal Victoria Hospital Netley Hampshire Administration Nottingham 13 November to Sydney Frank Weston accountant. Effects £415 2s.Article published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 6th April 1918 :- “LIEUT. K. V. WESTON.“Mr. S. F. Weston, of 19, Epperstone-road, West Bridgford, has been officially notified that his eldest son, Lieut. Kingsley V. Weston, Machine Gun Corps, has been wounded and is in hospital in France. This is the second time he has been wounded. He obtained his commission in the West Yorkshire Regt. in July, 1916, on his 21st birthday, after training under Capt. Trotman, and went to France a year later. He transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, and was promoted lieutenant in February,1917. His younger brother, Sec.-Lieut. Maurice S. Weston, Sherwood Foresters was killed in action in April last.”Further article published 6th April 1918 in the Nottingham Daily Express :- “Mr. S. F. Weston, of 19, Epperstone-road, West Bridgford, has received information from the War Office that his eldest son, Lieutenant Kingsley V. Weston, Machine Gun Corps, nephew of Mr. A. E. Weston, Town Clerk's Department, Nottingham, has been wounded. He obtained his commission in the West Yorkshire Regiment in July, 1915, on his twenty-first birthday, after training under Captain Trotman at the University College O.T.C., and went to France a year later. He transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, and was promoted lieutenant in February, 1917. His younger brother, Second-Lieutenant Maurice S. Weston, Sherwood Foresters, as killed in action last year.” Notice of his death published 13th April 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :-WESTON. – Died April 10th, 1918, of wounds received in action April 1st, Lieut. Kingsley Vale Weston, Machine Gun Corps, aged 23, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. S. F. Weston, 19, Epperstone-road, West Bridgford.” Above items are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.Nottingham St Mary parish magazine May 1918 extract from the Vicar's parish letter: 'And over all there still hangs the cloud of anxiety and sorrow. While we were holding our Easter Services our men were hard pressured under attack. On April 1st, Lieutenant Weston was seriously wounded. He was brought to Netley Hospital but died of wounds on April 13th. His body was brought to St Mary’s for burial with full military honours.' (Nottinghamshire Archives PR27,110).
