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

At the outbreak of the Great War, the Belgian city of Louven was the subject of mass destruction by the German army over a period of five days from the 25th August 1914. The city was burnt and looted. Its library of ancient manuscripts was burnt and destroyed, as was its university along with many other public buildings. The citizenry of Louvain were subject to mass shootings regardless of age or gender. Local artist Candida Wright’s grandmother, Marie Sidonie De Meyer, at the time lived there with her family.

Marie escaped with her life and never saw her father and mother again. At the age of 20 it is likely that she was among some 100,000 or more Belgian refugees who shortly after managed to escape across the Channel to Folkestone. Subsequently she secured employment at Orchard Deane in Henley on the Fairmile, Henley on Thames. She then met and in 1924 married Thomas Henry Chaplin of Henley who had served with the British Army for the duration of the Great War. They had six children, their youngest daughter being Candida’s mother Elizabeth. Strangely, years later, in 2006 Candida moved to Folkestone unaware of the connection the town had with the arrival of the Belgian refugees and probably her grandmother until she saw the Franzoni painting in the local library.

Image courtesy of Elizabeth Wright and information courtesy of Geoff Wright.

From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Horn Family: ‘George Horn': Courtesy of Diana Jones Nee Horn

This is the story of my Grandparents and their family during WW1. They were, I should think, a typical agricultural family of the period. They had 10 children, 5 sons and 5 daughters:

Here is one of the postcards George sent whilst away. The image shows Lower Sandgate Road:

The transcribed text reads:

29.8.1918:‘Having the day here so doing fine. Goodbye George xx’

‘Miss Edith Horn, Staple Street, Nr Faversham, Kent’

Courtesy of Diana Jones Nee Horn

We believe that this photo shows Folkestone scouts escorting Belgian refugees to the old Harvey Grammar School on Foord Road in 1914.

Courtesy of Kent County Council- Libraries, Registration & Archives- Folkestone Library.

A postcard showing The Leas Bandstand in Folkestone. The author of the postcard is unknown but it looks like he has been able to stay with perhaps his brother or friend so far. The card was sent on the 4th Jan 1917.

The transcribed text reads:

‘at 2am and arrived here at 7. Strange to say our ‘rest’ is the same as our first at Yarmouth ‘Apsly House’. This place is absolutely packed with soldiers. So far Fred and I have been able to keep together.’

‘Mrs W. J. Weanmam, 19 Station Road, Crawley, Sussex’

Courtesy of D Price

A postcard showing Folkestone pier written from ‘Charlie Boy'. The card was sent 3rd December 1918 at 2pm.

The transcribed text reads:

‘Am at Folkestone. Hoping to cross over to - day, all being well. Am having a feed, and am quite alright. Love to all Charlie Boy.'

‘Mr & Mrs T.F Baxter, 3 Britannia Road, Pear Tree Green, Southampton’

Courtesy of D Price

From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Milton Family: ‘Edward Milton and his Wife Elizabeth Hall’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

Albert Leslie Milton was born in 1907 – 1941 to Edward and Elizabeth Milton. The family lived in Cheriton and Albert can be seen in the picture above on the right with his mother Elizabeth. Albert married Elsie and the couple had a daughter Rosemary (seen in the picture below on the left with her grandfather Edward) Albert survived the First World War and died in 1941 of Pneumonia. Elsie died in 1939 of Cancer.

Image and text courtesy of Pam Dray

From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Milton Family: ‘William Milton and his Wife Elizabeth Court’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

William Milton Jr was born and died in his hometown of Folkestone. On the 19th Apr 1911, he married Lily Amy Goldsack 1892 – 28.07.1974, (daughter of Stephen Goldsack and Ellen Ann Lily and brother to Stephen Edward Goldsack who served and died in WW1). The couple lived at St Michael’s St in Folkestone and during WW1 William was in the Navy.

Image and text courtesy of Pam Dray

This is a postcard showing Radnor Park during WW1. The card was sent at 2pm on the 9th August 1918

The transcribed text reads:

‘Dear Pa & Ma. Just arrived here sailing today. Please do not worry for my sake; will be with you once again very shortly, it is doing nothing only rain..., Your loving son Malcolm xxxxxx’

'Mrs J Hartley, 181 Station Rd, Horwich, Nr Bolton'

Courtesy of Malcolm Price

‘I have been trying to find my grandfather's Army regiment; however, I have been told that a lot of records were lost. Joseph Judd (my grandfather) was born in 1889 so when joining up for WW1, he had to lie and say he was younger I believe.

During WW1, he was badly injured losing a leg and obtaining other injuries and was eventually sent to the convalescent home in Folkestone ‘St Andrews Home’(for more information on St Andrews Home, click here). He went on to marry my grandmother in 1926 after he left the St Andrews Home.

I have found a card of Folkestone and letter from the St Andrews home from someone who was also a resident there. Wishing him well on his wedding and having to decline his invitation as he was not well enough to go. Unfortunately I cannot read his name.

My grandparents lived in London and went to Essex to start a business called the Fobbing Tea rooms. Which they were still running during the Second World War, Joseph even tried to join up in WW2 without his leg. Of course he was sent packing. Many service people used the Fobbing Tea Rooms during WW2, someone might even remember him. Annie was a very good cook and spent WW2 feeding the boys and girls as she used to say.

Joseph died in 1952 in Essex.

If there are any records of the residents at St Andrews I would love to get in touch with whoever has them. I would love to know what regiment he was in, I can email the card and letter to anyone who thinks they might be able to help with any information’

Courtesy of Sally Burke

From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Milton Family: ‘Sarah Nee Milton and her Husband James Hughes’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

The fifth child of Sarah and James Hughes was James Charles Hughes, born 1878 – 1958 in Capel. (See below) James married Edith Lucy Mannering and they lived at 85, Sidney Street, Folkestone. During WW1 James was James Charles Hughes PTE 2202216 PTE ¼ East Kents.

The sixth child of Sarah and James was Sarah Elizabeth Amy Hughes 1883 – 1970. She married John Walter Castle 1882 – 1945 and they lived at 30, Denmark Street, Folkestone. In WW1 he was 15075 Pnr/CPL 7/ Irish Fusiliers. The family wondered why he went into that regiment as most of the people in this area seemed to go into the Buffs. West Kents and Surrey regiments.

Image and text courtesy of Pam Dray

From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Milton Family: ‘Alfred Milton and Thomas Milton’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

Alfred was born in Folkestone on the 28th July 1893 and served in the First World War as AB seaman RNR 4256A. He served on the ‘Highland Glen’ of the Nelson Line (see below) which was a refrigerated cargo ship that carried meat from South America to the UK, built in 1911. In 1937 Alfred was living in Hill Road Folkestone.

Image and text courtesy of Pam Dray

From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Milton Family: ‘Jesse Milton and his wife Christina Milton.’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

Charles Milton was the first son of Jesse and Christine Milton. Charles served in WW1 as AB Seaman RNR 3437A on HMS President 111 and he was sometimes known as William Charles Henry Milton. Charles had two brothers; Alfred John Milton born in 1896 GNR 4900 SS Montenegro and Jesse Milton born in 1893. I have no information for Jesse.

Image and text courtesy of Pam Dray

From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Milton Family: ‘Edgar Milton and his wife Sarah Milton’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

Herbert Henry Milton and Winifred Milton Nee Allen were the grandparents of Pam Dray.

Herbert Henry Milton (Dosh) 01.10.1889 – 03.09.1975 (My Grandfather) was the second son of Edgar and Sarah. Herbert married Winifred Allen 07.04.1893 – 02.04.1965 and the couple lived at 19 The Bayle, Folkestone.

This picture shows the area of the Bayle Folkestone about 1911, the little house next to the large shop front is 19 The Bayle. My grandfather, being a postman, was close to his work and my gran would say worst thing they did as people would knock at the door and look through the letter box asking if grandfather could do an extra shift, which of course he would. Winifred worked in the laundry as an ironer until my mother Winifred Evangeline came along in 1913.

In about 1912 they moved to 72, Blackbull Road, Folkestone. All to soon granddad went off to war leaving grandma with child and little money so she said to me she had to take in lodgers to make ends meet and hated to have people in her house, and like many other women she did sewing and made all their clothes. With granddad being away for 6 years it made things difficult for her as on his return they both had to get used to each other again and he also had a daughter to get to know. She felt the war was very disruptive to their lives.

Herbert told me some very interesting tales of his service especially one story when he was in the Camel Corp in the desert where Lawerence of Arabia was. One night he slipped in to the camp in Arab dress, when I asked what he was like etc the answer I got was “We had no regard for him”. When he was in India he said the Taj Mahal was beautiful to see, and they didn’t often take prisoners as they wanted to bring their families along with them, as they knew the British would look after them well. Herbert served in the Buffs in Aden and India.

The photos above show Herbert age about 21 in his Post office uniform and a collection of Herbert’s medal ribbons, as well as the post cards he sent his wife Winifred, his Permanent Pass, his Registration certificate, his Discharge Certificate and Retierment Letter and Herbert of course can be seen half laying down, (Photo taken in India circa 1917.)

• Daughter: Winifred Milton 06.01.1913 – 04.12.1980 married Robert Fredrick William Harris 23.03.1911 – 15.09.86 (son of Frederick William Harris and Daisy Louise Milton) 13.09.1939. This is my parents.

• Pamela Winifred Dray Nee Harris

Image and text courtesy of Pam Dray

From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Harris Family: ‘James Harris and his Wife Agnes Harris’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

James and Agnes had 7 children altogether, two of which served in WW1.

William Thomas Harris 1888 – 24/10/1914 7375 “A”.2nd Bn., South Lancashire Reg. William would have been a regular soldier ‘Old Contemptible’ who went to France on the 14/8/1914. William died on 24th October 1914, but sadly his body was never found.

And Charles Dennis Harris 1894 – 1976 Royal Navy Seaman No. K18985.(See below)Charles married Elizabeth Fillery in 1913 and they immigrated to Canada after the war in 1929. Charles died in Victoria BC Canada in 1976.

Text and Image courtesy of Pam Dray

From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Harris Family: ‘Benjamin Harris and his Wife Hannah Harris’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

Richard Benjamin Harris 15.11.1892 – 1918/19 was born in Folkestone and was an Able Seaman probably in the RNR. He married Florence A Heath in 1913. Unfortunately I have been unable to find any records for him at this moment in time. In my notes, I have; possibly died at sea about 1918/19.

Image and text courtesy of Pam Dray

From the‘Family histories’ section: The Harris Family: ‘James Harris and his wife Mary Harris’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

William James Harris was born in 1891 and signed up for WW1. 15070, H.M. trawler, Violet May royal Naval Reserve. On the 15th February 1918 at the age of 27 William was killed and is now buried in Folkestone old cemetery.

Information courtesy of Pam Dray

From the‘Family histories’ section: The Harris Family: ‘James Harris and his wife Mary Harris’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

Frederick James Harris was born on the 17/11/1819 and went on to marry Elizabeth Mary Louis in 1913. The couple had three children. The family lived at 64 Mead Road in Folkestone. During the First World War, Frederick was a Royal Navy Reserve 109431K. He survived the war, but sadly on the 2nd January 1929, Frederick died of an accident whilst working on the ‘Maid of New Orleans’ cross channel ship. The SS ‘Maid of New Orleans’ was a 2386 ton Cross Channel Steamer, built in 1918 and sunk by a U boat in the Channel in 1944.

Image and text courtesy of Pam Dray

Born in Folkestone in 1874, George Clarke Musgrave joined the Royal Artillery in 1893 but was medically discharged a year later following an accident with a spooked horse, a run-away gun carriage and a leg shattered from ankle to thigh. He later became a noted war correspondent, journalist and author on both sides of the Atlantic, serving with British and American forces in the Gold Coast, Cuba, South Africa, Peking and France.

His contribution to the Great War lies in the vivid, accurate and illuminating narrative of his fifth book, "Under Four Flags for France" in which he draws his pictures with an eye to the diplomatic reasons behind the plans of war, the great sweep of armies as they maneuver for advantage, and the effect of the life and death decisions of Generals on the fighting man and on the civilian population.

Courtesy of Adrian Musgrave: 'Celebrating the Life and Times of my great-uncle, George Clarke Musgrave': http:www.georgeclarkemusgrave.com

On 25th May 1917, a Friday night, a German plane dropped a bomb on Tontine Street in Folkestone killing more than 60 people. My father was just a couple of minutes away as he had been sent by his mother to buy vegetables for the weekend from ‘Stokes’, a shop that was destroyed by the explosion.

He was descending the steps that still connect St Michael's Street to Tontine Street and by a strange coincidence, my wife's father at the same time was entering Tontine Street from the harbour area about a hundred yards from the where the bomb landed.

Courtesy of David Crocker

From this postcard, we have assumed that WH is on holiday and it seems that 25 Cheriton Road could have been a boarding house during the War. Note the abbreviation D Mrs W- Dear Mrs Wood.

The postcard was sent 28th July 1916

The transcribed text reads:

'D Mrs W. You will see where we are landed. We went to Broadmead Road, but thought it too far from the beach. We are only 5min walk to it from here, the weather is perfect. We came yesterday and hope to stay a fortnight. Love from W H'

'Mrs S Wood, Hay Farm, Eastry, Dover'

Courtesy of D Price

This is a postcard from Ed Butcher to his mother dated 6^th January 1916 and including a censor stamp on the reverse.

The transcribed text reads:

'Dearest Mum Arrived across, “ All can do” very rough Love and wishes to all Your affectionate son Edd.'

It could be that the Butcher family had devised a code to circumnavigate the censor whereby Edd was communicating his destination in the “All can do” phrase.

Courtesy of D Price

A period picture of Folkestone Central Station. Although there are men in uniform in this picture we are uncertain of the date.

The station would have been a familiar sight for servicemen and civilians and has changed from present days as there were two booking halls using both sides of the platform.

Courtesy of D. Price

A picture of Folkestone Harbour taken during the War, this shows troops waiting to embark on a troopship. We are not certain what date this was taken.

Courtesy of D Price

King George Vth reviews Canadian troops 1915 with Lord Kitchener on St. Martins Plain.

Courtesy of D Price

St Andrews Home was known as a Convalescent and Nursing home prior to the First World War, during the War it was used as a hospital.

We are not certain of the date of this photograph but the building has not altered very much since it was founded in the early 1880’s by the Clewer nuns.

Courtesy of D Price

From our ‘Family Histories’ section: The Harris Family: ‘James Harris and his Wife Katherine Harris’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

James Harris was born on the 26th May 1882. In the local paper of 1911 a report was made of a James Harris receiving a Mayor of Folkestone’s medal for valour when he was helped by two other people on a sprat boat rescue of three men on another sprat boat that had capsized off the Warren Folkestone.

In 1919 he was on the ship “Amelia Rose” when it was mowed down by an American War ship in the channel and he was killed. At the time of his death, he wasn’t married and was living with his brother Frederick and family at 1, Bates Alley, Folkestone.

Courtesy of Pam Dray

From our ‘Family Histories’ section: The Harris Family: ‘James Harris and his Wife Katherine Harris’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

Henry James Harris was born on the 25th August 1879 and lived at 6th North Street and Clouts Alley in Folkestone. ‘Harry’ as he was known was said to have been one of the brave band of fishermen who risked enemy attacks and mines during The Great War. He had several dangerous experiences and narrowly escaped death when three enemy planes swooped over his boat and machine gunned the deck on which he was standing. He dived down the companion way head first and fell on to one of the crew. Though momentarily stunned, he was unhurt.

On another occasion he lost a large amount of valuable equipment when his trawl caught a magnetic mine and the nets had to be cut away to save the ship being blown up by the mine.

Courtesy of Pam Dray

From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Harris Family: ‘James Harris and his Wife Katherine Harris’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

Frederick William Harris was born on the 26th April 1884 at 6, North Street, Folkestone. He was the third child of James Harris and Kate Sanders and like his Father he was also a fisherman.

He married Daisy Louise Milton in 1908 and they lived at 1, Bates Alley, Folkestone. From an obituary in the local paper it turns out Frederick was the skipper of “The Masterpiece “(FE 145) and previously the skipper of “Golden Sunset “(FE 79). He attended St Peter’s school until he was 12 then went to join the fishing fleet. During the First World War, he served on the paddle steamer “Golden Eagle” which took British troops to France.

Courtesy of Pam Dray

Walter Tull is one of the remarkable sons of Folkestone.

He was born in Folkestone in 1888 and attended North Board School (now Mundella School). After being orphaned at an early age Walter moved to a children’s home in London. He was later talent spotted by Tottenham Hotspur football club and became a footballer, first for Tottenham and later for Northampton Town.

Walter enlisted for the Army in 1914 and subsequently became the first black officer in the British Army; he was killed in action on 25th March 1918.

From the collection of Step Short

From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Allen Family: ‘Thomas James Allen’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

The ship on which Thomas James Allen lost his life on that fateful day of 8th August 1915

This picture shows the ship on which Thomas James Allen lost his life on that fateful day of 8th August 1915. This ship, named the Duke of Lancaster, was built in 1895 and it was used as a ferry between Liverpool and Douglas. At the end of the 1914 season she was taken over by the government and fitted out by Cammell Laird and Company, arming her with two twelve pounder guns positioned port and starboard under the Captain's Bridge. Her crew numbered ninety eight and in November 1914 she sailed to Scappa Flow and joined ships of all sizes awaiting orders. The Ramsey, joined by two other ships, was sent on patrol duty and its last patrol resulted in its sinking on August the 8th 1915.

The Ramsey was deceived by a German ship disguised as a Russian tramp steamer and when the Ramsey got closer to the ship the Russian flag was pulled down and the German flag hoisted up, firing machine guns and torpedoes. The Ramsey sank in four minutes. There were forty six survivors that the German ship “Meteor” picked up on its way to Zeebrugge. Much to the crew's surprise, they were treated very well.

In the meantime the “Cleopatra” was on its way to rescue the Ramsey’s survivors. When the “Meteor’s” Commander saw the large battleship coming he decided to off load the prisoners onto one of the Norwegian fishing vessels near him. When the “Cleopatra” gave orders for the British to steer a course for the Germans, who were apparently sailing under a neutral flag, the German Commander and some officers placed a time bomb fuse and blew the “Meteor” up to avoid capture. The German crew made off in a Danish fishing vessel, and it was the Arathusa that eventually rescued the English. They landed at Harwich on the Tuesday afternoon and were sent to Shotley barracks.

Courtesy of Pam Dray

From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Allen Family: ‘Thomas James Allen’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

Thomas James Allen was born on 18th December 1879 in Oxford the second child of nine. His parents were Thomas Allen and Eliza Hitchman and they were a family of cobblers. They moved around the country quite a bit until finally settling in the Eastbourne area where in 1904Thomas Junior signed up in the Naval Reserve. Shortly afterwards, his parents and siblings moved to 44 Cheriton Road, Cheriton, where they set up The Northampton Shoe company. This is where the census of 1911 shows the family, minus Thomas of course, and including my grandmother Winifred as well as his sister who married the previous year to Herbert Henry Milton a postman. They were all living on The Bayle with another brother Richard Allen. Little is known of Thomas and he died a bachelor with the sinking of the HMS Ramsey on 8th August 1915. In the 1911 census Thomas also a cobbler by trade was lodging with Henry Clarke and family in Worthing Sussex.

There was possibly not much contact with Thomas and his family during the war as in 1934 when medals were sent to the family, they were returned as gone away. It would have been unknown to the medal office that when the medals were dispatched both Thomas’s parents had died. At some point in time when my father was researching the family history in the 1970’s, he obtained Thomas’s medals and donated them to the Folkestone library. The “Dead Man’s Penny” is on display but the others are in the Maidstone archive.

As Thomas’s parents moved to Folkestone, his is the first listed name on Folkestone’s war memorial.

Courtesy of Pam Dray

From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Milton Family: ‘William Milton and his Wife Elizabeth Court’: Courtesy of Pam Dray

Frederick John Milton born in 1898 was the 10th and last child of William David Smith Milton and Elizabeth nee Court. They lived at 3, Bates Alley off North Street Folkestone, he came from a long line of fishing families. Frederick’s father had a very emotional time with the death of Frederick as six weeks before Frederick was killed he lost his wife Elizabeth. My link to Frederick was through his sister my grandmother Daisy Louise born in 1888 and was William and Elizabeth’s sixth child, and I am a descendant of Daisy who married Frederick Harris. Little is known about Frederick with no one alive who can tell me about him.

Frederick is mentioned on the war memorial in Folkestone and sadly he is one of many who died at Ypres whose body was never recovered. Fredrick is also remembered on the War Memorial of Tyn Cot Zonnebeke, West Vlaanderen, and Belgium.

Frederick’s “Dead Man’s Penny” is now in the safe keeping of Jesse Milton born in 1965 who is Frederick’s first cousin once removed and is the last of the Milton family to work with fish in the local fish market having given up going to sea a few years ago

Courtesy of Pam Dray

Pictured here is one of the many troop trains leaving Folkestone Harbour.

Courtesy of D Price

‘The Slope’ in Folkestone, before it was renamed as “Road of Remembrance” in the early 1920’s.The date of this photograph is unknown, but this would have been the view the soldiers saw as they marched down to the harbour.

The surface of the hill, visible in the image, is comprised of stone sets - not tarmac. When these stones were lifted to tarmac the hill in the early 1920’s, some were salvaged, and a memorial cairn (now listed) was made out of the actual stones the soldiers marched on.

Courtesy of D Price

This picture shows the full extent of Shornecliffe Camp upon the hillside in Seabrook.

Courtesy of D Price

This photograph shows soldiers getting supplies at one of the Rest Camps which were set up along Marine Parade, Folkestone.

This picture would be located near to the junction of Marine Parade and Marine Terrace.

Courtesy of D Price

Richard Gilden was born in Cheriton (nr Folkestone) c1897 and attended New Cheriton C of E School (now known as All Soul’s School). He met Margaret (Maggie) Pratt before the First World War and they married after the War and had 3 children.

Richard continued to live in Cheriton and worked at Cheriton Forge, a garage in Folkestone and then set up his own car repair business in Ashley Avenue before the Second World War.

Courtesy of Phylis Couchman

William Cotter (born in Folkestone in 1882) was one of 6 brothers, in 1914 his mother Amy was living at 2 Barton Cottages, Sandgate.

William had originally enlisted in the Army with the East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) and was a reservist when War was declared. Acting Corporal Cotter was awarded a posthumous VC for bravery in action 6-7 March 1916 near the Hohenzollern Redoubt at Loos.

Courtesy of D Price