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6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment (Queens Own)
6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment (Queens Own) served with 36th Infantry Brigade, 12th Division. They saw action during the Battle of France. In 1942 they transferred to 78th Division and saw action in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.
16th of May 1940 Orders Recieved
17th of May 1940 On the Move
18th of May 1940 On the Move
19th of May 1940 Defences
20th of May 1940 Orders
26th May 1940 Escape
31st Mar 1943 Advance
7th Apr 1943 In Action
9th Apr 1943 Heavy Fighting
5th Oct 1943 In Action
May 1944 Signallers
 Signallers of the 6th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment using a radio in a dugout on Monastery Hill. IWM (NA 13363)
May 1944 Signallers
31st Oct 1944 Reliefs
15th November 1944 Exchange of Fire
27th Dec 1944 Reliefs
7th January 1945 Heavy Snow
9th Jan 1945 Reliefs
If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.
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Those known to have served with 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment (Queens Own) during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Allen Richard Stafford. Capt. (d.19th November 1943)
- Allen Richard Stafford. T/Capt. (d.19th Nov 1943)
- Bauldy Eddie.
- Berwick MM. Arthur Joseph James. Cpl.
- Biddlecombe Frank William.
- Bryant DCM MID. William James. Sgt.
- Campbell Patrick Archibald Tomlin William Betts. Lt (d.9th May 1945)
- Costen Frederick Bartholomew. Cpl.
- Davies William Frank. Pte. (d.17th November 1942)
- Dudley Leslie Gilbert. Pte.
- Dudley Leslie Gilbert. Pte.
- Fitch James. Pte. (d.7th January 1945)
- Hart Lawerence Samuel. Pte.
- Humm Alfred Henry. Pte.
- Lane Charles. Pte.
- Laville John. Pte.
- Moon Charles Frederick. Pte.
- Norman MM Charles Frederick. A/Sjt.
- O'Leary Danny.
- Quinn Edward. Pte.
- Quinn Ernest. L/Cpl.
- Shinnick Walter Daniel. Pte. (d.20th February 1940)
- Shobbrook MID. Ronald Ernest. Pte.
- Tomsett Arthur Benjamin. Pte. (d.21st May 1940)
- True Albert. Pte. (d.24th Apr 1945)
- Waterhouse Leonard John.
- Williams Ronald Ernest. Pte. (d.28th Oct 1944)
The 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 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment (Queens Own) from other sources.
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Want to know more about 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment (Queens Own)? There are:1334 items tagged 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment (Queens Own) available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Pte. Ronald Ernest Williams 6th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment (d.28th Oct 1944) Commonwealth War Graves record that Ronald Williams served with the 6th Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment and was killed on the 28th of October 1944 aged 24. He was the son of Ernest and Emily M. Williams.
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Pte. John Laville 6th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment John Laville served from 1939 until the end of 1945 and was involved in the following campaigns, Battle of France with the BEF in 1940, Operation Torch 1943, Sicily, Monte Casino and Austria in 1945.
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A/Sjt. Charles Frederick Norman MM 6th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment Charles Norman joined up on the 20th of June 1940 and was sent to the 308th I.T.C at Devizes, Wiltshire, from here he was posted to the 6th Royal West Kent Regiment on the 2nd of October 1940. He remained in England until sent to North Africa on the 22nd of November 1942.
After this the battalion arrived in Italy, and on the 21st of March 1944 he was awarded the Military Medal, Army Form W.3121 was filled out and forwarded via the Brigade 1/4/1944, Division 3/4/1944, Corps 8/4/1944 and finally to General H R Alexander Commander in Chief Allied Central Mediterranean Force. Chales was de mobed on the 20th of December 1945.
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L/Cpl. Ernest Quinn 6th Battalion Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment Ernest Quinn was born London 1908, he enlisted in the Army around 1929. He signed on for seven years then discharged and in 1939 re-enlisted and was based at Aldershot.
His description was 6' tall blue eyes dark hair slim build. On 24th if September 1943 he was with the 6th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment in Italy where he was sent to Monte Cassino.
On 13th of October 1943 he was promoted to Lance Corporal and in November 1943 was joined by Private Edward Quinn who was previously with the Loyal Regiment. Having the same initial in the same Regiment and the same Battalion caused some confusion and they regularly got mixed up.
Ernest was captured by the Germans on 5th of February 1944 at Monte Cassino and so was Edward. Ernest was sent to Stalag 3A Pow Number 142401 and remained a prisoner until May 1945 when he was liberated. Edward went to Stalag X1A POW Number 142481. Both survived to tell their story.
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Pte. Edward Quinn 6th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment Edward Quinn joined The Loyal Regiment on 27th February 1942 aged 18. Description 5'4"; eyes green; brown hair. He was Irish.
In November 1943 he was transferred to the Queen's Own West Kent Regiment and sent to join the 6th Battalion at Monte Cassino. Captured by the Germans on 5th February 1944 with the rest of his group he was taken to Stalag XIa (his POW number was 142481) where he remained until liberated in May 1945.
Also at Monte Cassino at the same time was Ernest Quinn, Lance Corporal in the 6th Battalion Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment who was captured the same day and sent to Stalag 3a Luchenwalde (POW No. 142401). Description 6'; eyes blue; dark hair. He was born in London and enlisted in 1939 aged 31. Having the same initial in the same Regiment and the same Battalion caused some confusion and they regularly got mixed up.
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Pte. Charles Frederick Moon 6th Btn. Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Charlie Moon was my father. He didn't talk much about the war except the campaigns in Egypt and Italy. Other than that he simply said that he lost a lot of good friends.
Charles was serving with the 6th Battalion when he was wounded on the 25th March 1944 in Italy - Casualty List no. 1437. He may have served with other Battalions as the 5th was also mentioned initially.
He would have been entitled to the 1939-1945 War Medal and likely the 1939-45 Star as he was wounded in action.
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Pte. Ronald Ernest Shobbrook MID. 6th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment On 18 April 1940 Ronald Shobbrook was aged 24 when he enlisted in the Territorial Army at Taunton for the duration of the Emergency under the terms of National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939. He was posted to The Somerset Light Infantry (P.A.) with the service number 5677918. Ronald's home address was 108 Old Fosse Rd, Odd Down, Bath and he was a British subject, with British parents. His date of birth was 30th September 1915. Ronald was single and had never served in the armed services or the OTC. He was insured under the National Health Insurance Act by the Bath branch of the National Health Society.
He signed the AF B200d which was witnessed by 2/Lt M S H Suter and gave his next of kin as his father Ernest Shobbrook of 43 Curzon St, Calne.
Ronald's height was 5ft 8ins and he weighed 148 lbs. He had blue eyes and fair hair and his chest, fully expanded, was 37 ins with a 3 ins expansion range. His religious denomination was C. of E. He had no distinguishing marks. Ronald's medical condition on enlistment was grade A1. He was a shop assistant. Ronald served at home until 14th October 1942 (AF B200d) and he had a dental examination the same day (AF I 5033).
- 21 May 1940 - He had a dental examination in Taunton (AF I 5033).
- 26 June 1940 - He was transferred to the Royal West Kent Regiment where he was posted to the 6th Bn as a Private (AF B200d).
- 16 January 1941 - He was granted 8 days leave (AF B103).
- 18 April 1941 - He was granted 8 days leave (AF B103).
- 30 June 1941 - He had a dental examination in Haverfordwest (AF I 5033).
- 14 October 1941 - He was granted 9 days leave (AF B103).
- 15 January 1942 - He was granted 9 days leave (AF B103).
- 15 October 1942 - He embarked (for North Africa) (AF B103).
- 15 October 1942 to 23 January 1946 - He served in North Africa (AF B200d) (NB This entry did not mention his service in Sicily, Italy and Austria).
- 8 November 1942 - He disembarked in North Africa and entered the theatre of operations (AF B103). (NB This was the first day of Operation Torch - the allied invasion of NW Africa).
- November 1942 - The 78th Division, of which his unit formed part, moved swiftly east towards Tunis. They distinguished themselves by holding the crossroads at Djebel Aboid for four days against an armoured column. After this successful defence, the advance continued only to be halted on November 30th at Green Hill (Djebel Azzag), where the 6th lost 11 officers and 150 other ranks in a heroic attack.
- 30 November 1942 - He was wounded in action - a gunshot wound in the right arm (AF B200d) in North Africa (AF W3040).
- 1 December 1942 - He was admitted to 8 Casualty Clearing Station and posted to X(ii) list (AF B103).
- 5 December 1942 - He was transferred to the ambulance train (AF B103).
- 7 December 1942 - He was transferred to 94 General Hospital (AF B103).
- 12 December 1942 - He was transferred to 95 General Hospital (AF B103). (NB This hospital was housed in a French school in Algiers).
- 21 December 1942 - His father was advised of his being wounded by telegram (AF W3040).
- 27 December 1942 - He was discharged from 95 General Hospital (AF B103).
- 28 December 1942 - He was transferred to 1 I.B.D. (Probably 1st Infantry Brigade which consisted of the 3rd Grenadier Guards and the 2nd Coldstream Guards) (AF B103).
3 February 1943 - He was transferred to 18 Army Group HQ and the X(I) list (AF B103).
- 21 May 1943 - He was posted to the British Military Training Directorate (AF B103).
- 18 April 1943 - He was classified Scale D, Class 1 (A) (AF B103).
- 21 September 1943 - He was Mentioned in Despatches for gallant and distinguished services in North Africa (page 4228 of The Supplement to the London Gazette).
- 11 January 1944 - He was appointed U/L/Cpl (AF B103).
- 23 June 1944 - His will was received and filed by his unit (AF B200d).
- 21 July 1944 - Act (?) CRS 57 Ane To X (2) (AF B103).
- 30 July 1944 - Ais (?) CRS Directorate of Military Training & X (1) list (AF B103).
- 24 January 1945 - He relinquished the (temporary) rank of lance corporal and was regraded as class 1 (A) when he joined 5 Bn J (?) RTD (AF B103).
- 1 April 1945 - He refused T.A.B. and T.T.S. inoculations (AF B200d).
7 April 1945 - He was transferred (back) to 6 Bn RWK (AF B103).
- 23 May 1945 - He was despatched to 202 Transit Camp (LIAP II) (AF B103).
- 25 May 1945 - He joined 3 Transit Camp. (AF B103).
- 30 May 1945 - He embarked at Naples for the UK (AF B103).
- 10 June 1945 to 15 July 1945 - He was granted leave to UK (AF B200d).
- 24 July 1945 - He disembarked (AF B103).
- 30 July 1945 - He rejoined 6/RWK (AF B103).
- 7 December 1945 - He had a medical examination. In the report, which he signed, he stated that his war service had included 30 months in England, 12 months in Algeria/Tunisia, 1 month in Sicily, 18 months in Italy and 7 months in Austria and that he had received a gunshot wound in his left arm during 1941 in North Africa (AF W3149).
- 12 December 1945 - His notification of impending release form was signed in Hermagor, Austria by Comd. 6 R.W.K. His military conduct was exemplary. His testimonial read: Pte Shobbrook joined the Battalion 5 years ago & he has taken part in the fighting in N. Africa and Italy; in action he was courageous & at his best in difficult circumstances. He is an efficient & energetic worker and has potentialities as a leader, because his colleagues have a high respect for his abilities & his character. He is loyal, trustworthy & his departure will be a severe loss to the unit
- 18 January 1946 - He was posted to the Assembly Centre at Villach (Austria) (AF B103).
- 19 January 1946 - He was granted Class A release (AF B103).
- 20 January 1946 - He entrained at Villach for the UK (AF B103).
- 23 January 1946 - He disembarked in the UK. His permanent address was shown as 4 Stepney Terrace, Haverfordwest, when he arrived at the Military Disembarkation Camp at Aldershot. He was aged 25 (notification of impending release form).
- 24 January 1946 - He was posted to Y list - Class A release (AF B103).
- 24 January 1946 to 29 April 1946 - He served at home (AF B200d).
- 25 January 1946 - He proceeded on terminal leave (AF B200d).
- 30 April 1946 - He was released to Class Z(T) Reserve (Class A Release) (AF A3091 (Stout) and (AF B103).
He was awarded various campaign medals: - 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Africa Star and Clasp 1st Army, War Medal 1939/45 and the Defence Medal (AF B200d).
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Pte. Leslie Gilbert Dudley 6th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment Private Leslie Gilbert Dudley Battalion 6th Bn. West Kents
He was captured on the 25th May 1940 at Doullens, Somme, France and ransferred on the 29th July 1940 From Stalag VI D, Dormund, to Stalag XX A, Thorn (according to list dated 01.08.1940)
His Prisoner of War Number was 20150
from information received from the Tracing Agency, Red Cross, Geneva.
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Pte. Leslie Gilbert Dudley 6th Btn. West Kent Regiment Leslie Dudley was captured on 25th May 1940 at Doullens, Somme, France. He was transferred on 29th July 1940 from Stalag VI, Dormund, to Stalag XX A, Thorn (according to a list dated 01.08.1940). His Prisoner of War Number was 20150. (Information received from the Tracing Agency: Red Cross Geneva.)
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Frank William Biddlecombe 6th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment My son and I are taking my father to Gdansk to revisit his wartime POW sites. Dad is Frank William Biddlecombe.
Now 85, he was a Private in the 6th Batt Royal West Kents. They were sent to
France in the BEF and were taken prisoners virtually en masse at Doullens
fighting what turned out to a rearguard for Dunkirk. A few weeks later he
arrived at Thorn Stalag XXA. He was soon moved out to a satellite camp in
Pietsendorf (Piecki) a suburb of Danzig (Gdansk) and from there engaged in
his trade as a carpenter iaw the Geneva Convention working in Sopot for
several years. In the last 12 months he has started talking about his
experiences to his grandchildren. My sister and I have never heard any of
this and the horrors he and his colleagues endured are mind bending!
Thankfully we are recording this and I am taking a tape recorder with me to
capture as much as possible. May I ask if anyone has any experience of
visiting Poland and Thorn (Torun) in particular? Would much appreciate any
tips; we plan to visit Thorn, Pietsendorf and possible Bromberg (Bydgoszcz)
all places dad has talked about.
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