Buffs (East Kent Regiment)

“Steady, the Buffs” .

Pic
The badge of the Buffs as inscribed on a WW1 war grave. By user nxn0405chl at Wikipedia, with my thanks.

Regimental Depot

Infantry Barracks, Canterbury

The barracks as shown on a 1908 Ordnance Survey map of Canterbury. It lies NE of the city centre. The barracks ceased to be used in the 1930s and the site was demolished in 1967.

Battalions of the Regular Army

1st Battalion
August 1914 : in Fermoy. Part of 16th Brigade, 6th Division.

2nd Battalion
August 1914 : in Madras. Returned to England 23 December 1914. Joined 85th Brigade, 28th Division.

3rd (Reserve) Battalion
August 1914 : in Canterbury Infantry Barracks. A depot/training unit, it remained in UK throughout the war.

Battalions of the Territorial Force

1/4th Battalion
August 1914 : in Canterbury. Part of Kent Brigade, Home Counties Division.
29 October 1914 : to India. The division was broken up on arrival in Bombay. Joined Mhow Brigade in 5th (Mhow) Division.
August 1915: to Aden Brigade.
January 1916: to India and 7th Meerut Divisional Area.
July 1918: to Lahore in 16th (Indian) Division.

2/4th Battalion
Formed at Canterbury in September 1914 as a Second Line battalion. Attached to 2/Kent Brigade, 2/Home Counties Division. November : formation became 202nd Brigade, 67th Division. Remained in England throughout the war.

1/5th (Weald of Kent) Battalion
August 1914 : in Ashford. Part of Kent Brigade, Home Counties Division. 29 October 1914 : to India. The Division was broken up on arrival in Bombay. Joined Jubbulpore Brigade in 5th (Mhow) Division. November 1915 to 35th Brigade in 7th (Meerut) Division in Mesopotamia. Brigade moved to 14th (Indian) Division in May 1916.

The 1/5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment) passing over the Jebel Hamrin, Palestine, December 1917. Imperial War Museum image Q24374
The 1/5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment) passing over the Jebel Hamrin, Palestine, December 1917. Imperial War Museum image Q24374

2/5th (Weald of Kent) Battalion
Formed at Ashford in September 1914 as a Second Line battalion. Attached to 2/Kent Brigade, 2/Home Counties Division. November : formation became 202nd Brigade, 67th Division. Remained in England throughout the war.

3/4th and 3/5th (Weald of Kent) Battalions
Formed at Canterbury and Ashford, July and March 1915, respectively.
April 1916 : became Reserve Bns and 4th then absorbed 5th.

10th (Royal East Kent and West Kent Yeomanry) Battalion
Formed at Sollum in Egypt on 1 February 1917 from two dismounted Yeomanry Regiments.
February 1917 : came under command of 230th Brigade, 74th Division. Moved to France.

Battalions of the New Armies

6th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Canterbury in August 1914 as part of K1.
August 1914 : under command of 37th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division.

7th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Canterbury in September 1914 as part of K2.
September 1914 : under command of 55th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division.

8th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Canterbury in September 1914 as part of K3.
September 1914 : under command of 72nd Brigade, 24th Division.
October 1915 : moved to 17th Brigade, 24th Division.
Disbanded in France in February 1918.

9th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Dover in October 1914 as a Service battalion, part of K4.
November 1914 : under command of 95th Brigade, original 32nd Division.
April 1915 : became a Reserve battalion.
September 1916 : converted into 29th Training Reserve Battalion in 7th Reserve Brigade.

Other Battalions

1st (Home Service) Battalion
Formed in Dover in April 1916. In August 1917 was converted to become 2nd Battalion of the Royal Defence Corps.

Links

Other regiments of infantry

6th Division

12th (Eastern) Division

18th (Eastern) Division

24th Division

28th Division

44th (Home Counties) Division

67th (2nd Home Counties) Division

74th (Yeomanry) Division

14th Indian Division

Aden Brigade

Royal East Kent Yeomanry

West Kent Yeomanry

Training Reserve

Kent fallen website

The Buffs’ regimental collection is now at
National Army Museum
Royal Hospital Road
London
SW3 4HT
Tel: 020 7730 0717
Web: www.national-army-museum.ac.uk