2nd Lieutenant Kenneth Kemble PELTON MC
5th Battalion Prince of Wales’s Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) attached to the 7th (Service) Battalion Royal Irish Rifles

Date of birth: 15th June 1897
Date of death: 1st August 1917

Killed in action aged 20
Commemorated on the Menin Gate Panel 44
Kenneth Kemble Pelton was born at Yarmouth Road, North Walsham in Norfolk, on the 15th of June 1897 the eldest son of the Reverend William Frederick Pelton, Vicar of Ullenhall, and Susan Lena (nee Lock) Pelton of Ullenhall Vicarage, Henley-in-Arden in Birmingham. He was christened by his father at North Walsham on the 25th of July 1897.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until July 1911 where he was a member of the Choir. He was a member of the Cricket XI in 1909, 1910 and 1911 and of the Football XI in 1909 and 1910. The school magazine wrote the following on his 1909 cricket season: - "Shows promise with the bat. Has a natural leg break bowling action; very fair field."

Of his 1910 cricket season they wrote: - "A most persevering cricketer; though he still lacks hitting power, he has made an astonishing advance as a batsman. On a slow pitch was probably our most reliable bowler, keeping an excellent length, and making the ball "bend"."

They wrote of his 1911 cricket season: - "A really good but most unlucky bowler; a sound defensive bat but with few strokes; very fair field near the wicket."

They wrote the following on his 1909 football season: - "(Outside right) - Fell a trifle below expectations; nevertheless is possessed of indomitable energy, has a pretty swerve, and centres a dry ball with delightful precision."

Of his 1910 football season they wrote: - "(Outside right) - A great hearted player; has a fine swerve and is very difficult to tackle; centres finely and seems to possess inexhaustible energy."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote the following of him: - "Scholar, athlete and fortunate possessor of much out of the way knowledge. Dover College is to be congratulated on the acquisition of such a promising recruit. Cricket and Football XI's and choir alike sadly miss one of their most prominent members."

In 1911 he won scholarships to both Oundle School and to Dover College, choosing the latter which he attended from 1911 to 1913. He matriculated for Birmingham University in September 1913 to read Engineering, where he recorded the youngest entry on record at the age of sixteen years and one month. On leaving school he became a chartered accountant with the firm of Thomas and Pitts of Birmingham.

On the outbreak of war he volunteered for foreign service on the 4th of August 1914 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) on the 31st of July 1915. He was attached to the 7th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles and embarked for overseas service on the 21st of July 1916. He joined his battalion in the field at Mazingarbe on the 2nd of August 1916.

On the 1st of February 1917 the battalion was holding trenches near Kemmel when he was slightly wounded. His father received the following telegram dated the 4th of February 1917: -

"Regret to inform you that 2nd Lieut. K.K. Pelton was wounded February first. Further reports will be sent when received."

He returned to duty on the 15th of February.

On the 1st of March 1917 the battalion relieved the 9th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers in trenches near Givenchy. At between 10am and 2.30pm on the 8th of March 1917 there was intermittent enemy shell fire on the battalion front and support lines. At 3.30pm a heavy trench mortar barrage began and, when the shelling reached its peak at 4.40pm the Germans attacked with three partied of around fifty men each. While the right hand group were quickly driven back the centre and left hand parties both entered the Irish trenches. After fifteen minutes of fighting, in a counterattack led by Major Rigg, the centre group were forced to retire leaving three dead and four wounded behind them. Kenneth Pelton was conspicuous during the fighting during which the battalion suffered casualties of one officer killed with six officers wounded and seven other ranks killed with thirty one wounded and twenty five missing before the attackers were repulsed. The battalion was relieved the following day.

For his actions that day he was awarded the Military Cross which was announced by the War Office on the 24th of April 1917:-

“Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He formed a defensive flank and brought two machine guns into action, thereby forcing a strong enemy raiding party to retire. He subsequently led a bombing party with great gallantry.”

He was also received the thanks of the General Officer Commanding the 16th Irish Division for “gallant conduct on the field of battle, worthy of permanent record on the annals of the regiment.” He was mentioned in Field Marshall Haig’s despatches of the 25th of May 1917. He returned from leave in England on the 10th of July 1917.

He was attached to 44th Infantry Brigade as an Intelligence Officer and was killed by a shell on the 1st of August 1917 at Zonnebeke, being buried near to where he fell at “Douglas Villa” between Ypres and Zonnebeke; his grave was lost during the subsequent fighting.

His father received the following telegram dated the 6th of August 1917: -

"Deeply regret to inform you that 2nd Lieut. K.K. Pelton Leinster Regt. was killed in action August first. The Army Council express their sympathy."

Sergeant Frank Hendrey witnessed his death: -

“It was your son’s unselfishness and thought for others before himself which finally cost him his life. A wounded artillery observer came up just as the shelling, if possible, became worse than ever. He was going to drop down, as he was in the open, but your son insisted on changing places with him, thereby giving up what cover he had got. A few minutes after there came the rushing whistle of a shell on arrival- an ear splitting crash, and a rain of earth, mud and pieces of brick from the explosion. I was somewhat dazed by the shock for the moment, but directly the rain of pieces stopped, I saw that your son had been hit.”

His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel S. E. Francis wrote: -

“I want to tell you how sorry we all are at the death of your son. He has been with the battalion just a year, and we were all very fond of him. His splendid courage and cheery disposition made him a general favourite”.

The Battalion Chaplin wrote: -

“The dear lad was the bravest of the brave, and passed through two Hun barrages. He was killed practically instantly”.

He is commemorated on the war memorial at Dover College.
Went on to Dover College

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