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JAMES Edgar Herbert
Private. 83271.
Royal Fusiliers
Killed in action 10th September 1918.
Private Edgar Hubert James was born in Wells, Somerset, and was the son of Mr and Mrs Albert James, of Stone’s Ash Farm, Mells, Frome. He worked alongside his father on his farm before enlisting into the army. Formerly TR/8/18178 37th Training Reserve Battalion, and posted to 2nd/2nd Battalion London Regimen (Royal Fusiliers). He is buried at Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, Epehy, Somme, France. His name appears on the Mells War Memorial.
JAMES Gilbert Charles
Private. 24563.
7th Battalion.
Duke of Cornwall’s (Light Infantry)
Killed in action 2nd April 1918.
Private Gilbert Charles James was born in Coleford, Bath, and was the son of Mr and Mrs Frank James, of Vobster Hollow, Mells, Frome. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France. Panel 45. His name appears on the Mells War Memorial.
JELLY Alfred William Herbert
Private. 11349.
6th Battalion. Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry)
Died of wounds 30th September 1915.
Private Alfred William Herbert Jelly was born and lived in Frome. He is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: IV. H. 4A. His name does not appear on the Frome War Memorial.
JOLLIFFE Ernest
Private. 29719.
2nd Battalion Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment)
Killed in action 8th April 1917. Age: 30
Private Ernest Jolliffe was believed to be born in Crockerton, Wiltshire, and was the son of George and Emily Jolliffe, of 76, Sand Street, Longbridge Deverill, Warminster, Wiltshire. Ernest was very well known in Frome at the time, residing and working in the town from April 1907, as an assistant to Messrs. Waters, grocers, of the Market Place, Frome, where he worked until May 1912. Ernest was a member of the Thursday afternoon football teams, and left the town to take up new employment elsewhere. He had served in the army for eighteen months. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 7. His name does not appear on the Frome War Memorial.
JONES Arthur Henry
Sergeant. 14549.
7th Battalion Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry)
Died 27th January 1919. Age: 47
Sergeant Arthur Henry Jones was born at Witham Friary, Frome, and was the son of James and Kate Jones; and husband of Fanny Jones, of Pear Tree Cottage, Red Pit, Dilton Marsh, Westbury, Wiltshire. He died of pneumonia, and is buried at Taunton (St. Mary’s) Cemetery, Somerset. Grave Ref: 2647. His name does not appear on the Witham Friary War Memorial.
JONES Frederick John
Private. 3/7066.
1st Battalion Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry)
Killed in action 3rd May 1917. Age: 19
Private Frederick John Jones was born at St. Paul’s Bath, and lived in Frome, and was the son of Mrs C. Wilcox of White Cross, Zeals, Wiltshire. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 4. His name appears on the Frome War Memorial.
JONES Sidney Herbert
Private. 9960.
6th Battalion Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry)
Killed in action 9th April 1917. Age: 29
Private Sidney Herbert Jones was born in Nunney, Frome, and lived in Frome, and was the son of Mrs S. H. Jones, of West Cranmore, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. He was killed during the very heavy fighting and the eventual capture of Wancourt (12th of April 1917). He is buried at Tigris Lane Cemetery, Wancourt, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: I. D. 2. His name does not appear on either Frome or Nunney War Memorials.
KEATS Reginald
Able Seaman. SS/2565. (RFR/PO/B/6237)
H.M.S “Good Hope” Royal Navy
Killed in action 1st November 1914. Age: 25
Able Seaman Reginald Keats was the son of William and Louisa Keates, of “Mudwalls”, Trudoxhill, Nunney, Frome. He was on the “Good Hope”, a 14,000 tons armoured cruiser, when she was sunk during the battle of the Coronel. The “Good Hope”had caught fire for a second time from salvo’s from the German ships and was unmanageable. She was trying to steer towards the enemy, with her propellers, so she could use her torpedoes. Burning brightly in the night skyline, at 7.50 pm an explosion occurred amidships, and her funnels went up in the air, and the flames rose to a height of 200 feet. All Officers and men were killed. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Hampshire. Panel 2. His name appears on the Nunney War Memorial, Marston, formerly Trudohill church before closure.
KEEN William Edgar (Photo)
Able Seaman. J/10071.
H.M.S “Queen Mary” Royal Navy
Killed in action 31st May 1916. Age: 21
Able Seaman William Edgar Keen was the son of Joshua and Jesse Clemenshaw Keen, of the “Post Office”, Cheap Street, Frome. He was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland. The “Queen Mary”, a 27,000 ton Battle Cruiser, built in 1912, was blown up by German Battle Cruisers. The “Queen Mary” had just holed her opposite number in the German line, when she was struck by a salvo to her forward deck. There was an explosion, and she burst into flames, and capsized, sinking after 30 seconds. Over a thousand officers and men were lost. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire. Panel 13. His name appears on the Frome War Memorial, and Christ Church, Frome. Brother of Robert Charles Keen.
KEEN Robert Charles
Petty Officer. 237605.
H.M.S “Victory” Royal Navy
Died 14th March 1918. Age: 28
Petty Officer Robert Charles Keene was the third son of Joshua and Jesse Clemenshaw Keen, of the “Post"Office”, Cheap Street, Frome. He died of pneumonia in the Naval Hospital, South Queensferry, West Lothian. Late of H.M.S “Achilles” Although not a native of Frome, lived most of his life in the town, until he joined the Royal Navy around 1908. He had been through most of the fighting in the North Sea, including the “Battle of Jutland”, where his younger brother William Edgar Keen was killed. He is buried at Dalmeny and Queensferry Cemetery, West Lothian. Grave Ref: 462. His name appears on Christ Church Memorial, Frome.
KEEVIL Francis Allen
Private. 26001.
7th Battalion Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry)
Died of wounds 7th August 1917. Age: 38
Private Francis Allen Keevil was born in Frome, and was the son of Jabez Allen Keevil; and husband of Francis Augusta Keevil, of Rose Cottage, Dinder, Wells, Somerset. he was in “C” Company of the Somerset Light Infantry. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper, Belgium. Panel 21. His name does not appear on any Memorial in Frome.
KEMP Ernest William (Photo)
Private. 3404.
51st Australian Infantry A.I.F
Killed in action 24th April 1918. Age: 20
Private Ernest William Kemp was the son of Edward and Hannah Sofia Kemp, of Coode Street, Bayswater, Western Australia, formerly of Rode, near Frome, Somerset. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Somme, France. His name appears on the Rode War Memorial.
KING Charles Glazier (Photo)
Private. 9936.
No. 2 Coy. 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards
Killed in action France 14th September 1914. Age: 21
Private Charles Glazier King was born in Mells, Frome, and was the son of Richard Henry and Rose King, of Lower Vobster, Coleford, near Frome. He and his brother, Thomas George King, (see King T. G) had both the same ambition to join the Metropolitan police, but, being slightly under the standard required, both decided to join the Coldstream Guards in 1913. After serving their period of service in the army, they hoped that they may, then be accepted into the Metropolitan Police. When war broke out they were both on active service, and on the 13th of August 1914, the 3rd Battalion landed at Havre, France. Private Charles Glazier King has no known grave and is commemorated on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne, France. His name appears on the Mells War Memorial. Driver George Victor Woods, who lived at Rode, Frome, is also on this memorial, and was killed the same day. (see Woods G V)
KING Thomas George (Photo)
Sergeant. 9906.
3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards
Died of wounds. 16th September 1916. Age: 25.
Sergeant Thomas King was born at Vobster, Mells, near Frome, and was the son of Richard Henry and Rose King, of Lower Vobster, Mells, near Frome. He is buried at Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, Somme, France. Grave Ref: I. C. 5. His name appears on the Mells War Memorial, along with his brother’s (see King C.G)
KING William Arthur
Private. 71116.
Machine Gun Corps
Killed in action 16th August 1917. Age: 26
Private William Arthur King was born in Castle Cary, Somerset, and was the son of Samual and Lavinia King, of Shepton Montague, Castle Cary, Somerset. He lived in Frome, according to the Somerset War Memorial records. Formerly 19121, Somerset Light Infantry, he was transferred to the 61st Company of the Machine Gun Corps. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Passchendael, Belgium. panel 154 to 159, and 163A.
KING William Henry George
Gunner. 110502.
99th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
Died of wounds 6th July 1918. Age: 20
Gunner William Henry George King was born at Witham Friary, Frome, and was the son of Henry John and Martha King, of Witham Friary, Frome. He died of gas poisoning, and is buried at Witham Friary (St. Mary’s) Churchyard, Somerset. Grave Ref: NW. 212. his name appears on the Witham Friary Memorial.
KING William John
Private. 72941.
21st Company Machine Gun Corps (Inf.)
Killed in action 9th April 1917. Age: 29
Private William John King was born at Shepton Montague, Somerset, and was the son of Selina Willis (formerly King), of 67, Broadway, Frome. Formerly 8630 Somerset Light Infantry, he lived in Frome. He is buried at Neuville-Vitasse Road Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: B. 14. His name does not appear on the Frome War Memorial.
KNEE W
Rifleman. Number unknown.
King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Unknown cause of death or date
There are no Knee W’s listed being killed in action or died of wounds, or died that can be associated with Frome. The only Knee W found associated with Frome was mentioned in the Somerset Standard, dated 4th August 1916, as being wounded. One can only assume that this is the Knee W, that is on the Frome War Memorial. Rifleman W Knee, son of Mr E. M. Knee, of Castle Street, Frome, joined the Kings Royal Rifle Corps on the 22nd February 1916, and was sent out to the Front Line some three weeks later. W. Knee was one of a party sent out to bury dead horses, when a shell dropped near them, he was wounded in the back ,two others were also hit. As he is not listed with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, one cannot ascertain where he is buried or commemorated. It is possible that he died of his wounds after the war, and is buried somewhere in Frome, but no trace of a war grave can be found in the town. His name appears on the Frome War Memorial.