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The Buffs, The Royal East Kent Regiment
The Buffs, The Royal East Kent Regiment is one of the oldest regiments of the British Army. The name Buffs, originates from a time when the regiments were known by the name of their Colonel, in 1744 two regiments both known as the Howards found themselves side by side. To distinguish them, one became the Buff Howards and the other the Green Howards.
Battalions during the Second World War.
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On our 12th Anniversary we would like to thank all those who have contributed to this project.
Research your own Family History.
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June 2011 - Please note we currently have a large backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site.
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We are aware of the issue with missing images, this is due to the redesign of the website, images will reappear as soon as the new version of the page is completed, thank you for your patience.
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photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them.
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List of those who served with The Buffs, The Royal East Kent Regiment during The Second World War
Select a story link or scoll down to browse those stories hosted on this website
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Cpl. George Homewood 1st Battalion The Buffs George Homewood was my father. The army was his family from the day he ran away from his foster home in Lamberhurst and walked to Canterbury to enlist, he had to lie about his age to get accepted. He spent much of his time in the far and the near east. He met and married his first wife whilst serving in Burma, unfortunately his wife died in child birth. He never spoke of this until around a week before he died. My mother was his second wife, they enjoyed 45 yrs of married life. He was a corporal at the time of his capture, together with his squad he had hidden in a barn but a young soldier with him lost his nerve when the hay around them was prodded with bayonets. He was sent to Stalag XXA but from here the story becomes sparser, he "like many" did not speak very much in detail of the camp life. Only relating specific happenings and events,such as the fact that he became a tailor "altering"`uniforms for the escapees. Using ink and boot polish to "dye" the material. His fingers were not delicate but it seems he could "sew" with the best, and his embroidery equals the best you can find. He told me of the radio kept in the bass drum of the camp orchestra, of the time the prisoners were getting rowdy and louder whilst being held on the parade ground, ordering the guards to raise their rifles made no difference to the POWs behaviour and this prompted the commandant to draw his pistol and shout "Stop or I shoot myself" needless to say that caused even more uproar among the POWs. I remember one time walking down the local High St on a Saturday when we heard my fathers name called out, it was a man who had been in the same camp, and had recognised my father, not bad after 20+ years. My father has passed away But I write in the hope that somebody out there will be able to add to my limited knowledge. I have a photograph of Dad and the rest of his hut? I will share this if anybody can add names etc. |
L/Cpl. Henry James Johncocks MM. Y Company The Buffs (d.31st May 1944) I have only the telegram and account of Henry's death at age 19 years in support of his award of the Military Medal which reads as follows:
On 31st May, 1944, 'Y' Company, acting as advance guard, had just reached their objective, CLE CANNUCCIE, and were in the process of consolidating when the enemy opened up with Scheimzer fire and sniping. Two sergeants were killed instantaneoulsy. Lacne-Corporal Johncocks, regardless of the fact that the ground was swept by fire, crawled forward and with his first rifle shot and killed one of the enemy.
A few minutes later two Germans having worked their way round to aflank rushed at Lance-Corporal Johncocks. Undeterred he remained at his post and succeeded in wounding both of them with his rifle.
By his prompt action and great coolness and devotion to duty, Lance-Corporal Johncocks inspired all the men in his Platoon and gave his Platoon Commander valuable time to re-organise the Platoon and consolidate the position. |
Pte. Robert Charles Hearn 30th Btn. East Kent Regiment (Buffs) My Grandad started off in the 30th Buff then trained with No 12 Infantry Training Company and the 44 Special Training School and the 50 Special Training School. I do not know much about his time in the War as he would not speak about it but my Grandmother has told me how he went cow riding in Norway and was blown up while looking after a spy.
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Pte. William Kensall East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) My uncle, Bill Kensall, was a POW. I believe he was captured during the retreat to Dunkirk in 1940 and remained a prisoner until 1945. I think he was in a POW camp in Poland. |
A/RQMS Alfred Edward Watling Northamptonshire This is a brief record of my father's time serving in the Army before and during WW11. He was born on 13/11/1908 and signed on for the Northamptonshire Regiment on 10/1 1925 at the age of 16 years and 2 months saying he was the right age to sign on. He served till 21/6/1933,Then was recalled on 1/9/1939,till 1/8/1940. (p) Was then in The Buffs from 2/8/1940 till 3/3/1941. He then transferred to the MPSC at the rank of A/RQMS till being demobbed on 8/12/1245. In 1941 he was Stationed at the Tower of London where he guarded and looked after Josef Jakob the last man to be shot by firing squad at the Tower, They used to play cards together in his cell whilst waiting for his trial, and my father was the one who had to walk with him to the firing squad on 15 August 1941, |
L/Cpl Percy Cecil Horne 4/5th Batt. The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) (d.17th June 1940) My step brother, Percy Horne aged 19, was on the Lancastria when it was sunk but did not survive.
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Cpl. F. White The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) Cpl F. White, service number 6285200, prisoner number 250934 is shown as being in Stalag 357 at some time during the war. Does anybody know anything more about this soldier? I believe he may be one of my father's younger brothers and I am trying to find out what happened to them after their mother died in 1925, their father having died in 1915 in Gallipoli. I will try the Army Service Records for more information if I can be sure I'm looking at the right person.
The two younger brothers were Francis Philip White and Frederick Charles White, and their father was Philip Henry White who served in the Royal West Kent Regiment in WW1 |
Pte. George Henry "Slim" Holder 2nd Btn. The Buffs (d.1st-2nd Feb 1945) Dad loved his country, he volunteered to serve it, but sadly for us his family, he gave his life for it. But we are proud of the sacrifice he made. He was awarded the Burma Star and other medals. |
James Evans The Buffs My Uncle Jim Evans was a Desert Rat in WW11. I believe he was with The Buffs. I found three diaries which I am offering to the Imperial War Museum shortly. They contain lots of everyday writing but he seems to be in transport as he speaks quite often of 'Dixie' which appears to have been his lorry. He mentions a man called Darkie and an officer called Blakeland. He spent a lot of time in Rome and he also used to like mending watches. Not a lot that I know but someone may remember him. |
The Buffs (Men-at-arms) Gregory Blaxland
This book details the history of the Buffs from their inception to their demise as an independent unit in 1967, focusing particularly on their uniforms, including the distinctive dragon badge.More information on:
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Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.
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The Buffs (Men-at-arms)
