Fitter Staff-Sergt. Bernard Washington Kilner, 52200, Royal Field Artillery

Roy Kilner's grave in Wombwell Cemetery

Service Details:
Fitter Staff Sergeant Bernard Washington Kilner, MSM, 52200, Royal Field Artillery 51st Bde. Killed in Action 18th October 1917, Age 28.

Biography:
Bernard Washington Kilner came from a well known family of Yorkshire sports men. His uncle was the former Yorkshire country cricketer, Irving Washington, and all of Bernard's brothers played cricket at some level, two of them professionally, but it was probably his younger brother Roy Kilner who would be considered the star of the family, Roy would play nine test matches for England before his own untimely death in 1928.

Bernard was born at Wombwell on the 16th July 1889 and was the oldest son of  Seth and Mary Alice Kilner. Later in life his parents ran the Half Way House Hotel at Wombwell. As a youth he attended the Church Lad's brigade at nearby St. Mary's church. In his early twenties Bernard married Edith Annie Booker, daughter of a local confectioner and sister of fellow soldier, Walter Booker. Together they had one son named Cyril, who was born 5th September 1910. Upon leaving school Bernard had found work as a fitter at Mitchell Main Colliery, he later left Mitchells' and took up a similar post at Treeton Colliery near Rotherham.

Memorial to Bernard Kilner
On Roy Kilner's grave

On the 4th January 1915 Bernard enlisted in the the Royal Field Artillery at Woolwich,  where he was awarded the rank of Fitter Staff Sergeant after passing all the required trade tests. According to several local newspaper articles of the time, Bernard had served "Through most of the major engagements there, and up to his death had come through it without mishap" In July 1916 Bernard took part in the Battle of the Somme, and was awarded the M.S.M only a few months prior to his death. The Battle of Passchendaele took place in West Belgium on 12th October 1917, six days Bernard was killed in action. He had been stationed near Ypres at the time. His commanding officer Captain R. F. Balmain wrote to his family explaining the circumstances of his death:
"Staff Sergt Kilner had returned to us a few days previous to this most terrible occurrence, and had set out from H.Q to inspect the guns. As he was approaching one of the batteries, he, along with an orderly, was hit by a shell, and died a few minutes afterwards, and did not regain consciousness and owing to this, thank God he could not have suffered. His remains were buried in the military cemetery at St. Julien, about 6 miles from Ypres, on 19th October. Staff sergeant  Kilner's death came as a great blow to us all. He had been with the Brigade such a long time, and had endeared himself on account of his reliability and bravery."

Church Lads' Brigade Memorial
St. Mary's Church, Wombwell.

Bernard's brothers Roy, Norman and Colin who were also serving, all survived the war. Though Roy was wounded on the Somme, he resumed playing cricket again once the conflict was over. Bernard was interred at St. Julien Dressing Station cemetery in Belgium.

Grave:
St. Julien Dressing Station cemetery, Plot I. C. 5, Ypres, Belgium.

Memorials:
Wombwell war memorial, Park Street, S73 0HS
Church Lads Brigade memorial, St. Mary's Church, Wombwell, S73 0DQ.

Additional Details:
There is a dedication to Bernard on his brother, Roy Kilner's grave in Wombwell cemetery.

Sources_____________________________
1901 census & 1911 census
De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour
Cwgc.org - Casualty Details for B. Kilner
Wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Kilner
Wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Passchendaele
Barnsley Chronicle - 23rd Jan 1915, April 10th 1915, June 9th 1917, 11th Nov 1917, 1st Dec. 1917 and June 29th 1918