Cam_s Posted 14 September , 2016 Share Posted 14 September , 2016 Hello All, I have been having trouble finding the following battalion's reference numbers on TNA. - 1/4 The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) - I can find the other "/ 4" Battalions but not the 1/4th. - 1st Garrison Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. Any help in finding the call numbers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for any help, Cam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 14 September , 2016 Share Posted 14 September , 2016 1/4th seem to have served only in India - any diary they had would not have been digitised but I'm not sure that units in India were required to complete a war diary. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDWARD1 Posted 14 September , 2016 Share Posted 14 September , 2016 1/4th Queens Own RWK to India October 1914, 1st Garrison South Staffs formed Jan 17 and went to India. could this be the reason? Eddie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam_s Posted 14 September , 2016 Author Share Posted 14 September , 2016 But they should still have a war diary in the Archives. I can't find any reference to them when I search through the Discovery Portal. Cam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 14 September , 2016 Share Posted 14 September , 2016 (edited) There's a 1919 diary for the 1/4th at http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk.ezproxye.bham.ac.uk/details/r/C7364201 Units in India were not obliged to keep the diary and generally they do not exist. Things change due to hostilities in 1919. Edited 14 September , 2016 by Chris_Baker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam_s Posted 14 September , 2016 Author Share Posted 14 September , 2016 Thanks Chris, much appreciated. The link takes me to a University login page? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAW Posted 14 September , 2016 Share Posted 14 September , 2016 (edited) I have been using the war diary for the 1/4th R W Kents and attach some notes: War Diary, 1/4th R West Kent R, May – Sept 1919, WO95/5412: INDIA BALUCHISTAN FORCE 4 (IND) DIVISION 57 INFANTRY BDE 4 BN QUEENS OWN ROYAL WEST KENT REGT 1919 MAY - 1919 SEPT FROM UK TO INDIA OCT 1914 CO of battalion at time of hostilities: Lieut. Col. C. B. Robb 6/5/19 Mobilization Orders received. 13/5/19 Battalion left Quetta in two trains. Camped at Killa Abdullah 18/5/19 Marched to Shelabagh near SE entrance of Kojak Tunnel. 19/5/19 Reached Chaman. Units assembled here to create Baluchistan Field Force, under the command of Maj.Gen. N.G. Woodyatt CB. 26/5/19 Orders received that 4th (Quetta) Division would cross Afghan border and attack and capture Spin Baldak the following day. 27/5/19 Division moved from camp at 0400 hours. 4 RWK involved in the right infantry attack commanded by Bde.Gen. J.T.R. Gordon CB. The other infantry battalion was the 1/129th Baluchistan Infantry. The objective for this column was (i) to attack the Spin Baldack position from the east, advance up the ridge and capture the Tower on it, (ii) to attack the east face of the fort. This operation entaild a detour of several miles followed by an advnace over sandy desert. Attack led by 4 RWK who advanced in four succesive company lines, A, B, C, D. Battalion entered fort at about 16-30 hours. The day was very hot. The remainder of evening spent preparing fort for defence. Some enemy Afghans were concealed in chambers and recesses. Casualties: Killed 200228 Sgt W. Haines Died of wounds 201556 Pte C. Ellis 201479 Pte C.J. Andrews 200093 Bdm Britter Wounded Capt H.W. Styles 200798 Pte J. West 204325 Pte E.A. Locke 201520 Pte E. Ford 8/6/19 Battalion marched back to Chaman 9/8/19 Worked on outer perimeter of Chaman defences. Allocated strong point No.9 and lunettes Nos. 17 and 18. Also furnished pickest for inner defences. 31/7/19 Returned to Spin Baldack garrison 8/8/19 News received that Afghan delegats had signed the Peace Terms – including the handing back of Fort Spin Baldack and all occupied territory on the Chaman front. 14/8/19 Spin Baldack Fort evacuated. Formal handing over at 11-00 hours. 11/9/19 Battalion entrained at Chaman for Quetta – returned to peace footing. ......... Mark Edited 14 September , 2016 by MAW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 14 September , 2016 Share Posted 14 September , 2016 (edited) 17 minutes ago, Cam_s said: Thanks Chris, much appreciated. The link takes me to a University login page? Ugh. Sorry. It should be http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7364201 Edited 14 September , 2016 by Chris_Baker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam_s Posted 15 September , 2016 Author Share Posted 15 September , 2016 7 hours ago, Chris_Baker said: Ugh. Sorry. It should be http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7364201 Thanks for the help. At what level did units in India keep records... Bde or Div? Thanks, Cam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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