The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Pte J Dabin

Private John DABIN, 8744, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

Born 3rd July 1896, Deptford, Kent, enlisted 18th April 1913, New Cross, Kent, apparent age 17, height 5ft 2 inches, weight 108lbs, resided 10 Knott Road, Deptford, London, E. Formerly rag sorter.

Son of Annie & Reuben Dabin, 77 Knott Road, Deptford.

Home, 16th April 1913 to 12th March 1915; BEF, 13th March to 15th July 1915; Home, 16th July 1915 to 28th February 1916; BEF, 1st March 1916 to 11th October 1916; Home, 12th October 1916 to 30th August 1918.

18th April 1913, enlisted & posted 3rd Battalion, Special Reserve, Royal West Kent Regiment; 15th May 1913, Maidstone, overstaying his pass, 7 days confined to Barracks; 4th June 1913, Maidstone, improperly dressed at 8.50pm, 5 days confined to Barracks; 16th June 1913, Maidstone, making an improper remark to an NCO, 7 days confined to Barracks; 3rd July 1913, not doubling when ordered to do so, 5 days confined to Barracks; 9th July to 12th July 1913, Maidstone Hospital, sore throat; 8th August 1914, mobilized; 28th August 1914, Lodge Hill, absent from 5.30pm until 11.30pm on 31st August, 14 days Field Punishment No.2; 2nd September 1914, Lodge Hill, insubordinate conduct whilst undergoing Field Punishment, deprived of 4 days pay; 12th September 1914, Lodge Hill, absent from 5.00pm until apprehended by Civil Police at New Cross at about 8.30pm on 14th inst, 7 days Field Punishment No.2., forfeits 3 days pay; 10th to 22nd October 1914, absent; 23rd October 1914, tried by District Court Martial, for absenting himself when on Active Service, sentenced to 28 detention, 23rd October 1914 to 19th November 1914; 27th October 1914 to 20th November 1914, awaiting trial; 21st November 1914 tried by District Court Martial for when on Active Service when in confinement escaping , sentenced to 112 days imprisonment, with hard labour, varied subsequently to 112 days detention; 8th March 1915, awarded 14 days Field Punishment No.2. by Commanding Officer for absence; 13th March 1915, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 21st May 1915, awarded 14 days Field Punishment No.2. by Commanding Officer; 15th July to 11th August 1915, Edmonton Hospital, deaf and dumb, hysterical deafness & dumbness, nothing could be seen in ears and throat, treated by electric current and sent to convalescent home; 8th October to 20th October 1915, 4th London General Hospital, Denmark Hill, shell shock; 30th October 1915, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 15th November 1915, deserted, struck off strength; 28th February 1916, rejoined from desertion; 1st March 1916, case dealt with summarily by Commanding Officer for absence, forfeits 105 days pay, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 7th August 1916, posted 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 18th August 1916, In the Field, charge, whilst on Active Service, disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer. Finding guilty, sentence 3 years Penal Servitude, confirmation confirmed and sentence commuted to 2 years, General Officer Commanding, 37 Infantry Brigade. Awaiting Trial 9 days; 31st August 1916, sentence suspended, General Officer Commanding; 12th October 1916, shell concussion slight, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment, from BEF to 4th London General Hospital, Denmark Hill, slight concussion, to 6th November 1916; 16th November 1916, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 16th November 1916, overstaying his sick leave from 9.30pm until 9.30 pm on 21st November 1916, deprived of 12 days pay, forfeits 6 days pay; 16th December 1916, deserted & struck off strength; 9th April 1917 * to 16th April 1917, rejoined from desertion, in civil custody; 17th April 1917, tried and convicted by Civil Power for assault (3 charges), sentenced to 3 weeks, 3 months & one months imprisonment with hard labour, earliest date for release 2nd July 1917; 24th July 1917, sentence suspended on 31st August 1916 brought into force, 1 year, 11 months, 17 days imprisonment with hard labour to complete, to Maidstone Civil Prison; 5th June 1918, sentence suspended, from HM Prison, Maidstone; 12th June 1918, Leysdown, Isle of Sheppey, passed medically unfit for Service by the Battalion Medical Officer and now admitted to Wellmarsh Military Hospital, Sheerness; 19th July 1918 to 21st August 1918, Fort Pitt Military Hospital Chatham; 9th August 1918, Medical Board approved discharge; 22nd August 1918, The King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, SE1, man sent home to Abbots Cottage, Wimbush, Saffron Waldon to await discharge.

* 9th April 1917, Confidential Metropolitan Police Report, Blackheath Road Station, Greenwich, SE10.- I beg to report that on the 9th April 1917 John Dabin, age 18 of no fixed abode was charged at the station with assaulting PC413 Berry by kicking him on the testicles assaulting PC461 Doughty by striking him on the face with his fist, assaulting Driver 278605 Phillipson, 668 Company ASC by kicking him on the testicles & wilfully damaging police uniform. Dabin who at first gave his name as John McCarthy age 17 was subsequently charged with being a deserter from 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, since October last and admitted the offence. On the 17th April 1917, he was sentenced to 3 months hard labour for each assault on the constables and month hard labour for the assault on the soldier, the sentence to run concurrently and to be handed over to military custody at expiration of his sentence. I suggest that his Commanding Officer may communicate with the Governor of Wandsworth Prison as to date of release.

30th August 1918, discharged as "no longer physically fit for War Service" due to sickness. Silver War Badge issued

Pension 27/6 for 4 weeks, then 5/6 to be reviewed in 22 weeks. Debility, epilepsy

6th July 1920 re-enlisted at Blackheath, age 24, height 5ft 5 inches, weight 132lbs. Formerly labourer. 20th Battalion, The London Regiment, The Queens Own, Royal West Kent Regiment, 6733631, Territorial Army; 28th July 1924, discharged as became non effective under para. 193(b) Territorial Army Regulations.

3rd July 1929, re-enlisted at Blackheath, The London Regiment, The Queens Own, Royal West Kent Regiment & agreed to serve outside of UK, residing at 15 Griffin Street, Deptford, SE, formerly carman, age 33, height 5ft 5 inches, weight 128lbs, married. Present for Annual Training, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 & 1934. Discharged 16th May 1935, after attaining the age of 41. Home, 3rd July 1929 to 16th May 1935. Husband of Mrs Catherine Elizabeth Dabin (nee Lewis), married 21st September 1918, Church of the Assumption, Greenwich. Children - Margaret Kathleen Dabin, born, 20th December 1917, Deptford; John Dabin, born 30th September 1919, Deptford; Annie Elizabeth Dabin, born 10th December 1924, Deptford; Charles Dabin, born 19th June 1929, Deptford.

This page was last updated on 02-Apr-2013.