The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Colonel E Vansittart

Colonel Eden VANSITTART, Officer Commanding 8th Royal West Kent Regiment entered the Indian Army in 1876, and served in the Mahsud Waziri Expedition (1881); Hazara (1888) and on the North West Frontier; Samana and Tirah (1897-98). In 1902 he was specially selected to raise and command the 8th Gurka Rifles.

26th September 1915, Loos, severely wounded & taken Prisoner of War, repatriated 13th September 1917.

3rd December 1916, La Tour de Peilz - Narrative of Colonel Eden Vansittart, late Commanding 8th Royal West Kent Regiment.

I was taken prisoner at Hulluch, during the battle of Loos, on the 26th September 1915, and was sent to Switzerland on the 29th May 1916.

Wounds - On the 25th September 1915, slightly wounded in left hand, during night advance on Hulluch. On the 26th September 1915, at about 11.40am roughly at three-quarters of a mile east of Hulluch village, and 35 yards from German wire entanglement , I was hit by a bullet in right side which shattered two ribs, passed through my body close to my spine, and completely paralysed me.

Capture 26th September 1915 - Picked up the same day by two German soldiers at about 6pm. Put into a blanket, carried to German trenches and deposited there. Remember very little, except that at some time during the night I entered a warm building, where I was inoculated three times. British shelling going on.

Douai Lazarette A. September 26th - October 5th 1915 - Remember nothing till the evening of the next day, 27th, when I found myself in bed in German hospital in Douai. Doctor came twice daily, and seemed attentive, German nurse, who spoke English was most kind. Had pleurisy, and remember very little regarding treatment.

Douai St Clothide October 5th - October 23rd 1915 - On 5th October moved by ambulance to French Croix Rouge Hospital, St Clothide. Two good attentive, but overworked French doctors. Many kind French lady nurses, but means very limited as all under German rules.

Journey. October 23rd - 24th 1915 - On 23rd October was sent to Douai Railway Station at 11.00am. Put into a third class compartment with straw mattress on bench, at midday. A wounded French private and a guard of two German private accompanied me. Train did not start until 7pm., when I was give a slice of bread and cheese. Nothing to eat or drink till about 2pm on the 24th when at Aix le Chapelle I was given a bowl of soup. Changed here into a third class compartment but without lying down accommodation.

Crefeld Reserve Hospital, October 24th - November 17th - Reached Crefeld Reserve Hospital at about 6pm. Good room, with two wounded British Officers. Good coal stove. Good sanitary arrangements. Doctor seemed attentive. Food most inferior. Exercise allowed in hospital garden. N.C.O. attached to hospital a most objectionable and impertinent bully. Letters - whilst in occupied territory, viz., Douai, no letters or parcels allowed or received. I ascertained afterwards that all the postcards I wrote whilst in Douai hospitals, only two got home, and after a delay of six weeks or so. In Crefeld Reserve Hospital, letters and parcels received and writing home permitted - two letters and four postcards per month.

Crefeld Lager. November 17th - May 29th 1916 - On the 17th November I was sent to Crefeld Camp at my request. Given a separate room with a stove; good allowance of coal daily, but very bad quality. Food better than in hospital, but not good, and gradually got worse, and when I left at the end of May was quite unfit to eat. Three parades (appels) per day - morning, afternoon and evening. Otherwise free to do as one liked within the camp. During Winter, football fives, polo pit exercise and occasional walks in the country with German escort. During Spring (and I conclude Summer), tennis took place of football. Letters and parcels, though sometimes irregular arrived well. I never had anything missing in my parcels, though I know of many cases where things had been abstracted, but whether in England or Germany I do not know.

Exchange - I cannot recollect what was the exchange for certain, but think when I first cashed a cheque I got 100 mark for 5 pounds. The Commandant was a Major Courth. I believe him to have been of a kindly disposition, and well disposed to the English, and as far as he was allowed, anxious to make one's lot not more irksome than he could help. The Second in Command was a Prussian Rittmeister, (name forgotten), and the same remarks apply to him. On the departure of the Rittmeister owing to ill health he was succeeded by a most offensive individual with very pronounced British feelings.

Mentality - what struck me most in regard to mentality of officers who had been imprisoned a long time was that they seemed to talk only about themselves or their own affairs. In some cases also I noticed a somewhat halting way of talking and repeating themselves. As a body they bore their troubles in a brave and cheerful manner. The majority took to some kind of work, such as gardening, learning languages, carpet manufacturing, typing, etc., etc.

Suggestions - The only suggestions I can make for improvements are more frequent opportunities of outside walks, with longer hours for same, and in the case of Privates and N.C.O.s increased parcels of food stuffs. Less crowded rooms. Quicker postal delivery. A more liberal allowance for writing home.

Awarded Silver War Badge issued to 2 Hamilton Mansions, Hove, Sussex

London Gazette 5th October 1914.

War Office, 5th October, 1914. REGULAR FORCES. INFANTRY.

The under mentioned Officers to command Battalions of the New Army, and those not above the rank of Major to be temporary Lieutenant-Colonels. Dated 1st October, 1914.

Lieutenant-Colonel Eden Vansittart, 8th Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

London Gazette 18th November 1914.

INFANTRY.

The under mentioned Officers to command Battalions of the New Army, and those not above the rank of Major to be temporary Lieutenant-Colonels.

Royal West Kent Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Eden Vansittart, Indian Army, 8th Battalion. Dated 14th September, 1914.

London Gazette 15th June 1916.

War Office, 15th June, 1916.

The following despatch has been received by the Secretary of State for War from General Sir Douglas Haig, G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in France: I

General Headquarters, 30th April, 1916.

Sir, - I have the honour to forward herewith the names of those under my command whom I wish to bring to notice for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field.

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant,. D. HAIG, General, Commander-in-Chief, The British Forces in France.

Vansittart, Col. E. (Indian Army) (prisoner of war).

London Gazette 19th March 1918.

Royal West Kent Regiment - Brevet - Colonel E Vansittart (Indian Army) vacates the command of a Battalion on account of ill health caused by wounds. 8th March 1918.

This page was last updated on 27-Aug-2016.