Welcome to the town page for Sevenoaks. 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 page for the Trail information and downloadable leaflet, booklet, walking directions and quiz.

Sevenoaks was a prosperous town before the War, situated on important road and rail links from London to the Coast.

Men from Sevenoaks already in the Territorials left to serve overseas and an appeal went out for men to volunteer to serve as special constables to stand in for regular police officers who had joined up.

In October 1914 there were recruiting drives held in Sevenoaks and surrounding villages- many of these were held using magic lantern slides depicting the War in Belgium. These public events were held in places such as The Vine, the Market Place and some schools. In particular there was a drive to recruit 350 men to serve with the 4th Foreign Service Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment.

As the Sevenoaks men left other soldiers were billeted in the town – the first draft were recruits from the 4th Royal West Kent Regiment and the Free Library was opened specially for the soldiers on Sundays from 2.30pm till 9pm to give them somewhere to go rather than a public house. By the 16th of October 1914 the town was preparing to receive 6,000 troops– some were housed in hotels, halls and some in private homes such as Bradbourne Park House.

The Public Baths in Eardley Road were finally opened in December 1914 which greatly helped with the number of soldiers billeted in smaller houses without bathrooms. The Drill Hall in Argyle Road was used by the troops.

The Vine was a public area given to the people of Sevenoaks and also the home of the The Vine cricket club (one of the oldest in the country). The Vine was used as a parade ground for the troops during the First World War and the YMCA had a canteen for the troops nearby manned by local volunteers.

Knole Paddock was a local reception centre for horses which had been purchased locally before the being sent to their units. The horses were guarded by the local reserve.

In October 1914 at the VAD hospital in Cornwall Hall on The Drive was mobilised to receive Belgian wounded soldiers, who also went to St John’s Hall. Kent VAD 76 continued to run the Cornwall Hall as a hospital throughout the War, and by the end of the War more than 3,000 men had been treated there.

Sources: Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser, Kent and Sussex Courier

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.