Pair: Major K. E. Aitken, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, attached Leicestershire Regiment

British War and Victory Medals (Major K. E. Aitken.) nearly extremely fine (2) £140-£180

Kenneth Edmonstone Aitken was born in Richmond, Surrey, on 6 July 1882. Educated at Berkhamsted School, he passed the University of London matriculation examination at age 16 and won the St. Andrews Entrance Science Scholarship at University College in the process. Taking employment as surveyor with the Federated Malay States Railways from 12 May 1913 to 30 August 1914, he returned to England after his employment was suspended due to the War and enlisted in the Inns of Court Officer’s Training Unit. Appointed to a commission in the 12th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Regiment, he served in France from 3 October 1917. Gassed and admitted to hospital on 13 May 1918 near Étaples, he was granted three weeks’ sick leave before returning to the Western Front attached 11th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, with whom he continued to serve post-Armistice as part of the British Army of the Rhine.

Relinquishing his commission on 26 October 1920, Aitken returned to a family coming to terms with the loss of a younger brother at the gateway to Baghdad on 4 August 1919:

‘Island Officer killed by Sepoy.
Mr. Charles Aitken, of Inglefield, Totland Bay, has received the following letter from Col. W. Capper, Controller of Officers’ Casualties at the War Office:- ‘I am directed by the Military Secretary to inform you that a cable, dated 15th. inst., has been received at the War Office from the base at Basra stating that a Court of Enquiry held to investigate the death of your son, Captain (Acting Major) Archibald Bruce Aitken, Royal Engineers, who has been reported to you as ‘killed in action’ on the 4th August, 1919, facts have been elucidated which now show that his death was caused by a Sepoy of the 9th Company, 2nd Sappers and Miners, who ran amok on 4th August, 1919… Capt. Aitken acted in the bravest possible manner to meet the emergency and in trying to save the lives of others, lost his own.’

Taking employment as a civil engineer in Argentina, Aitken clearly struggled to adjust to post-War life. Returned to the south coast of England, his story was later published in The Yorkshire Post on 13 December 1932:
‘Kenneth Edmonstone Aitken (50), believed to be a retired Major, and living at Duncan Road, Southsea, was found dead in the garden of the house yesterday, with a bullet wound in his head. He was dressed only in his pyjamas and dressing gown. A fully loaded six-chambered revolver was on the ground nearby. One bullet had been fired. Mr. Aitken is believed to have served in the Yorkshire Light Infantry. After he retired from the Army he held a post for some time as railway engineer in South Africa (sic) and Spain. He was a bachelor and had lived for about five years with his mother at Totland Bay, Isle of Wight. She died about a month ago, and he had been living at Southsea in apartments for about ten months. He had not enjoyed good health recently. Aitken, who was lodged in the house, was heard by the landlord moving about at 4 o’clock in the morning, and at about 8 o’clock the tragedy was discovered. He has no relatives living in the district, but some were summoned from other parts of the country.’