This article was written by John Tattersfield
Richard Rosslyn (Ross) Kilner married Constance Mary (Connie) Tattersfield (1878-1940) on 17 April 1913 at Ebeneezer (Independent) Chapel, Dewsbury, Yorkshire. Connie’s ancestry was Joseph (1849-1920), George, Joseph, Joseph (1747-95), as shown on Charts 2,3. They had a single son, Joseph Richard (Dick) Kilner, who was born in Bromley, Kent, on 11 Oct 1916. Dick became a Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain in 1940, and his military biography can be found on this Website in the Section “Military Biographies after 1939.”
Ross was descended from the Kilner family of glass manufacturers. The start of the Kilner business, by John Kilner (1796- 1857), seems to have been rather unsuccessful. Perry’s Bankrupt and Insolvent Gazette of 4th June 1836, lists John, jointly with four others, all glass manufacturers, in Mear, Featherstone, Yorkshire, as going bankrupt on 4th May.
Despite this setback, in 1844 John Kilner set up a glassworks at Thornhill Lees, beside a canal a mile south of Dewsbury. His intention was to import and export materials by barge, with access to the Thames Wharf, London. He was joined in the business by his four sons, Caleb, George, William and John. The factory was called Calderdale Glass Works. In 1850 the eldest son, Caleb, established a warehouse in Brick Lane, London. In the 1860s a second works was opened in Conisborough, near Doncaster.
The business was extremely successful, and won an award for innovation in glassmaking at The Great Exhibition of 1862. By the 1890s the works were producing 300,000 bottles per week plus glass stoppers and other items, employing some 600 people at Thornhill Lees, and the works covered 11 acres. The company invented and manufactured the well-known Kilner Jars, with screw tops and rubber seals, for preserving food.
Ross’s father was James Richard Kilner, who married his cousin Josephine Kilner, daughter of John Kilner, in 1882 in Wakefield. Both Ross’s father and father-in-law worked in the family business. The company closed down in the 1920s and went bankrupt in 1937. An account, quoting a local person from the time, suggests that members of the family were not then interested in running it. Patents and Trade Marks were sold to United Glass Bottle Company in 1939.
Ross was born in USA, his father having lived in Nebraska, USA, for some time before his marriage to Josephine. In 1891 the family lived in Middlesex, but by 1901 had returned to Thornhill Lees, Yorkshire. Ross had schooling at Kent College Canterbury, Dewsbury Technical College and Doncaster Technical College. He served 7 years as an apprentice in an engineering firm followed by employment with great Northern Railways, and later with Yorkshire Electric Power Company. He then worked for 6½ years with New Zealand Shipping Co in London, and gained 2½ years sea experience, leading to a B.O.T Certificate, 1st Class.
Ross had two minor scrapes with the law. He was fined ten shillings at Doncaster Police Court in 1903, for poaching rabbits. In 1920 he was fined the considerable sum of £20 in Sidmouth for driving a car without a licence.
In Aug 1914, Ross and his brother bought a business, as equal partners, as “Engineer, Coach Builder and Garage Proprietor”, at 1 Wyckham Road, Beckenham, Kent. They Practiced under the name R&H Kilner. In June 1915 Ross’s brother joined the air force, and in Aug 1917 Ross took over the business, which was already insolvent, as sole proprietor.
On 10 Jan 1918, Ross enrolled in the Royal Navy. His rank was “Engineer Lieut for tempy service”. In Feb and March 1918 he undertook courses in “Instruction Duties for an Engineer Officer”, “Turbines”, “Oil Fuel”, “Full Comb Eng Course,” “Assistance to Eng Comm Pascoe for Fleet Duties in Connection with Yachts, & Drifters at Ramsgate.” All the above took place at bases in the UK.
During his military service, Ross’s business was managed by his father, but continued to make a loss.
Ross was demobilised on 7 Jan 1919, but his involvement with the Royal Navy did not end. In April 1920, having applied, he was “Entered on Special Reserve of Eng. Offs RN with seniority Engineer Lieutenant.” He had 28 days training in May 1921 , and again in 1924, plus 14 days in 1925. On 9 March 1926 he was promoted to Lt Eng Commander. On 12 Oct 1928 his name was removed from the list of Officer Special Reserve. He was awarded the British War Medal. He was on The Navy List until 1928.
His military record, held in the National Archives, shows that between Sept 1938 and Nov 1942 he offered his services a number of times to the Navy, who replied that there were no appointments available.
The photograph shows Ross and his son Dick, both in Uniform, taken in San Francisco in 1944. The purpose of Ross’s visit is not known.
Ross and Jack Kilner in San Francisco, 1944.
In 1920-23 Ross’s business losses continued, partly attributable to the Moulders’ Strike, which Ross claimed caused the cancellation of a large contract. In July 1925 the business ceased.
After a period of employment, Ross began to build a network of filling stations, trading as “The Provincial Service Stations”, in Hendon, and other areas near London and Worcester. However, he closed the business in February 1928, and was declared bankrupt on 5th May 1928.
In 1939 he was living in Southend-on-Sea as a Car Hire Proprietor.
His wife Connie (nee Tattersfield) died at Westcliffe-on-Sea in 1940, aged 62. He remarried Kathleen Annie Trim in Southend in 1945. Ross died in Southend in 1959, aged 75.