The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Pte W Speed


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Private William SPEED, 242291, (5843), Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

Born Tiddington, Somerset, enlisted 10th December 1915, Bridgwater, Somerset, age 23, height 5ft, weight 126lbs, resided 11 Angel Crescent, Bridgwater, Somerset / Myers Cottage, Durley, Bridgwater, Somerset / 6 Prices Buildings, St Marys Street, Bridgwater, Somerset. Formerly cowman.

Husband of Edith Speed, (nee Dollins, spinster), married 11th November 1915, Bridgwater, Somerset.

Child - Winnie May Speed, born 30th December 1915, Bridgwater, Somerset.

Home, 10th December 1915 to 11th September 1917; BEF, 12th September 1917 to 10th October 1917; Home, 11th October 1917 to 16th June 1918.

10th December 1915, enlisted; 11th December 1915, to Army Reserve; 30th September 1916, mobilized; 1st October 1916, posted to Reserve Authority; 12th February 1917, rejoined from Army Reserve; 13th February 1917, posted 2/5th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 16th September 1917, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 4th October 1917, wounded, left arm & knee, severe; 11th October 1917, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 11th October 1917 to 22nd December 1917, Edinburgh War Hospital, wounded, gun shot wound, left arm, left knee; 2nd December 1917 to 1st January 1918, furlough; 2nd January 1918, posted 4th Reserve Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 8th March 1918, posted Command Depot, Alnwick; 18th April 1918, posted 4th Reserve Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment.

4th June 1918, Taunton, Medical Board - hit by shrapnel, cannot straighten elbow beyond angle of 110%. Wrist drops, very little grip in fingers. Disablement 40%.

16th June 1918, discharged  as "no longer physically fit for War Service" due to wounds Silver War Badge issued.

9th April 1919, Taunton - extremely irregular shaped scar. Flexion unaffected. Wrist & finger movements good.

3rd February 1920, Taunton - complains of pain & stiffness left arm, pains referred along ulnar nerve, 10% limitation of flexion, 45% limitation of extension of elbow.¾ wasting of left forearm. 30% loss of sensation.

12th July 1920, Taunton - complains of pain & loss of movement left elbow. Numbness of little & ring fingers. Foreign body can be felt close to ulnar.

22nd July 1920 to 20th August 1920, Bath Hospital, piece of shrapnel removed from left arm under local anaesthetic, wounds healed.

13th January 1921, Taunton - age 30, complains of pain & weakness left arm & hand. Slight loss of flexion of elbow, 30% loss of extension. 20% loss of hand grip.

11th January 1922, Taunton - complains of pain & weakness left elbow & fingers. 30% loss of extension of elbow.

22nd January 1923, Special Medical Board, Bristol - complains of numbness of the middle, ring & little fingers, left elbow 20 limitation of flexion, 45 limitation of ????? 1¼ inch wasting of upper arm, no wasting of forearm, left hand no wasting, pension 9/6 a week.


This page was last updated on 22-Mar-2015.

Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason