Enlisted mid 1915, overseas Jan 1916 Fred Kench as a new recruit, 1915.
He was accepted on his second application, being refused initially as having too small a chest measurement. Given his slim build in this picture, your do wonder at how small it must have been. Frederick Charles Kench, born in Eydon in 1885, the youngest son of Thomas and Alice Kench and aged 19 when war was declared.
Following his second application he joined the Royal Field Artillery in July 1915. We see him here with spurs, puttees and bandoleer, suitable kit to be a driver of the guns. From January 1 1916, Fred kept a small pocket diary from which we know about his training and travels - to Egypt, then to the Western Front via Marseilles, until invalided home with shrapnel wounds at the end of the year. All this has been written up in EHRG's 2014 booklet of research reports,'Lest We Forget'. This photograph was embossed in the bottom right with the name, 'S. H. Greenway, Northampton', who had studios at 27 Abingdon Street, Northampton and High Street Daventry. Photographer: Samuel H. Greenway
Image lent by : Mr David Kench
Connected Photos: DK115 | DK116