Tags
Express & Star, France, Haden Kendrick, High Level Station, London, Norfolk, Penn Fields, Royal Flying Corps, Shropshire, South Staffordshire Regiment, St Philip's Church, Wolverhampton Grammar School
Haden Kendrick was born in Wolverhampton on 10 June 1891, the son of the solicitor, Haden Kendrick and Annie Mostyn. He was educated at Wolverhampton Grammar School, and at Wellington College in Shropshire. By 1911, Haden was staying at the house of Thomas Richard Allison at 4 Spanish Place, Manchester Square, St Marylebone, London. Haden was listed as a Law student. According to De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour he was articled to his father, passing his final examination in 1913 and becoming a solicitor himself.
Haden enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant with the South Staffordshire Regiment shortly after the outbreak of war, initially serving in France. Having served in the trenches for five or six months, he was invalided home in 1915, and was attached to the Royal Flying Corps in July 1916. He was killed in an aeroplane accident in Norfolk while flying solo on 18 September 1916. It appears that there may have been a problem with his plane, as he “struck some trees, causing an accident which resulted in the plane being completely wrecked and his being instantaneously killed.” A report of his death appeared in the Express & Star on 19 September 1916, and an account of his funeral at St Philip’s Church, Penn Fields was given on 21 September. His coffin was accompanied by full military honours from the High Level Station in Wolverhampton. The value of his effects were £191 1s. 9d, and his gravestone appears on this site. He is also commemorated in St Peter’s Church, as well as in the Lady Chapel. A more detailed account of his life also appears on Old Wrekinian Lives Lost.
Wolverhampton's War 