| Notes: | MFP. Awarded the 1915 Star, Victory and War Medals. First served abroad (5a) East Africa, 1/2/15 should read (6b) Mesopotamia, 7/2/1915. Info from service record: He was born in Keston, enlisted in New Cross and resided in Keston, Kent. Died. Formerly 8550 (number shown as 8556 in Soldiers Died), Royal West Kent Regimen. He enlisted in Maidstone on 21/1/1907 in the Royal West Kent Regiment No 8550. He was born in Keston, Bromley, Kent age 21 and formerly a gardener. Prior to enlistment he served as a Cpl No 6049 in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment. Service Home 21/11907 to 30/10/19107, Singapore 31/10/1907 to 6/12/1908, India 7/12/1908 to 1/1/1915, Exp Force Mesopotamia 1/2/1915 to 5/2/1918. 1/10/1916 taken onto the Provost Establishment at Basra. and awarded the Silver Medal by HM King of Serbia 27/8/1916. 5/2/1917 33 British General Hospital, died gun shot wound to head, self inflicted. The record of a Court of Inquiry into his death are in his record also a telegram to his father John Pangbourn, 5 Leonard Place, Keston, Kent saying that he had died of wounds on 5 Feb in Mesopotamia. There are also two letters to the authorities from his Fiance trying to ascertain his whereabouts. His father received the following property: 2 rings, 1 wrist watch, strap & case, cap badge, pencil case, Princess Mary Gift Box with card, 2 pocket wallets, cheque book, correspondence, photos etc, Holy bible, Prayer Book, Greeting card, lock of hair, newspaper cutting, artificial flowers, Serbian Silver Medal, 15/9/18. From army record. Finding by the Court. The Court having heard all the evidence relevant to the case are of the unanimous opinion that: 1). Deceased committed suicide. 2). The cause of deceased committing suicide was fear of a Court-martial after eleven years exemplary service, 3). The deceased was in an un-balanced state of mind owing to chronic ill health. 4). No blame attached to anyone. His army record contains a detailed enquiry into his death.
Info from Army Register of Soldiers' Effects 1901-1929. 5/2/1918 died Basra, Mesopotamia. 1/11/1918 father John William received £4-07-06 and 25/2/1919 a further £2-08-01.
Charles Pangbourn |
