George Stock

[Guest Sarah Newman]

I have just found out that my Great Grandfather, George Stock, was a Private in 3/4 The Buffs (Engine Driver H.M.D) in 1917.

Would anyone be able to tell me what this means? I am an extreme novice when it comes to all things to do with the army, so please accept my apologies in advance for any mistakes.

With grateful thanks

Sarah Newman

[Michael]

Welcome Sarah - don't worry we were all novices at some stage.

The 4th Battalion of the Buffs were a territorial outfit (info by more qualified experts on territorials elsewhere on the site). On the outbreak of war they became the 1/4th Buffs and 2 more Battalions were raised; the 2/4th and 3/4th.

The 3/4th Battalion was raised by Major Messel in Canterbury in July 1915. It only composed 2 companies (as opposed to the usual 4) and they moved to Cambridge in Dec 1915 and then to Crowborough. It never went overseas as a unit. They were probably men outside the conscription agegroup or those that had been medically downgraded.

I believe that men of the 2/4th and 3/4th were employed in important work in the UK because 5 of them were killed in the explosion at Faversham Gunpowder Mills in April 1916.

I would say that George was an engine driver in one of His Majesty's Dockyards.

I hope this helps. If you have any more info let us know. Even the smallest clue might lead on to further avenues of research.

Mick Mills

[Robert Dunlop]

We tend to think of 'engine driver' as being the driver for a train. I'm guessing but presumably it refers to stationary engines (eg for cranes in a dockyard) or possibly steam traction engines?

Robert