Captain John Kenneth MAITLAND MC
1/7th Battalion Middlesex Regiment

Date of birth: 7th March 1893
Date of death: 20th June 1972

Died aged 79
Unknown
John Kenneth Maitland was born at "Blythwood", Bycullah Road, Enfield in Middlesex on the 7th of March 1893 the elder son of John Maitland, a tea merchant, and Florence (nee Disney) Maitland of "Blythwood", Bycullah Road, Enfield.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until December 1906 where he was in the Choir, and was a member of the Cricket XI in 1906 and of the Football XI in 1906. The school magazine wrote the following on his 1906 cricket season: - "Has one very good forward shot, but waves a useless bat all round everything but straight, pitched up balls. Has not acquired the art of fielding."

They wrote the following on his 1906 football season: - "(Outside right) - Made a great advance as a forward, but has little idea of dodging, and is apt to dally when a swift pass to the centre is imperative."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him: - "...also joins our colony at Wellington, and is placed in the Lower 2nd in the Mathematical School. He has been a useful member of the cricket, football and hockey teams, a chorister, a clever dancer and an expert with the foils."

He went on to Wellington College where he was in Mr. Brougham’s and Upcott’s Houses from January 1906 to 1909. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps. On leaving school he worked as a clerk with a tea merchant at Stevenage in Hertfordshire.

He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 7th Battalion Middlesex Regiment on the 17th of October 1912.

Following the outbreak of war he embarked for France with his battalion, landing at Le Havre on the 13th of March 1915 and was promoted to Captain on the 10th of May 1915. By early 1918, was Acting Brigade Major to 56th Division. He was appointed as an Officer of Gentlemen Cadets at the Royal Military College Sandhurst on the 7th of May 1918. He was awarded the Military Cross in the King’s Birthday Honours List of the 3rd of June 1918 and was mentioned in despatches.

After the war he returned to work as a tea merchant and lived at 20 Culloden Road, Enfield, Middlesex. On the 6th of November 1923 he became a Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Worshipful Company of Girdlers. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the 7th Battalion Middlesex Regiment on the 18th of February 1924 and to Brevet Colonel in 1928. He retired from the army in 1929 when he was awarded the Territorial Decoration.

He was married to Jean Redman (nee Collingridge) on the 25th of June 1925 at St Mary Magdalene Church, Enfield; they had two sons, John S., born on the 6th of June 1926, and Neil Kenneth, born in early 1930, and two daughters, Christine Florence, born on the 13th of April 1932 and Joanna Margaret, born in 1935. They lived in Fore Street at Hatfield in Hertfordshire.

During the Second World War he served as a Major in the 4th Battalion Hertfordshire Home Guard and was awarded the MBE (Military Division) on the 15th of December 1944 for his services. He was also awarded the Territorial Defence Medal and was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in 1944. From 1953 to 1959 he served as Honorary Colonel of the 7th Battalion Middlesex Regiment.

On the 21st November 1952 he was appointed as Sheriff in the Queen’s Bench Division for Hertfordshire and was living at Digswell Place, Welwyn. On the 1st of March 1954 he was appointed as a Councillor of State to Her Majesty and on the 30th of December 1962 he was appointed as Deputy Lieutenant for Hertfordshire and was living at Little Offley House near Hitchin. He was a member of the City of London Club.

He died at his home, The Bury Farm, Hertingfordbury in Hertfordshire, and a service was held in his memory at St Mary's Church, Hertingfordbury at 3.30pm on the 23rd of June 1972.

His brother, 2nd Lieutenant Arthur James Maitland 40 Training Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, was killed on active service on the 22nd of September 1917.
Went on to Wellington College

Back