The Regimental Association of The Queen’s Own Buffs (PWRR) The Royal Kent Regiment THE JOURNAL Number 26 Spring 2015 CONTENTS Editor’s Page 1 President’s Jottings 2 Branch News 3-8 Annual General Meeting 9-12 The Buffs, City & Tower of London 13 London Buffs Tower of London Parade 14 Time Line 1915 15-23 The Most Decorated NCO of World War 1 24 The Committee 24-25 The Battle of Punniar 26-28 They Shall Grow Not Old 28 Beneath Bell Harry 29 Spies, Traitors & Swasticas 30-32 Canterbury Reunion 2014 33-35 Maidstone Reunion 2014 36-38 Ypres 2014 39-41 Tertre 2014 42-45 Photo Gallery 46-48 Northern Ireland Memorial 49-52 The Victoria Cross in 1915 52 Characters of the Forebear Regiments 53-55 Home Guard 55-56 A Time in History 57.64 Canterbury & Maidstone Reunions 2015 65-70 Last Post 71-75 From the Website 76-77 Notice Board 78-80 Dates for Your Diary 2015/16 Inside Back Cover: THE EDITor’s PAGE note that the of Henry Delo who passed away at Pilgrims I opening sentence Hospice, Margate on March 11, 2015 aged 82 of past Editor’s Page years. Henry enjoyed near legendary status references have been within the Association, secretary of Canterbury made to how busy a Branch for over 35 years and an Association year it has been. Well member for much longer than that. Always fiercely surprise, surprise protective of the Branch and of The Buffs, his 2014 was no different contribution to, and support of, the Association in fact far busier than was an example to all. To say he will be missed is past years. Apart a massive understatement. form the two reunions in Canterbury and We also lost another stalwart of the Association Maidstone, London late last year, Les Crouch, one of the few Buffs Tower of London service and parade we remaining survivors of that epic battle, the added two trips to the far off continent one to Defence of Kohima. A member of Sittingbourne, Ypres and one to Tertre. Then to cap it all we Maidstone and Weald Branch, Les would always were asked to participate in the Step Short be there to support whatever was going on. parade in Folkestone that happened the day after This issue features a welcome return of the article the Canterbury Reunion. ‘Beneath Bell Harry’ reporting on life and events We should take great comfort in the fact that we within the Cathedral and the City of Canterbury. can still do it, for how long remains to be seen. It was first featured way back in the very distant past in the monthly issue of The Dragon. This year, 2015, will be a very special year as it will see the unveiling of the statue to The Buffs There are several loose leaf inserts re the in the precincts of Canterbury Cathedral. Based Canterbury and Maidstone Reunions and of on the iconic portrait of ‘A Man of Kent’ by Lady course the unveiling of The Buffs statue on 11th Butler, I am sure that none of us can think of a September this year. In all of these there are more suitable location and we are so indebted to deadlines for the application of tickets, please The Dean and Brigadier Mearden for their support adhere to these dates as no applications will be which has been fundamental in the project. More considered after the relevant deadline. of the unveiling later in this issue. Also there is an insert covering the proposed We have, as can only be expected now, sadly Association trip to The Somme in 2016- if you do lost quite a few of our members in the course of want to take part apply early as there is every the last 12 months. Most of you will have seen chance that we will be over subscribed. the recent 3 part series on life in Canterbury We are looking forward to meeting you at the Cathedral. In episode three the daily ceremony Canterbury or Maidstone Reunions, hopefully of the Turning of the Page was featured and that both, and in particular on 11th September for the element was introduced by the traditional ringing unveiling of The Buffs Statue. of the bell of H.M.S. Canterbury by Alf Baker, ex Royal Navy, member of Canterbury Branch and Finally, just a reminder to note that the new one of the heroes of the Arctic convoys to Russia address for all communications is as under: - in the last war. Alf passed away just before Regimental Association Secretary Christmas and it is only fair that his contribution Queen’s Own Buffs-The Royal Kent Regiment to the life of the Association should be singled Marlowe Innovation Centre out a little. Every Monday and on special days Alf Marlowe Way, Ramsgate, CT12 6FA would turn up to ring the bell, he even did so on the very day of his son’s funeral- he will be sorely Tel: 01843 598615 missed by us all. email: [email protected] Mobile: 07522 914562 Canterbury Branch and the Association suffered another body-blow when we learnt of the death Take Care - The Editor 1 THE PRESIDENT’S JOTTINGS 2015 espite the loss 2016 – A second Buffs statue for the Western Dof a number Front of our members in 2014 it was still a 2017 – Refurbishment of Latham’s headstone in very good year for Northern France the Association. Our re-unions and 2017/18 – A ‘Trained Band of London’ statue in the excursions to Ypres Tower of London and Mons were all 2018 – Three identical marble plinths for All Saints well attended and a Maidstone, Chapel Royal in the Tower of London great success. Our and Canterbury Cathedral for The Queen’s Own thanks go to Peter Buffs plus a ‘bursary’ to either The University of White and Richard Kent or to two Grammar Schools – one in West Cast for making this possible. The numbers of Kent and one in East Kent – to fund the books Members in the Association are steady thanks a history student requires for university study or to new faces signing up. On a financial note our something similar. The ‘bursary’ being sufficient to funds remain healthy and are more than sufficient ensure that it is everlasting. to meet our needs, including planned expenditure on various ‘memorials’, for the coming years. Whilst this may seem to be a touch “Buff heavy” it is only because of the fact that memorials However, there will be no cross Channel trip to the QORWK are more advanced – Tertre this year but we will, instead, concentrate on memorial (with thanks to The Living History making the unveiling of our Statue in Canterbury Group) and the Malayan statue in Maidstone as Cathedral a very special occasion. There will be an example. Very happy to receive any comment a visit to the Somme in late May, early June next or other suggestions in case you feel something year – 2016. The really good news is that Queen is missed. The current Howe Barracks Memorials Margrethe of Denmark has now agreed to unveil to the Queen’s Regiment and to those Buffs who the Statue on the 11th September at a provisional were killed when a German bomb fell on the time of 11.00 am. There will be a Reception after Dining Room in WW2 are being moved to Leros the unveiling, most likely in the Chapter House Barracks with a possible rededication service in of the Cathedral, with a closing time of 2.00 pm. May. Importantly they will be in position – on the This, for the obvious security reasons, will have to grassed area outside of the Dining Room where be an all ‘ticket’ occasion and Peter White will be we now Beat Retreat – and ‘weathered in’ for our issuing the instructions shortly. reunion in August. I mentioned “planned expenditure on memorials” Branches remain the bed rock of our Association and we now have an annual programme to bring and my sincere thanks go to all those ‘elected’ about a situation whereby The Buffs, The Queen’s Chairmen, Secretaries, Treasurers and Committee Own Royal West Kent Regiment and, importantly, Members who make things happen - without their the Queen’s Own Buffs can leave a lasting efforts we would be in a poor state! reminder of their existence and their contribution to the Nation as a whole. Thoughts and suggestions I very much look forward to seeing you all at our at the moment are: re-unions this year and based on the success of last year and feed back the format will remain the 2015 – The Buffs statue in Canterbury Cathedral same for both Canterbury and Maidstone. 2015/16 – Candle Sticks and a Communion Set Colonel Peter Bishop OBE., DL for the Royal Chapel in the Tower of London The Association President 2 BRANCH NEWS RAMSGATE BRANCH front door supported by his two walking sticks, it helped with how many visits you got if you had SECRETARY: M. F. Milham. 185 Bradstow Way a nice bottle of whisky. I remember visiting Jake Broadstairs, Kent. CT10 1AX Marley in hospital with a stroke, I was standing by his bed when in came Deric, we had a job PHONE: 01843 867786 to convince a nurse who appeared that Deric MEETING PLACE: The Racing Greyhound Pub, was a visitor and not an inpatient trying to do a Hereson Rd, Ramsgate runner. Our Sick List continues to be longer than we would wish, Asher Rose is still quite ill, Pete MEETINGS: First Wednesday of the Month.