‘The curious case of Mr. Herbert Mowle Kendal’ by Paul Handford

This talk was inspired by the 2012 purchase of a group of British and French WW1 medals, to a 
Mr. Herbert Mowle Kendal who was a British civilian volunteer ambulance driver, serving in 
support of the French Army.  The accompanying documentation suggested he had been 
killed in action in May, 1918, but Paul discovered his death was not recorded, nor even 
recognised, by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.  His death seemed to have been forgotten!

There followed a seven-year journey of research, which included translating French War Diaries, 
examining records kept at the International Red Cross in Geneva, and other relevant material.

Paul and his wife, Su, traced Kendal’s movements on the day of his death and, eventually, 
submitted a large dossier of evidence to the CWGC.  The case was scrutinised by the 
National Army Museum, adjudicated on and, as a result, the CWGC accepted the findings.  
Following a further, lengthy, process Herbert Kendal became the first, ever, British civilian 
casualty to be commemorated on a CWGC memorial (Soissons).  Paul guides us through the ups and 
downs of his quest to have this brave man’s sacrifice recognised.