The Queen’s Own

(Living History Group)

Gazette

Summer 2012

The O.C.’s Column.

We have had a good start to the year which commenced with an unexpected “fast-

ball” call to attend the Heavy Horse Show at Singleton in Sussex where our Tank

Water Cart had its first public outing in draft. Most of us wished we had taken KD

and not SD as it turned out to be the hottest weekend of a so far miserable year!

This was followed by a superb event at Tenterden Station c.1915/16 – not only

every “uniformed” member in attendance, but the excellent company and support

of “Doc” Hobbs and his medics, and our friends from “The Rifles” and the

Machine Gun Corps, which along with our “Civvies” gave the station a really period look – well done

ALL! Special praise should be given to our Orderly Room Sergeant Peter Zieminski for setting this event

up from scratch, and Ciaran Duke for stepping in at short notice to oversee the final arrangements.

At the time of writing we have just returned from a hard five day “tour of the trenches” at the War &

Peace Show at Beltring. We had twice the usual area to “man”, and this year the majority was dug by hand

– a remarkable feat by the Lads (and a couple of Lasses who found their way to the Front!). We were, as

has been in the previous years, a very popular event with the visiting public, but also with the organisers

and judges as Our efforts were rewarded with a “First” for the “Large Static Display”, another trophy for

the ever-increasing stock!

Both Tenterden and Beltring were attended by “Our Colonel”, Crispin Champion and his wife Dawn,

whose support and enthusiasm for all that we do is much appreciated by ALL Ranks.

Now we only have Step Short (5th August), Headcorn (17th & 18th August), Detling (25th to 27th August),

the Regimental Reunion (16th September) and the Regimental Museum (3rd Nov) on our “to-do list” until

the next issue, but I know we will all follow both the motto of our beloved County – “Invicta”

(Unbeaten/Unvanquished - which is proving rather true!), and that of the Old 97th – “Quo fas et Gloria

Ducunt” (where Right and Glory lead)

“The Boss”.

Issue No.8 Summer 2012

“Past, Present & Future”.

Weald & Downland Open Air Museum – Heavy Horse Show - Singleton – 26th-27th May 2012

An extraordinary event for a Great War Living History Group to attend one would initially suspect

given the fact that it was actually a Horse Show! However this was not like other County Horse Dhows because it had a War Horse theme to it, and would probably been better titled Khaki, Wagons and War! We arrived late in the afternoon of the Friday in the case of the Tank Water Cart only it seemed by the grace of God due to some serious lack of power in the towing vehicle, however both I the OC (Chris Jupp) and the Group’s kit eventually arrived at the beautiful Downland Open Air Museum in Singleton Sussex, a splendid place which became more apparent by the clear night sky and the star show that took place above us as the night drew in!

Early next morning, being awoke by the sizzling of bacon and the crackling of fried eggs at the hands of Baldrick the Company Cook! I raised myself from my straw filled palliasse, to find a glorious sunny day and a deep blue sky without cloud! More to my delight was the collective sight of Great War military horse drawn equipment on display which included our own Tank Water Cart, Wagon General Service, Ambulance Veterinary, and an 18 pound Gun and Limber! Together with a small section of mounted Lancers,

By eleven o’clock the whole ensemble was in the arena with each piece of equipment in draught followed by a section of the “Dirty Half Hundred” marching behind, it was to turn out to be the largest gathering of Great War equipment since the Second World War! Naturally a big round of applause was given - I suspect for the horses as much as the Queen’s Own! Photographic opportunities were in abundance and duly taken, using the old houses and cottages as back drops. I am informed that this event will be re-run in 2014 and, if so, I highly recommend a night and day down there to all!

NB.

Good-Bye Dolly” – Kent & East Sussex Railway - Tenterden – 30th June & 1st July 2012

At a preserved steam railway at the heart of the beautiful country town of Tenterden, time was wound back almost one hundred. The whole site was transformed into a huge theatre stage in which the general public and almost fifty Great War Living Historians and others in period costume gave Mums and Dads, Aunties and Uncles and children of all ages, an experience that we hope they will always remember. From the moment the public arrived by car or on foot, they were immediately drawn into a story of how Tenterden Station may have looked and sounded back around 1915 – 1916.

From the Tented Encampment with displays of Physical Training, Bayonet and Gas Mask Drills and soldiers getting their equipment ready to go off to the Western Front, to arriving at the Main Gate to be confronted by an Armed Guard and told that the Station was under military control and being warned that there were rumours of a potential German ‘spy’ in the vicinity and to be alert and inform a member of His Majesty’s Armed Forces should they be suspicious. Once on station property each person was issued a replica period Identification Card copied from an original of the time and told to produce it if asked by any soldier who was on the lookout for the ‘spy’ - all

this added to the feeling of participation and expectation by the public as they started their day out. Once on the platform they could see the Living History being played out in front of them. Soldiers loading kit bags and stores onto the train from a genuine Great War General Service Wagon or a casualty being carried from the train further along and down the platform on a stretcher to be attended to by members of the Royal Army Medical Corps positioned and ready to treat him and explain the line of medical evacuation from the front line, all the way back to Blighty.

The public were invited to listen to a 15 minute talk by Peter Hobbs and Guy Aston from the R.A.M.C. Field Ambulance Society ably supported by nurse, and parked nearby was a 1915 Ford Small Ambulance and team, all of which made for a very realistic and informative display. All the while, a Provo Team were on the lookout for the ‘spy’ rumoured to be at large and operating in or near the Station. Several times over the weekend the cry went up as it was clear that a female in period dress was acting suspiciously and a short chase ensued before she was arrested, much to the enjoyment of those around at the time.

The Kent & East Sussex Railway had engaged a specialist female songstress who performed three times a day in a Marquee erected especially and decorated accordingly. She sang songs from the Great War and led those watching in several sing songs during her performance.

Also in the Marquee was John and Isobel Bellingham, John is a Royal West Kent Veteran and he had a small display showing newspapers from the Great War together with photographs of how the Groups’ 1915 Water Cart had been restored to its present excellent and authentic condition. The restoration team led by Nigel Bristow and consisting of Chris Bingham, Richard Heald and Len Cox had been working over the winter period making and resourcing the parts required to get the Water Cart to the current stage of its restoration. The Water Cart was also on display in the Station area. John Bellingham was on hand to answer any questions the public had on how the work had been carried out. Just inside the station entrance a lovely bay mare that went by the name of Kerry was tethered along with items of Cavalry equipment that invoked thoughts of all the horses that went to war for this country back then and the thousands that never returned.

The public were also invited to come and “Join the Colours” in a hut provided by the Railway but transformed into an Attestation and Recruiting Hall that included a period Photographer’s Booth where new recruits had their pictures taken before going off to the front. Lots of children joined in the fun of playing along with the Recruiting Private who asked the children their name and how old they were, these details were entered onto a replica attestation form - of course the children were always too young so they were asked to go outside, turn around three times and come back in and tell me they were 18 years old! They were also given a replica Army Field Post Card that they could address to themselves; fill in the details on the rear. A stamp was placed on the card and they were invited to pop the card in the “Regimental Post Box” situated by the tented encampment on their way back to their cars, we then emptied the box at the end of the day and put them all in the Royal Mail to be delivered to their homes! This was all taken as great fun by everyone. They also had an opportunity to have their photograph taken in a period uniform tunic with helmet or cap to complete their experience. The cost of just their picture went into our preferred charity, The Forces Children`s Trust. Ciaran Duke was the photographer on hand and assisted by Katrien Clarysse who also acted as interpreter as we had several families from France and Belgium over for a visit. Many families participated in this and came out with a picture printed while they waited a lovely memento of a great day out at the Good Bye Dolly Great War weekend at the Kent & East Sussex Railway.

‘POP-H.’

‘Step-Short’ Project Launch – The Grand Hotel, Folkestone – 13th July 2012

As part of the Step-Short Project’s aim to restore the Road of Remembrance as a fitting tribute to the men and women who took that route to the Western Front, it unveiled its plans for a Memorial Arch at the top of the Road of Remembrance. With a classic design the Arch will provide a focus, not only for remembering the men and women whose journeys took them down the road, but it will be a symbol of Folkestone’s status as a key gateway to the Western Front. The Arch will be much more than a memorial in the traditional sense; it will be a platform for educational and heritage presentations and will be the starting point for what is intended to become an important part of the Project’s World War One centenary commemorations in the UK and abroad.

The launch took place at The Grand Hotel on the 13th July 2012 and was attended by over 150 guests, including the Project’s Patron, Admiral the Lord Boyce, KG, GCB, OBE, DL, Lord Warden and Admiral of the Cinque Ports. Other guests included many civic leaders, schools and supporters including The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment Living History Group with a ‘Show & Tell’ display of artefacts that Tommy would have taken to the Front. The Project’s Chairman, Damian Collins, MP, opened the event and, as well as a fascinating presentation on the Arch, the Project also launched a new feature on its website: the 3D films and features which can be found at the top right hand side of its web site Home page.

To find out more about the Arch, go to the Step-Short Project’s web site link:

http://www.stepshort.co.uk/renovating-the-road-of-remembrance

PZ.

War & Peace Show - Beltring – 18th – 22nd July 2012

The War and Peace Show started for me in January after watching the film War Horse at the Group’s last social outing, not only did I enjoy the film but during it had one of my air brain ideas, which normally you all go along with!

After the film I approached ‘Pop’ Hanmore and as he was our lead on the War and Peace Show and asked him to get the tank from the film to appear at the Show! Well David did just that and after some time and toing and throwing the tank was declared to be on its way. Together with L/Cpl Heald and Private ‘Bingo’ Bingham I attended the pre-Show safety meeting where we were allotted our larger plot to accommodate the tank and our display. Sadly, leading up to the show the weather continued its pattern of being rather wet every day for what seemed for ever, causing many concerns regarding the Show and the safety of digging in what was presumed to be very unstable and boggy ground and all assistance for digging the trench via the free loan of a mechanical digger we normally are given was withdrawn! I arrived on the Tuesday after work and began to dig a two feet wide by eight feet long trench shovel full by shovel full I was ably assisted by the big Irishman himself (our Regimental Photographer). It seemed contagious as the lads realised if they didn’t dig there would be no trench! Soon enough all hands were to the pumps only in this case the pumps were sand-bags and shovels! By night’s end some of the entrenchments were already four feet deep with cover. Upon return the next day (my birthday!) only this time in uniform I began where I had left off and was soon joined by others happy to swap bacon sarnies for blisters on their soft hands, we were lucky to have the assistance of Colour Sergeant Taylor of the Rifles to encourage the men on and putting his back firmly into the work! it gave it a surreal sense of history looking up and seeing men filling sand-bags and digging deeper into the earth beneath our feet which was to become our home for the next week or best part of in any case. At the end of the day all was well and the scene was set – pickets, wire and shell holes all very sternly defended by the inheritors of Corunna and the Redan the “Undefeated” The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment! - “The Regiment that never lost a trench.” Well the days rolled on and the public came by as they always do congratulating the men on their superb display, personally I think digging it this time round gave the lads a deeper understanding of the soldier’s deeds of the Great War period and a sense of camaraderie amongst themselves, their efforts were indeed outstanding and as such were rightly and correctly re-elected as show champions taking our 3rd first place trophy and adding all those to our second last year ! We had our annual visit from our Colonel who provided the troops with a welcomed bottle of rum the daily ration! So from the O.C down to the lowly Transport Driver “Well done my Majors, Well done 50th” 50th&97th of foot second to none” – INVICTA

NB.

Notes from the Orderly Room Clerk’s Diary.

Tenterden provided us with a rare opportunity of having a Group photo taken with as many uniformed members as possible and we almost got a full house! Sean Jones was moving house that week-end and came on the Saturday but regrettably wasn’t able to make the Sunday when the overleaf photograph was taken. We will have to make a real effort to all be available in November for the Armistice event at the Museum when we can try to get a photograph of all our uniformed Members (including our latest recruits!) in front of the Regimental Memorial in Brenchley Gardens at Maidstone.

Rear Rank – Left to Right Private David Hanmore, Private Chris Bingham, Private Ashley Bewsley, Private Aaron Heald, Private Peter Birkett, Private Connor Young, Private Johnny Harris, Private Max Birkett, Private Dave Smyth, L/Corporal Martin Cox, Driver Nigel Bristow. Front Rank Seated – Left to Right Corporal Peter Cosgrove, Sergeant Lee Hanmore, T/Captain Chris Jupp, Sergeant Peter Zieminski, L/Corporal Richard Heald. Tenterden also provided us with an opportunity to raise £80.00 for our chosen charity, The Forces Children’s Trust, a really great effort!

PZ.

Project Aquarius. Cart, Water Tank, Mk V, 1915

Our Tank Water Cart has to take a bit of a back seat of late due to the fact that we are now heavily committed to the event season and with the need to do others things. However having said that we have now got one of the two hand pumps we require for the project and I’m sure as the dust settles down and we can raise some more funds we will be able to get it completed by next year - not withstanding we need to build the brake system from scratch and the filtration system too!

I look forward however in informing all those concerned of its completion, however it should not be taken lightly given

the amount of work that has gone into the Project thus far and what has been achieved from where we originally started from - so let’s get together and raise the remaining funds required to put this one to bed!

NB.

The Real Dogs of War

Although dogs had been a familiar sight around the trenches from the start of the war, either as mascots or

adopted local strays, dogs were first officially used as messenger carriers in 1916. Col Winter RA used two

Airedale Terriers, Wolf and Prince, for communication from the forward operating area at Wytschaete Ridge

(Flanders). All other systems had failed, but the dogs successfully carried the messages over unknown

ground for 2.5 miles back to the Brigade HQ.

After this, the War Dog School was set up in Shoeburyness, Essex by Lt Col EH Richardson, who had

supplied Wolf and Prince. Richardson had been training police dogs since 1898 and had been working with

the Belgium Army on their ambulance dog training programme until 1914, when advancing German

troops pressured his return to England.

Dogs that made the grade at the School were sent to the central kennels established at Etaples by Signals

Section RE, with Major Waley MC in charge, and allocated to a handler (from the Signals Corps) who was

responsible for overseeing the operations of three dogs. The handler and dogs were then based at the

designated Brigade HQ. Carefully selected individuals from the infantry were chosen as secondary

handlers and the dogs taken with them, so that on release the dogs returned to their handlers at the Brigade

Headquarters.

Dogs proved to be highly successful as

message carriers and saved countless lives

over the remainder of the war. A trained dog

was faster than a human runner, presented

less of a target to a sniper and could travel

over any terrain. They were also less prone to

the effects of gas. Field-Marshal Haig, in his

final dispatch on the war, pays tribute to the

work the messenger dogs did in the field.

They were not infallible though, especially if they became attached

to their secondary handlers. Because of this it was not permitted

to feed or pet the dogs while they were at the forward station and

it was a court martial offence to impede or interfere with dogs on

a run.

The supply of dogs originally came from Battersea Dog Home in

London but as demand increased other rescue kennels were used

and appeals were made in the press for people to give their dogs

to the army. The dogs were often much loved family pets and one

lady wrote: "I have given my husband and my sons, and now that

he too is required, I give my dog."

Cpl James Coull with dogs (Left to right: War Dog 103 Nell, a Cross Setter; WD102 Trick, a Collie and WD101

Buller, an Airedale) near Villers-Bretonneux, 1918.

Dick

Dick was a black retriever cross, who was wounded in action, while serving in the Villers Bretonneux

sector. His wounds were dressed and he resumed his duties carrying messages, but in a few days he grew

weaker and began to limp. When further treatment failed to improve his condition, and he was seen to be

suffering, Dick was put to sleep. A post mortem examination revealed a bullet lodged in his chest, and a

shell splinter lying close to his spine. He had carried on to as near the end as he was able to go.

Blue Boy and Mop

"I had two very good dogs and they did very good work. No. 67, a Bedlington, Blue Boy by name, he was a

very reliable dog; he did very good work when the enemy tried to take Mount Kemmel last year. He was

shot at Nieppe Forest bringing a very important message as the 31st Division was held up. The poor dog

was liberated under a barrage of machine-gun fire and was killed on me.

"Poor old Mop, No. 60, did very-good and would run a message, say 4 miles, in 12 minutes.—she was very

reliable." Keeper Matheson 1

Nansen & Paddy

“I left Shoeburyness the first week in

October, 1917, taking with me two

dogs, Paddy and Nansen. I first ran them

at Passchendaele, and was on that

sector until the beginning of March-,

1918. Nansen was killed on the first run,

but Paddy was a splendid dog, and never

made a mistake during the six months I

had him. I consider his best record was

carrying a message from Battalion

Headquarters on Passchendaele down

nearly to Ypres, a distance of five miles

over about three miles of duck-boards.

You can imagine the time saved, when

Paddy did it in 27-30 minutes and the

Battalion runners were doing it in nearly 2 hours.” Keeper Hammond 2

MK.

1 Richardson, Lt. Col. EH (1920) British War Dogs: Their psychology and training. Skeffington & Son Ltd., London

2 Richardson, Lt. Col. EH (1920) British War Dogs: Their psychology and training. Skeffington & Son Ltd., London

“Then & NOW” – Battlefield Revisited

With our now visiting the battlefields of France & Flanders I thought of comparing what the late, and

much lamented, Richard Holmes described as a “strip of murdered nature” running from Switzerland to

the Channel to the same places now.

Last year some of us visited the Somme battlefields, and I was particularly interested in seeing first-hand

Trones Wood, where, against all odds, scattered parties of 7/RWK held on during 13th /14th July 1916 –

and action which resulted in 1 DSO, 1 DCM and 12 MMs to the Battalion. The action became a legend,

not only for the dogged defence, but how “Chinese Whispers” via the press transformed the defence being

for “four to eight” hours in France, to “Forty-eight” hours by the time it was printed in England! The

following photographs (overleaf) are of the wood at various stages of its destruction and recovery.

7th Btn RWK in the Defence of Trones Wood, 13th &14th July 1916

Trones Wood in mid-August 1916 – 3 weeks after being held by 7th Btn RWK – Note the shattered remains of a German

observation point in the tree centre of the photograph

Trones Wood, with the new 18th (Eastern) Division Memorial, c.1937

Trones Wood as it is today – The Wreath being laid by the O.C. in October last year.

The wood is still dense, shell holed, some places impenetrable, and ALL places very eerie.

“The Boss”.

From Our Correspondent at the Front … Articles from period papers recording the exploits of The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment

How the Hill was Taken Reproduced from the Bromley District Times – Friday May 7th 1915 “The West Kents played a prominent part in the assault on Hill 60, and some of those who were in the actual fighting are now in Bromley Hospitals, while there are others who took part in the fighting that followed it, when the trenches lost by the French had to be retaken.

Speaking of the fight for Hill 60, Private Frank Piggott of the 1st Royal West Kents, who is at the Masonic Hall, said: ‘As far as I can remember, A., B., C., and D. Companies did the attack. Things were quiet until about seven o’clock in the evening, when we had orders to come down as mines were to be blown up in front of the German trenches. Every man was ordered to keep still and keep under. At seven o’clock the mines went off, and the vibration was felt in the trenches 150 yards back, the earth swaying. Tons of earth went up into the air, and hundreds of Germans must have been buried. Then we commenced the bombardment, and it went on for about two and a half hours. Ours guns were supposed to

send over about five thousand shells during that time. “C” Company than advanced, and took the German trench just over the hill without a casualty. Most of the Germans surrendered; they were too flabbergasted to do anything else. The Germans started bombarding, the hill at dawn, and we lost a lot of men. We had to remain there all day without relief, the shelling was too severe. I got my wound as I was going up the hill with hand-grenades. I was just about to throw one when a shell burst just over the top of the trench, and that is all about it I can remember.’ Private Piggott added that they had the Scottish Borderers, or the ‘Jocks’ as they are popularly called, with them, and they worked hard throwing up a new trenches soon as the West Kents got over the hill.”

Editor’s Note

Private L/7561 Frank Piggott went to France on the 15th August 1914. After recuperating from his wounds he transferred to the 1st Btn the Border Regiment on the 9th November 1915 and was eventually discharged on the 18th April 1917.

Surrounded West Kents Saved Reproduced from The Daily Graphic – Saturday July 15th 1916 “Trenches Stormed: Villages and Trones Wood Taken – The following telegraphic despatch from British General Headquarters received last night, is dated July 14th, 9.17p.m. :- It is now possible to give further details of the action that began at daybreak this morning. Having driven the enemy back step by step to his second system of defence, the period July 11th to 12th was mainly spent by our troops in bombarding these formidable positions and in other necessary preparations for a further advance. This morning, after an intensive bombardment, the assault was launched at 3.25 a.m. The enemy was driven back from his trenches on the whole front of attack, and many prisoners fell into our hands. Fierce fighting continued all day, as the result of which we have steadily increased our gains, and are now in possession of the enemy’s second positions from Bazentin-le-Petit village to Longueval village (both inclusive) and the whole of Trones Wood.

In Trones Wood we relieved a party of the Royal West Kent Regiment who, separated from our own troops in the recent fighting, and surrounded by the Germans, had gallantly held out in the northern end of the wood for forty-eight hours. Two determined counter-attacks on our new positions were completely crushed by our fire. Later in the day, after a fierce counter-attack, the Germans succeeded in recapturing the village of Bazentin-le-Petit, but were at once driven out again by our infantry, and the whole village is once more in our hands.” Poets’ Corner

BREAK OF DAY IN THE TRENCHES by ISAAC ROSENBERG

{Photograph courtesy of Lee Hanmore}

The darkness crumbles away, It is the same old Druid Time as ever,

Only a live thing leaps my hand, A queer sardonic rat,

As I pull the parapet's poppy To stick behind my ear.

Droll rat, they would shoot you if they knew Your cosmopolitan sympathies,

Now you have touched this English hand You will do the same to a German

Soon, no doubt, if it be your pleasure To cross the sleeping green between.

It seems, odd thing, you grin as you pass Strong eyes, fine limbs, haughty athletes,

Less chanced than you for life, Bonds to the whims of murder,

Sprawled in the bowels of the earth, The torn fields of France.

What do you see in our eyes At the shrieking iron and flame Hurled through still heavens?

What quaver---what heart aghast? Poppies whose roots are in man's veins

Drop, and are ever dropping; But mine in my ear is safe,

Just a little white with the dust.

Cartoon Competition No entries were received for the Spring edition’s cartoon competition so the prize rolls over to this edition– Submit your caption to the Orderly Room before the 1st October 2012 to win. All entries will be judged by the O.C. whose decision is binding!

Dates for the Diary. August 2012 'Step-Short’ Commemorative March, Folkestone – 5th August ‘Combined Ops' Military and Aviation Show, Headcorn Aerodrome, Kent, 11th to 12th August Military Odyssey, Detling – 25th to 27th August September 2012 Regimental Reunion, Ramada Hotel, Hollingbourne – 16th September November 2012 Regimental Museum – Multi Period Event – 3rd November

Regimental Gazette.

New Members. The O.C. and all ranks wish to welcome the following as new Members and Friends of The “Queen’s Own” Royal West Kent Regiment Living History Group who have joined our ranks since the publication of the last edition of the Gazette: Kieran O’Mara (Friend)

Good Conduct Chevrons are awarded as follows:

The following are granted Good Conduct Chevrons from the dates stated:

Pte BIRKETT, P (1 – w.e.f. 6 Apr 12), Pte BIRKETT, M (1 – w.e.f. 6 Apr 12), Pte BEWSEY, A (1 – w.e.f. 14 Jun 12)

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