7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment

   7th (Service) Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment was raised at Maidstone on the 5th of September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Second New Army and joined 55th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division. after initial training near home, they moved to Colchester in April 1915 and then to Salisbury Plain in May for final training. They proceeded to France on the 27th of July 1915 landing at Le Havre the Division concentrating near Flesselles. In 1916 they were in action on The Somme in The Battle of Albert capturing their objectives near Montauban, The Battle of Bazentin Ridge including the capture of Trones Wood, The Battle of Delville Wood, The Battle of Thiepval Ridge, The Battle of the Ancre Heights playing a part in the capture of the Schwaben Redoubt and Regina Trench and The Battle of the Ancre. In 1917 they took part in the Operations on the Ancre including Miraumont and the capture of Irles, the fought during The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line and in The Third Battle of the Scarpe before moving to Flanders. They were in action in The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, The Battle of Langemarck and The First and Second Battle of Passchendaele. In February 1918 they transferred to 53rd Brigade still with 18th (Eastern) Division. They saw action during The Battle of St Quentin, The Battle of the Avre, The actions of Villers-Brettoneux, The Battle of Amiens and The Battle of Albert where the Division captured the Tara and Usna hills near La Boisselle and once again captured Trones Wood. They fought in The Second Battle of Bapaume, The Battle of Epehy, The Battle of the St Quentin Canal, The Battle of the Selle and The Battle of the Sambre. At the Armistice the Division was in XIII Corps Reserve near Le Cateau and demobilisation began on the 10th of December 1918.

25th Mar 1915 Sports

Jul 1915 Training Instruction

Jul 1915 Billets

20th Jul 1915 Preparations

22nd Jul 1915 Orders

23rd Jul 1915 Address

25th Jul 1915 Orders Received

26th Jul 1915 On the Move

27th Jul 1915 On the Move

28th Jul 1915 On the Move

6th of August 1915 Quiet Night

9th of August 1915 Bridges Guarded

10th of August 1915 Relief of French

24th Aug 1915 Reliefs Completed

25th Aug 1915 Losses

30th Aug 1915 Reliefs

26th Sep 1915 Reliefs

6th Oct 1915 Reliefs Complete

16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme

16th Oct 1915 Reliefs

26th Oct 1915 Artillery Active

5th Nov 1915 Relief Complete

15th Nov 1915 Reliefs

23nd Nov 1915 Reliefs

30th Nov 1915 Reliefs

1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets

7th Dec 1915 Reliefs

11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment

10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens

9th February 1916 Call Ups

28th May 1916 Brigade Sports  Brigade sports held.

BRIGADE SPORTS

HELD IN THE FIELD

MAY 28. 1916.

Event

1^st Place

2nd

3rd

Time

1.

1 Mile race

Pte. Parkins

M.G.C.

Pte. Wood.

R.W.K.

L/c. Edwards

E.S.

5.46 3/5

2.

½ Mile

L/c. Wickington.

BUFFS

L/c. Edwards.

E. SURREY.

Pte. Wood.

BUFFS.

2.36 4/5

3.

¼ Mile

L/c. Edwards

E Surrey.

L/c. Wickington.

Buffs

Sgt Whipps.

Buffs.

1.8 3/5

4.

220 Yards

Pte. Thacker.

Buffs

L/c Edwards

E. S.

Pte Jackson.

Buffs.

31 1/5

5.

100 Yards.

Sgt. Guest

M.G.C.

Pte. Thacker

BUFFS

Pte. Smith

BUFFS

.13

6.

50 Yards Sack.

Tothergill.

M.G.C.

Pte. Russell

R.A.M.C.

L/C. Gunner

QUEENS.

7.

Three legged

L/C. Browne. F/

L/C. Browne. G

BUFFS

Pts. Southwell/

“ Harris.

BUFFS

Sgt Killick/

“ Halliday.

BUFFS.

8.

Obstacle.

Cpl. Stubbins.

T.M.B.

Pte. Moore.

Buffs

Pte. Barton.

Buffs.

10.

High Jump.

L/c. Stewart.

Buffs

Cpl. Turner.

R.W.K.

Pte. Jarman.

Queens.

4’11”

11.

Band Race

Pte Wood.

Queens.

Pte. Mills.

Queens

Cpl. Bonner

Queens.

12.

Wheel barrow

Pte. Gilbert/

“ Seymour

Queens

Pte. Lewis/

“ Curtis

R.W.K.

13.

Jockey Race.

Pte Ashford/

“ Dalton.

E. Surrey

Cpl. Thomson/

Pte. Preed.

M.G.C.

14.

Sack fight

BUFFS

SURREYS

15.

Hurdles

L/c. Stewart.

Buffs

Pte. Smith

E.S.

Cpl. Turner

R.W.K.

16.

Pillow Fight

Pte. Hanton

A.S.C.

Pte. Dennington

E.S.

Pte. Marney

BUFFS.

17.

Drilling 25 men

All blindfolded

BUFFS

QUEENS

W. KENTS.

18.

Tug of War.

E. SURREYS.

QUEENS.

W. KENTS.

19.

Officers 220 yd

Handicap

Lieut. Tindal.

R.W.K.

Lieut. Hett.

Buffs.

Capt. Black.

Buffs.

.32

20.

“ 100yds.

Lieut. Tindal.

R.W.K.

Capt. Bowen.

E.S.

Lieut. Hett

Buffs.

.13

-----------------------

----------------------

------------------------

1^st Places

2nd

3rd

Total

BUFFS.

7

5

8

20

QUEENS.

2

3

3

8

SURREYS.

3

6

1

10

W. KENTS.

2

3

4

9

T.M.B.

1

1

A.S.C.

1

1

M.G.C.

3

1

4

R.A.M.C.

1

1

7th Buffs war diary WO95/2049

16th Jun 1916 Relief Complete

20th Jun 1916 Reliefs

26th June 1916 Trench Raid

1st Jul 1916 Attack Made

1st Jul 1916 Shelling

1st July 1916 Attack

1st Jul 1916 In Action

13th Jul 1916 Attack Made

14th Jul 1916 Wood Captured

26th Sep 1916 On the Move

28th Sep 1916 Attack Made

29th Sep 1916 Attack Made

29th of September 1916 Consolidation

3rd Oct 1916 Positions Held

18th Nov 1916 Advance

21st Nov 1916 Reliefs

15th Feb 1917 In Action

3rd May 1917 Attack Repulsed

6th Aug 1917 Reliefs

10th Aug 1917 Advance

12th Oct 1917 Attack Made

1st Feb 1918 Training

2nd Feb 1918 Training

3rd Feb 1918 Reinforcements

4th Feb 1918 Presentation

5th Feb 1918 Sports

6th Feb 1918 Training

7th Feb 1918 Training

8th Feb 1918 On the Move

9th Feb 1918 On the March

10th Feb 1918 Reinforcements

11th Feb 1918 Training

12th Feb 1918 Training

13th Feb 1918 Training

14th Feb 1918 Training

15th Feb 1918 Training

16th Feb 1918 Move

17th Feb 1918 Church Parade

18th Feb 1918 Training

19th Feb 1918 Training

20th Feb 1918 Training

21st Feb 1918 Training

22nd Feb 1918 Training

23rd Feb 1918 Training

24th Feb 1918 Church Parade

25th Feb 1918 On the Move

26th Feb 1918 Reliefs Complete

27th Feb 1918 In the Line

28th Feb 1918 Enemy Active

1st Mar 1918 In the Line

1st Mar 1918 Zones

2nd Mar 1918 Holding the Line

3rd Mar 1918 Holding the Line

4th Mar 1918 Holding the Line

5th Mar 1918 Holding the Line

6th Mar 1918 Relief Compelted

7th Mar 1918 Trench Work

8th Mar 1918 Trench Work

9th Mar 1918 Trench Work

10th Mar 1918 Orders Received

11th Mar 1918 Stores

12th Mar 1918 Reliefs

13th Mar 1918 In Reserve

14th Mar 1918 Working Parties

15th Mar 1918 Working Parties

16th Mar 1918 Working Parties

17th Mar 1918 Working Parties

18th Mar 1918 Working Parties

19th Mar 1918 Enemy Aircraft

19th Mar 1918 Information

20th Mar 1918 Stand to

20th Mar 1918 Warning

21st Mar 1918 Thick Mist

21st Mar 1918 Hard Fighting

21st Mar 1918 Dispositions

21st Mar 1918 Attack Made

21st Mar 1918 Hard Fighting

21st Mar 1918 Critical Situation

21st Mar 1918 Counter Attack

21st Mar 1918 Withdrawal

21st Mar 1918 Gallant Actions

21st Mar 1918 Under Attack

22nd Mar 1918 Enemy Attacks

22nd Mar 1918 Withdrawal

2nd Mar 1918 Withdrawal

22nd Mar 1918 The Fight for The Crozat Canal

22nd Mar 1918 Orders Issued

22nd Mar 1918 Bridges not Blown

23rd Mar 1918 Further Back

23rd Mar 1918 Severe Fighting

23rd Mar 1918 Orders Received

23rd Mar 1918 Attack Made

23rd Mar 1918 Heavy Attacks

23rd Mar 1918 Heavy Attacks

24th Mar 1918 Pushed Back

24th Mar 1918 Heavy Shelling

24th Mar 1918 New Line

25th Mar 1918 Withdrawal

25th Mar 1918 Rearguard Action

26th Mar 1918 On the Move

26th Mar 1918 On the March

27th Mar 1918 On the Move

28th Mar 1918 At Rest

29th Mar 1918 On the Move

30th Mar 1918 Defence

31st Mar 1918 Reinforcements

5th Jun 1918 Reliefs Complete

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Want to know more about 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment?

There are:5368 items tagged 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Those known to have served with
7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Aldous George. (d.16th Jun 1916)
Bailey Charles. Pte. (d.15th October 1917)
Bell John Peter. Pte. (d.19th Sep 1918)
Comer Frederick G. Pte. (d.27th Aug1918)
Cox Herbert Ernest. Pte. (d.8th Aug 1918)
Dean Louis Phillip. Pte. (d.24th August 1916)
Dempster Ephraim. Dvr. (d.23rd Jan 1917)
Houghton Edmund Tyrer. Pte. (d.3rd May 1917)
Jeffs George Arthur. Pte. (d.18th September 1918)
Little MM. Thomas. Pte. (d.28th August 1918)
Livingston Douglas Charles. Pte. (d.3rd May 1917)
Monckton Oswald Thomas. L/Cpl. (d.3rd Jun 1917)
Morton James Heman. Pte. (d.23rd Jun 1918)
Poet James Henry. Pte. (d.15th July 1916)
Poet James Henry. Pte. (d.15th July 1916)
Pulling William. Pte. (d.12th October 1917)
Smith Ernest Arthur. Pte. (d.28th Mar 1918)
Staff Walter William. Sgt. (d.21st March 1918)
Steers Percival William. Cpl.
Vaux Frederic. Pte.
Weeden Arthur Edward. Pte. (d.2nd Jul 1916)
Wickham Frederick James. Cpl. (d.21st July 1917)

All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment from other sources.

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George Aldous 7th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment (d.16th Jun 1916)

George Aldous died on the 16th of June 1916 and is buried in Bray Military Cemetery. We visited his grave 3 days off the 100th anniversary of his death
Katy Arnold

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Cpl. Percival William Steers 7th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment

Percival Steers born 20th March 1894, was my grandfather. He joined up on 14th of September 1914 along with his older brother by 7 years Samuel John (Jack) Steers and, as far as I can ascertain, friends from Hastings, as there is a one number gap between my grandfather's and his brother's service number. Both brothers were accomplished horsemen and originally joined the yeomanry. Both also became instructors at Colchester before, joining the action with the 18th Division, in March 1918.
My grandfather was wounded by a gunshot to the face on 27th of August 1918 at Trones Wood, his brother Jack, died in the influenza epidemic on 26th November 1918 and is commemorated at St. Sever Cemetery Ext. at Le Grand-Quevilly.
Tim Fewster

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Pte. Ernest Arthur Smith 7th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment (d.28th Mar 1918)

Ernest Smith was a Pioneer. He died aged 19 and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in The Somme. He was my grandfather's younger brother.
Simon Smith

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Pte. Frederic Vaux 7th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment

Fred Vaux was captured during the German Spring offensive on 21st of March 1918 at St Quentin. He was held as a POW, with last camp at an Iron Ore Mine outside Luxembourg. He kept a diary during this time which makes interesting reading.
Cy Crane

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Pte. Arthur Edward Weeden 7th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment (d.2nd Jul 1916)

Arthur Weeden was my great, great Uncle. My father was born in 1921 and was named after him, as he had died at the Somme. I have no details on how he died. His name is recorded on the War Memorial in Orpington, but the spelling of his last name is incorrect.
Diane McLaurin

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Pte. Charles Bailey 7th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment (d.15th October 1917)

Charles Bailey was the son of John and Anne Bailey. He was born about 1895 in St Martins, Shropshire. He is commemorated on the St Martins Village War Memorial.
Ruth Walker

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Pte. George Arthur Jeffs 7th Battalion Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment (d.18th September 1918)

From family and local information, George Jeffs was a farm employee at Park Farm Frankley. He was a skilled ploughman and horse handler. When his horses were drafted into Army Service he volunteered, such was his passion for his horses. Apparently he was reunited with his horses after undergoing Army training. George served in the 7th Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment. His letters home said his horses were working well as expected although he also had other horses in his care.
George is remembered in his local family Church of St Leonards. An Oak memorial still hangs in his Old Village School now private dwelling. As we near 100 years George has no known grave. I am trying to secure further information how he died, although we have two service numbers, we are unable to find archive records. Family descendants have photographs of George his parent's brothers and sisters.
Thank you for reading about this very humble young man who gave his life for his country and his horses.

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Pte. James Heman Morton 7th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment (d.23rd Jun 1918)

My father placed a request in the Open Tribune column of a newspaper, The Continental Times, asking for inquiries to be made re his brother, James Morton of the 7th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment. It was published on the Monday 11th November 1918 and he received the answer of his death at the prison hospital in Stendal, 23rd June 1918. I understand he died of starvation and the Red Cross parcels arrived the next day. Now I want to know more about him, sadly now all have passed away.
S A Graham

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Pte. Thomas Little MM. 7th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment (d.28th August 1918)

Thomas Little was awarded the Military Medal in January 1918. He is buried at Dartmoor Cemetery, Somme, France.
Tracy Jensen

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Cpl. Frederick James Wickham 7th Btn. Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment (d.21st July 1917)

Corporal Frederick Wickham is remembered on the War Memorial in the porch of the parish church of St Martin of Tours, Chelsfield in Kent. He was killed in action on 21st July 1917 and is recorded on the Menin Gate memorial at Ypres. He was married to Alice Rosina Tomkins and his parents were the Mary Ann and the late Thomas Wickens. The 1911 census records that he was a farm labourer before he joined up in November 1914 and his attestation papers show that he had served in the army for six and a half years in the territorials.
Philippa Rooke

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Dvr. Ephraim "Ginger" Dempster 7th Battalion Queens Own Royal West Kent (d.23rd Jan 1917)

Ephraim Dempster is buried at Ovillers Military Cemetery.
Barry Ralph

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Pte. Edmund Tyrer Houghton 7th Btn Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment (d.3rd May 1917)

Edmund Houghton was the son of Henry and Lydia Houghton of Broadleys, Denbigh.
Richard Roberts

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Pte. James Henry Poet 7th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment (d.15th July 1916)

James Poet is buried in Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Corbie was a town 20 km from the frontline during the Somme and became a medical centre. The majority of soldiers buried in the extension died of injuries sustained during the Battle of the Somme.

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Pte. Herbert Ernest Cox 7th Btn. Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) (d.8th Aug 1918)

Killed in action on the 8th of August 1918, Herbert Ernest Cox was aged 19 and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial in France. He was the son of Mrs. Elizabeth Mary Cox, of 19 Dane Rd., Ramsgate.
s flynn

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Pte. John Peter Bell 7th Btn. Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) (d.19th Sep 1918)

ohn Peter Bell was born in Dublin in 1899 to Peter Charles Bell & Kate Bell. He enlisted in Woolwich and first joined the Middlesex Regiment, service number 68094, before being drafted into the 7th. btn of The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment. At the age of 19 he lost his life in battle and is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery memorial in France.
Of the 7th. Battalion it was said by General Sir H. Smith-Dorrien: "I am perfectly certain there is no other Battalion that has made such a name for itself as The Royal West Kents. Everyone is talking about you. They say: Give them a job, they will do it; they never leave the trenches!"
s flynn

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Pte. Frederick G Comer 7th Btn. West Kent Regiment (d.27th Aug1918)

The Battalion formed part of the 18th (Eastern) Division which successfully met all of its objectives on the first day of the Somme using the creeping barrage. Private Comer died on 27th August 1918, south of Deville Wood during a phase of the Second Battle of Bapaume.
Andrew Bratley

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Want to know more about 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment?

Those known to have served with
7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Can you help?

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Recomended Reading.

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The Wartime Memories Project - 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment during the Great War -

7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment

Want to know more about 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment?

Those known to have served with7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regimentduring the Great War 1914-1918.

Can you help?

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment during the Great War -

Those known to have served with
7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment
during the Great War 1914-1918.