This crossing of the frontier was made an impressive function by the Buffs. Colours were uncased, as afterwards they always were on entering a town, drums were beating, bayonets fixed and the men were beautifully groomed and turned out—equipment polished, the harness and saddlery of the mounted men shining, pomp and circumstance of glorious war once more in evidence. Once across the frontier, the roads were excellent and delay only caused by the necessity of closing up now and again, as there was only one road to each division.
It seems a pity that Christmas Day could not be adequately kept by the Buffs in 1918, but the wherewithal, in the way of extra provisions and so on, failed to arrive from England in time. However, perhaps the general joy and triumph which reigned in every heart, even if the extraordinary reserve of Englishmen failed to show or advertise the same, compensated for the lack of extra cheer. It was a notable Christmas, in any case, and could be nothing else. On the 30th December the battalion was quartered in the little village of Vettweiss, strength 43 officers, 786 other ranks, and demobilization soon commenced. During the march into Germany notification of the following honours was received: M.C. for Captains Barber, M.B.E., Johnston and Stainforth; Lieuts. Milles and Piper; 2nd Lieuts. Chater and Hendin, and a bar to the same for Captain G. F. Hamilton; the D.C.M. for C.S.M. Poole, Sgt. France, M.M., L.-Sgt. Souster and L.-Corpl. J. Smith, M.M. (since killed in action); and the M.M. to L.-Sgt. Waby.
CHAPTER XVI
CONCLUSION
Except in certain remote places and in India, war ended on the 11th November, 1918, and, though the said remote spots still found work for a small number of our English warriors, the demobilization of the great majority was immediately put in hand. Of course, the old standing battalions of the Buffs were to remain in being, but most of the individuals forming them were entitled to discharge, while in the cases of the 6th, 7th and 10th Battalions, those units which had sprung into being at the call of duty and patriotism, had done their work and were now to disappear altogether from the Army List, as the 8th had already done.
Those men most required in England to carry on her civil business and trade went back to their accustomed life almost at once, and resumed old occupations much as if nothing had happened; but the men have been through experiences undreamt of by even the old regular soldier and which can never be effaced from memory. The men not belonging to what were called key industries had to remain with their war battalions for some months, for the returning to civil life of a vast army is by no means a light or easy matter to arrange. In the case of the 6th Battalion demobilization may be said to have commenced more or less seriously in January, 1919. On the 4th February the King’s Colour was presented to the battalion, the ceremony being performed by no less a personage than H.R.H. The Prince of Wales. In March a move was made from Auberchicourt to Bruille, owing to the return of the civil population to the former place. The sending home of batches of men continued pretty steadily all the time and, at the beginning of May, the battalion consisted of Captain Page, M.C., in command; Captain Turk, M.C., adjutant; Captain Linwood, quartermaster; Lieut. Hickmott in charge of the Colours, and thirty-two rank and file. This party returned in June to Sandling Camp, handed their Colours to the Dean of Canterbury at a parade which will be referred to later, and was finally disbanded at the Crystal Palace. The 6th had always been a fighting unit, and its total casualties numbered 4,864, of which 56 officers and 702 men had actually been killed in action.
The first stages of demobilization in the case of the 7th Buffs were carried out at Montigny. Somewhat slow at the start, the work took a turn for the better in January, 1919, and large bodies began to leave for their dispersal stations. The cadre strength, as laid down in Army Orders, was reached in April, and all similar parties of the 18th Division were billeted in Ligny en Cambresis. In early July orders were received for the sending home and dispersal of the slender relics of the 7th Queen’s, 7th Buffs and 8th East Surrey; but there was a good deal of delay at the railhead at Caudry, at Dunkerque, where equipment was handed in to the Ordnance, and at Boulogne; but, on the last day of July, Folkestone was reached and the Colour party went on to Canterbury, where it was billeted till arrangements were made with the Dean and Chapter to deposit its charge in the great cathedral.
The following extract from the Kentish Express of the 9th August, 1919, describes the last act of the famous fighting 7th Battalion, which throughout its career had added so much to the reputation of the Buffs: “The King’s Colour of the 7th Battalion the Buffs was deposited at Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday morning for safe custody by two officers and three other ranks, representing the cadre of the battalion. Major Peake was in command and Lieut. C. H. Rowe bore the Colours, while a detachment from the Buffs’ depot, under Major J. Crookenden, D.S.O. (commanding the depot), formed a guard of honour. The band of the 1st Battalion, under Mr. Elvin, took up its position on the nave steps, as did the Cathedral choir, while Dean Wace was accompanied by Dr. Bickersteth and Canon Gardiner.
“Major Peake asked the Dean to receive the Colours into safe custody. Dean Wace, in accepting them, said he did so with pleasure on behalf of the Dean and Chapter, and they would be placed in the Warriors’ Chapel, the chapel of the regiment.”
Lt.-Colonel Charles Ponsonby in his book, West Kent (Q.O.) Yeomanry and 10th (Yeomanry) Battalion the Buffs, describes the last days of his unit, and with his permission the following few extracts from his work are reproduced in this place:—