downsmail.co.uk
Village pays tribute to CanadianWWI soldier
WHAT started as a random in- quiry, culminated in a moving service of remembrance marking the centenary of the death of Canadian soldier PrivateAndrew Bonfonti in Lenham. Wounded on the battlefields in
WWI, he died at the village sana- torium, off Ham Hill. In a tribute led by Rev Millie Hart in the foothills of Lenham’s famous white cross, theCanadian flag and remembrance poppy was in evi- dence as councillors, farmers, vil- lagers and standard bearers from the Royal British Legion at Hollingbourne, Leeds, Lenham and West Kingsdown came to- gether to remember. Joining around 60 at the service
was Capt Yvan Shant, from the Canadian High Commission, while the Private’s only remaining relative, 61-year-old Diane Bon- fonti, attended a service in Kitch- ener,where the family lived. She said: “Lenhamhas come to-
gether to honour my great uncle and his brothers-in-armswho laid down their lives for family and friends. I’m overwhelmed by the gesture. Those who gathered are his newfamily nowand I ameter- nally grateful for that.” LesHighton’s research reunited
Dianewith thedetails ofAndrew’s
grave.AsDianewas too ill to travel because ofMS, Les agreed to lay a poppy onPrivateBonfonti’s grave, in her place. However, others ral- lied to his support, including Bill
Head, secretary of Lenham and HarrietshamRoyal British Legion, and chairman BarryWood. MrHeadsaid: “We are very con-
scious of the great debt we owe to these young men who left their homes in a far-away country and gave their lives in the cause of free- dom. “It is ourprivilege to honourAn-
drew and his comrades on this day, andeveryNovember 11 in the years to come. They will never be forgotten.”
News
Battle hero ANDREWBonfonti (pictured with his mother before embarkation) fought in the Battle of Amiens (August 8-20) that led to the un- conditional surrender byGermany onNovember 11, 1918. He was wounded in November
1918 and was looking forward to returning
home.However, he con- tracted TB and died at Lenham Sanatorium on March 20, 1919, aged 27.
Hospital’s tale THE chest hospital offRaynersHill opened as Kent County Sanato- riumin 1914. The sitewas chosen because of
the clean air, said to help TB suf- ferers. During WWI it became a military hospital and was later known as Lenham Sanatorium, and Lenham Chest Hospital. It closed in 1985/6. There are now houses on the site.
Maidstone East April 2019
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