James Tylden

James Richard Tylden (26 April 1889 – 24 February 1949) was an English landowner, British Army officer and cricketer. He farmed at Milstead in Kent, where he was a Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace. He served during World War I and, after the war, played in one first-class cricket match for Kent County Cricket Club.

Early life Tylden was born at Milstead in Kent in 1889, the only son of Richard Tylden and his wife Edith (née Jones). His father was a wealthy farmer who owned Milstead Manor, a property which had been in the Tylden family since the 16th century and where James was born. He was educated, like his father, at Rugby School, where he was a member of the Rifle Corps and was in the cricket XI. He played in Rugby's victories against Marlborough College at Lord's in 1906 and 1907, scoring 46 runs as part of a match-winning partnership with Darsie Watson in his final year.

After leaving school, Tylden went up to St John's College, Oxford in 1907. He played cricket there, top scoring in the 1909 Seniors' Match, although he did not play for the senior university team and The Times considered that he had "several elementary faults to cure before his undoubted scoring abilities" could be "seen to their best advantage". He did not complete his degree and returned to the family farm

The REKMR embarked for Gallipoli in September 1915. Tylden was initially employed on base duties at Mudros, before joining the unit at Cape Helles in October. The unit was evacuated to Mudros at the end of the December, by which time Tylden had been transferred to a staff role in the REKMR's parent unit, the 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division. In early 1917 it was transferred to France, seeing action on the Western Front at Ypres during the Battle of Passchendaele, and on the Yser Front at Nieuwpoort. In October 1917 he was appointed aide-de-camp to the Division's new commanding officer Arthur Solly-Flood, before transferring to 6th Infantry Division in early 1918. He acted as Camp Commandant and aide-de-camp to Major-General Thomas Marden. The Division saw action during the German Hundred Days Offensive and after the armistice was part of the Army of Occupation. He farmed over at Milstead where he built cottages for farm workers but was the last of the Tylden family to occupy Milstead Manor. He died at the London Hospital following a fall at the Bath Club in 1949. A memorial to him was placed in the parish church at Milstead; Milstead Manor was sold following his death.