Horses, Tractors, and Vans/Chapter VII

Joining the colours
Boys Brigade – Enlisting – The Colours – Volunteer Force – The Kensingtons – Princess Louise – Infantry Training - Elgin Avenue - Thompson McKay & Co – City of London Volunteers – Territorials - The Kensington Battalion – Colour Sergeant – London Rife Brigade – Mobilization.

In 1906, at the age of seventeen, my father left the Boy’s Brigade with the rank of Sergeant. He, and other lads - from the Brigade, enrolled in the 4th Middlesex Rife Volunteer Corps at the Drill Hall in Adam and Eve Mews, Iverna Gardens - which is just off High Street, Kensington. Previously, the Corps was know as the West London Rifles, but renamed in 1905, to become The Kensington Rifles. It was then that the Borough adopted the regiment. Three years later, when the Territorial Force was raised, there was an amalgamation to form the 13th Battalion. It was this force that became known as the Kensingtons having their Colours presented by King Edward VII at Windsor, on the 19th June 1909 - which my father attended. Four years after the colours were consecrated, Princess Louise gave her name to the regiment - to now become the 13th Princess Louise Kensington Battalion, The London Regiment.

When my father joined The Kensingtons, in 1906, his knowledge of drill, gained in The Boy’s Brigade, stood him in good stead, for he quickly became a Lance Corporal, in charge of a squad of men. This was the start to a permanent connection with the regiment – he stayed close to its organization for the rest of his life. That promotion, to Lance Corporal, began a series of promotions over the next eight years. By the start of The First World War he was a senior Sergeant in the regiment. The Kensingtons could be described as a ‘pals’ regiment, although not strictly so, being a Territorial unit. The term was not used until much later when National recruiting began to be difficult. The Regiment was made up of men drawn from the local area, mostly from boys clubs, Scouts, Boy’s Brigade and Church Lads, as well as a sprinkling of unattached youths. They knew each other, where they lived, who their friends were, their brothers, cousins and schoolmates. Albert was twenty-five when war was declared. He lived for the regiment - his company, and its men. He did not intend to be made an officer for when asked opted to stay with his men - those he grew up with. By the time the Battalion was put on standby – to take part in the British Expeditionary Force, he had been in the regiment for nearly ten years.

The family again moved house northwards - towards Maida vale, northeastern Paddington – not far from the Regents Canal. The house was 80 Elgin Avenue, Paddington. Before 1886, the road was called Elgin Road. The district was mainly residential, although there were a few new shops - built as outlets, others converted house fronts. One of the main contractors was William Henry Pearce. He built a hundred houses in the neighbourhood, in the 1890s. Some of the flats built were in the direct control of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners who acquired long leases from the lessees. The southern part begins at Little Venice – white stuccoed dwellings spaciously laid out – like most of Maida Vale – in the neo-Georgian manner. Sidney was the last natural child Martha had; he was born in 1900, dying seventeen years later in France – unburied on the battlefield. It was not long before the Kearey family moved yet again, to 7 Errington Road, Paddington.

The second week of July was reserved for the Battalion’s summer camp. The billets were almost empty, no carpets or curtains, just the regulation iron bedsteads. The majority of men were in bell tents set in a square. Physical training started every day, followed by: musketry training - firing in the butts, lectures on trench building, and the importance of patrols. Route marches and map reading, patrolling and elementary first aid, followed by square bashing - all essentials for the fortnights camp.All these Infantry Training exercises were practiced until all the orders became second nature. Bayonet training had to be done with the maximum vigour, to achieve a lifelike effect, how to parry and lunge, plus all the skills of hand to hand fighting. Each Company Sergeant taking their Company off to practice on their own - to give the Sergeants responsibility and leadership skills. All the commands, whether arms drill or marching, were done by numbers, and most forced and route marches included full pack: rolled greatcoat, full water bottle, bayonet, box respirators, and entrenching tool - fitted behind the pack.

It was in rifle practice that Albert excelled. He was already a champion shot – a marksman - shooting for the regimental rifle team at Bisley. He was an expert with a marksman crossed rifles badge on his sleeve. Most weekends saw him on the rifle range of Bisley or Purbright, with his fellow team members. Now it was up to him to teach the new recruits. From the 27th July, Britain began to respond to the gathering crisis in Germany. Two days later, all regular soldiers were recalled from leave. By chance, the Territorial Force had just been assembling for summer camps they were ideally prepared - able to mobilize quickly. It was now time for them to show their skills.