January 1916

Under a headline “Territorial’s on the Tigris”, The Surrey Times reported that the 1/5th Queens were–in Mesopotamia as part of Gen. Aylmer’s relief force.

With them was Lieut. Clark Kennedy the son of the Rev A.E. Kennedy, formerly Rector of Ewhurst. Edmund Clark Kennedy had been training to be a doctor at the London Medical College, but volunteered for service at the beginning of the war. The battalion had been based in Lucknow, but moved to Mesopotamia in December 1915.

Mentioned in Despatches

On Saturday 15th January, The Surrey Advertiser reported that Sergeant J. Russell, R.E. of Coneyhurst, Ewhurst, was among those mentioned in Sir John French’s despatches. John Russell had been educated at the village school and was a keen bell ringer. By 1916 he had married and moved away form Ewhurst, but his family still lived in the village.

Gunner Robert William Dodman.

It was reported that Robert Dodman , a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery had drowned at Le havre on 30th January 1916. Aged 38, he was the son of Harriett Dodman, of Ewhurst, Surrey, and the late John Dodman. He had previously served in the South African Campaign.