JRH Posted 28 November , 2005 Share Posted 28 November , 2005 I have a photograph of my Grandfather which I've attached. It shows him as being in the Royal West Kent Regiment this is confirmed by his cap badge. However I understood that this was an infantry unit - so why would he be wearing spurs and have a riding crop? Apparently he was stationed at Hounslow and broke horses before the WW1 and was posted to France in 1916. Can anyone shed some light on why he would be dressed this way? Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunboat Posted 28 November , 2005 Share Posted 28 November , 2005 Could it be West Kent Yeomanry (Queens Own)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 28 November , 2005 Share Posted 28 November , 2005 All infantry battalions had a large horse transport section. Anyone whose duties including riding [and sometimes driving] would have been equipped thus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunboat Posted 28 November , 2005 Share Posted 28 November , 2005 All infantry battalions had a large horse transport section. Anyone whose duties including riding [and sometimes driving] would have been equipped thus. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> What Langely says is correct but I am convinced it is the Queens own West Kent Yeomanry the capbadge of which has a small scroll with Invicta on it. The Royal West Kent has a Longer scroll with Royal West Kent inscribed and a smaller scroll with Invicta written in Gothic Text. Looking at this capbadge it just has as small scroll under the horse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 28 November , 2005 Share Posted 28 November , 2005 Concur with gunboat it is the cap badge of the West Kent Yeomanry [if you check your Grandfathers name on the Medal index Cards Medal Index card search here!It should show wether it is RWK or WKY. Badge1 Royal West Kent Rgt ::: Badge2 West Kent Yeomanry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRH Posted 29 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 29 November , 2005 All Thanks for the information - didn't realise there was another similar cap badge! However the more I look at it the more I agree it looks like the West Kent Yeomantry badge. My grandfathers name was Arther William Holland - I had done a check on the medal index cards last year and thought I'd found him - the card I found which matched all his other details refers to his regiment as the Ryl West Knt Rgt. I will now check again as there were a number of Hollands. Thanks Again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 29 November , 2005 Share Posted 29 November , 2005 I don't know if this is relevant or just a red herring..... In Feb.1917 the 1st/1st. West Kent Yeomanry became part of the 10th. (Royal East Kent and West Kent) Yeomanry Battalion of the Buffs Royal East Kent Regiment. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Maier Posted 29 November , 2005 Share Posted 29 November , 2005 He could have served in both. 3/1 West Kent Yeomanry was formed towards the end of 1914 as a draft-finding unit. Initially it sent drafts to 1/1 West Kent Yeomanry in Egypt but in the second half of 1916 some 560 men and NCOs were sent to various regiments in France. Most, like my uncle Oscar, went to the 13th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. However, the West Kent Yeomanry roll of honour records men who died while serving with the 1st, 7th, 8th and 10th battalions of the Royal West Kent Regiment. Most were with the 7th and 10th battalions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max7474 Posted 29 November , 2005 Share Posted 29 November , 2005 He could have served in both. 3/1 West Kent Yeomanry was formed towards the end of 1914 as a draft-finding unit. Initially it sent drafts to 1/1 West Kent Yeomanry in Egypt but in the second half of 1916 some 560 men and NCOs were sent to various regiments in France. Most, like my uncle Oscar, went to the 13th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. However, the West Kent Yeomanry roll of honour records men who died while serving with the 1st, 7th, 8th and 10th battalions of the Royal West Kent Regiment. Most were with the 7th and 10th battalions. Can you tell me if the Kent Cyclist Bn fitted into this as well? They wore the same (or very similiar depending on the author) cap badge as the Yeomanry but clearly not the unit for this man with spurs! Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Stewart Posted 29 November , 2005 Share Posted 29 November , 2005 Max, A lot of units which remained at home became draft finding units, supplying men for regiments serving overseas. The Northern Cyclist Bn, a T.F. unit supplied drafts of reinforcements to both the Tyneside Scottish and Tyneside Irish both of whom were New Army units. Graham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Maier Posted 29 November , 2005 Share Posted 29 November , 2005 Can you tell me if the Kent Cyclist Bn fitted into this as well? They wore the same (or very similiar depending on the author) cap badge as the Yeomanry but clearly not the unit for this man with spurs! Alan Sorry, I don't know about Kent Cyclists but there is a good account here. Perhaps I could return the thread whence it came by underlining that it is quite clear that the West Kent Yeomanry sent drafts to the Royal West Kents. Thus the cap badge could be before drafting and the documentary reference after drafting, and no conflict between them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem Posted 29 November , 2005 Share Posted 29 November , 2005 I have had a quick look in West Kent (QO) Yeomanry and 10th (Yeomanry) Batt. The Buffs 1914 - 1919 by Charles Ponsonby to see if Arthur William Holland is mentioned in any of the nominals rolls. The rolls list West Kent (QO) Yeomanry men from from the following groups: Officers and men who left the West Kent (QO) Yeomanry between 23 September 1915 and 1 March 1917 Officers and men of the West Kent (QO) Yeomanry who wrre posted to C and D companies on 1 March 1917 Arthur Holland is not mentioned on any of these rolls, but the author states they are not complete. Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRH Posted 30 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 30 November , 2005 All I've re-looked at the medal cards index and I can find only one Arthur W Holland - it shows him as a private with the RW Kent R, Regd No GS/8190 (or GS/8100 ~ difficult to read). I was told he was with 50/97th foot if that helps. From his medal card it looks like he went to France 1916 or later so it could tie in with Clives info. The card also refers to roll GSE/2/103 (B4) page 294 whatever that means? Any further thoughts anyone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corny Posted 1 December , 2005 Share Posted 1 December , 2005 I have a photograph of my Grandfather which I've attached. It shows him as being in the Royal West Kent Regiment this is confirmed by his cap badge. However I understood that this was an infantry unit - so why would he be wearing spurs and have a riding crop? Apparently he was stationed at Hounslow and broke horses before the WW1 and was posted to France in 1916. Can anyone shed some light on why he would be dressed this way? Thanks in advance Just to say that the famous duo of Flannigan and Allen (the music hall famous two) were both in this regiment and I believe that Flannigen wore much the same uniform if I am not mistaken? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westkent78 Posted 1 December , 2005 Share Posted 1 December , 2005 50/97th Foot would be the Royal West Kent Regiment (pre-1881), although many old sweats continued to refer to the regiment by their old numbers instead of the 1st and 2nd Bns. I'd concur with Clive's assessment that 3/1st Kent Yeomanry is the most likely unit for him as the MIC doesn't mention prior service in Egypt with 1/1st. 7th and 10th Bns of the Royal West Kents do seem the most likely candidates for his service in France. The reference number refers to the medal roll, which may indicate which battalion he served in. Matthew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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