Commonwealth War Graves Cheriton Road Cemetery

There are three graves of Victoria Cross recipients at Cheriton Road Cemetery.

William A Kerr VC
b. 18/07/1831 Melrose, Scotland. d. 21/05/1919 Folkestone, Kent.
William Alexander Kerr (1831-1919) was born on 18th July 1831 at “The Holmes”, near Melrose, Scotland, the son of Loraine McDowell Kerr and Marianne White, daughter of Admiral White. He was educated at Loretto, near Musselburgh, and joined the 24th Bombay Native Infantry in June 1849. He served throughout the Indian Mutiny from 1857-1859, and his exploits would attract an extraordinary amount of attention.
On the 8th July 1857, the officers of the South Mahratta Horse were stationed at Sattara. Whilst the men including Kerr were discussing the Mutiny, a telegram was delivered that the 27th Bombay Native Infantry had mutinied at Kolapore. It explained that the European officers and residents had taken refuge in the Residency, where they were protected by a small group of native troops. The garrison though, was short of food, and couldn’t hold out for long. Kerr volunteered to lead a rescue attempt to relieve the garrison at Kolapore. Only 50 men could be spared for him to use, and they set off for Kolapore as soon as they could. They had to travel 75 miles across difficult terrain due to the rainy season, traversing several swollen rivers. After 26 hours they reached their destination, and found the Sepoys posted in a fort.
Kerr, who had no guns, decided to attack. He selected 17 of his men for a storming party. The garrison consisted of 34 Sepoys. The entrance was by a succession of large teak doors, six feet high. Kerr decided to use his most trusted man, Gumpunt Rao, and using crowbars, and dodging enemy fire, they made for the door, and made an opening large enough for one man at a time to get through. Kerr, followed by Gumpunt Rao, crept through, and as soon as they appeared, they were shot at by 20 Sepoys. Kerr rushed at the Sepoys armed with his sword, followed by his men. A fierce hand to hand combat ensued, and some of the enemy were killed. Kerr then attacked the inner door of the fort, and drove the enemy into a corner. Kerr was shot at, and bullets struck the chain on his helmet and his sword. Kerr was temporarily blinded by musket fire, and was struck on the head by the butt end of a musket. He was saved from being bayoneted by Gumpunt Rao. Kerr eventually captured the fort, though at a cost. He was wounded, eight of his men were killed, and four died of their wounds.
Kerr was frequently mentioned in despatches, and was awarded the Victoria Cross (London Gazette, 27th April 1858), and he was presented with medal by Major General F.T. Farrell at Belgaum, India on 4th September 1858. Captain Kerr rose to be Second in Command of the Southern Mahratta Horse, but resigned in 1860 on hearing the Southern Mahratta Horse was to be disbanded. On 4th January 1860, he married in Rugby Parish Church, Harriet, daughter of Major James Atty. Following his retirement from the service, he wrote several books on horsemanship. He died on 21st May 1919, aged 87 in Folkestone. He was laid to rest in Cheriton Road Cemetery in Folkestone. His grave was restored in 2011 thanks to a campaign led by Ian Loftus. This also saw the grave of John Commerell VC being restored. Kerr’s Victoria Cross was sold at Sotheby’s on 19th May 2000 for a hammer price of £25,000 and purchased by the Ashcroft Trust.
BURIAL PLACE: GRAVE 3911 – A
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Sir John E. Commerell VC GCB
b. 13/01/1829 Grosvenor Square, London. d. 21/05/1901 Rutland Gate, London.
John Edmund Commerell (1829-1901) was born at Park Street, Grosvenor Square, London, on the 13th January 1829, the 2nd son of John William Commerell Esq, of Strood Park, Horsham, and Sophia, daughter of Jacob William Bosanquet, a banker from Harley Street, London. John was educated at naval schools and Clifton College, Bristol, and entered the Royal Navy on 8th March 1842, at the age of 12. He served on the Agincourt, Cornwallis and on the China Station before joining the crew under Captain (later Admiral) Sir James Hope of the Firebrand. The Firebrand was heavily involved in operations of the American coast and particularly at the engagement at Obbligado on 20th November 1845, when the chain was cut by the boats of the Firebrand, under Hope’s command, an act people deemed that Hope deserved a VC for after its creation in 1856.
Commerell passed his examination in seamanship on 16th May 1848, and was acting Mate on the Comus, under the command of Captain E C Tennyson D’Eyncourt), until the following autumn, when he returned to England, and on passing at Royal Naval College, he was presented with a Lieutenant’s commission. In April 1849, he was appointed to the Dragon, in home waters, and then served in the Mediterranean. On 13th October 1853, he married Matilda Bushby at St Peter’s Church, Eaton Square, London.
On 15th February 1854, he was appointed to the Vulture, and served in the Baltic until 20th February 1855, when he was promoted to Commander and given command of the Weser, a small steam vessel of 6 guns and 160hp, and in the following April, he was ordered to sail for the Black Sea. Lieutenant Commerell led the Weser into the Sea of Azoff where she formed part of a squadron under the overall command of Captain Osborn. It was here that Commerell would distinguish himself enough to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 11th October 1855, in the Sea of Azov, he led the Weser across the Isthmus of Arabat and destroyed large quantities of forage on the Crimean shore of the Siwash. This enterprise was performed by Commander Commerell at night, accompanied by William Rickard, Quartermaster, and George Milestone, Able Seaman. Having hauled their small boat across the Spit of Arabat, they traversed the Siwash to the Crimean shore of the Putrid Sea. To reach their target of the corn magazine, they had to ford two rivers, the Karu-su and the Salghir. The forage and the corn, amounting to over 400 tons was attacked on the banks of the Salghir, in the vicinity of a guardhouse, with 20-30 mounted Cossacks nearby, who were encamped in the neighbouring village. Commerell and his companions ignited the stacks, the rapid blazing of which alerted the guards, who pursued them back to the shore with a heavy fire of musketry, and very nearly captured them.
Commerell was awarded the VC alongside Rickard on 24th February 1857, and was also awarded the French Legion of Honour, the Baltic and Sebastopol Medals (1854) and the Crimean Medal with two clasps. Commerell resigned from the Weser shortly afterwards, and took command of the Snake, where he was in the Mediterranean until the summer of 1857. On 4th October 1858, he was in command of the Fury on the East Indies and China Stations, and on 25th June he led the attack on the Taku Forts. He was thanked in both Houses of Parliament for his actions and awarded the China Medal.
He was promoted to Captain in July 1859, and in 1866, commanding the Terrible, he assisted in laying the Atlantic Cable, for which service he was awarded the Civil Companion of Bath. In 1869, he would be awarded the Military Companion of Bath, and in 1868 and 1869 he commanded the Monarch. In February 1871, Captain Commerell was Commodore and Commander in Chief on the West Coast of Africa and at the Cape of Good Hope. Whilst he was on a reconnaissance mission on the River Prah in 1873 to discover the position of the Ashantis, he was dangerously wounded by a musket ball to the lungs. This saw him invalided back to England.
From 1872-1879, he was Aide de Camp to Queen Victoria, and from 1874 to 1879 was her Groom-in-Waiting. On 31st March 1874, he received a Knighthood, and on 12th November 1876 was promoted to Rear Admiral. From 1879-1880, he held the post of Lord of the Admiralty, and in January 1881 became a Vice Admiral. In November 1881, he was sent as Commander in Chief on the North American and West Indian Station. He returned to England in the autumn of 1885, and at the General Election he became MP for Southampton, and held the seat again at the Election of 1886. He resigned his seat in 1888 to become Commander in Chief at Portsmouth.
On the Queen’s Jubilee in 1887, he was given a GCB. In 1889, he personally met Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany at Portsmouth, and was always called upon when the Kaiser visited England. He was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet in 1892 and held the post until being placed on the retired list in 1899. He became a JP for Hampshire in retirement.
Admiral Commerell died peacefully at his home, 45 Rutland Gate, Hyde Park on 21st May 1901 and was buried in Cheriton Road Cemetery, Folkestone, Kent, where one of his three daughters had been buried. Wreaths were sent by the Kaiser and by Prince Henry of Prussia. The German Emperor, King Edward VII, the Duke of Cornwall and the Duke of Connaught would all attend a memorial service to Commerell in London. Commerell’s medals are part of the Ashcroft Collection.
BURIAL PLACE: GRAVE 3237
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Sir Mark Walker VC KCB
b. 24/11/1827 Finea, County Westmeath, Ireland. d. 18/07/1902 Arlington Rectory, Devon.
Sir Mark Walker (1827-1902) was born in Finea, County Westmeath, Ireland on 24th November 1827, the son of Captain Alexander Walker, who was a distinguished officer who served in the Peninsular Wars. Mark was educated at Portarlington, and was gazetted to the 30th Regiment of Foot as an Ensign on 25th September 1846. He served throughout the Crimean Campaign as Adjutant for the 30th Regiment of Foot from 30th December 1854 to 14th May 1855.
He was present at the Battle of Alma where he was wounded and his horse was shot from under him. He also was at the Battle of Inkerman, and would later be at the Siege of Sebastopol. At the Battle of Inkerman on 5th November 1854, he greatly distinguished himself.
When the alarm was given by the picquets, the 30th Regiment advanced in two battalions, the right under Colonel Mauleverer and the left under Colonel Patullo. Lieutenant Walker was with Colonel Mauleverer’s battalion, which moved towards a low wall and lay down. Suddenly, from out of the thick fog, two heavy columns of Russian Infantry appeared and the command was given to open fire. Unfortunately, the stoppers of the rifles had been lost, and the arms were wet and useless. The Russians got closer, and the position grew desperate. There was a possibility that the men would get nervous and out of hand. Lieutenant Walker seized the moment and jumped over the wall, calling the men to follow him with the bayonet. He led them straight at the Russians, who were shocked by the suddenness of the attack. They couldn’t see how small Walker’s attacking party was, and were struck with panic. Despite the Russian officers shouting at their men to stand firm, their men turned and ran, pursued for some distance by Walker. Walker was recommended for and awarded the Victoria Cross for this action. (London Gazette, 4th June 1858).

He was promoted into the Buffs in 1854, and was mentioned in despatches on 7th May 1855. Later that year, on 20th October 1855, Walker was severely wounded in the trenches, and his right arm was amputated. He was also awarded the Crimean Medal with three clasps, the 5th Class of the Order of the Medjidie and the Turkish Medal. He was promoted to Captain in 1855, and then to Brevet Major in June 1856.
Major Walker then served in the China War from March to November 1860, as Brigade Major, being present at the Battle of Sinho, the capture of the Taku Forts, Shanken Wan, Tientsin, Ting Chin and Pekin. He was mentioned in despatches and was given the brevet of Lieutenant Colonel in February 1861. He then became Major in the 3rd Regiment of Foot in 1870 and Lieutenant Colonel of the 45th Regiment of Foot in 1873.
In 1875, he was created a Companion of Bath and from August that year to November 1879, he commanded a brigade at Kamptu, Madras. He had been promoted to Major General in November 1878, whilst in India. In 1881, he married Catherine, daughter of Robert Bruce Chichester of Arlington, Devon. From 1883 to 1884, he commanded a brigade at Aldershot, and he was Major General in Gibraltar from April 1884 to March 1888. On 16th December 1888, he was promoted to Lieutenant General, and in 1893 he was knighted. He became a General in February 1893 and retired from service on 1st April that year. He then lived in retirement between his home at 10, Castle Avenue, Folkestone, and Arlington Rectory, near Barnstaple, Devon. He died at Arlington Rectory on Friday July 18th 1902, and was buried in Cheriton Road Cemetery, Folkestone. His medals were originally bequeathed by his widow to the 1st Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment. They are now held by the National Army Museum, Chelsea.
BURIAL PLACE: GRAVE 1259-A

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Source

• Text: Sharky Ward/Memorial
• Photos: Anthony (Sharky) Ward
• https://victoriacrossonline.co.uk/william-alexander-kerr-vc/