256189 Osman William Henry Kear MiD.British Army Royal Engineers from:Risca, Bedford Will Kear was my grandfather. Born in 1897, he joined the Territorial Force on the outbreak of WWI. He served with 124th Brigade RFA, supporting 37th Infantry Division and later D Battery, 295th Brigade RFA, part of 59th Division.
This is his diary entry for 11th of November 1918, "Got up at 6 and groomed and had breakfast. Clean parade and stables at 10am. Five minutes past we all fell in and the wireless telegram was read out. The war is napoo, peace proclaimed! Too excited to write. Some experience with all the bells ringing. The boys are going mad. A remarkable thing, the war finished at 11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Waiting for mail as we have not had any this last three days. It will be up this afternoon. So, it won't be long before we are off to Blighty! Started a green letter to my Darling Girl. Finish it after the mail is come in. Got paid 10Frs. No mail up. I have finished the letter and off to kip."
He was demobilised in 1919, but rejoined the Territorial Army in 1933, this time the Sappers. He served until 1941, having been evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk. By then he was a sergeant having been Mentioned in Despatches for distinguished Service on operations during the period March- June 1940.
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