Category: Military
Rank: Private
Regiment or Ship: 5th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment
Service Number(s): 5/2005
Occupation: Newspaper reporter
Date of Birth: 00.01.1898
Place of Birth: Bexhill on Sea, Sussex
Date of Death: 09.05.1915
Place of Death: France
Place of Burial / Memorials:
Le Touret Memorial, Richebourg-L’Avoue, Departement du Pas de Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Panel 20 and 21
Address: 7 Sedgewick Road, Bexhill on Sea
Photos and newspaper articles
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Family Information
Parents: William Hugh Kendall (1874-1947) and Elise (Lilla) Marie Kendall, nee Moody, born 1874.
Siblings: Dorothy, born 1899; Gladys, born 1906; and Vera (1912-1981).
In 1911 the family were living at 2 St. Georges Road, Bexhill on Sea.
First World War Experience
Lawrence (generally known as Hugh) enlisted on 18th February 1915. A photograph of him appeared in a local newspaper on 26th December 1915 saying that he had enlisted
The following is a transcription that appeared in the same local newspaper dated 29th May
“Pte. H. L. Kendal
An Appreciation
When war broke out, less than nine months ago, Hugh L. Kendall, then a junior reporter on the “Bexhill Chronicle” staff, one day burst into the office, after a short absence, with the words, “I have enlisted,” on his lips. He went down to Hastings, but returned disappointed, for they would not have him – something was not quite right with his eyesight. He had, however, made up his mind to go, he consulted an oculist, and later easily passed the test, and was duly enrolled.
Identifying himself with the 5th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, he went successively to Hastings, Dover Castle, and the Tower of London. He kept in touch with his father, sisters, and others in Bexhill during his training with the company to which he was attached. A fine, alert youth, he was ever welcomed in his visits, not merely to the town in which he lived, but throughout the countryside, which he had traversed week by week in the interests of the “Bexhill Chronicle”.
Crossing the sea, he sent messages and letters home, but he soon was – as all our brave Sussex men are – engrossed in warwork. On the 9th May he took part in the struggle at ……., and there he fell, a brave fellow – not more than nineteen. Many men have gone from the “Chronicle” staff to serve in different parts of the world. Hugh Kendall is the first to pay the “toll of the Huns”, but we want more, many more, to join the colours like him, and his example is one which we hope at this juncture many will follow
One of the kindly words said, amongst many others, is by Mr Bleach, of Catsfield. His testimony was: “I am very sorry to hear about Kendall. He always used to greet me with a smile.”
The Rev. R. C. Davis, assistant curate of Battle, writes: “I was sorry to read the death of Kendall, who called upon me on several occasion for ‘Chronicle’ news when on your staff”.
Lawrence was awarded the Victory Medal, the British War Medal, and the 15 Star.