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Pte. George Bance
British Army 10th Battalion Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
from:Borough Green
George Bance enlisted on the 20th November 1915 in Maidstone, Kent, aged 25, his height was 5ft 2 inches and he resided at 14/15 Rock Road, Borough Green, Kent. Formerly working as a labourer. He was the husband of Catherine Margaret Bance, (nee Webb) and they married on the 13th November 1915 in Platt, Kent.
George served with the 10th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment, under command of 123rd Brigade, 41st Division. They served in Britain from 20th November 1915 to 2nd May 1916 then were part of the British Expeditionary Force, 3rd May 1916 to 7th August 1917. The battalion participated in the Battle of Fler-Courcellete (15-22 September 1916) when the 41st Division captured the village of Flers. (41st Division sustained 3000 casualties of the battle’s 29,376 total). They participated in the Battle of Le Transloy Ridges (Somme)(1 October-5 November 1916). At the The Battle of Messines (7-14 June 1917) they served under Under X Corps, which was composed of 41st, 47th, 23rd and 24th Brigades. They then fought in the Battle of Passchendaele / Third Battle of Ypres (31st July-10th November 1917).
On the 31st July 1917 (First day of the Battle of Passchendale) George was wounded during the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, suffering multiple gun shot wounds. He returned to England on the 8th August 1917 and was in hospital until 19th November 1917. From the 5th October to 15th October 1917he was given leave from hospital. George was sent back overseas on 20th November 1917.
The entire 41st Division moved by train to Mantua, Italy. They took up positions on the front line at the river Piave North-West of Treviso. In February they left Italy by train, departing from Campo San Piero, to concentrate near Doullens and Mondicourt. On the 22nd of February 1918, George was again wounded, suffering gun shot wounds, a compound fracture left femur, wounded in the face & forearm. He returned to England on the 6th of June 1918 and on the 23rd December 1918, discharged as "no longer physically fit for War Service" due to wounds and was issued Silver War (Wound) Badge number B70840. He was awarded a pension of 27/6 a week to be reviewed in 26 weeks, for 100% disability, gun shot wound to face, loss of eye, wounded thigh and forearm.
