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- 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment during the Great War -


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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment



   1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment was based in Dublin with 13th Brigade, 5th Division when war was declared in August 1914. hey proceeded to France landing at Le Havre on the 15th of August 1914. They were in action in The Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, The Battle of Le Cateau, The Battle of the Marne, The Battle of the Aisne, The Battles of La Bassee and Messines and The First Battle of Ypres. In 1915 they were in action at The Second Battle of Ypres and the Capture of Hill 60. In autumn 1915, many units were exchanged with units from the newly arrived volunteer 32nd Division, to stiffen the inexperienced Division with regular army troops, but the 1st West Kents remained with 5th Division. In March 1916 5th Division took over a section of front line between St Laurent Blangy and the southern edge of Vimy Ridge, near Arras. They moved south in July to reinforce The Somme and were in action at, High Wood, The Battle of Guillemont, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Morval and The Battle of Le Transloy. In October they moved to Festubertand remained there until March 1917 when they moved in preparation for the Battles of Arras. On 7 September 1917 the 5th Division moved out of the line for a period of rest before, being sent to Flanders where they were in action during the Third Battle of Ypres. 5th Division was sent to Italy and took up positions in the line along the River Piave in late January 1918. They were recalled to France to assist with the German Advance in late March 1918 and were in action during the Battles of the Lys. On the 14th of August 1918 the 5th Division was withdrawn for two weeks rest. Then moved to The Somme where they were more or less in continuous action over the old battlegrounds until late October 1918 and saw action in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Picardy. At the Armistice they were in the area of Le Quesnoy and moved to Belgium to the area around Namur and Wavre in December and demobilization began.

21st of August 1913 Lecture

9th of August 1914 At Southampton

13th of August 1914 Landing in France

13th of August 1914   Landing in France

14th of August 1914 Advance Party Leave

15th of August 1914  Arriving Busigny

16th of August 1914 Billets Organised

17th of August 1914  Brigades Pass Through

18th of August 1914 15th Bde Arrives

20th of August 1914 Preparing to March

22nd of August 1914  On the March

23rd Aug 1914 German attack at Mons  The Battle of Mons began early in the morning with a German artillery bombardment of the British lines, concentrated near a bend in the canal close to the town of Mons. At 9:00 am the German infantry assault began as they attempted to force their way across the four bridges that crossed the Mons-Conde canal. The demolition charges had been placed beneath the bridges by the Royal Engineers, whilst under fire from enemy snipers.

Four German battalions attacked the Nimy bridges, defended by a single company of the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and a machine gun section led by Lieutenant Maurice Dease at the south side of the railway bridge. The 4th Royal Fusiliers were positioned along the canal between the two bridges, the swing bridge having been turned to prevent crossing. The German infantry suffered heavy losses as they advanced in "parade ground" formation, the well-trained British riflemen were making hits at over 1,000 yards So heavy was the British rifle fire throughout the battle that the Germans thought they were facing machine guns.

To the right of the Royal Fusiliers, the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment and the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders were suffering heavy casualties in facing the German assault. With reinforcements from the Royal Irish Regiment (acting as the divisional reserve) and fire support from the divisional artillery, they managed to hold the bridges. The Germans then widened their attack, to the British defences along the straight section of the Mons-Conde canal to the west of Mons. Aided by the cover of a plantation of fir trees they inflicted heavy casualties with machine gun and rifle fire on the 1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment and the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, who despite their losses, managed to repulse the Germans throughout the morning.

The order to withdraw was given at 3pm, after a German soldier swam out to the swing bridge and activated the mechanism, allowing his comrades to cross easily. To the east the Germans had crossed the canal and were advancing on the British flank. The 3rd Division was ordered to retire to positions a short distance to the south of Mons which necessitated a similar retreat in early evening by the 5th Division, and by nightfall a new defensive line had been established at the villages of MontrÅ"ul, Boussu, Wasmes, Paturages, and Frameries. The Germans had spent the late afternoon building pontoon bridges over the canal, and were approaching in great numbers. News arrived that the French Fifth Army was also retreating, dangerously exposing the British right flank as night fell.

23rd Aug 1914 Battle of the Canal  The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment and 2nd KOSB at are at Tertre.



23rd of August 1914 Holding the Line

24th Aug 1914 The Battle of Mons  At 2 a.m. on 24 August, II Corps was ordered to retreat into France to defensible a position along the Valenciennes to Maubeuge road, requiring a number of sharp rearguard actions against the pursuing Germans. 5th Brigade were ordered to to act as rearguard and fought a holding action at Paturages and Frameries, with Brigade artillery in particular, inflicting heavy casualties on the Germans.

At Wasmes, units of the 5th Division faced a heavy assault from German artillery which began bombarding the village at daybreak, followed at 10 a.m. by an infantry assault by German III Corps who advanced in columns and were "mown down like grass" by British Rifle and Machine Gun fire. Soldiers of the 1st West Kents, 2nd King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 2nd Duke of Wellington's Regiment, and 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment held off repeated German assaults on the village, despite taking heavy casualties, and then retreated in good order to St. Vaast at mid day.

24th Aug 1914 Cheerful

26th of August 1914  Holding Position

27th of August 1914 Retirement in the Dark

28th of August 1914 An Exhausting March

29th of August 1914 Sleeping in the Streets

31st of August 1914  Pursued by Germans

1st of September 1914 A Delayed March

2nd of September 1914 An Early March

3rd of September 1914 Across the Marne

5th of September 1914 March Finished

6th of September 1914 Army Advances

7th of September 1914  Another March

8th of September 1914 An Early March

9th of September 1914 On the Move

10th of September 1914 Marching

11th of September 1914 Marching

12th of September 1914 A Wet March

13th of September 1914 A Showery March

14th of September 1914 Broken Bridges

15th of September 1914 An Attack Falters

16th of September 1914 Bad Roads

17th of September 1914 Artillery Reinforced

18th of September 1914 Some Enemy Firing

19th of September 1914 Trenches Fired Constantly

20th of September 1914 Sappers Make a Bridge

21st of September 1914  Missy on Fire

22nd of September 1914 Enemy Retiring?

23rd of September 1914 Heavy Shelling

25th of September 1914  Very Quiet

26th of September 1914 Moves Successful

27th of September 1914 A False Alarm

28th of September 1914 Shelling

29th of September 1914 Quiet

30th of September 1914 Astride the Aisne

1st of October 1914 A Withdrawal

2nd of October 1914 Moonlit Relief

3rd of October 1914 On the March

4th of October 1914 On the March

5th of October 1914 A New HQ

6th of October 1914 Orders to Move

7th of October 1914 A Train Ride

8th of October 1914 Entraining Finished

11th of October 1914 New Billets  location map

12th of October 1914 Orders to Advance  location map

13th of October 1914 Advance Resumed  location map

14th of October 1914 Supporting the French  location map

15th of October 1914 Advance Ordered to Continue  location map

16th of October 1914 Empty German Trenches  location map

18th of October 1914 Advance Resumed  location map

19th of October 1914  Slow Progress   location map

20th of October 1914 A Fluid Front  location map

22nd of October 1914 Our Line Attacked  location map

24th of October 1914 Germans Attack  location map

25th of October 1914 More Attacks  location map

26th of October 1914 Germans Repulsed  location map

27th of October 1914 A Counter Attack  location map

28th Oct 1914 Reliefs  location map

28th of October 1914 Counter Attack Falters   location map

29th of October 1914  Determined German Attack  location map

30th of October 1914 German Attack Fades  location map

31st of October 1914 A Counter Attack   location map

2nd of November 1914 Three Groups Organised  location map

3rd of November 1914  Situation Report  location map

4th of November 1914  French Attack  location map

5th of November 1914  French Attack Falters

8th of November 1914 Half-hearted Attacks  location map

13th of November 1914  Reliefs Completed   location map

15th of November 1914  2nd Corps Reorganise

18th of November 1914 Shell Fire

21st of November 1914 Regiments Under-strength  location map

28th Nov 1914 Recovering

28th of November 1914  On the Move

1st of December 1914  Quiet Time

2nd of December 1914  A Moonlit Night  location map

3rd of December 1914 Instructions

4th of December 1914 Reliefs  location map

4th of December 1914 Relief  location map

6th of December 1914 Frosty Night

10th of December 1914 Naval Victory Cheered

14th of December 1914  French on the Offensive  location map

15th of December 1914  Operations Resumed  location map

16th of December 1914  Instruction  location map

18th of December 1914 No Progress

21st of December 1914 Howitzers Silenced  location map

26th of December 1914 Messines Square Targetted   location map

31st of December 1914 Message  location map

4th of January 1915 Trench Work  location map

7th of January 1915 Very Wet Weather  location map

8th of January 1915 Trenches Damaged   location map

10th of January 1915 Flooding and Baling  location map

15th of January 1915 Germans Fire Slowly  location map

16th of January 1915 Squally Weather  location map

16th January 1915 Reliefs

19th of January 1915  Thaw Sets In  location map

21st of January 1915 Wulverghem Shelled  location map

22nd of January 1915 Aeroplane-Aided Shelling  location map

25th of January 1915 Quiet Day  location map

31st of January 1915 Trench Improvements Reported  location map

3rd of February 1915  Snipers Silenced  location map

5th of February 1915 Firing for Effect  location map

7th of February 1915 Sectors Rearranged   location map

9th of February 1915 German Post Located  location map

13th of February 1915 Trenches Maintained  location map

14th of February 1915 Germans Plan an Attack?

15th of February 1915 Heavy Rain

16th of February 1915 Baling All Night  location map

18th of February 1915 Grenades Cause Confusion  location map

21st of February 1915 8th Howitzers Leave  location map

22nd of February 1915 Cheering and Rockets  location map

23rd Feb 1915 Reorganisation

16th March 1915  Information

18th of March 1915 Trench Mortars

21st of March 1915 Intelligence

7th of April 1915 Mostly Quiet   location map

7th Apr 1915 Reorganisation

8th of April 1915 Another Quiet Day

11th of April 1915 Train Fired On  location map

16th of April 1915 Quiet Night   location map

17th Apr 1915 Attack Made  location map

17th of April 1915  Mines Exploded  location map

17th April 1915 5th Division Attack  location map

18th Apr 1915 Counter Attack  location map

20th of April 1915 Quiet  location map

20th of April 1915   location map

28th of April 1915 Report  location map

1st of May 1915 Gas Casualties  location map

30th of July 1915  Detrainment

10th Aug 1915 Instruction

10th of August 1915  Relief of French  location map

11th Aug 1915 Instruction

12th Aug 1915 Instruction

13th Aug 1915 Instruction

14th Aug 1915 Instruction

15th Aug 1915 Trench Instruction

16th Aug 1915 Instruction

10th of September 1915  Enemy Hit Dummy Battery  location map

11th of September 1915 Changes of Command  location map

20th of December 1915 Deserter Taken

28th of December 1915 Retaliatory Firing  location map

29th December 1915 Reliefs

1st of January 1916 Night-time Shelling

2nd of January 1916 Direct Hits  location map

1st of February 1916 

4th of February 1916  

10th of February 1916  MG Coys Join

4th of March 1916 Snow All Day

7th of March 1916 Torpedoes Fired

4th April 1916 Reliefs

13th of April 1916 Brigade Relief

7th of May 1916 Enemy Fires 1,500 Shells

4th of June 1916  Germans Raid Trenches  location map

2nd of July 1916 New Orders  location map

20th of July 1916 Positions of Units  location map

22nd Jul 1916 Preparations  location map

23rd of July 1916 Longueval Attack Report  location map

23rd July 1916 In Firing Line   location map

24th of July 1916 Reliefs  location map

25th of July 1916  Enemy Advances  location map

30th of July 1916 Artillery Active  location map

1st Aug 1916 In Action  location map

5th of August 1916 Divisional Dispositions

27th of August 1916 Divisional Dispositions  location map

30th of August 1916  Enemy Artillery Active  location map

31st of August 1916  Warning Order Issued  location map

1st of September 1916 Enemy SOS  location map

3rd Sep 1916 In Action  location map

4th Sep 1916 In Action  location map

4th of September 1916 Units Mixed Up  location map

4th September 1916 Handwritten Order 1650 hours from sender No. CP1 to FAN  location map

5th of September 1916 Farm Captured  location map

19th of September 1916 In the Front Line  location map

21st of September 1916 Situation Normal  location map

23rd of September 1916 Reliefs  location map

25th of September 1916  Instructions for Tanks  location map

30th of September 1916 Dispositions

9th Oct 1916 Orders  location map

10th Oct 1916 Reliefs  location map

13th of October 1916 Reliefs  location map

31st of October 1916 Distribution  location map

30th of November 1916  Enemy Baling Out  location map

2nd of December 1916 Raiding Party Fails  location map

4th of December 1916  German Trenches Damaged  location map

6th of December 1916  Working Parties Dispersed  location map

10th of December 1916  Working Parties Dispersed  location map

14th of December 1916  A Combined Shoot  location map

20th of December 1916 German TMs Active  location map

21st of December 1916 Ferme Cour d'Avoue Shelled  location map

22nd of December 1916 Quiet Day  location map

24th of December 1916 Germans Very Active  location map

28th Dec 1916 Reliefs  location map

29th Dec 1916 Billets  location map

29th of December 1916  Artillery Quieter  location map

5th of January 1917  Aeroplanes Active  location map

6th of January 1917  German Guns Quiet  location map

9th of January 1917  Spotted Dog Shelled  location map

13th of January 1917  Retaliation "Feeble"  location map

17th of January 1917 Guns Active  location map

20th of January 1917 Active Artillery  location map

21st of January 1917 Our TMs Active  location map

26th of January 1917 TMs Busy  location map

30th of January 1917 Hostile TMs Busy  location map

1st of February 1917  Balloon Spotted  location map

3rd of February 1917 Artillery Active  location map

6th of February 1917 Fairly Quiet  location map

7th of February 1917  Feeble Retaliation  location map

9th of February 1917  Little TM Retaliation  location map

12th of February 1917 Artillery Quiet  location map

15th of February 1917 Enemy TMs Fall Short  location map

17th of February 1917 TMs Quiet  location map

19th of February 1917 Our Guns Active  location map

21st of February 1917  Our Guns Active  location map

28th of February 1917 Artillery Quiet  location map

1st of March 1917 POWs Taken  location map

4th of March 1917 Damage Caused by Heavies  location map

6th of March 1917  Brigades Attached  location map

8th of March 1917  Divisional Relief  location map

9th of March 1917  TMs Very Active  location map

11th of March 1917 Auchy Heavily Shelled  location map

14th of March 1917 Pekin Trench Hit  location map

15th of March 1917  Brigade Relief  location map

20th of March 1917  Composite Division Formed  location map

24th of March 1917 Pioneers On the Move

27th of March 1917 In Corps Reserve  location map

2nd of April 1917  Positions  location map

8th of April 1917 HQ Moves

11th of April 1917 Dispositions

12th of April 1917 Orders and Reliefs  location map

13th of April 1917  A Push Forward  location map

14th of April 1917 Orders to Move  location map

18th of April 1917 Divisional Front Readjusted  location map

22nd of April 1917 Warning Order Received  location map

23rd April 1917 

24th of April 1917 35 Minute Bombardment  location map

25th of April 1917 Canadians Take Over Front  location map

27th of April 1917 Rest and Training

28th of April 1917 Rest and Training  location map

29th of April 1917  Rest and Reliefs

5th of May 1917  Wood Shelled  location map

6th of May 1917 Enemy Guns Active  location map

8th of May 1917  Orders to Attack  location map

9th of May 1917 No Further Advance  location map

10th of May 1917 Enemy Concentration Reported  location map

11th of May 1917 Enemy Guns Active  location map

12th of May 1917 Bailleul Shelled  location map

13th of May 1917 Front Line Shelled  location map

15th of May 1917 Very Quiet Day  location map

17th of May 1917 A Surprise Attack  location map

20th of May 1917 Guns Active  location map

21st of May 1917 Quiet Night  location map

22nd of May 1917  Quiet Day  location map

23rd of May 1917   Enemy Withdrawal?  location map

24th of May 1917  Relief Completed  location map

26th of May 1917 Quiet Day  location map

31st May 1917 Work and Training  location map

2nd of June 1917   location map

9th of June 1917  A Relief  location map

10th of June 1917 Minor Op Planned  location map

14th of June 1917 Relief  location map

15th of June 1917   Relief Completed  location map

16th Jun 1917 Reliefs  location map

16th June 1917  Quiet Night  location map

17th of June 1917 Quiet Day  location map

18th of June 1917   Aircraft Active  location map

19th of June 1917  Quiet Day  location map

21st of June 1917  Brigade Relief Completed  location map

26th of June 1917  Quiet Day  location map

26th June 1917 Operation Order No.1 dated today. Major S.W. Montgomerie. Commanding 1st Norfolk Regt.  location map

28th of June 1917  Successful Operation   location map

29th of June 1917 Consolidating Gains  location map

1st of July 1917  Front Line Adjusted  location map

3rd July 1917 Report  location map

5th of July 1917  Our Trenches Damaged  location map

6th of July 1917  A Brigade Relief  location map

10th of July 1917 A Raid Ordered  location map

12th of July 1917  Back Areas Shelled   location map

17th of July 1917 Quiet Time  location map

18th of July 1917 Direct Hits Made  location map

19th of July 1917   Situation Quiet   location map

21st of July 1917 Back Areas Shelled  location map

23rd of July 1917 Minenwerfer Active  location map

26th of July 1917  Very Quiet   location map

27th of July 1917  Gas Attack  location map

29th of July 1917 Brigade Relief  location map

1st of August 1917 MG Activity  location map

3rd of August 1917   Snipers Active  location map

4th of August 1917  Hostile Shelling  location map

7th of August 1917  A German Raid  location map

10th of August 1917 Mostly Quiet  location map

13th of August 1917 Two Minute Barrage  location map

16th of August 1917 MGs Active  location map

19th of August 1917  Gas Drums Plan  location map

22nd of August 1917 Railway Shelled  location map

25th of August 1917  TMs Hit Oppy Wood  location map

27th of August 1917 Quiet Time  location map

31st August 1917 Quiet Time  location map

3rd of September 1917  Quiet  location map

5th of September 1917 Brigades on the March  location map

6th of September 1917 Gas Shelling  location map

7th of September 1917 Training  location map

9th of October 1917 Hostile Guns Active  location map

10th of September 1917  Division to Move

11th of September 1917  Artillery Marches

25th of September 1917 Entraining Continues  location map

1st of October 1917 Orders to Attack  location map

2nd Oct 1917 1st West Kents relieve 9th York & Lancs

3rd of October 1917 More Heavy Shelling   location map

4th of October 1917 Attack Launched  location map

5th of October 1917 Quieter Night  location map

10th of October 1917   "Intense Barrage" Endured  location map

11th of October 1917 Snipers Active  location map

14th of October 1917 Training  location map

17th of October 1917 Training  location map

18th of October 1917 Training

21st of October 1917 Offensive to be Resumed  location map

22nd of October 1917 On the Move

24th of October 1917  Enemy Retaliates  location map

26th of October 1917 Intermittent Shelling  location map

26th October 1917 Battalion moved to Stirling Castle and was ordered to proceed to the trenches to relieve 1st Royal West Kent Regt.

27th of October 1917  Quiet Time  location map

28th of October 1917 Enemy Guns "Above Normal"  location map

4th of November 1917 Heavy shelling  location map

6th of November 1917 Attack Launched  location map

8th of November 1917 Fairly Quiet  location map

11th of November 1917 Quiet Time  location map

14th of November 1917 95th Brigade Entrain

18th of November 1917 121st Battery Moves  location map

19th of November 1917  Pioneers Move

25th of November 1917 Pioneers Return

26th of November 1917   HQ Closes and Re-opens

27th of November 1917 Entraining for Italy

28th of November 1917 Entraining for Italy

9th of April 1918 Orders

10th of April 1918  Relief Postponed

13th of April 1918 Enemy Attacks  location map

15th of April 1918   Another Enemy Attack  location map

16th of April 1918 Situation Quiet  location map

18th of April 1918  Artillery Active  location map

19th of April 1918 A Raiding Party   location map

22nd of April 1918  A Gas Attack  location map

23rd of April 1918 Constant Shelling  location map

25th of April 1918  Division Attacks  location map

26th April 1918 Operational Order No.27.  location map

27th April 1918 Relieved in the evening by 1st Royal West Kent Regt.  location map

28th of April 1918 Artillery Quieter  location map

3rd of May 1918 Enemy Artillery Active   location map

4th of May 1918 Situation Quiet  location map

10th of May 1918 Gas Shells Used   location map

15th of May 1918 Our Heavies Busy   location map

16th May 1918 Reliefs

17th of May 1918 Active Artillery  location map

22nd of May 1918 Enemy Active  location map

23rd of May 1918 Quiet Night  location map

30th of May 1918 A Relief  location map

5th of June 1918  Brigade Relief  location map

13th of June 1918  Brigade Relief Completed  location map

15th of June 1918  Operation Proposed  location map

20th of June 1918 Situation Unchanged  location map

22nd of June 1918  Slight Activity  location map

25th of June 1918 WO95/1510/4  location map

28th of June 1918 Successful Attack  location map

29th of June 1918 Enemy Guns Active  location map

1st of July 1918  Situation Unchanged  location map

7th of July 1918  Gas Shelling  location map

12th of July 1918 Back Areas Bombed  location map

18th of July 1918  Our Guns Active  location map

24th of July 1918  Relief Completed  location map

28th of July 1918 Quiet   location map

31st of July 1918 Relief Completed  location map

9th of August 1918  Training  location map

10th of August 1918  Training

13th of August 1918 Entraining Commenced

15th of August 1918  Training

21st of August 1918  Division Advances  location map

23rd of August 1918  Division Attacks  location map

24th of August 1918  5th Division Co-operates  location map

25th of August 1918 Brigades Move  location map

26th of August 1918  Enemy Retreats  location map

27th of August 1918 Quiet  location map

28th of August 1918   Situation Unchanged  location map

29th of August 1918 Enemy Evacuate Town  location map

30th of August 1918  Advance Continues  location map

31st of August 1918  Counter-Attack  location map

1st of September 1918  Attack Sucessful  location map

2nd of September 1918 Strongly Defended

3rd of September 1918  Enemy Withdraws  location map

4th of September 1914 An Easier March

4th of September 1918 Divisional Relief

5th of September 1918 Rest and Training

17th of September 1918 Back Areas Bombed  location map

18th of September 1918 Attack Commences  location map

19th of September 1918 Enemy Guns Quiet  location map

20th of September 1918  Quiet Time  location map

22nd of September 1918 Field Guns Active  location map

30th of September 1918  Divisional Relief  location map

7th of November 1918  Operations Continue   location map

11th of November 1918 Armistice and a Report  location map

13th of November 1918 Resting

10th of January 1919  Locations

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Want to know more about 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment?


There are:5643 items tagged 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.


Those known to have served with

1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Allen Peter. Pte. (d.19th April 1918)
  • Anderson Albert Edwin. Pte. (d.4th Oct 1917)
  • Barrow Arthur Walkey. Pte.
  • Bovis Daniel. Pte. (d.24th Oct 1914)
  • Bowler Edward. Pte.
  • Bradford Percy Charles. Pte.
  • Cadby Samuel Alfred. Pte (d.22nd July 1916)
  • Chappell Albert Thomas. Pte. (d.1st Dec 1918)
  • Gilbey Henry. Pte. (d.27th Sept 1918)
  • Goldup Thomas Alfred. Pte. (d.26th Jul 1915)
  • Harris Thomas. Pte. (d.21st Jun 1915)
  • Highgate Thomas J.. Pte. (d.8th Sep 1914)
  • Hill George. Pte. (d.3rd March 1917)
  • Hussey Alfred John. Cpl.
  • Piggott Frank. Pte.
  • Read William Thomas. Pte. (d.10th Feb 1917)
  • Reynolds MC, MSM. Alfred. Sgt.Mjr.
  • Roe Joseph Victor. Pte.
  • Rosendale Sydney. Pte. (d.22nd January 1915)
  • Rosendale William. Sgt. (d.22nd January 1915)
  • Rosevear Harold Edwin. Pte.
  • Rowe Joseph Victor. Pte.
  • Silk Ronald Gwyn. A/Sgt.
  • Skilton Arthur William. Pte. (d.21st Jul 1916)
  • Slade Alfred. Pte. (d.5th May 1915)
  • Sontag Hughie James. Pte. (d.20th July 1916)
  • Sontag Hughie James. Pte. (d.20th July 1916)
  • Sontag Hughie James. Pte. (d.20th July 1916)
  • Spain George C. Pte.
  • Turner Walter Stephen. L/Cpl. (d.1st August 1916)
  • Wilkin George. Pte. (d.27th Sep 1918)

All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment from other sources.


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  Pte. Albert Thomas Chappell 1st Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment (d.1st Dec 1918)

Albert Chappell was born in 1894 at Tresham, Gloucestershire to Albert James and Kate Elizabeth Chappell. In 1901, he was residing with his parents and siblings at The Sheet, Hawkesbury near Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire; and in 1911, he was living with his brother William Albert, mother, and stepfather Richard Godfrey at Bowldon near Tetbury, Gloucestershire. His occupation was farm labourer.

He enlisted into the 13th Gloucestershire Regiment on 9th of December 1915 at the age of 22 years and 3 months and was posted to the army reserve to await his mobilization. At the time, he was residing at Ragonel Terrace, Synwell, Wotton-under-Edge. On 23 December 1916, he married Winifred Tavinner at the Tabernacle, Wotton-under-Edge.

He was called to the colours with the 1st Royal West Kent Regiment on 22nd of February 1917 at Horfield Barracks, Horfield, Bristol. Then on 11th June 1917, he embarked for France. On 21st of April 1918, he received a shrapnel wound to his left thigh, and on 6th of October 1918 was transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He died of influenza at No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station on 1st of December 1918, and is buried in Caudry British Cemetery, France.

Alfred Beard






  Pte. Daniel Bovis 1st Btn. Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment (d.24th Oct 1914)

Daniel Bovis was the second son of David Bovis and his wife Eliza nee Harvey. He was born on 5th April 1897 at Crowland in Salehurst, Sussex, although the 1901 Census gives the birthplace as Bodiam.

He put his age up by two years and joined the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment on 15th or 16th of August 1913. It is possible he may have served, therefore, in Ireland before the 1st Battalion moved to France in 1914 and would have fought at Mons and throughout the Retreat.

He carried one of his wounded schoolfellows, from Sandhurst Council School, who was serving in the same company, about a mile and a half to the rear, during the First Battle of Ypres. Daniel was killed soon after returning to the firing line on the 24th of October 1914. He is commemorated on the Richebourg-l'Avoue Memorial.

Hugh Nightingale






  Pte. Percy Charles Bradford 1st Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment

Percy Bradford in Trench back far left.

My father Percy Bradford was born on the 18th July 1897. He joined the first Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment 31st of March 1914 at Woolwich, Kent. He was an assistant Nurseryman before enlisting. He was only 16 years of age and was amused by having joined under age! He stood 5' 6" and he is described in his Small Book as being of fresh complexion with black hair and Hazel eyes. His religion was C of E.

Initially he went to Dublin and from there to Le Havre. Like all old soldiers who had had terrible experiences, he spoke very little about the actions that he took part in but on prompting by me he would sometimes divulge snippets of information. He talked about marching for days through thick mud up to his thighs and being covered in lice. The food was remembered with disgust, he hated corned beef or bully beef as he called it and the cheese and biscuits he said they called bung hole. One can only imagine why!

Dad talked about being left alone in no man's land and crawling back through the barbed wire to be challenged by a sentry of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers. Dad let out a trail of expletives at him and then they let him back. He related that when on Hill 60 in April 1915 he was ordered by Captain Tuff to follow him in charging a machine gun nest. Captain Tuff was killed and out of D Company only 10 men were left alive. My father is in the Imperial War Museum photograph far left at the back.

We have a photograph showing his company after they had been on the front line for nineteen days (he is front row second from the left). After continuously being in action he was badly wounded on the 1st of July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme and returned to the Military hospital in Southampton. He was advised by the medical officers that he should have his damaged hand amputated which he refused. He told me that with only one hand he would never get work and so he used to bathe his arm in salt water which he said saved the arm although he could not use his hand for the remainder of his life. He is still bandaged in the photograph taken of him with the first of his nine children in 1919. On being discharged from hospital he was transferred into a Labour Battalion and sent to Ireland until his discharge from the Army in 1919.

He followed his father into work at the docks in the port of London. He suffered from what we now know was Combat Stress Disorder for the rest of his life and his WW1 pals were the last thing he mentioned to me before he died in 1985.

<p>After 19 days of fighting

Henry Bradford






  L/Cpl. Walter Stephen Turner 1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment (d.1st August 1916)

Walter Turner was born in Clommell, Tipperary on 20th of November 1879, to Henry and Catherine Creagh. He enlisted in Woolwich. He died of wounds in battle on 1st of August 1916.

Anthony kelly






  Pte. George Hill 1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment (d.3rd March 1917)

George Hill lived with his family in Deptford. His family wrote letters to the War Office as they had not heard from him. On 3rd of March 1917 George was declared missing, presumed dead.







  A/Sgt. Ronald Gwyn Silk 1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment

Gwyn Silk joined the Royal West Kent Territorial Battalion in August 1914 just after the outbreak of war. He was 16. By 1915 he was serving with 2/5th Battalion on the home front. Promoted to Lance Corporal in June 1916.

By October 1917 he had been sent overseas and transferred to B Coy, 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment as an A/Sgt. On 26th of October 1917 he took part in the Battalion's fateful attack just to the north of Gheluvelt in the Ypres Salient. Part of a much larger operation, the attack failed when the 7th Division on its right flank failed to take the village. The attacking Coys (B & D) of 1st Battalion took their first objectives but were then cut off by encircling counterattacks. Every man became a casualty, killed wounded, or taken prisoner. Gwyn Silk was wounded by shrapnel in the right thigh and later pulled out of a German trench by his captors.

He spent the rest of the war in Prisoner of War Camps in Belgium and Germany, returning to the UK on 30th of December 1918.







  Pte Samuel Alfred Cadby 1st Btn. B Coy. Queens Own Royal West Kent Regt. (d.22nd July 1916)

Samuel Cadby served in the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment and was sent to the Somme in France during July 1916. He served his Country during battles there for approximately three weeks before being killed in action at the Somme his name appears on the Thiepval Monument.

Maureen Carroll






  Pte. Alfred Slade 1st Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment (d.5th May 1915)

Alfred Slade was the third oldest son to Alfred and Caroline Slade of Winchmore Hill, Buckinghamshire, England. He was the sixth child of eleven. Upon enlisting in the British Army, Alfred was 19 years old, living at home with his parents and working as a carter. Prior to that he had been a farm labourer upon leaving school.

He landed in France on 22nd of April 1915 and was reported missing on 5th of May 1915. This was later used as his date of death and marked as killed in action. His body was never recovered. His name is engraved on The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial along with 54,000 other soldiers who died before 16th August 1917 and have no known graves. He had no wife and no children. He was quite simply a farm boy.

Kim Webb






  Pte. Harold Edwin Rosevear 1st Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment

Harold Rosevear enlisted on 8th December 1915. He was initially posted to the 2/5th battalion of The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment. He embarked at Folkestone on 12th September 1917 and disembarked at Boulogne. He was then posted to 3/4th Battalion, arriving at the infantry base in Etaples. He was then posted to 1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment and was noted as in the field on 16th September 1917. On 3rd October 1917 he was wounded in action, receiving gunshot wounds to the head and leg.







  Pte. Joseph Victor Roe 1st Btn. West Kent Regiment

My grandad Joseph Victor Rowe was in the 1st Battalion of the West Kents. He'd only rejoined them on 14th August 1914, he was a Reservist having been in the Army 1904-1907.

He was reported missing on 24th August 1914, presumably at Mons. He spent the next 4 1/3 years in a prison camp in Germany, only returning to England in December 1918.

Grahame Rowe






  Pte. Joseph Victor Rowe 1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment

My Grandad, Joseph Rowe, was in the army from 1904 to 1907. I'm not sure whether he joined in Dublin or Rochester. I always thought that he and his family had spent some time in Dublin so it may have been there. Possibly he left the Army to get back to Kent but he was down as a Reservist from 1907. So he was mobilised from the start of WW1. He joined the 1st Battalion of the West Kents on 14th of August 1914 in France.

He was reported as missing on 24th of August after the BEF started retreating at Mons on 23rd August. He was in a German prison camp for the duration of the war. He was repatriated to West Kent Depot on 16th of December 1918 and received the Silver War Badge and a £20 war gratuity in May 1919.

Grahame Rowe






  Cpl. Alfred John Hussey 1st Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment

Alfred Hussey survived the war as a POW.

Colin Hussey






  Pte. William Thomas Read 1st Btn. Queen's Own Royal West Kent Rgt. (d.10th Feb 1917)

William Read was killed in action during the raid on Givenchey, 10th February 1917.

Peter James Read






  Sgt. William Rosendale 1st Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment (d.22nd January 1915)

My paternal grandfather's brother. He died 3 weeks before his brother Sydney - who was in the same Regiment, who also died on 3 Feb 1915.

We are visiting their graves in May 2016 to pay our respects

Jeanette Mansworth






  Pte. Sydney Rosendale 1st Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment (d.22nd January 1915)

Sydney Rosendale was my paternal grandfather's brother Sydney died 3 weeks before his older brother William - a sergeant in the same regiment.

We are off to visit their graves in May 2016

Jeanette Mansworth






  Sgt.Mjr. Alfred Reynolds MC, MSM. 1st Btn. D Coy. Royal West Kent Regiment

Alfred Reynolds was a Pre-War regular who had joined up in 1896 and fought in the 2nd Boer War earning a Queens Medal with 3 Clasps and Kings Medal with 2 Clasps.

He fought with the 1st Battalion throughout the Great War and he was awarded the MC in Feb 1915: "As Sergeant Major of "D" Company, did exceptionally good work, especially when his Company was commanded by a very junior officer."

He ended the war as a Warrant Officer 1st Class and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1918: "His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased on the occasion of His Majesty's Birthday, to approve of the award of the Meritorious Service Medal to the under mentioned Warrant Officers, Nora-commissioned Officers and Men in recognition of valuable services rendered with the Forces in Italy." He retired in 1920.

Sami Williams






  Pte. Hughie James Sontag 1st Btn. D Coy. Royal West Kent Regiment (d.20th July 1916)

Hughie Sontag was my great uncle and I uncovered the events leading to his death through my family history research at the regimental museum. I am indebted to their archivists and Jonathan Saunders in particular for providing me with some of the details.

Hughie enlisted on 10th of September 1914, five days after the publication of Lord kitchener’s famous poster and opted for service in the Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment. On 26th of May 1915, after completion of his training, Hughie was posted to ‘D’ Coy, 1st Battalion in ‘France and Flanders’.

After various engagements the Battalion later arrived on the Somme on 17th of July 1916 to take part in the great offensive that had commenced on 1st of July. On 19th of July the Battalion was ordered up to support positions. Before entering the trenches, eleven officers and a proportion of NCO's and men were detached, in accordance with Army orders, and sent to remain with the transport. (Experience in the past had shown the necessity for making sure of a nucleus of survivors, should the unit suffer very heavy losses). Hereafter this was always done before going into action, and those left behind were called the "dumped personnel". They then moved up to High Wood, which was jointly held by the British and Germans.

The Battalion marched soon after noon that day to Mametz, crossing the old German front line, thus seeing the country that most of the officers and men had looked longingly towards in 1915. ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies dug themselves in between Bazentin and Longueval in support to the KOSB, while C and D Companies occupied an old German trench north of Montauban. There was considerable artillery activity during the day and night, but the Battalion only suffered two casualties.

On the night of 19th-20th, troops in the front line attacked, with the result that the Germans were slightly pressed back, and High Wood (Bois des Foureaux) was partly occupied. The Battalion moved into the front line after dark on the 20th. ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies occupied the track running from the south corner of High Wood in a South Easterly direction, ‘D’ Company was in support, and ‘C’ in reserve. The Germans put a heavy barrage behind the front line after dark, and ‘D’ company was "badly caught" when moving up.

In all, the 1st Battalion suffered 14 fatalities killed in action on 20th July 1916 (this does not include wounded or wounded who later died of wounds). Hughie was 24 years old, his body was never found and his death was recorded as missing in action’. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

David Sontag






  Pte. George Wilkin 1st Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment (Queen's Own) (d.27th Sep 1918)

George Wilkin served with the 1st Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment during WW1. He died on the 27th September 1918 and is commemorated onthe Vis-en-Artois Memorial in France. He was the son of George and Rhoda Wilkin of 7 Dordans Road, Leagrave, Luton. Beds.

S Flynn






  Pte. Hughie James Sontag 1st Battalion, D Coy Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) (d.20th July 1916)

Great uncle Hughie Sontag was my grandad's brother. While my grandad Edward Sontag was in the Royal Navy, HMS New Zealand, Hughie was fighting at the Somme and killed in action on the 20th July 1916 aged 24. His name is on the Thiepval Memorial near Albert.

Gary Sontag






  Pte. Edward Bowler 1st Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment

My Grandfather Edward Bowler was a regular soldier before WW1 started. He was mobilised and fought at Mons, Hill 60, Vimy Ridge, Arras, etc He also went to Ireland after he was bayoneted in a trench in France, to fight the IRA. He met Mary his future wife in a hospital in the London area, when he had the bayonet wound. They had Frank & Rene Bowler after the war

From information on his Medal Card Private Edward Bowler served with the following units: 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, Machine Gun Corps, Labour Corps, Lancashire Fusiliers. He was awarded the 1914 Star, British War and Victory Medals.

Kevin Bowler






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