Private in the Royal West Kents.
Andrew Behan has researched this man: Private Harold Kenchatt was born on 20 November 1891 in Hendon, the second son and the third of the five children of William Kenchatt and Harriet Louisa Kenchatt née Lay. His father was a painter, later to be employed by the London County Council as gardener. On 14 August 1892 he was baptised at Christ Church, Hampstead and the baptismal records show the family living at 7 Golders Hill Terrace, Golders Hill, Hendon. The 1901 census confirms him still living there with his parents, his paternal grandparents and three of his siblings.
On 26 August 1907 in Chester, Cheshire, he enlisted for 7 years, with a further 5 years in the reserve, in the Cheshire Regiment, giving his occupation as a booking clerk. He claimed to be 18 years of age, but in fact he was aged 15 years, 9 months and 6 days. His service number was 8597. After serving at the regiment's depot he was transferred on 1 November 1907 to their 1st Battalion that was stationed in Bordon Hampshire. His regimental conduct sheet shows that on 24 June 1908 he refused to obey an order given by a lance corporal and was sentenced to 5 days confined to barracks. For having dirty boots he was given a further 3 days confined to barracks on 25 November 1908 but despite these blemishes to his record he was a awarded a good conduct badge on 26 August 1909. On 24 September 1909 his battalion was transferred to Belfast, Ireland, (now Northern Ireland). His conduct sheet shows that he overstayed a furlough by nine and a half hours on 9 November 1909 and as a result was confined to barracks for 7 days. On 4 January 1911 he was found drunk at about 11.15pm in Clifton, Belfast. He was sentenced to 10 days confined to barracks and forfeited his good conduct badge. For the offence of being very dirty on a guard mounting parade on 3 March 1911 he was given 2 extra guard duties to perform. From 3 May 1911 until 12 June 1911 he spent 41 days in hospital suffering from gonorrhoea. Three days later on 15 June 1911 he is punished with 2 extra guard duties for having a dirty rifle when on guard mounting. The 24 June 1911 saw him being given 7 days confined to barracks for hesitating to obey an order and a further 2 days confined to barracks was awarded on 24 August 1911 for being improperly dressed for a funeral parade. On 31 August 1911 he received 3 more days confined to barracks for being dirty on parade, however his good conduct badge was restored to him on 6 January 1912. On 3 June 1912, whilst in Ballykinler, Downpatrick, Ireland, he was late falling in for parade at 7.00am and received another 3 days confined to barracks. Back in Belfast on 20 September 1912 he was 21 hours and 10 minutes late in returning to barracks and was charged with overstaying his permanent pass for which he received another 7 days confined to barracks.
It would appear that he deserted his regiment on 25 September 1912 and was not apprehended until over 3 years later when he attempted to rejoin the army by applying to enlist in another regiment. He was arrested on 14 December 1915 and sentenced later that day at West London Police Court to 14 days hard labour. Upon being released from Wormwood Scrubs prison on 27 December 1915 he was returned to his regiment. He was transferred to the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment on 8 January 1916 and allocated the service number 11169 and was embarked to join the regiment's 6th Battalion in France on 15 April 1916. He was wounded in action on 3 July 1916 and upon recovering was attached to the regiment's 1st Battalion on 29 July 1916.
He was killed in action, aged 24 years, on 24 August 1916. His father was sent his army effects totalling £3-17s-3d on 2 February 1917 and on 23 June 1919 his £5-0s-0d war gratuity. On 11 July 1919, his body was exhumed from near where he was killed and re-interred in Plot 1, Row C, Grave 4 in the Quarry Cemetery, Montauban, Somme, France.
He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal and these were sent to his father at the family address that was now West Lodge, Golders Hill Park, North End Road, Hampstead.
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