Baptised at Lurgishall, Sussex, on the 17th of February 1833, the son of Richard and Sarah Kitchell. His father's occupation was shown at this time as a "Huntsman." He was one of a family of seven children, three boys and four girls.
1841 Census
Fernhurst Green, Sussex.
Richard Kitchell, 35, Agricultural Labourer.
Sarah 33.
Four children shown: Maryann 12, Richard 10, William 8, Sarah 5, Elizabeth 2.
Enlisted at Brighton on the 16th of October 1852.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: None shown. (At the time of his discharge he was shown as a "Labourer".)
Features: Fresh complexion. Hazel eyes. Brown hair.
At Scutari General Hospital from the 30th of September 1854 and to England, via Malta, on the 10th of November.
Attached to the 3rd Light Dragoons as Batman to Major General J. C. Chatterton from the 1st of April — 7th of May 1857.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
The muster rolls for the July-September 1858 period show him as "On Field Service" from September.
In action against the rebels at Zeerapore on the 29th of February 1859 and at Baroda on the 1st of January 1859.
Discharged from Colchester on the 10th of May 1865:
"Claimed on termination of first period of limited engagement."
Served 12 years 237 days.
Conduct: "very good." In possession of two Good Conduct badges.
Granted a Special Campaign Pension on the 5th of July 1893.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Mutiny medal without clasp.
After he left the Army he lived in Tower Street, Chichester, Sussex, being employed as a gardener. He had married Emma Langley at St. Paul's Parish Church, Chichester, on the 20th of June 1869. He was then 33 years of age and she 21. His father was shown as William Kitchell, "deceased."
He had enlisted into the Sussex Militia at Chichester for a five year term on the 6th of July 1867, his age being shown as 32, his height as 5' 8" and his trade as that of a groom. His Regimental number was 1417, and he was promoted to Corporal on the 30th of April 1868 and to Sergeant on the 3rd of May 1875. (He had re-engaged for a further term on the 4th of December 1872, with the Regimental number of 5648.) There is no available documentation on his service from the end of 1876.
(A 2671 Thomas Kitchell had served with the same unit and died on the 1st of May 1867.)
1871 Census
Tower Street, Sub Deanery, Chichester.
William Kitchell, 36.
Emma, 23.
The 1881 Census shows a man of this name as living in Tower Street, Sub Deanery, Sussex, a General Labourer, aged 48, born at Petersfield, Hampshire [sic] with his wife Emma, aged 33, born at Chichester and with five children, all of school age.
(See copy of a photograph of him and his wife, in the 17th Lancer file) Sometime shortly after World War Two a grandson gave his discharge documents to the Chichester Record Office. The above information came from his great-great-grand-daughter, Mrs. C. Martin, of Great Yarmouth.
1891 Census
Tower Street, Chichester.
William Kitchell, 58, Farm Labourer.
Emma, 43.
Eight children shown: William 20, Emma 16, Fanny 14, Amy 12, Elizabeth 9, Georgina 6, Alma 4, Sarah 1.
[RM: William Kitchell is shown in the 1901 Census as aged 69, born Petersfield, living in Chichester. His occupation is shown as "Florist's Labourer".]
1901 Census
11 Tower Street, Chichester.
William Kitchell, 69, Florist Labourer.
Emma, 53.
Three children shown: Georgina 16, Alma 13, Sarah 10.
1911 Census
11 Tower Street, Chichester.
William Kitchell, 77, Army Pensioner, born Petersfield.
Emma, 63, born Chichester.
[married, 42 years.]
Death registered
Emma Kitchell, 74, March Quarter 1922, Chichester.
Died at No. 11 Tower Street, Chichester, on the 12th of December 1916, aged 84 years, from "shock and exhaustion following a fall, which fractured his left thigh," on the 22nd of August 1916. (The newspaper report of the inquest held on the 14th of December states it was the 21st of August.)
Extracts from the "Chichester Observer" for the 20th of December 1916:
"Fatal Fall at 84. — A sequel to the Lighting Order — Chichester Inquest Story.""The story of an old pensioner's fatal fall in consequence of the Lighting Restrictions was told to the Chichester Coroner, Mr. J.W. Loader Cooper, at an inquest held at the Ship Inn, Tower Street, on Thursday afternoon of last week. The deceased was William Kitchell, aged 84, of No. 11 Tower Street, who died on the previous Tuesday. Mr. F.W. Hobbs was the foreman of the jury.
Emma Kitchell, the widow, said the deceased had been in the 17th Lancers and had been ill for some months past. On August 21st last he had his supper and went to bed as usual. About two o'clock she heard someone say, "There's a strong light there," and upon that she put out the light. She said they were accustomed to have this. Between four and five o'clock her husband had said, "So you have put the light out then." She asked him if he wanted it, and as he struck a match, he fell. She did not actually see him fall. She got out and lifted him onto the bed . The doctor was sent for at eight o'clock. The deceased never told her how he fell.
The Foreman; Do you think that being without a light made any difference to him — did he lose his bearings.
Mrs. Kitchell; That may have been so.
The Coroner; You had to put the light out.
Mrs. Kitchell; Yes, when I heard the man shout out. We always had a light.
The Coroner; We have to keep the lights shaded now, so they cannot be seen.
Dr. E.H. Buckle, J.P., said that when he saw the deceased after the fall he found a fracture of the left thigh close up to the joint. He was put to bed, and sandbags were placed on either side in the usual way. For a time he did fairly well, but he gradually started to go back and showed signs of exhaustion and shock. He died on Tuesday, this following upon the fracture of the thigh. He never told him how he fell, but he was a man difficult to understand even when he was moderately well. Fractures with old people nearly always ended in this way, although he had one patient in the country area who recovered from such an accident, the same week as the deceased fell.
The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the doctor's evidence."
Crimean Veteran's Funeral:
"A dozen men and a bugler from the Royal Sussex Depot attended the funeral on Saturday of Mr. William Kitchell, of No, 11 Tower Street, who died last week as the result of a fall he had last August. The deceased was an old Crimean War veteran, and in 1913 he had the honour of a personal conversation with his Majesty the King when he inspected the National Reserve at Chichester Railway Station on his way to Goodwood. The deceased was present at the battles of the Alma and Inkerman [sic] and the siege of Sebastopol. He had also served during the Indian Mutiny and had three medals. After thirteen years in the 17th Lancers he had served for ten years in the Sussex Militia."
Registration of death, and Census information for 1841, 1871, 1891, 1911, and additional information for 1901, kindly provided by Chris Poole.