Bantams in the Royal West Kents

[Guest Strattonswar]

I am trying to find if my Grandfather served in the Royal West Kents as a Bantam.

As family recollections said he was a Bantam (he stood 5ft and a Bit) I have tried various roots and been unable to progress very far. He definitly served in Belgium and I know he came home on leave from France. He lived in Platt Kent.

There is also family anecdotal evidence that he was a stretcher bearer. Beyond this I have just the usual birth and death records.

[PhilB]

I`m not aware that the RWKs had a Bantam Bn. He may have been bantam size (under 5ft 3 in) and served with any RWK Bn. The 20th Lancs Fus were raised as bantams in March 1915, so smaller men were being admitted fairly early on. Phil B

[James Brown]

Strattonswar

Welcome to the forum.

Post the details you have. Did your'e Grandfather survive the war? Do you have a picture in Uniform? Post it. There are plenty of experts in here who can identify from photograph.

Try here;

http://www.1914-1918.net/rwk.htm

or here

http://www.1914-1918.net/rwk.htm

Good Luck

James Brown

[GavinH]

As Phil says, men below the official height could also be found in non-bantam battalions. My Great Grandfather enlisted directly into the 1st (Regular) Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment in 1915. His service records and pay book all clearly show his height as 5'2". He served in France for over a year, and was discharged in 1917.

Regards

Gavin

[Michael]

Thought this might interest you all