Rosalind Isabel Wingfield-Stratford
Rosalind was born in 1858, the daughter of Hon Rev Edward Vesey Bligh JP and Lady Isabel. See footnote. She married Cecil Vernon Wingfield-Stratford in 1881. He was a lieutenant with the Royal Engineers. Being in the army meant that the couple lived in many places throughout their married life, but when Cecil retired in 1910 they settled into Fartherwell Hall (pictured above), which was part of a large estate just outside West Malling, and owned at the time by Rosalind’s parents. Her father died in 1908, and when her mother died in 1915, the estate was left to Cecil and Rosalind. Given the size of Fartherwell Hall (it had 14 servants) and the mother being on her own, it is likely that Cecil and Rosalind had moved in when he retired. Fartherwell Hall was demolished after WW2. It was just off Fartherwell Road, roughly where Fartherwell House now is.
Rear of Malling Place as VAD Hospital
Funeral of Pte William Dobson outside Malling Place 1915
When the First World War broke out in 1914, Cecil was recalled to the army. At the time, Malling Place was owned by Percy Nevill, related to Rosalind through her mother. He offered it for use as a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Hospital. The VAD was founded in 1909 mostly by the British Red Cross, to receive and treat wounded men returning from the front. By 1914 there were over 3,000 VAD Hospitals in the UK. Rosalind volunteered her services and was appointed Commandant here at what was known as “Kent 150”. She was awarded the MBE in 1920 for “services in connection with war refugees”. Sadly, given her important role with the VAD, we have been unable so far to find a photograph of Rosalind or her husband. Any further information or images would be welcome.
Cecil Vernon Wingfield-Stratford was born in 1853 at Addington Place, Addington. He was educated at the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich and joined the Royal Engineers as a lieutenant in 1873. From 1907 to 1910 he was Chief Engineer, Irish Command. He retired in 1910 but was recalled in 1914 to serve in WW1. He held a command on the western front as a Brigadier-General, participating in the battle of Loos in 1915, and the Somme in 1916. He was mentioned in dispatches four times, and was awarded the CBE in 1916 and the CB in 1918.
During his earlier life he played football (outside-left) for the Royal Engineers and earned one cap for England against Scotland in 1877. He played in the 1875 FA Cup final at Kennington Oval for the Royal Engineers against the Old Etonians. He died at Fartherwell Hall in 1939.
Footnote
Hon Rev Edward Vesey Bligh JP was the son of Edward Bligh, 5th Earl of Darnley and his wife, Lady Isabel, was the daughter of William Nevill, 4th Earl of Abergavenney. They lived in Fartherwell Hall just outside West Malling. The son joined the British Diplomatic Service, and then he met his future wife. William Nevill insisted that his daughter married a clergyman (he was a clergyman himself), so Edward Bligh left the Diplomatic Service and joined the church, married as a curate and later he was the Vicar at Birling. Bligh was also a cricketer of some note: he played for Kent, Middlesex and England.
Ashford & Tenterden Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable Dover, Deal & Sandwich Faversham, Isle of Sheppey and Sittingbourne Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh Gravesend & Dartford Maidstone Margate, Broadstairs & Ramsgate Rochester, Chatham & Gillingham Sevenoaks Tonbridge and Malling Tunbridge Wells