Alfred Reynolds and the RWK – A Case Study
Original 24th August 2017
Updated 18th April, 2023
Introduction
Does anyone know Alfred Reynolds, a career Soldier, who served in the Great War? As this may come across as a very random question, I will endeavor to add a little perspective. Given that there may be hundreds of Alfred Reynolds who served during that time. Lets talk about one ‘Alfred Reynolds’…
I have no connections with ‘Alfred’ or know anything about him. I do, however, have an enthusiastic interest in the Great War. I love to research the activities of men and units. My first connection, at least to the The Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), (R.W.K), was a tweet from an avid ‘Social’ and ‘WW1’ historian from Kent. (Twitter profile and feed now unknown!).
They provided a wealth of shared stories and photos of that region to which one photograph got my attention. I’m yet to contact this person to add my thoughts so will, for now, not add a link to this blog, (see note at end of blog). However, my fascination for this photograph was enough to get me going and it has since become a favorite. I digested the replies of the Tweet and worked on some of the ideas that came to me.
An everyday ‘Great War’ Photograph
The photograph shows an Officer and three senior Non Commissioned Officers, (N.C.Os.). The group is set in front of a buildings, what appears to be, entrance doors; location currently unknown. The three WO/N.C.Os in the picture, all wear, among other awards, their campaign Medals; the British War and Victory Medal, (also became known, at the time, as Mutt and Jeff; pre-war comic strip characters).
The officer in the middle is the Ensign, (Rank) guardian and protector of the ‘Ensign’ Flag. The Ensign is, historically, a junior Subaltern Rank and usually a Second Lieutenant. However, in this instance. the officer is a Lieutenant; recognisable by the 2 pips on his cuffs.
This ‘Ensign’, the flag in the picture and the one in question, are the ‘Colours’ of that unit. With the colours paraded, it would suggest a recognisable ceremonial duty. This may be the collection or returning of the Colours to the unit’s base depot; after returning from the front, after the War.
Due to the prestige of the occasion this may have dictated the ‘Colours’ entourage. They may be the leading men of the returning cadre, of which many thought to be, long serving or notable members of the unit.
At the time, it was the tradition for Colour Sergeants to protect the Ensigns. The Monarch’s Crown worn above three stripes denotes the rank of the Colour Sergeant. Thus, the man standing on the right of the officer is the Ensigns guard.
I believe the man standing on the left of the officer, is a Regimental Sergeant Major. A Warrant Officer first class appointment! For now, I will call him Alfred.
This man has a great combination of medals. We can see Mutt and Jeff to the left (as he wears them). Note Jeff is bearing the Oak emblem, (a symbol denoting – The person having been, ‘Mentioned in Despatches’). Our man here, wears another campaign medal, the ’14 Star’; note with bar. Finally the Military Cross. So Alfred bears a fine set of medals upon his chest.
Alfred Reynolds and the RWK
The ‘Alfred Reynolds’ I would like to introduce, lived in Hove and at the age of, about, 19 joined the Army. This would have been around the end of October to early November 1898. The Regiment of choice was the Queen’s Own, (Royal West Kent Regiment).
Alfred received the Regimental number 5345 upon enlistment. He was subsequently, posted to the 1st Battalion. This unit, at the time, was a garrison battalion and remained, as such, right through to 1914. The unit went on to serve on the Western Front and in Italy during the War.
Whether Alfred was a career Soldier and having remained with the battalion until 1914 is difficult to confirm. However, we do know and can confirm, he sailed with the 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent’s. Most of the Battalion embarked and sailed from Dublin on the SS Gloucestershire on the 14 August 1914; destination, France! Thus, Alfred was officially a member of the BEF, (apart of Field Marshal Sir John French’s ‘Contemptible little army’ – as described in the German Kaisers ‘Order of the day’), after landing in Le Harve on 15th August 1914.
Alfred, France and French gives a mention
Whatever his service record with the Battalion, we know he must have served them well. For he, on disembarking, is recorded and had, by then, been credited the rank of Company Quarter Masters Sergeant. This rank being the junior of the two Company Colour Sergeants!
The 1st Battalion Royal West Kent’s were mobilised immediately on the 5th August 1914. The day after the declaration of War with Germany! Men were organised and the young and unfit being replaced by men of the 3rd Battalion, from reserve and depot. During this organisation, the Battalion formed part of the 13th Infantry Brigade within the 5th Division.
The 5th Division was one of the original four Divisions to Land in France and be part of the original British Expeditionary Force. Seeing action at Mons and Le Cateau! I think we can safely say, Alfred was an original ‘Old Contemptible’.
Alfred’s War story is limited. However, we do know that he was ‘Mentioned in Despatches’ in a list that followed Sir John French’s Fourth Despatch; dated 20th November 1914. It only recognises the 5th Division and not the brigade or name. Even then, it only mentions the ‘5th’ on two occasions, within this communication.
Alfred gets Cross, but acquires a promotion too.
Alfred also received the Military Cross. A medal presented to him, for the same period of time as ‘M.I.D’. Whether, for the same action, we will probably never know. It is known that, at some point, it had been reported with the Battalion, Alfred had performed with ‘exceptionally good work, especially when his Company was commanded by a very junior officer’.
We can identify that Alfred was serving in ‘B Company’ of the 1st Battalion at that time. Without more detail, we can only assume he served with ‘B Company’ throughout. It all depended on what else was happing in the Battalion, for example deaths, promotions or other reasons for moving men around.
We can only say that Alfred had, at some point between the 11th October and 20th November 1914, epitomised meritorious action. Conducting himself in a way, that those senior around him, thought honourable enough for mention and award.
By this time, he had achieved the appointment to the rank of ‘Company Sergeant Major’. This being the senior of the two company Colour Sergeants.
Alfred Reynolds and the RWK move to Italy
We know that the 1st Battalion RWKs had moved to support the Italian campaign. In fact, the whole 5th Division had upped and moved during December 1917. However, this was short lived as we know that they had returned to France by April 1918.
It was while on service in Italy that we know Alfred had distinguished himself enough to warrant the award of the Meritorious Service Medal. The M.S.M., from 1916 onwards, became available for all ranks, for gallant or meritorious acts. However, these acts did not happen ‘in the face of the enemy’.
These M.S.M records tell us that by this time Alfred had now achieved the appointment to the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. This rank R.S.M holds the Warrant for Officer first class.
The War is over now, but does Alfred stay with the RWK!
Alfred survived the war and had remained with the Battalion throughout. Shortly after, the 1st Battalion moved to Namur, Belgium on the 22nd December 1918. It was here that the ‘Colour party’ rejoined the unit. The party had been despatched to Maidstone to collect the Colours from the Depot. It was a small group of men that included Lieutenant Lewis Barned, Second Lieutenant Marke, C.S.M Hylands and Sergeants Gilbert and Weston.
Without any service records found for Alfred, we cannot be sure, at this stage, how he finished his career. However, we can briefly look at what the Battalion did.
The Battalion moves on
March 1919 saw the Battalion move to Fleurus. It was here that it reduced to Cadre strength. It was on the 17th April 1919 that the Cadre of 6 Officers and 46 men embarked for England. Officer Commanding was Major R. Brown with support from Captains Doe, Lewis Barned and Mattinson, along with Lieutenant Marke and Second Lieutenant Purchase.
This unit contained 9 original ‘old contemptible’ that left Dublin with the Battalion in 1914. This included Sergeants Banfield, Cutter, Haynes and Keane, Corporal Weatherall, Lance Corporals Hannant and Wyatt and Private Simpson. The respected list included Captain Doe.
On the 23rd April, the Cadre landed at Dover and proceeded to Gravesend. It is here, that it stayed while in preparation to departure for service in India. Achieving this by October 1919 when the Battalion got up to strength. It remained in India until 1937.
‘The Queens Own, (Royal West Kent Regiment)’ were honoured with a memorial, for all those men of the Regiment who gave their lives during the Great War, on 30th July 1921 in Brenchley Gardens, Maidstone, Kent with a ceremonial unveiling.
At the close of the service, and placed at the foot of the cenotaph, were wreaths; laid by representation of the Battalions. Two notable delegates were, for the 1st Battalion Colonel Buchan Dunlop and Lieutenant Gould for the Old Comrades’ Association.
N.B., this was first posted on 24th August 2017 and as I read back today I, for some reason, omitted the references; a very simple and avoidable mistake and really shouldn’t happen in any research. To be quite clear and transparent, this is amplified, (and I hope by my error we can all learn) by my computer issues last year, (2022) with my computer system, backup and small start up business going to the wall and with the loss of some documents; including parts of this research.
As a foot note here and on recollection – most of this came from the usual sources, e.g.
Medal index Cards
Medal Rolls
Census
Websites regarding the RWKs
London Gazette
LongLongTrail.co.uk (Chris Baker)
Army Service Numbers blog spot (Paul Nixon)
Unit history and a local history book that I found (digital version online) but no longer have the url. from which this last quote came…
“The War Honours won by past and present members of the Regiment during the Great War…” included four Military Crosses; awarded to Warrant Officers of the Royal West Kent Regiment… A list for the Regiment, not just the 1st Battalion! Quite and ‘reasonably possible’ Alfred Reynolds could be one.