Robert Buss (1895-1917)

Post date: Nov 15, 2015 11:27:52 PM

Robert William Buss came from a family who lived in 1901 at Fuller's Corner (the junction of Dann's Lane with the Tonbridge Road), Wateringbury, but by 1911 the family had left the village and was living in Linton possibly because his father, Robert Markham Buss, was by then a farm bailiff, whereas in Wateringbury he had been an "ordinary farm labourer". His mother, Flora Edith, was from the Wateringbury family of Newman and they had married in 1893 when his father was living in Old Road. Robert William was born in 1895 in Wateringbury (although the 1911 census says 1896). He went to Wateringbury School but the school log has no reference to him (i.e. he won no medals for attendance or prizes for achievement, but was not recorded as punished for bad behaviour). The 1911 census records him as being a farm labourer. He must have known William Butcher, who died on first day of the Somme, also from a farm labourer's family of Fuller's Corner.

In 1915 Robert married Edith Ellen Basset on 27th November in St. Michael's church, East Peckham. When Robert enlisted two weeks later (10th December 1915), aged 20, in Tonbridge, he was living at Hadlow Stairs (on Hadlow side of Tonbridge) with his new wife. He gives his occupation as labourer and states that he is married.He was 5ft. 7 inches tall, weighed 126 lbs. with a 36 inch chest. His overall physical development was said to be fair and he had 6/6 vision in both eyes. He enlisted in the 10th battalion of the Royal West Kent regiment, number G/11777.

The 10th Battalion was one of the last to be formed before the introduction of conscription. By the time Robert enlisted the battalion had moved from their initial Penenden Heath camp followed by billets in Maidstone to Aldershot.

Robert was initially posted to the Army Reserve but mobilised from the Reserve on 22/1/16. He qualified as a 1st class signaller. In March he was admitted to Fort Pitt Hospital, Chatham suffering from influenza and discharged on 25/4/16, just in time as the battalion went to France on 4th May 1916. On 29th March 1917 he forfeited 7 days pay for "being in a verminous condition".

His battalion undertook additional training after their arrival in Europe around Moolenacker, near Strazeele, then it relieved the 9th Battalion in trenches between Armentieres and Ploegstreet in June, their initiation on the front line, a period to August described as "barren of outstanding events" (page 165 The Royal West Kent by Capt C.T. Atkinson) but with high (130 men) casualties nevertheless arising from "considerable minor activity ". 1st July, the first day of the Somme Offensive, the battalion was at Despierre Farm and the day is recorded in the War Dairy ( National Archives reference WO 95/2638/1) of the battalion (Army form C2118) as "very quiet". The battalion was entrained at Bailleul on 23rd August and sent to Longpre (between Abbeville and Amiens) before coming back by train on 6th September to Mericourt (between Lens and Arras); it then marched to Montauban, just north of the River Somme. The Battalion's strength at this time was 42 officers and 859 other ranks.

The 10th battalion was engaged in the Somme offensive from 11th September 1916 on the front line north of Delville Wood, escaping much more lightly than the 11th Battalion, "only" suffering in the week to 18th September 3 officers and 16 other ranks killed; 4 officers and 71 other ranks wounded; 7 other ranks missing. Robert probably saw tanks deployed on the front for the first time. From the 19th to 18th the battalion was at Becordel on a period described by their war diary as "rest ,training and reorganisation." The 10th re-entered the front line from 28th September to 1st October under heavy shelling but pushing forward on night of 29/30th to construct a fresh line of posts 100 yards forward, suffering 50 casualties from 3 days in the line. During September the battalion received 175 reinforcements.

The 10th battalion was again on the front line on 7th October when after a few days rest at Dernacourt it was moved by rail to to Flanders to serve on front S.E. of Ypres, in trenches which were in a poor condition, for winter of and spring of 1916/7. The 10th Battalion apparently established a close liaison direct with artillery covering section (rather than through Battalion HQ) so that German attacks were immediately met with an artillery barrage. Their losses again were light. But they did not play football with the Germans on Christmas Day: their War Diary records the following entry for 25th December 1916:

7 a.m. Stokes Gun¹ fire caused enemy to retaliate on SHELLEY LANE which was damaged.

8 a.m. Stokes Gun fire caused much damage to enemy's trenches. Enemy exploded a Carnouflet, but only caused little damage. No casualties.

10.45 a.m. Our trench mortars and artillery opened fire on the enemy's line along the whole front. Enemy's retaliation damages our front line cook-house and spoilt the dinner.

On 4th May 1917 Robert was accidentally wounded. A statement of evidence was compiled but no Court of Enquiry held.

19172 L/Cpl PHILLPOTT H.W. states:-

On the morning of 4th May , at about 6.30 a.m. I was in charge of No. 9 Sentry post FRONT LINE. I ordered 2 of my sentries to clean their rifles. No. 11415 Pte F. MARTIN was one of these. I saw him remove his magazine and place it on the ground. A minute later I heard a report and Pte Buss was hit. Pte MARTIN opened his bolt and an empty cartridge case was released.

11415 Pte MARTIN F. states :-

At about 6.30 a.m. on the 4th may I was cleaning my rifle. I removed the magazine and not knowing there was a cartridge in the chamber, released the trigger, the bullet hit Pte BUSS in the thigh.

No. 11777 Pte BUSS states:-

At about 7a/c this morning , I was in the FRONT LINE trench with NO.11 Platoon in trench No. 024/025. I walked down to the trench to get my breakfast, and as I did so was shot in my right leg. The shooting was done by Pte MARTIN, who was cleaning his rifle which just went off just as I got to within 3 yards or thereabouts of him. It was quite an accident.

Martin was tried by F.G.C.M.³ on 20/5/17 and sentenced to 42 days F.P. No.1.² The incident gets no mention in the battalion's war diary for the day.

Extract from Kent Messenger of 16 June 1917

[photo as at top]

Pte. R. W. Buss (Tonbridge),

Royal West Kent Regiment, '

WHO HAS DIED FROM WOUNDS.

The late Pte. Buss was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Buss, of Hadlow Stair, Tonbridge, and late of Linton, and a widow and one child are left to mourn their loss. He died from wounds received in France. Mrs. R. W. Buss and Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Buss, would like to thank all kind friends for letters sent and sympathy shewn to them in their sad bereavement. The letters include one from the Chaplain of the casualty clearing station in which, he died and another from one of the Sisters.

The Sister writes ‘‘May 19th 1917. — Dear Mrs. Buss, — Your husband has asked me to write you, and I feel I must do it. Matron has just written I know, but as I am the Sister of the ward where he is, I cannot refuse such an earnest request. I have just finished dressing his wounds, and when. I told him how good and brave he was, he at once commanded me to let you know. He is a splendid fellow indeed, so very patient, and always afraid he is giving too much trouble—just the kind of man one wants to do everything for. He has written short letters to you himself, which I hope you will receive in due time. He talks very hopefully, always of his recovery. He poor fellow, does not realize how serious his case is. His wounds are very serious indeed; and I am more than sorry to say his condition is not improving. I should have liked so much to be able to say that I had hopes of his recovery, but I ’m afraid his chance of recovery is very slight. I hate having to give you such poor hopes but think it only fair that you ought to be prepared tor the worst. I have nursed him since he came in, and he has been oh so good and contented, and suffers very little pain. He is a great favourite in the ward, and I set him as an example for the other men. He sends his love to you and his baby, and says he will try and write again tomorrow."

The Chaplain writes:—"May 21st, 1917.—Dear Mrs. Buss,—It is with much regret that I write to tell you that your husband passed away quite peacefully at 5.45 p.m., yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, and that it was my sad privilege to bury him today in the Military Cemetery close by, in the midst of other comrades, who, like him, have given their lives a sacrifice for their country. He struggled hard to live and every attention was paid him by the doctors, and nurses. I hope this may be some consolation to you in your very great loss, and that God will be your comfort and support in the hour of bereavement.”

The cause of death is recorded as "G. S. Wd. left leg. Fract.femur." [Gun Shot Wound left leg . Fractured femur- note Robert says he was shot in right leg]

His personal possessions sent to his wife included letters, 3 Gospels, purse, razor, cap badge, 2 numerals, Badge, signalling certificate, photos. His knife was not returned. Edith signed for receipt on 24/11/17. She (and her child) was awarded a pension of 18s. 9d. per week from 3/12/17. She later (3/11/21) received and signed for his British war and medals.

Robert is one of nearly 10,000 buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, located 12 Kms west of Ieper town centre, on the Boescheepseweg, a road leading from the N308 connecting Ieper to Poperinge. His grave reference is XII.B.14

Notes:

1. Stokes Gun was a British trench mortar designed in 1915 by Frederick Stokes. It was a smooth-bore metal tube fixed to a base plate to absorb recoil, with a lightweight bipod mount. When the bomb was dropped into the barrel an impact-sensitive primer in the base of the bomb hit the firing pin at the bottom of the barrel and detonated the propellant charge. The Stokes mortar could fire up to 25 bombs a minute (although less on a sustained basis) and when put at a 45 degree angle acheived a range up to 800 yards. Heavy mortars were part of the artillery but light stokes mortars were issued to infantry battalions. ( based on The Western Front Companion by Mark Aden pp. 241-242).

2. F.P No 1. or Field punishment No 1 was severer than F.P No2.(which was the mildest of formal penalties typically involving fatigues and fines) and tied a man using irons or handcuffs to a fixed object for up to two hours a day, but not for more than 3 out of four consecutive days. It was an alternative to detention which because it would remove a soldier from front line might be welcomed.

3. F.G.C.M or Field General Court Martial had three members (exceptionally two) with the president being a major. It was used in forward areas where it was impossible to convene a District Court Martial (D.C.M.) with five members under a full colonel as president.