Owen Kendall
FAMILY LIFE
Owen was born on the 27th September 1894 in Ashby.
He was the oldest of five children born to Harold and Mary Kendall
Owen's paternal grandfather was James Kendall the postmaster of Ashby and great grandparents Thomas and Fanny Kendall nee Dennis. Thomas Kendall is credited with bringing Primitive Methodism to Ashby, his ten sons and one daughter, were brought up in this faith and six of his sons went on to be ordained Ministers in the Primitive Methodist Church a feat only repeated by one other family in the church’s history. The eldest son Charles went on to be the President of the Primitive Methodist conference in 1881 a post his son Holliday Bickerstaff Kendall was to attain in 1901.
The Kendall Memorial Chapel was built and located on the former Ashby Market and was named in honour of the Kendall family, it opened in 1885. In 1932 the Methodist church united to form the modern United Methodist church. The newer and larger Ashby Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, was a 5 minute walk away from the Kendall Memorial Chapel, however they had remained on separate circuit plans within the United Methodist Church as they were listed in different districts. However in 1954 they were placed within the same circuit, the Wesleyan Chapel was newer and larger than the Kendall and thus it's fate was sealed, the last service was held on Owen's paternal grandfather was James Kendall the postmaster of Ashby and great grandparents Thomas and Fanny Kendall nee Dennis. Thomas Kendall is credited with bringing Primitive Methodism to Ashby, his ten sons and one daughter, were brought up in this faith and six of his sons went on to be ordained Ministers in the Primitive Methodist faith a fete only repeated by one other family in the churches history. The eldest son Charles went on to be the President of the Primitive Methodist conference in 1881 a post his son Holliday Bickerstaff Kendall was to attain in 1901.
Owen's paternal grandfather was James Kendall the postmaster of Ashby and great grandparents Thomas and Fanny Kendall nee Dennis. Thomas Kendall is credited with bringing Primitive Methodism to Ashby, his ten sons and one daughter, were brought up in this faith and six of his sons went on to be ordained Ministers in the Primitive Methodist faith, a feat only repeated by one other family in the church’s history. The eldest son Charles went on to be the President of the Primitive Methodist conference in 1881, a post his son Holliday Bickerstaff Kendall was to attain in 1901.
The Kendall Memorial Chapel was built and located on the former Ashby Market and was named in honour of the Kendall family, it opened in 1885. In 1932 the Methodist church united to form the modern United Methodist church. The newer and larger Ashby Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, was a 5 minute walk away from the Kendall Memorial Chapel, however they had remained on separate circuit plans within the United Methodist Church as they were listed in different districts. However in 1954 they were placed within the same circuit, the Wesleyan Chapel was newer and larger than the Kendall and thus its fate was sealed and the last service was held on Christmas Day. This was recorded as a sad and tearful occasion.
In the Kendall Memorial chapel there hung several brass plaques, one of which commemorates the men of the Chapel who lost their lives in World War One
MILITARY SERVICE
We believe that Owen enlisted into the army as a recruit in the Royal Engineers in 1914. We also believe that he enlisted in Birtley, County Durham but have been unable to find positive proof of this.
Owen was killed in action on the 30th March 1918. His company was fighting on the Western Front at Villers-Bretonneux. The war diary for the 213 Army Troops Company of the Royal Engineers in which he served reads as follows:
30.3.18 12 noon till 2pm. Bombardment open at day break continuing with intensity till 12 noon when the barrage lifted and was followed by an attack in mass. Germans were held up by undamaged wire and machine gun and rifle fire.
12 men and O.C. wounded. 8 men were killed in this attack. Capt. E. A. PENGELLY died of wounds. No further attacks took place on this date. Day was quiet with exception of artillery fire.
The entry is signed by C. V. Bisley II Lt. R.E. for OC213 (AT) Coy .R.E.
Owen is buried at the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery. Below are a picture of his grave, his medal record and a document detailing the money paid to his mother after his death.
