The Buffs Database is complete

[Trenchrat]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for looking him up. So he was with the 1st Battalion of the Buffs? What was his full name? What does DCM stand for? The D is for Distinguished and M for medal, but what about C? What would his papers say, like when he enlisted and when he was discharged? I'd imaging he had been in the army for a while being a Company Sergeant Major. Why was the wounded 'uniform' so hated, just because it was another reminder of their wound? I think the wounded 'uniform' wasn't a bad looking thing. Did it have an official name? Hope you don't mind my rattling on with all these questions.

John

[Trenchfoot Bob]

Hello Michael,

I have just returned from the Somme and I was directed to you by another visitor. I have seen Pte William Wade on the Thiepval Memorial. I believe he may be related to me. All I can find is what is on the CWGC site. His number is G1680 and he was killed 010716. he was with the 7th Batt East Kent Regt. I can't find any other info at all. I don't even know what age he was when he died. I have read through this topic and the info you have given to others seems priceless. Do you have any further info on him.

Thanking you in anticipation .

Regards

Bob

[purley]

I've now completed the transcription of the BWM and VM rolls for the Buffs. After a five year slog I now have the 1914 star, 1914/15 star and SWB rolls. Combined with the MIC index, SDGW/CWGC and various other tables there are now 1,032,880 cells populated on the database. I am confident it includes every man who served overseas with the Buffs.

Now I need to decide what to do with the database. Do I publish it, put on the internet, etc? In the meantime, I have previously offered lookups for completed rolls and am now offering the same for the BWM / VM roll. There are obviously a lot of men who transferred into the Buffs from other Regiments / Corps so if you send me your email address I can supply a small spreadsheet with your area of interest. Do not send me a private message as the inbox gets filled up quickly. Look ups for individuals can be posted on this thread.

Mick

Thanks for offer - I have around 100 Buffs men in my Royal Berkshire database and would be happy to swap info

my e-mail is john.chapman@purley.eu

There seems to have been quite a large batch of men who transferred from the Berkshires to the Buffs with Buffs numbers in the range 12678 to 12801 which I guess would mean in early 1915

regards

John

[redland]

I've now completed the transcription of the BWM and VM rolls for the Buffs. After a five year slog I now have the 1914 star, 1914/15 star and SWB rolls. Combined with the MIC index, SDGW/CWGC and various other tables there are now 1,032,880 cells populated on the database. I am confident it includes every man who served overseas with the Buffs.

Now I need to decide what to do with the database. Do I publish it, put on the internet, etc? In the meantime, I have previously offered lookups for completed rolls and am now offering the same for the BWM / VM roll. There are obviously a lot of men who transferred into the Buffs from other Regiments / Corps so if you send me your email address I can supply a small spreadsheet with your area of interest. Do not send me a private message as the inbox gets filled up quickly. Look ups for individuals can be posted on this thread.

Mick

Hi Michael,

I was most interested to see your postings on the Buffs. I have been trying to research two soldiers who died in WW1 who were from Deal. The first is Private Walter Trice of 6th Buffs who was killed 13/10/1915 in the battle of Loos. His name is on the Loos Memorial and I think killed in the attack on Stone Alley trench. I have found his name mentioned in the Deal Roll of honour with a few details and photo.

The second is Private Charles Thomas Harris 2nd Buffs killed 12/04/1915 and his name is on the Menin Gate. Again I have photo and a few details from the Roll of honour.

Both were employed at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club. Do your records show anything on these two.?

Regards,David

email: david.hedges9@btinternet.com

[Neil Clark]

Sorry to interject Michael, David have you searched kentfallen?

here - http://www.kentfallen.com/

Your man can be found here -

DEAL area - http://www.kentfallen.com/PDF%20REPORTS/DEAL.pdf

Let me know if you want an uncompressed copy in JPEG. I can also give you a close up of this casualties name because all the photos are quite large in size. Have you searched other Deal memorials for him? I have a few more photos of memorials in that area I can search.

Neil

[Michael]

Trenchrat

He was William John Field and he enlisted in The Buffs in February 1906 and was discharged in April 1919. The DCM was the Distinguished Conduct Medal and was one down from a VC for other ranks. I don't know too much about uniforms so cannot comment on the blues that he is wearing.

Bob

Wade joined The Buffs in London on 8/9/1914 and was posted to the 7th Battalion. He went overseas with them on 27/7/1915. He was killed on 1/7/1916. He was born in Westminster and had an address in Beckenham when he died.

David

Trice Joined the Buffs in mid to late August 1914 and was posted to the 6th Battalion. He was killed during their first taste of action at Loos on 13/10/1915. He was born and lived at Deal.

Harris was a Special Reservist who joined in Oct / Nov 1913. He was born in Stafford. He went overseas to join the 2nd Bn on 6/3/1915. He and 11 others died on 12/4/1915 while B Company were trying to take an enemy post.

John

I will send you an email regarding the Royal Berkshires

Mick

[Michael]

Neil

I just noticed some mis-identifications on Kent Fallen for the Lower Halstow war memorial. I will email you with the details

Mick

[Trenchfoot Bob]

Hello Michael,

I am most grateful for your reply. Although it leads me to believe that William Wade is not my relation. There must be a link somewhere because my grandfather Edwin Wade always used to say "Steady the Buffs"

Once again many thanks for your time, and please accept my admiration for your work on this list.

Regards

Bob

[Michael]

Once again many thanks for your time, and please accept my admiration for your work on this list.

It's a pleasure Bob.

[Andrew P]

Hi Michael

Below is the information on the 17 men of the Buffs who were called up as Imperial Reservists in Australia in August 1914. You gave me some of this info on the Imperial Reservists thread but I have added some more info since that time so hope it's of use.

7808 – R Biggs – 2nd MD – Mobilised in NSW & Reported 11th August 1914 – Next of Kin: Unknown – Embarked from Sydney on “Militades” 17th October 1914 – Later declared medically unfit

7798 – TJ Blake – 2nd MD – Mobilised in NSW & Reported 10th August 1914 – Next of Kin: Wife, BK Blake of Thomasville, Potts St, Ryde NSW (4 children) – Did not embark overseas as appointed Police Constable in Naval Dockyard Sydney – Discharged from Reserved status 23rd February 1915

7055 - Hubert Bowden – 2nd MD – Mobilised in NSW & Reported 11th August 1914 – Next of Kin: Mother, C Bowden of 16 Alvan Rd, Plumstead, Kent England – Embarked from Sydney on the “Militades” 17th October 1914 - Arrived in France 10th February 1915. Served as a Private in the 2nd East Kent Regiment & was taken prisoner during the war and was incarcerated for a time at Langensalza

8785 – D Bugden – 5th MD – Mobilised in WA & Reported 18th August 1914 – Next of Kin: Mr Bugden of Bridgetown WA – Deserted before embarkation

7696 – Thomas Frederick Carter – 5th MD – Mobilised in WA & reported 10th August 1914 – Next of Kin: Mr. WJ Carter of Wormald Wall, Kent, Canterbury England – Embarked from Fremantle WA - Served as a Private in the 1st East Kent Regiment – Was killed on the 30th of March 1916 while serving with B Company of the 6th Battalion of the Buffs. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial Panel 15 to 19. (Son of WJ & Jane Carter of Lower Cooling, Adisham, Canterbury)

7807 – George Edward Chilmaid – 1st MD – Mobilised in Queensland & reported 19th August 1914 – Next of Kin: Wife, Mrs. Chilmaid of Burns Parade, Mt Morgan Queensland – Embarked from Sydney on the “Militades” 17th October 1914 – Served as a Private in the Buffs - Arrived back in Australia 16th October 1919

7922 – Edgar Robert Evans – 1st MD – Mobilised in Queensland and Reported 9th August 1914 – Next of Kin: (father) Mr William Evans of 5 Tower Parade, Whitstable Kent England - Landed in France 10th February 1915. He served with the 2nd Battalion and was killed in action on the 24th May 1915 in Belgium. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial. Edgar was the son of William Evans, of 7, Tower Parade, Tankerton, Whitstable, Kent & husband of the late Maria Evans.

8389 – Henry Thomas Hines – 2nd MD – Mobilised in NSW - Landed in France 7th March 1915. He served with the 2nd Battalion, rose to the rank of Lance-Corporal and was killed in action 3rd May 1915 in Belgium and is commemorated on the Menin Gate. He was 31 years old. Henry was the son of Jabez and Jane Hines & husband of Helen Hines, of 20, Livingstone St., New Beckton, East Ham, London

7969 – W Jarvis – 2nd MD – Mobilised in NSW and arrived in France where he served with the 1st Battalion. In April 1915 transferred to 6th Battalion. He won the Military Medal in 1916. Survived the war and transferred to Army Reserve 25th April 1919.

7176 – Henry John Lewer – 5th MD – Mobilised in WA & Reported 10th August 1914 – Next of Kin: Wife; Mrs. K Lewer of Britannia Rd Leederville WA (1 child) –Embarked from Fremantle WA – Served as a Private & Posted to 2nd Battalion Buffs 25th February 1915 – Taken Prisoner of war 24th April 1915 – Repatriated back to Holland for last 6 months of war and then to Britain 18th November 1918 – Discharged from armed forces 31st March 1920

8352 – W Long – 2nd MD – Mobilised in NSW & reported 18th August 1914 – Next of Kin: Unknown – Embarked from Sydney on the “Militades” 17th October 1914 – No further information (Not on MIC under this number)

7092 – FJ Lusteed – 6th MD – Mobilised in WA & reported 14th August 1914 – Next of Kin: Father, H Lusteed of Voighton, Dunkirk Nth, Faversham, Kent – No further information on service – No embarkation details & not on MIC – Could surname be Lusted?

9350 – Mitchell – 5th MD – Mobilised in WA & reported 15th September 1914 – Next of Kin: Mother, Mrs. Mitchell of Little Newbury, Rodmersham, Sittingbourne, Kent – No embarkation details – Hard to pin down without first name.

6126 – SJ Sageman – 3rd MD – Mobilised in Victoria and Reported 8th August 1914 – Next of Kin: (Wife) P Sageman of 35 Cawkwell St Malvern Victoria (4 children) – Embarked from Melbourne on the “Karroo” 20th October 1914 - Landed in France 7th March 1915 and served as a Private with 1st Battalion. Survived the war and went into Army Reserve 9th May 1919.

7600 – Walter Smith – 3rd MD – Mobilised in Victoria and Reported 12th August 1914 – Next of Kin: Mother, Mrs. Smith of Hayden St, Kentham, Kent England – Embarked from Melbourne on the “Berrima” 22nd December 1914 - Landed in France 12th March 1915. Later transferred to Labour Corps (535500) and survived the war. Assigned to Army Reserve 25th April 1919

7027 – W Spender – 4th MD – Mobilised in South Australia & Discharged Medically Unfit

7109 – George Wilson – 2nd MD – Mobilised in NSW and Reported 13th August 1914 – Next of Kin: Son, H Wilson of 14 Lawson St, Hamilton, Newcastle NSW – Embarked from Sydney on the “Militades” 17th October 1914 - Arrived in France 1st June 1915 and served as a Private with 2nd Battalion. Later served with SWB & discharged 4/4/16.

Cheers

Andrew

[Trenchrat]

Hi Michael,

Wow William John Field was a thirteen year veteran with the Buffs. That was a long time to serve with one regiment, but I guess back then that was a common thing to do. So the DCM was the second highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy for OR's. That's really something. I'm sure William and any family he had must've been so proud when he received it. Thanks again for your help with this matter. When I receive the photo, may I put it up in this thread?

John

PS. What was the second highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy for officer's?

[Nigel Marshall]

Hi Mick,

You helped me out with this chap, so I thought you might like a bit of payback. Thanks for the information you provided in relation to War Diary entries.

Lieutenant William Towers, The Buffs. Fromerley, Serjeant, Leeds Pals.

William Towers was born in Harrogate on 7 June 1894. He was the son of Joseph Francis and Betsy Towers who lived at 96 Station Parade in the town. Joseph and Betsy had two other children, Joseph who was born in 1893, and Kathleen who was two years younger than William. Joseph senior was a Poor Rate Collector and earned enough to employ a children’s nurse and a domestic servant to help out in the day to day running of the household, which also included his sister in law, who was a baker and confectioner. Altogether the household comprised seven permanent residents with two visitors on census night in 1901. By 1916, according to the Kelly’s Directory for Leeds, Joseph Francis Towers was making his living as an Artificial Teeth Maker.

Prior to joining the Leeds Pals Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment, the family had moved to Ash Villa, Victoria Road, Headingley in Leeds. It is likely that this move took place when William Towers was still quite young, as he educated at St Bede’s College in Heaton, Bradford. The school is still in existence today as a specialist science comprehensive school. He later attended Leeds Catholic College. He was, after leaving school, employed as an assistant magistrate’s clerk at Leeds Town Hall.

On his enlistment papers William Towers stated that he had served 4 years in the Leeds Territorial Army unit of the Royal Army Medical Corps and had left when his engagement ended. Joining in 1909, he must have been only 15 on his enlistment as a territorial soldier. Rather than attempt to rejoin his old unit, he chose to join the newly raised Leeds Pals, still known then as the Leeds City Battalion. His Attestation Papers state that he was a bugler.

Will Towers, as he was now known, was soon appointed to be an Acting Lance Corporal, this being done on 28 October 1915, and he was confirmed in the rank, and paid for it, almost 6 months later in May 1916. In the wake of the disaster that was the battalion’s near destruction in front of Serre on the Somme he was promoted Corporal and appointed Lance Sergeant on 25 July 1916. A month later he was appointed Acting Sergeant, and then curiously, promoted sergeant the same day.

Sergeant Towers was wounded for the first time on 9 November 1916; his medical history sheet states that he had contusions to his back and legs. The battalion War Diary for 9 November tells of a fighting patrol around John Copse in front of Serre on the Somme which was caught by an enemy artillery barrage and resulted in ‘about 5 or 6 casualties’. His record is quite detailed in describing the journey back along the evacuation chain. His first call would have been his own regimental aid post and then he was taken back to 94 Field Ambulance. From there he was sent on to 43 Casualty Clearing Station at Warlencourt. His journey ended when he arrived at 11 General Hospital which was based at Camiers. The journey from fighting patrol to general hospital had taken some 14 days. After a period of only another 11 days in hospital he was discharged to 33 Infantry Base Depot at Etaples where he would have been held until a draft was ready to be sent up to the battalion.

Will Towers was one of the original Leeds Pals, and this is reflected in his service number which carried the 15/- prefix denoting the 15th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment, the official Army designation for the Leeds Pals Battalion. He served with the battalion from 14 September 1914 through until 18 July 1917 when he was posted to the depot of the West Yorkshire Regiment at York prior to his being discharged in order to take up his temporary commission as a second lieutenant in the East Kent Regiment, popularly known as ‘The Buffs’. He received his officer training at 16th Officer Cadet Battalion which was based at the North Wales seaside resort of Rhyl in Clwyd. He was finally gazetted as Second Lieutenant William Towers on 26th February 1918.

Will Towers was posted to the 3rd Battalion of the East Kent Regiment which was the regiment’s reserve battalion. Here he would have finished and consolidated his officer training as well as learning the traditions and folklore of his new regiment until he was drafted to an active service battalion. When his turn came he was posted to the 1st Battalion and then attached to the 6th Battalion. On 20th June 1918, while serving with the 6th that he was again wounded. During the previous night, the artillery had carried out what was called a ‘Chinese attack’ on the enemy trenches opposite. A Chinese attack was when the artillery bombarded the enemy positions as if it was a prelude to an infantry attack and then lifted the barrage as would normally happen. No infantry would attack, but after a brief period (to allow the enemy to man their fire step) the barrage would return to the original targets in the hope that it would catch the enemy in the open. 2nd Lt Towers was involved in a patrol sent out to the enemy trenches to recover unit identities and document which would have some use to the intelligence staff. The Germans opposite spotted the patrol and engaged it with machine-gun- and rifle-fire inflicting 13 casualties and leaving Lt Edgar Robinson and two other ranks dead and wounding Will Towers in his right forearm. Enemy artillery retaliation caused the death of a further soldier and so it was that the 6th The Buffs lost Privates John Brown, Walter Dove and Frederick Hewitt killed in Action at Aveluy Wood on that day.

2nd Lt Towers was evacuated through the No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Doullens, and from there to No. 8 General Hospital based at Rouen, and he finally arrived at 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford on 26th June 1918, where he stayed until discharged on 28th August to the 3rd Reserve Battalion at Dover. He was kept at the Dover Garrison for the remainder of his service and was finally released from military service on 1st February 1919.

While living in Scholes, his address was Hardy Terrace.

Cheers,

Nigel

[redland]

Sorry to interject Michael, David have you searched kentfallen?

here - http://www.kentfallen.com/

Your man can be found here -

DEAL area - http://www.kentfallen.com/PDF%20REPORTS/DEAL.pdf

Let me know if you want an uncompressed copy in JPEG. I can also give you a close up of this casualties name because all the photos are quite large in size. Have you searched other Deal memorials for him? I have a few more photos of memorials in that area I can search.

Neil

Hi Niel'

Thanks for the info. and web addresses. I had found Trice on the memorial in the Hospital and also in the church in Deal High Street.

Regards,

David

[redland]

Trenchrat

He was William John Field and he enlisted in The Buffs in February 1906 and was discharged in April 1919. The DCM was the Distinguished Conduct Medal and was one down from a VC for other ranks. I don't know too much about uniforms so cannot comment on the blues that he is wearing.

Bob

Wade joined The Buffs in London on 8/9/1914 and was posted to the 7th Battalion. He went overseas with them on 27/7/1915. He was killed on 1/7/1916. He was born in Westminster and had an address in Beckenham when he died.

David

Trice Joined the Buffs in mid to late August 1914 and was posted to the 6th Battalion. He was killed during their first taste of action at Loos on 13/10/1915. He was born and lived at Deal.

Harris was a Special Reservist who joined in Oct / Nov 1913. He was born in Stafford. He went overseas to join the 2nd Bn on 6/3/1915. He and 11 others died on 12/4/1915 while B Company were trying to take an enemy post.

John

I will send you an email regarding the Royal Berkshires

Mick

Hi Michael,

I hope I am replying to the correct email but new to G.W.F. Thank you very much for the information on Trice and Harris. It all helps to build up a detailed picture of the two soldiers.

Regards,

David

[deano]

Hi Michael,

this from Fulwood Cemy here in Sheffield.

I have CWGC, SDGW, and MIC, was wondering if there was anything else you could add

to Frederick's story?

He was 'B' Coy 6th Bn East Kents, would you have the War Diary for the day he died?

thanks in advance,

Dean.

[Michael]

Dean

Thanks for posting the photo. These are the type of images that I can only get through the kindness of forumites like you. Blacktin joined the Buffs at Sheffield on 2/9/1914. He was a Chauffeur aged 22. Why he chose The Buffs is anybody’s guess.

On the day he was killed, the Battalion were relieving the 11th Middlesex in the craters near Loos. It was noted that snipers were active and that 3 men were killed and 3 wounded during the relief. A proposed attack was postponed until the following evening (when Cotter won his VC) but the enemy were apparently very active with bombs especially against the crater where B Company were situated and they suffered 15 casualties amongst their bombers.

Andrew

Thanks for the info. I shall add this to the database

Nigel

Nice bio on Towers. Thanks

John

Yes get his photo up here please. I'm not a medal expert but I think the DSO is the officer equivalent although I believe it was also awarded without a particular act of gallantry. You'd be better of posting elsewhere for an expert opinion.

[Neil Clark]

Neil

I just noticed some mis-identifications on Kent Fallen for the Lower Halstow war memorial. I will email you with the details

Mick

Mick,

Many thanks. Unlike some odd people out there, we are always happy to hear from anyone who is able to point out mistakes and errors. Obviously in a work of this magnitude mistakes are going to be made from time to time. As you will appreciate, sometimes you need to make an educated guess based upon the facts at hand and circumstances...

If ever you or anyone else wants a JPEG uncompressed copy of anything on kentfallen, just PM me and I shall be delighted to help out.

Best Wishes

Neil

[deano]

Michael, Thank you very much for the extra info on Frederick Blacktin.

Here with two more from Sheffields burial grounds.

I have no info at all on any of these.

regards

Dean.

[deano]

[deano]

I'll try again!

Roberts is in Crookes Cemy and Robinsons family grave is at Burngreave.

Dean.

[Michael]

Dean

Thanks for the photos.

Roberts was born in Brompton near Gillingham and joined The Buffs in Sept 1908 from the Special Reserve aged 18. He was originally in the 1st Battalion but transferred to the 2nd in 1910. He went to France with them on 17/1/1915. He was back at the depot in having received a bullet wound to the buttocks May 1915 and was discharged in February 1916. I've no idea how he qualifies for a CWGC listing.

Robinson started out in the 1/8 Battalion DLI and transferred to the Buffs in approx Sept 1916. He served with the 6th Buffs and was killed inaction with them on 8/9/1918 (note the different date on the stone) near Guyencourt during an attack on the Hindenburg Line

Mick

[deano]

Hi Mick,

your welcome to the pics, and thank you for the excellent info.

regards

Dean.

[Piltdown_Man]

Hi Michael

My Great Uncle was in The Buffs but was killed in 28 Sep 1918, I have already gathered some information about where he was when he was killed and which memorial he is commemorated on but have very little information, apart from a photograph of him in uniform

He was Pvt Ernest Goodchild, in the 1st Buffs born Wandsworth 1899 and killed in Fayet

Keith

[Michael]

Keith

I would estimate that Goodchild joined The Buffs in February 1917 having been conscripted. He originally served with the 8th Bn and then transferred to the 1st Bn. On 28/9/1918 patrols of the 1st Bn entered Fayet and found it clear of enemy. Patrols went forward but failed to get in touch with the enemy. Communication was established with patrols of other units on either flank. Three other ranks were killed on the day.

Can you post the photograph please.

Mick

[dutchbarge]

Excellent achievement and thanks for the previous help with Charles William Laing! Cheers, Bill