I. 4th Battalion
Before studying the final phases and great events of 1918 in France and Flanders, and the conclusion of the war in that area, it may be as well to see how matters ended further afield and in other regions where the Buffs were engaged. It may be remembered that the 10th left Palestine in March, when the initial successes of the German offensive rendered it necessary to reinforce the Western Armies with every available man. Therefore the continuation of the history of that battalion is similar, as regards locality, to that of the 1st, 6th and 7th. The 4th remained in India till some time after the end of the struggle. The 5th endured a weary time in Mesopotamia, and the 2nd was in the neighbourhood of Salonica. As far as the 4th Battalion is concerned, with the exception of the tour of work at Aden, already described, it saw no war as a unit, though nearly all its individual members at some time or another were seriously engaged. For instance, when this battalion returned from the Aden campaign and was stationed at Bareilly, it sent, as well as detachments to the north-west frontier of India, about five hundred officers and men to the 5th in Mesopotamia.
In July, 1918, the 4th Battalion proceeded to Multan, in the Punjaub, and was in this place when news of the armistice reached India. Now, the great cessation of hostilities brought the blessings of peace to all the rest of the Buffs, even if it brought no immediate change of surroundings, but this was not the case as regards the garrison of India; all sorts of internal troubles were fomented in the great eastern dependency, particularly in the Punjaub, chiefly because certain ignorant and foolish folk at home are too full of the sense of their own importance to leave the ruling of foreign lands to those of our nation who really know all about it and have made their adopted country their life study. Troublous times there were, and in May, 1919, six months after war was supposed to have ended, martial law having been proclaimed, the Buffs were employed on different important points on the railway line and at Amballa, Lahore and other places. Another Afghan war, too, broke out and about half the battalion was employed upon it, both officers and men being called upon to perform various duties at the front. Headquarters, under Lt.-Colonel Dunstan, who had succeeded Lt.-Colonel Gosling, remained at Lahore during the hot weather of 1919. At last, at the end of October, a year after the European peace, the men were collected, embarked on the S.S. Nevasa and landed at Devonport in November, after five years’ foreign service, which must be a record, or nearly so, for a strictly home service unit.
The good work of this battalion is recorded in the following letter written, just before its departure from India, by the Commander-in-Chief, General Sir C. C. Munro:—
“Officers, Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the 4th Battalion the Buffs, East Kent Regiment. On your departure from India I desire to place on record my high appreciation of your services to the Empire during the period of the Great War.
“Many of you, previous to the outbreak of War, had by joining the Territorial Force already given proof of that patriotism and public spirit for which the Force has rendered itself so conspicuous.
“On the declaration of War, your ranks were filled by eager volunteers animated by the same spirit of self-sacrifice. When called upon to undertake the further obligation of service overseas your response was immediate and unanimous. By so doing you set free a large number of regular units for service in the main theatres of war, at a time when every trained soldier was of the greatest value. Many of you have seen service, and by your conduct and bearing have added to the reputation of the famous regiment whose name you bear.
“Since the termination of active fighting in all the theatres of war you have been subjected to the further stress of waiting for your relief. That you appreciated the difficulties which the authorities have had to face in this respect is clear from the patience with which you have borne this trying period.
“You are returning to your homes in Kent, and I bid you God Speed and a Happy Homecoming.
“As an old Commander of a Territorial Division at home I am proud to have again been associated with you in India.”
The government of India, in a long resolution at Delhi (dated 31.12.19), recorded that:—
“The Governors-General in Council desire to express to all ranks of the 4th Battalion the Buffs, East Kent Regiment, the thanks of the Government of India for their patriotic services, which will long be remembered and will serve as a noble and enduring example of good citizenship to future generations.”