ADEN PLAQUE THE BUFFS - Kent Fallen

Veteri frondesict honore
Aden Plaque
1st/4th (Territorial Force) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
For several years the above memorial plaque was placed in storage at
Canterbury, Kent, having originally been erected in Christ Church, Tawahi,
Aden, which was built in 1863 as the garrison church for British soldiers
stationed there. Possibly for only a short time, the plaque was in the safe
keeping of The Buffs Gallery at the Beaney Institute, Canterbury. In 2000
the plaque was taken to The National Army Museum, Hospital Road,
Chelsea, London. Probably due to the fact that the memorial plaque has not
spent much of its life on public display after leaving Aden, is the prime
reason for it being in such good condition. Our sincere thanks are due to
Brian Catt for furnishing us with the photograph of the memorial plaque,
and in addition to which providing the above information. Following its
service in India, on Monday 26 July 1915 the 1st/4th (Territorial Force)
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Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) departed for Aden onboard the
4691 ton ship “SS Varsova” of the British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd.,.
which docked at Aden on Wednesday 4 August. The ‘Indian Posting’ of the
Aden Protectorate was in times of peace normally of only one years duration,
mainly due to the heat. Several commentators have made similar comments
along the lines that the English infantry battalion which the 1st/4th
Battalion, (Territorial Force) The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) replaced, had
also suffered badly with heat related illness and deaths. Whilst not wanting
to appear pedantic to anybody viewing the following brief tributes, but the
English infantry battalion referred to was the 1/1st Breconshire Battalion,
(Territorial Force) South Wales Borderers, which doubtless had Englishmen
amongst its number, but could hardly in truth be called an English infantry
battalion. On Saturday 25 September 1915 the 1st/4th (Territorial Force)
Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) was involved in its first major
engagement of the Great war, which was whilst supporting an attack on Al
What, in the desert to the west of Lahej, near Sheikh Othman, Aden. When
viewing the wording and dates etcetera on the Aden memorial plaque shown
above, they would at first glance tend to imply that all members of the
battalion who died whilst serving in Aden, prior to the move by the battalion
back to India in February 1916, are commemorated on it, but alas, as with
virtually all forms of rememberance of victims of wars it might be the case
that there are men missing from it. Although as is the case with many other
similar publications covering the same period, the book by Colonel R.S.H.
Moody C.B., which covers the history of The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
during the Great War is known to contain a number of errors. In the book,
when writing about the events appertaining to the 1st/4th (Territorial Force)
Battalion whilst in Aden 1915-1916, reference is made to the battalion
suffering fourteen deaths due to sunstroke (heatstroke), which if correct
would clearly indicate that several casualties have not been commemorated
on the plaque. In an attempt to ascertain exactly how many members of the
battalion died in Aden between and including August 1915 and February
1916, a number of checks have been made, all of which were to no avail over
and above the soldiers shown above. Of concern regarding the Aden deaths, is
the number of casualties from both the world wars who are known to still not
be officially commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
One possible cause of the non-commemorations being simply clerical and/or
communication errors between the armed services and the then Imperial War
Graves Commission, and the possibility that the figure by Colonel Moody was
in fact correct, and that a number of men from the battalion are not officially
commemorated. Regretably as is the case with virtually all of our work on
this website, the amount of details on each casualty commemorated briefly
below varies considerably, dependant on what information has so far been
obtained on each of the following soldiers.
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Died of Wounds
BRAZIER, WILLIAM THOMAS. Sergeant, T/337.
Died Saturday 25 September 1915. Aged 42.
Born, enlisted and resided Margate, Isle of Thanet, Kent.
Son of Thomas and Mary Brazier.
Husband of Emily Brazier (née Reed) of 16, Cowper Road, Milton Square,
Margate, Isle of Thanet, Kent.
Buried Maala Cemetery, Aden Harbour, Yemen. Special Plot. 1.3.
Commemorated on the Margate, Isle of Thanet, Kent civic war memorial as
shown above. Regrettably, as can be seen on the photograph of the Aden
memorial inscription above, William has been commemorated on it as T. Brazier.
At the time of the 1901 census, the Brazier family resided at 14, Byron Road,
Margate, Isle of Thanet, Kent. Head of the house was 54 year old Margate native
Thomas Brazier, who was employed as a Groom. The then 28 year old William
Brazier, was recorded by the census enumerator as being employed as a
General Labourer. William was already serving as a member of the 1st
(Volunteer Battalion), The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) when the change from the
Volunteers to the Territorial Force was made on 1 April 1908. Due to the change,
on 6 April 1908 William re-enlisted in The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) at Margate,
as a member of the regiments 4th (Territorial Force) Battalion. At the time of
enlisting in the Territorial Force, William stated that he was 35 years old, residing
at 16, Cowper Road, Milton Square, Margate, and that he was employed by a Mr.
Joiney as a Groom. From 1908 onwards, William then continued to re-enlist
annually in the Territorial Force for a term of one year, the last occasion being on
5 April 1913. In 1914 for reasons which are unclear, although he had continued
to serve faithfully in the 4th (Territorial Force) Battalion, William had not signed
the required re-enlistment documents, and although he was mobilized for war
service the day after the start of the Great War, having served continually from
pre Territorial Force days until his death, his widow was not paid a bounty of £15-
00 to which she would have been entitled, had William been asked to ‘officially’
re-enlist in April 1914. Despite the support of a number of officers and
administration staff at Canterbury, Kent, and at the Infantry Records Office at
Hounslow, Middlesex, the War Office “after careful consideration” would not
relent and pay the bounty to Emily Brazier. As if to add insult to injury, it was
noted that amongst the correspondence between the army and Emily, she was
informed by the War Office that had William not have lost his life, he would in fact
have been eligible for his Territorial Force bounty in April 1916. In view of his age
at the time of the change from the Volunteers to the Territorial Force, it is
possible that at the time of his demise William might have served his Queen,
King and Country continually for about twenty years.
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FULLER, LIONEL HENRY. Private, T/2073. “D” Company.
Died Sunday 26 September 1915. Aged 19.
Born, enlisted and resided Margate, Isle of Thanet, Kent.
Second son of Stephen James Fuller and Caroline Amelia Fuller (née Roberts) of
7, Oxford Street, Margate, Isle of Thanet, Kent.
Buried Maala Cemetery, Aden Harbour, Yemen. Special Plot. 1.3.
Commemorated on the Margate, Isle of Thanet, Kent civic war memorial as
shown above.
At the time of the 1901 census, the Fuller family resided at 92, Milton Road,
Margate, Isle of Thanet, Kent. Head of the family was 33 year old Margate native
Stephen James Fuller. Lionel was born at Margate on 19 January 1896, and was
educated at St. John’s Elementary School, Margate. As a civilian he was
employed as a Plummer and was also a Writer. On 13 August 1914, Lionel
enlisted for war service in The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) at Margate, and had
sailed with his battalion in October 1914. On Saturday 25 September 1915, he
was mortally wounded during the fighting at Al What to the west of Lahej, near
Sheikh Othman, Aden, and succumbed to his wounds in hospital the following
day. Following his death, Lionel’s former Company Commander, who was a
fellow native and resident of Margate, Kent, Major (later Lieutenant-Colonel)
Frank M. Dunstan T.D. (1872-1945), wrote the following letter of condolence to
Lionel’s parents:- “It is with the deepest regret that I have to write to you to inform
you that your son died yesterday (26 Sept) from the effects of a shrapnel wound
received in the desert the previous day. We all greatly mourn the loss of his
promising life, as he was a great favourite. After being wounded in the side he
was plucky and very cheerful, and insisted on walking until being picked up by
the ambulance. He was lying next to a Margate chum when he died in hospital,
and his end was quite painless. A Chaplain was present, and said a prayer at his
bedside. It may soften your sorrow to know that he and all the others behaved
magnificently under very trying conditions, the burning sand being up to their
knees and the heat was awful. They covered 200 miles and fought an action,
being on the move from 3.30 a.m. till dark. Three other of our Margate men are
dead, and some are wounded. The battalion has won the highest praise from the
General. You have at least the satisfaction of knowing that your son gave his life
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in the service of his King and Country, that his character throughout his service
was exemplary, and he was popular with his chums, and that his death was that
of a true Englishman. The officers, non-commissioned officers and men of D
Coy, join me in offering to you and yours our heartfelt sympathy.” Captain (later
Major) Alfred C. Grigg of Sidcup, Kent, also wrote the following letter of
condolence to Lionel’s parents:- “He had carried himself with great bravery under
fire, and never for a moment flinched in his duty. He was always helping his
comrades, whose conduct under fire was beyond all praise, and I was indeed
proud to command such a company. Your son, by his cheery presence and
example, has always endeared himself to the officers and men, and we all unite
in offering you and his relatives our most heartfelt sympathy in your great loss. I
hope that the knowledge that your son died fighting for the Empire, and that he
was so loved by all ranks in the battalion, will in some way assuage the great
grief which must be yours to-day.” Although he died the day after a number of his
comrades who were killed in action, Lionel has the unfortunate distinction of
being the first member of any rank in his battalion to be mortally wounded during
the Great War, during the course of which at least 91 other ranks lost their lives.
Mention should be made of the fact that Lionel was predeceased by the men who
had died a Gallipoli serving in the Kent Composite Battalion, and by a few others
who had died in the United Kingdom.
Died of Heat Stroke in Action
DYER, EDWARD GEORGE. (Acting) Company Sergeant Major, T/504.
Died Saturday 25 September 1915. Aged 41.
Son of Abraham Martin Dyer and Hannah Sarah Dyer.
Husband of Elizabeth Maude Gavin (formerly Dyer), (née Thomas) of Dover,
Kent.
Born St. Mary’s, Dover, Kent. Enlisted and resided Dover, Kent.
Buried Assela Cemetery, Lahej, Aden.
Commemorated on the Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial, Cairo, Egypt. Ref: T/504,
and on the Dover, Kent civic war memorial as shown above, also commemorated
on the St. Mary’s parish church war memorial Dover, Kent.
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Edward was a veteran of the South African Campaign (Second Boer War). Prior
to his service in the Great War, Edward was an employee of the General Post
Office. Following Edward’s death whilst serving as a member of “D” Company,
Captain Grigg who had written the letter of condolence to the parents of Lionel
Fuller above, also wrote the following letter of condolence to Edward’s widow: -
“He was acting as Company Sergeant Major and had carried himself and led his
men with great gallantry, and the men responded to the fine example set by him
and their bearing under fire was beyond all praise and I was indeed proud to
command such a company. To me, personally, your husband's death is a great
loss, as I have been in command of the Company to which he was attached ever
since we left England, and I formed the highest opinion of his personal character
and reliability. He had always endeared himself to the officers and men and we
all join in offering you and his family our most heartfelt sympathy in your loss. I
hope that the knowledge that your husband died gallantly on the battlefield
fighting for his Empire and that he was so well loved by all ranks in the Battalion
in which he had served so long, will in some way assuage the great grief that
must be yours today." In addition to the letter from Captain Grigg, Edward’s
former Company Commander, Major Frank M. Dunstan T.D. who had also
written the letter of condolence to Lionel Fuller’s parents above, wrote the
following to Edward’s widow:- "When he died they had done ten miles with the
sand of the desert up to their knees, and the blazing sun and the enemy's fire to
contend with. In spite of the very trying conditions the men behaved magnificently
and won the highest praise from the General. Sergeant Dyer kept going till he
died. What more could a man do? I hope the knowledge that he gave his life for
his King and Country and that both in the Volunteers and Territorials he had
always maintained the best traditions of the Buffs, that he bore an excellent
character, was popular with all ranks, and that he over and over again proved his
sterling worth, will in a measure help to lighten your great sorrow. We all feel his
loss terribly, especially those who, like myself, have known him for some years.
As the result of the engagement five of the "D" company are dead and two
wounded, still they died as they would have wished, like Englishmen and doing
their duty to the last. All ranks join in offering to you our heartfelt sympathy for
you in the loss which you have sustained and in expressing the earnest wish that
God will sustain you in this hour of trouble and trial." It was noted whilst
researching that Edward, and Albert Steadman below are the only two members
of their regiment who are commemorated on the Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial,
Cairo, Egypt. In November 1918, Edward’s widow married Serjeant, 1319,
William Henry Gavin of the Army Pay Corps, their marriage being registered in
the Havering, London, Registration District during the last quarter of 1918. A
native of Ireland, tragically just six weeks after his marriage to Elizabeth, William
became one of the countless victims of the world-wide Influenza pandemic which
ultimately claimed more lives than the military combatant related deaths of the
Great War, and died on 18 December 1918. William is at rest at St. Mary’s New
Cemetery, Dover, Kent. Grave Ref: E. J. 29.
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BROMLEY, WILLIAM EDWARD. Private, T/2330. “A” Company.
Died Saturday 25 September 1915. Aged 21.
Born, enlisted and resided Canterbury, Kent.
Son of Kate Mary Bromley (née Gimber), and Edward Thomas Bromley of 10,
Nunnery Fields, Canterbury, Kent.
Buried Maala Cemetery, Aden Harbour, Yemen. Special Plot. 2.7.
Probably commemorated on the Canterbury, Kent civic war memorial.
At the time of the 1901 census, the Bromley family resided at the address shown
above. Head of the house was 27 year old Canterbury native, Edward Thomas
Bromley, who was employed as an Engineers Labourer. Whilst researching and
transcribing the (ongoing work) on the casualties who are commemorated on the
Canterbury, Kent civic war memorial, no match was found for a casualty
BROMLEY W.T. and as such it would appear that the above inscription is in
rememberance of William. Over the years of researching the victims of wars,
sometimes people with the Christian name Edward have been shown on war
memorials as Ted, or by the use of the initial ‘T’ which appears to be applicable
in William’s case.
BROWN, GEORGE REGINALD. Private, T/1940.
Died Saturday 25 September 1915. Aged 22.
Born Kensington, Middlesex. Enlisted Margate, Isle of Thanet, Kent. Resided
Clapham Junction, Surrey.
Son of George James and Emily Brown (née Harris) of 1, Ilminster Gardens,
Clapham Junction, London.
Buried Maala Cemetery, Aden Harbour, Yemen. Special Plot. 2.8.
George’s medal card entry records his date of death as having occurred on 29
September 1915.
DE LA MERE, HAROLD or HORACE REGINALD. Private, T/2334.
Died Saturday 25 September 1915. Aged 24.
Born St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands. Enlisted Folkestone, Kent. Resided
Sittingbourne, Kent.
Son of Thomas J. De La Mare and Amelia De La Mare.
Buried Maala Cemetery, Aden Harbour, Yemen. Special Plot. 2.8.
Commemorated on the Hythe, Kent civic war memorial as shown above, and on
the Bapchild, Sittingbourne, Kent civic war memorial.
The States of Jersey prepared a Roll of Honour in memory of those islanders
who died during the Great War, but admitted even at the time that it would be
incomplete. Unfortunately, Horace is numbered amongst the natives and
residents of Jersey who were missed during the compiling of the Roll of Honour.
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At the time of the 1901 census, the De La Mare family resided at 47, Val
Plaisant, St. Helier, Jersey. Head of the house was 42 year old jersey native
Thomas J. De La Mare, who was employed as a Grocers Assistant. There is
conflicting data sources appertaining to the above casualty. On some records
accessed he is recorded with his first Christian name shown as Harold, on others
as Horace, and also with just his initials shown.
STEADMAN, ALBERT. Private, T/2289. “B” Company.
Died Saturday 25 September 1915. Aged 21.
Born South Ashford, Kent. Enlisted Canterbury, Kent. Resided Ashford, Kent.
Son of Frederick Steadman and Hannah Jane Steadman (née Hatton) of 70
Beaver Road, Ashford, Kent.
Buried Assela Cemetery, Lahej, Aden.
Commemorated on the Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial, Cairo, Egypt.
In addition to the above forms of rememberance, Albert is also commemorated at
least three times at Ashford, Kent, they being the Ashford civic war memorial as
shown above, and on Great War memorial panel in the parish church of St.
Mary’s, also on Great War memorial panel in the parish church of Christchurch,
South Ashford.
Albert was born on 9 December 1893. At the time of the 1901 census, the
Steadman family resided at 49, Beaver Road, Ashford, Kent. Head of the house
was 37 year old Postling, Kent native Frederick Steadman, who was employed
by the South Eastern & Chatham Railway Company. Albert was educated at
Newtown School, Ashford. He was a member of the South Ashford Christchurch
Choir. From February 1908 until the commencement of the Great War, Albert
was employed as a Clerk by the Commercial Union Assurance Company at
Ashford. Albert enlisted in the 1st/4th (Territorial Force) Battalion, The Buffs (East
Kent Regiment) in September 1914, and was posted to India to serve with the
battalion. The battalion sailed from Southampton for India on 30 October 1915. In
India the battalion was garrisoned at Mhow in Central India. On 26 July 1915 the
battalion moved from India to Aden, where it arrived on 5 August. A very keen
and gifted swimmer, Albert had represented his regiment in many swimming
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contests whilst stationed in India. The Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial
commemorates more than 600 men of the Commonwealth forces who died in the
defence of Aden during the Great War, who have no known grave.
MASLIN, WILLIAM ROBERT. Private, T/2205.
Died Saturday 25 September 1915.
Born, enlisted and resided Margate, Isle of Thanet, Kent.
Son of Henry and Sarah Maslin of Margate, Isle of Thanet, Kent.
Buried Maala Cemetery, Aden Harbour, Yemen. Special Plot. 2.9.
Regretably, despite all of his obvious Margate credentials, William is numbered
amongst the not insignificant number of the Great War casualties from Margate,
Kent, who are not commemorated on the towns’ immaculate civic war memorial.
At the time of the 1891 census, William was recorded by the enumerator as
being a 4 year old Margate native, and residing with his family at 4, Trinity Hill,
Margate. Head of the house was 42 year old Margate native Henry Maslin, who
was employed as a Licenced Luggage Porter.
Died of Disease at Aden
GRIFFITHS, FREDERICK WILLIAM. Private, T/128. "B" Company,
Died 17 September 1915. Aged 43.
Born Holy Trinity, Bournemouth, Hampshire. Enlisted Canterbury, Kent. Resided
Sturry, Canterbury, Kent.
Son of William and Sarah Griffiths.
Husband of the late Sarah Ann Griffiths (née Pooley).
Buried Maala Cemetery, Yemen, Grave Ref: C. 148.
At the time of the 1901 census, Frederick resided at Canterbury Road, Sturry,
Canterbury, Kent, and recorded by the census enumerator as being the head of
the house, employed as a Stone Mason, and resided with his wife Sarah who
was a Sturry native, and their two children. Regretably, Frederick is numbered
amongst the Sturry casualties who are not commemorated on the well kept
village civic war memorial.
SALTER, CHARLES HENRY. Private, T/1710.
Died 2 October 1915. Aged 18.
Born, enlisted and resided Folkestone, Kent.
Son of the late William Salter, and of Isabel Jane Salter (née Godden) of 33,
Sidney Street, Folkestone, Kent.
Buried Maala Cemetery, Yemen, Grave Ref: C. 151.
Commemorated on the Folkestone, Kent civic war memorial as shown above.
At the time of the 1901 census, Charles was residing at 40, Foord Road,
Folkestone, Kent. Head of the house was 62 year old London native Thomas
Godden, who was employed as a Carpenter, and was Charles’s grandfather. In
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addition to Mrs. Louisa Godden who was Charles’s grandmother, 29 year old
widow Isabel Jane Salter and her four children were residing at the house on the
night of the census, in addition to which were two of Isabel’s siblings. The death
of Charles’s late father appears to have been registered in the Elham, Kent
Registration District during the second quarter of 1898.
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