Francis Henry Wenban, died 13th October 1915, aged 29.
Private L/8122, 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
Francis was born on 12th August 1886 in Hawkhurst. By 1911 his parents were living at Priors Heath where his father worked as a “woodman”, probably at Bedgebury. Francis enlisted in 1905 and served with the 2nd Buffs in Asia, then returned home and was mobilised as a Reservist on the outbreak of war, being posted to the 1st Buffs. Probably invalided home, and then transferred to the 6th battalion. He was one of six Goudhurst men killed at the Battle of Loos in 1915 and his name is on the Loos Memorial. His name also appears on the war memorial in Hawkhurst and he is remembered on the grave of his sister, Rosa, who was buried in Kilndown in 1918 with the words that he was “reported missing at the Battle of Loos, 13th October 1915”.