LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWII

Private John Frederick Kent
4 Bn Dorsetshire Regiment

Town Memorial World War II

PRIVATE
JOHN FREDERICK KENT

Service Number: 14380038
Dorsetshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Died 14 July 1944
Age 20 years old
Commemorated at
BAYEUX MEMORIAL
Panel 15, Column 3.
France
Son of George William and Clara Kent, of Leatherhead, Surrey.

So far no press report of John Kent's death has been found.

He is commemorated on the Bayeux Memorial as he has no known grave.

The Dorsetshires were part of the 43rd (Wessex) Division. A detailed account of the fighting at about this time can be read here - Operation Jupiter and the 43rd Infantry Division.


His life

He was born on 4 July 1924.

His father was George William Kent, born 24 April 1877, a Boiler Stoker and Labourer in Gas Works Yard, from Ardeley? Hertfordshire.

His mother was Clara Lucas born 29 October 1882, baptised 26 November 1882, Shere, Surrey, a daughter of Philip and Hannah Lucas.

Their marriage in Q3 1899 was registered at Epsom.

His siblings were (approximate birth years):  Edith Clara 1900, Charles William 1902, Rose May 1904, Annie Louisa 1906, George Edward 1908, Emily Elizabeth 1910, Gladys 1923.

In the 1939 England & Wales Register John was living with his family at 124 Kingston Road, Leatherhead, Surrey. He was an Errand Boy for a Greengrocer. They had been there since 1927. Before that they had been at 'Gas Works Cottage' (in Kingston Road, Leatherhead), 1919-26.

After the war

His father was still at 124 Kingston Road in 1950.

His father's death at the age of 87 was registered in Surrey Mid Eastern District in April 1962: his mother's death at the age of 87 was registered in the same District in April 1970 (although her birth date was recorded as 1 October 1882 not 29 October 1882).

John Kent is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church

the website editor would like to add further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, his name on the Bayeux Memorial, and any recollections of him

last updated 21 Aug 20