L/6674 Pte William Banbury 1st Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
Arrived overseas: 7 September 1914. Connection: 1914 Star. William Banbury's first introduction to the British Army was in April 1901 when he joined the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the Royal West Kdnt Regiment. He was 17 years and nine months old, a wood chopper by trade, and living at 30 The Stowage, Deptford. Deptford born and bred, William stood five feet two inches tall, had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He drilled for 49 days and then, deciding that he wanted to make a career of soldiering, enlisted with the Buffs (East Kent Regiment) on the 19th August 1901. Papers for his service with the Buffs survive in WO 364. William's trade this time was recorded as "timber porter". He initially served with a provisional battalion before being posted to the 2nd Battalion in October 1902. In August 1904 he was transferred to the Army Reserve and remained on the reserve until August 1913 when he re-engaged as a Section D Reservist for a further four years. The...