{"id":40,"date":"2025-10-22T19:27:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T19:27:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timm.uk\/?page_id=40"},"modified":"2026-03-06T20:22:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T20:22:13","slug":"bance-george","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/timm.uk\/?page_id=40","title":{"rendered":"BANCE, George"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"40\" class=\"elementor elementor-40\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7bbbbf e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f7bbbbf\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06af1af elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"06af1af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\nG\/11176 Private George BANCE<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a781d65 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a781d65\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">10th Battalion, - The Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b327ec9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b327ec9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1047\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Mounted-Medals-768x1047.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-48\" alt=\"Bance, George - Medals\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Mounted-Medals-768x1047.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Mounted-Medals-220x300.jpg 220w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Mounted-Medals-751x1024.jpg 751w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Mounted-Medals-1127x1536.jpg 1127w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Mounted-Medals.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51b689e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"51b689e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"176\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/medal-rim-768x176.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-47\" alt=\"Bance, George - Medal rim\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/medal-rim-768x176.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/medal-rim-300x69.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/medal-rim.jpg 991w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-321836a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"321836a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>British War Medal and Victory Medal* plus miniatures<\/h4><p>*Replica gap fillers (Original BWM shown named is the disc only.)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d179d4 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4d179d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-669c784 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"669c784\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Photo-in-Uniform.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"George Bance - Photo in Uniform\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"George Bance - Photo in Uniform\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NDYsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90aW1tLnVrXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI1XC8xMFwvR2VvcmdlLUJhbmNlLVBob3RvLWluLVVuaWZvcm0uanBnIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Photo-in-Uniform-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-46\" alt=\"George Bance - Photo in Uniform\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Photo-in-Uniform-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Photo-in-Uniform-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Photo-in-Uniform.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-87c3bd4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"87c3bd4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-990fa5c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"990fa5c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>FAMILY<\/strong><\/p><p>George Bance was born on the 23rd October 1890. He appears on the 1911 census, aged 20, living at Holly cottage, St Mary&#8217;s Platt, near Sevenoaks in Kent. At that time, he was working in the nearby Butterworth&#8217;s paper mill in Basted as a &#8220;sizeman&#8221;. His father, William (50), two of his brothers, William (26) and Harry (16) and his sister Rose (22) also worked at the mill. He was also living with his other siblings; John (17), Ethel (13), Jane (11), Ivy (7), Olive (9) and Tom (4), and his mother Emma (50), who must have had her work cut out looking after the house, for her husband, 10 children plus a lodger!<\/p><p>George&#8217;s brothers Harry and William both also served in the Great War. Harry served in the Machine Gun Corps (service number 126854). Some documents from his service, and a photo of Harry can be found at the bottom of the page. William George Bance served in the Royal Navy. His service document can also be found at the bottom of the page.<\/p><p>It is also possible that their brother John served, although no evidence has yet been found.<\/p><p>Their Father William (also known locally as &#8220;Nobby&#8221; &#8211; pictured below) worked nights at Basted Paper Mill throughout WW1 but during the day he took an empty glass bottle and collected money for the troops. When the bottle had been filled he would break it open in the presence of witnesses and use the money to send parcels out to boys from Platt who were serving at the front. He collected more than \u00a316 in this way and received several appreciative letters from the recipients of his parcels.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06008ac e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"06008ac\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f13ccec elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f13ccec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/William-Nobby-Bance-Georges-father.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"William Nobby Bance - Georges father\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"William Nobby Bance - Georges father\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjksInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90aW1tLnVrXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI1XC8xMFwvV2lsbGlhbS1Ob2JieS1CYW5jZS1HZW9yZ2VzLWZhdGhlci5qcGcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"149\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/William-Nobby-Bance-Georges-father-149x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-69\" alt=\"William Nobby Bance - Georges father\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/William-Nobby-Bance-Georges-father-149x300.jpg 149w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/William-Nobby-Bance-Georges-father.jpg 497w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 149px) 100vw, 149px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">William \"Nobby\" Bance - George's father<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2f8a4d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c2f8a4d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c70ba21 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"c70ba21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0223e73 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0223e73\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-afe9456 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"afe9456\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>ENLISTMENT<\/strong><\/p><p>George married Catherine Margaret Webb on the 13th Novemeber 1915, and just one week later enlisted for the 10th Battallion The Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) on the 20th November 1915, having not long turned 25 years of age. He was living at 14 Rock Road, Borough Green, Kent at that time.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60ebdbe e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"60ebdbe\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-99a8cb0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"99a8cb0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/postcard.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Bance, George - postcard\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Bance, George - postcard\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90aW1tLnVrXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI1XC8xMFwvcG9zdGNhcmQuanBnIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"703\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/postcard.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-67\" alt=\"Bance, George - postcard\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/postcard.jpg 960w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/postcard-300x220.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/postcard-768x562.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2946128 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2946128\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bdd8f4a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bdd8f4a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>After training and preparations at Aldershot, England, George finally embarked to France, landing with the rest of the 10th West Kents (under command of 123rd Brigade, 41st Division) on the 4th May 1916. They concentrated in an area of French-Flanders between Hazebrouck and Bailleul, until moving south to take up front line positions in the Somme area. He found time to send back at least one postcard from France.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e4e081 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6e4e081\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50fc4e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"50fc4e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Royal-West-Kent-Regiment.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Royal West KRoyal West Kent Regiment cap badgeent Regiment\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Royal West Kent Regiment cap badge\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTAzLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvdGltbS51a1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMTBcL1JveWFsLVdlc3QtS2VudC1SZWdpbWVudC5qcGcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Royal-West-Kent-Regiment-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-103\" alt=\"Royal West Kent Regiment cap badge\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Royal-West-Kent-Regiment-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Royal-West-Kent-Regiment.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5277a51 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5277a51\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-372c788 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"372c788\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>The Somme<\/strong><\/p><p>Having missed the initial stages of the Battle of The Somme, due to continuation training in Ploegsteert (Flanders), the 41st Division was about to play a major role in the battle, in mid-September, at a phase known as the Battle of Flers\u2013Courcelette. The 41st Division came under the command of the Forth Army, XV Corps for this operation.<\/p><p>The 10th West Kents spent August on the right flank inadvertently engaged in sporadic fighting near Delville Wood, while making preparations for the forthcoming attack. On the 12th September 1916, the 10th West Kents ventured forward in the North of the wood, past the front lines occupied by the 23rd Middlesex to set-up six strongpoints. Having completed this, they relieved the Middlesex, and held the front lines and the strongpoints, coming under heavy shelling. The were relieved on the 13th, to ready for a full-scale assault which was planned for the 15th September. The aim of the operation was to break throught the German lines along a 3 1\/2 mile front. The 41st Division would attacking the village of Flers, including it&#8217;s subsidary defences. With a view to advancing a further 2,000 yards to capture the village of Gueudecourt. Zero hour was set for 06:20am BST on the 15th September 1916. The final objectives were meant to be reached by noon, allowing enough daylight for full exploitation and consolidation of the positions. Once full defences were setup, two full divisions of cavalry would sweep through. The 10th West Kents were to support the cavalry after the capture of Gueudecourt.<\/p><p>Tanks were used for the first time here, and were used to support the advance of infantry. Despite many problems with navigation and mechanical failure, the tanks were debuted to some success, not least for providing some cover to advancing infantry and an element of panic among the Germans. The 41st division fought with the support of ten tanks. George would have been among the very first men to have seen them in action. The photograph below shows men of the 41st Division with one of their tanks sometime during the Battle of Fler-Courcelette.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b476740 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b476740\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-539583e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"539583e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Troops-with-tank-Flers-Courcelette-1916.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Troops with tank Flers-Courcelette 1916\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Troops with tank Flers-Courcelette 1916\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjgsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90aW1tLnVrXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI1XC8xMFwvVHJvb3BzLXdpdGgtdGFuay1GbGVycy1Db3VyY2VsZXR0ZS0xOTE2LmpwZyJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"568\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Troops-with-tank-Flers-Courcelette-1916.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-68\" alt=\"Troops with tank Flers-Courcelette 1916\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Troops-with-tank-Flers-Courcelette-1916.jpg 800w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Troops-with-tank-Flers-Courcelette-1916-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Troops-with-tank-Flers-Courcelette-1916-768x545.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-661283b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"661283b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6bb923 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f6bb923\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>By 8.20am the the first of the 41st Division&#8217;s tanks rolled into Fler itself, followed shortly after by the infantry. By 10.00am the Bavarian Divisiona troops were retreating back to Gueudecourt. George and the 10th West Kents went &#8220;over the top&#8221; just after 10am and captured the German &#8220;Switch Trench&#8221;, North-West of Flers, by 1pm under a heavy artillery barrage. They also came under shellfire while consolidating their position. The 41st Division had liberated Fler from German hands, and taken many prisoners in the process.<\/p><p>Gueudecourt wasn&#8217;t attacked until the following evening (16th September). George finally left the front line area at 3.30am on the 18th September. The total recorded casualties for the Battle of Flers-Coucelette was of the 29,367. The 41st Division alone sustained 3,000 casualties over the battle&#8217;s 7 day duration. The 10th West Kent&#8217;s casualties was recorded as 7 Officers and 94 men. Later, in another action, the Village of Gueudecourt was finally captured by the 88th Brigade on 26th of September 1916.<\/p><p>See also Wallace Bottle, another soldier of the 41st Div, who was killed around this time.<\/p><p>A memorial to the achievements and memory of the men killed of the 41st Division stands in Flers today, at the point where the first tank arrived. The 10th Bn R.W.Kent Regt are named on the memorial, along with the other units and formations which made up the division. See below for photos of the memorial (click to enlarge).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-addda11 e-grid e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"addda11\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8964744 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8964744\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-_4.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"41st Division Memorial, Flers _4\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"41st Division Memorial, Flers _4\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NTgsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90aW1tLnVrXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI1XC8xMFwvNDFzdC1EaXZpc2lvbi1NZW1vcmlhbC1GbGVycy1fNC5qcGcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"584\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-_4.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-58\" alt=\"41st Division Memorial, Flers _4\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-_4.jpg 584w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-_4-206x300.jpg 206w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7f9180 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d7f9180\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-_3.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"41st Division Memorial, Flers _3\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"41st Division Memorial, Flers _3\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NTcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90aW1tLnVrXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI1XC8xMFwvNDFzdC1EaXZpc2lvbi1NZW1vcmlhbC1GbGVycy1fMy5qcGcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"503\" height=\"737\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-_3.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-57\" alt=\"41st Division Memorial, Flers _3\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-_3.jpg 503w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-_3-205x300.jpg 205w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 503px) 100vw, 503px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d2790a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d2790a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"41st Division Memorial, Flers\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTI2LCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvdGltbS51a1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMTBcLzQxc3QtRGl2aXNpb24tTWVtb3JpYWwtRmxlcnMuanBnIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-126\" alt=\"41st Division Memorial, Flers\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers.jpg 800w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01d5d35 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"01d5d35\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-_2.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"41st Division Memorial, Flers _2\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"41st Division Memorial, Flers _2\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTI1LCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvdGltbS51a1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMTBcLzQxc3QtRGl2aXNpb24tTWVtb3JpYWwtRmxlcnMtXzIuanBnIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-_2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-125\" alt=\"41st Division Memorial, Flers _2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-_2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-_2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/41st-Division-Memorial-Flers-_2-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a6042c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1a6042c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e28b20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e28b20\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The respite was short-lived, as by the 28th September the 10th West Kents were back in the front line trenches. The were shelled continuously and heavily, but the Germans didn&#8217;t mount a counter-attack, as was anticipated. They were relieved on the 1st October. The Battle of Le Transloy Ridges had begun on the same day. The 10th West Kents with the rest of the 123rd Brigade were been held in reserve. The 124th Brigade were the main attacking force on this occasion and reached their objective, under a hail of German machine-gun bullets. By nightfall, the heavy losses meant what started as a brigade-strength attack was barely a battalion of men. The 122nd Brigade, too, attacked with 4 full battalions of men, almost all of which were cut-down by machine-gun fire. George and his unit weren&#8217;t called upon until the 7th October, when they moved up in the evening to the British front line. They formed working parties to help dig in and consolidate the new positions, coming under heavy shelling throughout.<\/p><p>On the night of the 10th\/11th October the 10th West Kents were relieved, having sustained 100 casualties over the three days &#8211; including three officers, and George bade farewell to the Somme. Ultimately, the Battle of Transloy didn&#8217;t result in the capitulation of German defences, as planned, nor did the British managed to capture the ridges by November. The Battle of the Somme was to go on for another three weeks, a battle of attrition, the British barely moved past the lines they held on the 1st October.<\/p><p>The 10th West Kents enjoyed a well-earned few days rest at Dernancourt, France, where they recieved a re-inforcement draft of men, before travelling by train to Reninghelst, south of Popperinge, in Flanders.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-755ea8b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"755ea8b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-839968e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"839968e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Somme-Map.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Somme Map\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTI3LCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvdGltbS51a1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMTBcL1NvbW1lLU1hcC5qcGcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"772\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Somme-Map-1024x772.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-127\" alt=\"Somme Map\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Somme-Map-1024x772.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Somme-Map-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Somme-Map-768x579.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Somme-Map.jpg 1205w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-552f45a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"552f45a\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ffc8968 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ffc8968\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>In Flanders Fields<\/strong><\/p><p>The 10th West Kents took up positions, along with the 11th West Kents (also part of the 41st Division), South-East of Ypres. Taking over a sector previously occupied by the 1st West Kent&#8217;s the trenches were in a bad way. It was plain to see why. The position sat below a German crest, which had full view of the approaches and had been subject to artillery bombardment. The mud was worse than anything they had yet encountered, even during their time in the Somme. They set about repairing the trenches with what little supplies they could muster.<\/p><p>George would soon become very accustomed to life in this sector. It wouldn&#8217;t be until July 1917 that he would finally leaving the Ypres Salient. During January-April 1917, the 10th West Kents had arranged an agreement with the support artillery that a codeword could be used in the event of a German attack, and the guns would open up an immediate barrage on no-mans land, rather than have to go through Battalion HQ. This was used to excellent effect on the three occasions when the Germans launched raids on the 10th West Kent positions, each time the artillery stopped the Germans at their own wire. The battalion&#8217;s snipers and patrols engaged in some other minor incidents, including the capture of two prisoners, the first the 41st Division had for months.<\/p><p><br \/><strong>Messines<\/strong><\/p><p>After training in May 1917 in the Reninghelst area, George and his battalion took up positions at the front line to the left wing on a front that was to be the Battle of Messines. Their particular objective was the Dammstrasse, South-East of St. Eloi. At 3.10am on the 7th June 1917, 19 massive mines, planted by the tunnelling companies of the Royal Engineers exploded, signalling the start of the main attack. It&#8217;s estimated the mines alone killed 25,000 Germans, 10,000 instantaneously. It remained the largest man-made explosion until the use of the nuclear bomb at Hiroshima in the closing stages of WW2, and it must have been quite and experiance for George, and the rest of the ammassed forces.<\/p><p>The ground was too boggy and rough to enable the use of tanks, but despite this the 10th West Kents advanced with little opposition. They finally encountered resistance at Dammstrasse, but they fought hard, and would not be denied their objective. They stormed the position, capturing 40 prisoners, sending other men fleeing, then set up defensive positions further on. They held this position until the end of the month, when they were replaced and had three weeks of light training, with plenty of rest and recreation in a rear position near Fletre, France. Several drafts arrived, enabling the battalion to march back to Ypres at full strength, taking up positions near the canal on the 24th July.<\/p><p><br \/><strong>Passchendaele<\/strong><\/p><p>George would have spent a very arduous week in terrible conditions prior to the start of the great attack which was to become the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). The weather conditions and artillery had reduced the trenches, the 10th West Kents were to be calling home, to little more than mud-holes. This was the only cover they had for 6 days of sporadic German shelling.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e846aa e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3e846aa\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ca5e10 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1ca5e10\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Battle-order-at-Pilckem-Ridge-Ypres-1917-1.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Battle order at Pilckem Ridge (Ypres) 1917\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Battle order at Pilckem Ridge (Ypres) 1917\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTI4LCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvdGltbS51a1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMTBcL0JhdHRsZS1vcmRlci1hdC1QaWxja2VtLVJpZGdlLVlwcmVzLTE5MTctMS5qcGcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"792\" height=\"655\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Battle-order-at-Pilckem-Ridge-Ypres-1917-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-128\" alt=\"Battle order at Pilckem Ridge (Ypres) 1917\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Battle-order-at-Pilckem-Ridge-Ypres-1917-1.jpg 792w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Battle-order-at-Pilckem-Ridge-Ypres-1917-1-300x248.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Battle-order-at-Pilckem-Ridge-Ypres-1917-1-768x635.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0733173 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0733173\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e4593e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e4593e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The wait was over by the 31st July 1917, when the 10th West Kents went &#8220;over the top&#8221; to attack and attempt to capture Hollebeke and clear the ground across the Canal just East of Battle Wood, as part of the Battle of Pilckem Ridge. A battle plan above shows the 41st Division&#8217;s sector, with George&#8217;s advance from the &#8220;Red line&#8221; towards the &#8220;Yellow Line&#8221; marked &#8220;123 Bde&#8221;. To their left was the 20th Durham Light Infantry and the 11th West Kents were on the right. The 10th Bavarian Division whom they had to face were stout foes and offered a determined resistance. During the advance George suffered multiple gun shot wounds. He would have been stretchered off the muddy battlefield, similar to the image below, taken at a nearby objective of Zonnebeke on the 31st July.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76b2202 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"76b2202\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef2203b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ef2203b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/zonnebeke-casualty-evacuation-1.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"zonnebeke casualty evacuation\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTI5LCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvdGltbS51a1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMTBcL3pvbm5lYmVrZS1jYXN1YWx0eS1ldmFjdWF0aW9uLTEuanBnIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/zonnebeke-casualty-evacuation-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-129\" alt=\"zonnebeke casualty evacuation\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/zonnebeke-casualty-evacuation-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/zonnebeke-casualty-evacuation-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/zonnebeke-casualty-evacuation-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/zonnebeke-casualty-evacuation-1-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-02e89a1 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"02e89a1\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-545c973 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"545c973\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>The Italian Front<\/strong><\/p><p>He spent the next week in a field hospital, before being evacuated back to England for further treatment. On the 5th October he was given 10 days leave to return home. By the 20th November, however, it was decided George was fit enough to return to the front, and he was sent back to France. He rejoined his battalion while they were training for open warfare at Teteghem, France. They subsequently recieved orders to embarke trains headed for Italy. The 10th West Kents were to take up positions near the river Piave, North-West of Treviso. The journey was to take four and half days, with frequent, but short stops between, rather than at, stations. The scenery provided some pleasant distraction, and through the Riviera the local inhabitants came out with gifts of fruit, tobacco, flowers and food. Arriving at Isola della Scala, the 10th West Kents disembarked, and immediately received orders to start for the Piave front, where the defeated Italian were rallying.<\/p><p>The difference in scenery, with the mountains getting nearer and nearer, and vineyards and maize fields instead of the uninteresting lands of Northern France and Belgium , helped to get them along; and if maps proved inaccurate and billets of ten uncomfortable, the plentifulness and cheapness of the wine and fruit were sufficient com pensation. The march was no easy task though, with men laden with around 90 lbs of kit each for the 100 mile march. The knowledge of these British reinforcements undoubtedly encouraged the Italians to hold fast at there lines on the banks of the Piave. The 10th West Kents finally arrived to take up their positions, and saw very little enemy activity, apart from the odd sniper or patrol.<\/p><p>On the 18th\/19th February while on a routine patrol accross the river, George once again sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He sustained a compound fracture to the left femur (thigh bone) and wounded forearm and face, including loss of an eye.<\/p><p><strong>Home<\/strong><\/p><p>It&#8217;s unknown where he went after this, but in all likelyhood he would have been transferred to hospital for quite some time. He didn&#8217;t return to England unitl the 6th June 1918. He wasn&#8217;t discharged, though, until the 23rd December 1918, he was released as &#8220;100% disabled&#8221; &#8211; and approved for a pension of 27 shillings and sixpence a week for 26 weeks. He was also issued with a Silver War (wound) Badge number B70840. This, along with George&#8217;s Victory medal are missing and I am looking to acquire them, should they ever resurface. The Victory medal, here, is a high quality struck replica.<\/p><p>He must have had some home leave sometime in the summer of 1917, as George became a father while in hospital on 27th April 1918, when his daughter, Emily Margaret Bance was born. She would later go on to marry Robert Fisher, a Canadian soldier, whose medals are also held in the collection (research pending) &#8211; George is shown of the far right of the photo below &#8211; taken at the wedding in March 1941 (click to enlarge). After the war, George was involved with the local football team in Borough Green. He is seen below with the football team on the far right (click to enlarge). He may also have worked as a fire watcher in Borough Green during WW2. Another photo shows him with his grandson, Robert, in around 1943.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77143be e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"77143be\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a87d597 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a87d597\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c6f7249 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c6f7249\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Photo-with-Grandson.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"George Bance - Photo with Grandson\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"George Bance - Photo with Grandson\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjYsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90aW1tLnVrXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI1XC8xMFwvR2VvcmdlLUJhbmNlLVBob3RvLXdpdGgtR3JhbmRzb24uanBnIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"474\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Photo-with-Grandson.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-66\" alt=\"George Bance - Photo with Grandson\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Photo-with-Grandson.jpg 474w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Photo-with-Grandson-213x300.jpg 213w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">George Bance - Photo with Grandson<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24e1c21 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"24e1c21\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3549d69 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3549d69\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d38e61d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d38e61d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Daughters-Wedding.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"George Bance - Daughters Wedding\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"George Bance - Daughters Wedding\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90aW1tLnVrXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI1XC8xMFwvR2VvcmdlLUJhbmNlLURhdWdodGVycy1XZWRkaW5nLmpwZyJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"672\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Daughters-Wedding-1024x672.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-62\" alt=\"George Bance - Daughters Wedding\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Daughters-Wedding-1024x672.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Daughters-Wedding-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Daughters-Wedding-768x504.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Daughters-Wedding.jpg 1072w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">George Bance at his Daughter's Wedding<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-000d2f4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"000d2f4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0016738 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0016738\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/bgfc_1924_25-copy.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Borough Green FC_1924_25\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Borough Green FC_1924_25\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjEsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90aW1tLnVrXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI1XC8xMFwvYmdmY18xOTI0XzI1LWNvcHkuanBnIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"588\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/bgfc_1924_25-copy.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-61\" alt=\"Borough Green FC_1924_25\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/bgfc_1924_25-copy.jpg 800w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/bgfc_1924_25-copy-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/bgfc_1924_25-copy-768x564.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Borough Green FC - 1924-25 - George on the far right<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c81550 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3c81550\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f9132b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f9132b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>George Bance died on the 12th January 1956. His wife, Catherine, survived him and died in 1978. They are buried together in Ightham churchyard. Photos below (click to enlarge).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e445f1 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3e445f1\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b32491f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b32491f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c39974 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8c39974\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"George Bance - Headstone\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjUsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90aW1tLnVrXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI1XC8xMFwvR2VvcmdlLUJhbmNlLUhlYWRzdG9uZS5qcGcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone-576x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-65\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone-864x1536.jpg 864w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone-1152x2048.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fcb3cb2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fcb3cb2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c4a454 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4c4a454\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c8b8854 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c8b8854\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Ightham-Church-1.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Ightham Church (1)\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Ightham Church (1)\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTMzLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvdGltbS51a1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMTBcL0lnaHRoYW0tQ2h1cmNoLTEuanBnIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Ightham-Church-1-1024x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-133\" alt=\"Ightham Church (1)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Ightham-Church-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Ightham-Church-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Ightham-Church-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Ightham-Church-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Ightham Church<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-25ccefe e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"25ccefe\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f784773 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f784773\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone-2.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"George Bance - Headstone 2\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjMsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90aW1tLnVrXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI1XC8xMFwvR2VvcmdlLUJhbmNlLUhlYWRzdG9uZS0yLmpwZyJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone-2-576x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-63\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone-2-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone-2-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone-2-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone-2-864x1536.jpg 864w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone-2-1152x2048.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Headstone-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0a69c3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b0a69c3\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e1401fa elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"e1401fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38258cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"38258cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><strong>Relevant research documents<\/strong><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61100dc e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"61100dc\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54c1e18 elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"54c1e18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/George-Bance-Medal-Index-Card.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-image\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M464 64H48C21.49 64 0 85.49 0 112v288c0 26.51 21.49 48 48 48h416c26.51 0 48-21.49 48-48V112c0-26.51-21.49-48-48-48zm-6 336H54a6 6 0 0 1-6-6V118a6 6 0 0 1 6-6h404a6 6 0 0 1 6 6v276a6 6 0 0 1-6 6zM128 152c-22.091 0-40 17.909-40 40s17.909 40 40 40 40-17.909 40-40-17.909-40-40-40zM96 352h320v-80l-87.515-87.515c-4.686-4.686-12.284-4.686-16.971 0L192 304l-39.515-39.515c-4.686-4.686-12.284-4.686-16.971 0L96 304v48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">George Bance - Medal Index Card<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bance-George-Service-Docs-14-Pages.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-file-pdf\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M181.9 256.1c-5-16-4.9-46.9-2-46.9 8.4 0 7.6 36.9 2 46.9zm-1.7 47.2c-7.7 20.2-17.3 43.3-28.4 62.7 18.3-7 39-17.2 62.9-21.9-12.7-9.6-24.9-23.4-34.5-40.8zM86.1 428.1c0 .8 13.2-5.4 34.9-40.2-6.7 6.3-29.1 24.5-34.9 40.2zM248 160h136v328c0 13.3-10.7 24-24 24H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24V24C0 10.7 10.7 0 24 0h200v136c0 13.2 10.8 24 24 24zm-8 171.8c-20-12.2-33.3-29-42.7-53.8 4.5-18.5 11.6-46.6 6.2-64.2-4.7-29.4-42.4-26.5-47.8-6.8-5 18.3-.4 44.1 8.1 77-11.6 27.6-28.7 64.6-40.8 85.8-.1 0-.1.1-.2.1-27.1 13.9-73.6 44.5-54.5 68 5.6 6.9 16 10 21.5 10 17.9 0 35.7-18 61.1-61.8 25.8-8.5 54.1-19.1 79-23.2 21.7 11.8 47.1 19.5 64 19.5 29.2 0 31.2-32 19.7-43.4-13.9-13.6-54.3-9.7-73.6-7.2zM377 105L279 7c-4.5-4.5-10.6-7-17-7h-6v128h128v-6.1c0-6.3-2.5-12.4-7-16.9zm-74.1 255.3c4.1-2.7-2.5-11.9-42.8-9 37.1 15.8 42.8 9 42.8 9z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">George Bance - Service Documents (14 Page PDF) <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Birth.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-image\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M464 64H48C21.49 64 0 85.49 0 112v288c0 26.51 21.49 48 48 48h416c26.51 0 48-21.49 48-48V112c0-26.51-21.49-48-48-48zm-6 336H54a6 6 0 0 1-6-6V118a6 6 0 0 1 6-6h404a6 6 0 0 1 6 6v276a6 6 0 0 1-6 6zM128 152c-22.091 0-40 17.909-40 40s17.909 40 40 40 40-17.909 40-40-17.909-40-40-40zM96 352h320v-80l-87.515-87.515c-4.686-4.686-12.284-4.686-16.971 0L192 304l-39.515-39.515c-4.686-4.686-12.284-4.686-16.971 0L96 304v48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">George Bance - Birth Record <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Death-Record-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-image\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M464 64H48C21.49 64 0 85.49 0 112v288c0 26.51 21.49 48 48 48h416c26.51 0 48-21.49 48-48V112c0-26.51-21.49-48-48-48zm-6 336H54a6 6 0 0 1-6-6V118a6 6 0 0 1 6-6h404a6 6 0 0 1 6 6v276a6 6 0 0 1-6 6zM128 152c-22.091 0-40 17.909-40 40s17.909 40 40 40 40-17.909 40-40-17.909-40-40-40zM96 352h320v-80l-87.515-87.515c-4.686-4.686-12.284-4.686-16.971 0L192 304l-39.515-39.515c-4.686-4.686-12.284-4.686-16.971 0L96 304v48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">George Bance - Death Record <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/harry-bance-1920.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-camera\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M512 144v288c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V144c0-26.5 21.5-48 48-48h88l12.3-32.9c7-18.7 24.9-31.1 44.9-31.1h125.5c20 0 37.9 12.4 44.9 31.1L376 96h88c26.5 0 48 21.5 48 48zM376 288c0-66.2-53.8-120-120-120s-120 53.8-120 120 53.8 120 120 120 120-53.8 120-120zm-32 0c0 48.5-39.5 88-88 88s-88-39.5-88-88 39.5-88 88-88 88 39.5 88 88z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Harry Bance (George's Brother) - Photo of Harry <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Harry-Bance-MIC.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-image\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M464 64H48C21.49 64 0 85.49 0 112v288c0 26.51 21.49 48 48 48h416c26.51 0 48-21.49 48-48V112c0-26.51-21.49-48-48-48zm-6 336H54a6 6 0 0 1-6-6V118a6 6 0 0 1 6-6h404a6 6 0 0 1 6 6v276a6 6 0 0 1-6 6zM128 152c-22.091 0-40 17.909-40 40s17.909 40 40 40 40-17.909 40-40-17.909-40-40-40zM96 352h320v-80l-87.515-87.515c-4.686-4.686-12.284-4.686-16.971 0L192 304l-39.515-39.515c-4.686-4.686-12.284-4.686-16.971 0L96 304v48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Harry Bance (George's Brother) - Medal Index Card <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Harry-Bance-Medal-Issue-List-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-image\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M464 64H48C21.49 64 0 85.49 0 112v288c0 26.51 21.49 48 48 48h416c26.51 0 48-21.49 48-48V112c0-26.51-21.49-48-48-48zm-6 336H54a6 6 0 0 1-6-6V118a6 6 0 0 1 6-6h404a6 6 0 0 1 6 6v276a6 6 0 0 1-6 6zM128 152c-22.091 0-40 17.909-40 40s17.909 40 40 40 40-17.909 40-40-17.909-40-40-40zM96 352h320v-80l-87.515-87.515c-4.686-4.686-12.284-4.686-16.971 0L192 304l-39.515-39.515c-4.686-4.686-12.284-4.686-16.971 0L96 304v48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Harry Bance (George's Brother) - On the campaign medal roll <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Harry-Bance-shown-in-article-on-paper-mill-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-image\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M464 64H48C21.49 64 0 85.49 0 112v288c0 26.51 21.49 48 48 48h416c26.51 0 48-21.49 48-48V112c0-26.51-21.49-48-48-48zm-6 336H54a6 6 0 0 1-6-6V118a6 6 0 0 1 6-6h404a6 6 0 0 1 6 6v276a6 6 0 0 1-6 6zM128 152c-22.091 0-40 17.909-40 40s17.909 40 40 40 40-17.909 40-40-17.909-40-40-40zM96 352h320v-80l-87.515-87.515c-4.686-4.686-12.284-4.686-16.971 0L192 304l-39.515-39.515c-4.686-4.686-12.284-4.686-16.971 0L96 304v48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Harry Bance (George's Brother) - Shown in article about paper mill <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/timm.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/William-George-Bance-Naval-Record-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-image\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M464 64H48C21.49 64 0 85.49 0 112v288c0 26.51 21.49 48 48 48h416c26.51 0 48-21.49 48-48V112c0-26.51-21.49-48-48-48zm-6 336H54a6 6 0 0 1-6-6V118a6 6 0 0 1 6-6h404a6 6 0 0 1 6 6v276a6 6 0 0 1-6 6zM128 152c-22.091 0-40 17.909-40 40s17.909 40 40 40 40-17.909 40-40-17.909-40-40-40zM96 352h320v-80l-87.515-87.515c-4.686-4.686-12.284-4.686-16.971 0L192 304l-39.515-39.515c-4.686-4.686-12.284-4.686-16.971 0L96 304v48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">William George Bance (Geroge's Brother) - Naval Service Record <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>G\/11176 Private George BANCE 10th Battalion, &#8211; The Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) British War Medal and Victory Medal* [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":16,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"folder":[],"class_list":["post-40","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timm.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timm.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timm.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timm.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timm.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=40"}],"version-history":[{"count":79,"href":"https:\/\/timm.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1819,"href":"https:\/\/timm.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40\/revisions\/1819"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timm.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timm.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=40"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timm.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ffolder&post=40"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}