Welcome to the town page for Ashford. Explore your town map to discover people who lived in your town during the First World War.

Don’t forget to visit the 100 MILES pages via the links below for the Trail information and downloadable leaflet, booklet, walking directions and quiz.  

Ashford 100 MILES page                 

Appledore 100 MILES page                

Great Chart 100 MILES page           

Kennington 100 MILES page   

These trails were developed in partnership with Robin Britcher, Mike Boulding, Keith Fazzani, Brian Knight, Tracy Morgan, Ian Sharp and Ian Wolverson.    

Ashford was an important town especially because of the railway works situated in New Town. The strategic importance of these meant that it was a target for German air raids by Zeppelin and aeroplanes. There were several raids and loss of life leading to local organisations such as Ashford County School having air raid procedures for the pupils to take shelter in the basement during a raid. There were VAD volunteer ambulance drivers on duty during the air raids to assist the Special Constables with any casualties. Lighting restrictions were brought in and the papers report people being fined for breaches- the fines ranged from 10s.

Immediately War was declared, 800 men from the railway works , who were in the reserve or territorial’s, were called up, leading to shortage of labour at the works and the opportunity for women to take on roles which they would not had had access to prior to the War.

As the men from Ashford were called up other troops began arriving for transit and training camps such as one located at the Godington Estate where there were 6,000 men camped at one time.

The town’s people supported the War Effort in many ways not just by volunteering but also by attending events such as the Band Concert for Kentish Flag Day in the High Street in 1915. The town was presented with a tank at the end of the War in recognition of fund raising efforts.

Auxiliary hospitals were situated at the Technical Institute, the Congregational Schools and Swanton House and staffed by local volunteers.

In Great Chart a group of volunteers was brought together by Elizabeth Quentin Strouts to make sure that all those who were serving received a regular letter and parcel from the village. The recipients wrote letters of thanks which Mrs Quentin Strouts kept and annotated if men were killed these letters are now held in the Maidstone Archive.

Wye became the site of an aerodrome for the RFC from 1916, with the pilots being billeted locally as they trained- 15 of the pilots lost their lives and are commemorated locally. Wye College trained an increasing number of women for agricultural work.

In Appledore the Royal Military Canal was used to transport wounded soldiers to the VAD Hospital at 8 The Street.

Sources: Kentish Advertiser, Kent and Sussex Courier, Kentish Gazette

Please add information to your town page by clicking Upload Your Story. Tell those important stories about your relatives – share their experiences to help build a picture of your community during this period. Don’t forget to check out your local clubs and societies, and whilst you are exploring our site take a look at the other towns around the coast to discover more about Kent’s rich history during the First World War.