The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Pte T Darville


Home     


Private Thomas DARVILLE, 3706,  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

Born Risborough, Buckinghamshire, enlisted 9th September 1914, Ponders End, age 33, height 5ft 8 inches, resided 54 Burlington Road, Enfield. Formerly miner.

Husband of Annie Darville (nee Hull), Marsh Road, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. Married 7th September 1902, Willesden.

Children - Walter Thomas Darville, born 12th October 1916, Hendon, Willesden; Joseph George Darville, born 16th January 1909, Hendon, Willesden; Charles Henry Darville, born 9th July 1910, Rochford; Irene Gladys Darville; born 15th June 1913, Willesden.


1911 Census - 43 Brighton Avenue, Southend on Sea - Thomas Darvill, head, age 30, married, general labourer, born Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire; Annie Darvill, wife, age 27, married 9 years, 5 children, 3 children still living, 2children who have died, born Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire; Walter Thomas Darvill, son age 4, born Willesden, Middlesex; Joseph George Darvill, son, age 2, born Willesden, Middlesex; Charles Hy Darvill, son, born Southend, Essex; John Bussay, boarder, age 38, single, general labourer, bor, no known; Ernest Whitley, boarder, age 27, married, general labourer, born, not known; James Walters, boarder, age, 32, married, general labourer, born not known.


Home, 9th September 1914 to 29th August 1915; BEF, 30th August 1915 to 24th May 1916; Home, 25th May 1916 to 14th July 1916.

9th September 1914, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 12th September 1914, posted 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 14th September 1914, appointed unpaid Lance Corporal; 8th October 1914, promoted Lance Corporal; 14th March 1915, Worthing, overstaying his pass from 12.00 midnight until 2.00pm 16th inst, deprived of Lance stripe, forfeits 2 days pay; 2nd May 1915, Shoreham, overstaying his pass from 12.00 midnight until 12.00 midnight, 5th inst, 7 days confined to Barracks, deprived 3 days pay, forfeits 3 days pay; 26th June 1915, Blackdown, overstaying his pass from Tattoo until 11.30pm 28th inst, 10 days confined to Barracks, deprived 3 days pay, forfeits 3 days pay; 1st August 1915, Blackdown, overstaying his pass from 11.00pm until 11.00pm 3rd inst, 9 days confined to Barracks, deprived 3 days pay, forfeits 3 days pay; 26th September 1915, missing, Prisoner of War; 25th May 1916, repatriated, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment.


27th May 1916, Prisoner of War interview - John Charles Fox, Examiner

Place & Date of Capture - Hulloch, Loos. 1st October 1915.

Nature of wound if any - Bullet wound in thigh, fractured leg. I was wounded at Hulloch, Loos on 26th September and remained on the field till 1st October 1915. On the 26th September the German Red Cross orderly gave me first aid by placing my leg in a splint (my rifle). They gave me nothing to eat or drink. During two nights I struggled to get back to our lines, having cut the rifle away from my leg, and got about 650 yards or more. I found food amongst the dead but could not eat it till rain fell and I spread a waterproof sheet and got drink. On 1st October 1915, in the early morning, I was picked up by a German and carried away on a waterproof sheet to a village at the back of the firing line, then to Carvin where my wound was dressed.

Douai. October 1st - November 8th 1915 - When we got to the artillery line I was put on a stretcher and carried to Douai Hospital on a motor ambulance. Reached there in the afternoon of the same day. The Germans were very kind to me on the field. At Douai I was attended by French doctors and nurses from 1st to 23rd October. On the 23rd the Germans took over the Hospital. I was well treated by them. While I was at Douai I wrote six postcards - two were received. It was difficult to find out what the regulations were. It was only allowable to write ten lines on a postcard. I received  no letters or cards until December 10th at Ingolstadt. I addressed my postcards to home and one to a lady at Putney.

Journey November 8th to 10th 1915 - On November 8thI was moved from Douai to Ingolstadt by Red Cross train, two days and two nights - very comfortable journey - good food and well looked after by doctors and nurses in the train. Reached Ingolstadt on 10th November.

Ingolstadt November 10th 1915 to May 20th 1916 - I was taken to the Remise172, Reserve Lazerette 1. Stayed there till 20th May 1916. There were 21 British and 1 Indian in Remise 172. There were about 400 in the Remise including Russian and French. Well treated by doctors, nurse and orderlies in the Remise in every way except food and sanitary arrangements. First meal at 7 a.m., ¾ pint of coffee and nothing to eat; next meal 11.30 ¾ pint of very thin soup, made of vegetables and water, and two ounces of meat (horseflesh I think) sometimes pork and fish (very high) uneatable. Next meal at 5 p.m. an ounce or two of sausage, sometimes same quantity of cheese. Two large slices of bread per day in addition. With regard to the sick at night there was no attention. There was difficulty in getting a bed pan if it were wanted. All nationalities were treated alike. No distinction made between British, French and Russians. We slept on wooded beds with straw mattresses with a space between each two beds. The doctors were kind and attentive but there was no massage treatment. I had an operation. Patients able to walk could walk outside the building. Smoking was allowed outside. they took away our tobacco once for smoking inside the building. We had three or four services from Archdeacon Leis (American), of Munich. No work required of us. We had books from the Archdeacon. The French prisoners got up concerts on Thursdays. The English helped. and one occasion two English prisoners were allowed to come from the camp to box. Clothing supplied by Germans, except socks, were deficient. Except for this there was no reason to complain, but there was no soap. No epidemic. Letters and parcels delivered regularly. They were opened by an orderly in presence of the person to whom they were addressed. I only lost two parcels the whole of the time I was at Ingolstadt. Allowed to write a letter first and third Wednesday of every month and a postcard every Sunday. I make no complaint of general treatment or cruelty. No punishments. The American Ambassador's Secretary came twice. He spoke with the prisoners alone. No special preparations made for his visit. The American Secretary left money to pay for our parcels as we had to pay 5 pfennigs for each parcel before receipt. Afterwards the Germans delivered the parcels without payment. All the British prisoners were asked about six weeks after arrived at Ingolstadt whether they would become naturalised Germans, and all refused.

I heard nothing about Sir Roger Casement or the Irish Brigade. No alteration in conditions while I was at Ingolstadt.

Opinion of Examiner - Thomas Darville appeared to me to be exceptionally intelligent and reliable.


14th July 1916, discharged  as "no longer physically fit for War Service" due to wounds. Silver War Badge issued

Pension of 25/- a week for 6 months conditional.


This page was last updated on 19-Jun-2016.

Copyright  © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason