Guardians of the Gateway
Above: Kent's Territorial Army (Kent Life Magazine)
Above: Kent's Territorial Army (Kent Life Magazine)
Above: Kent's Territorial Army (Kent Life Magazine)
Above: Kent's Territorial Army (Kent Life Magazine)
Above: Allan Willett CMG (Kent Life Magazine)
A wartime poster showing a defiant Kentish Territorial astride the map of our county sums up what TA 100 is all about.
Let’s be clear about this: we are the frontline county, with every reason to be proud of our role as guardians of the Gateway to England, and every reason to celebrate the centenary of the Territorial Army.
Not lightly did the great Kent historian, Edward Hasted, write two centuries ago: ‘A privilege…claimed by the men from Kent…is that of being placed in the vanguard of the army….which right was granted to them on account of their gallant and noble behaviour in the encounters between the Saxons and Danes, long before the Conquest…’
We alone were not conquered by William the Norman. And right down through the centuries to today we have a wonderful record of volunteer military service and of seeing off would-be invaders.
The TA used to be known by some as a force of last resort. It is now the reserve of first choice
Throughout that time, until 1908, the Lieutenancy played a key role in raising Kentish forces and organising the defence of the county – and we still retain strong links with our Armed Forces today.
A century ago this month the Territorial Force – later called the Territorial Army – was formed from the Yeomanry, Militia and Rifle Volunteers.
Celebrating this great milestone is my Lieutenancy’s main initiative this year. But we are not forgetting that no fewer than one third of The Few who fought and won the Battle of Britain in Kentish skies, making eventual victory possible, were Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
Nor are we forgetting that down here in Kent we claim we invented the Royal Navy through the Cinque Ports!
It would take a book to record the service and exploits of Kent’s Territorial soldiers, many of whom made the supreme sacrifice in World War One.
Their tough Kentish spirit lived on during World War Two. One outstanding example is the epic story of the 4th Queen’s Own Royal West Kents, who fought off the Japanese surrounding them at Kohima for 16 death-defying days.
The unit, only 438-strong, held an entire Japanese division at bay and stopped the invasion of India. Remarkably, it was the only TA infantry battalion that fought all three of our major wartime enemies, the Germans, Italians and Japanese, on three continents.
Another extraordinary example was that of Kent Fortress Engineers, a TA unit that sent groups of soldiers across to France at the time of Dunkirk and after, to blow up oil refineries and depots along the coast of Europe. More than 2,000,000 tons of oil was denied to the enemy and its destruction had a major effect on the decision not to invade England.
Kent’s Territorial Army soldiers played a vital part in facing down the Warsaw Pact throughout the Cold War and the thread of service continues through to the important contribution they are making today in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The TA used to be known by some as a force of last resort. It is now the reserve of first choice. The unit names may change and today the numbers may be smaller, but our TA soldiers are of the same tough Kentish stock.
In the words of the old recruiting slogan they are Twice a Citizen serving the Nation in uniform as well as holding down a civilian job.
Our TA soldiers are a great asset to our County and the Nation – valuable and valued – and they deserve greater public support.
Such service – and especially deployment on operations – imposes great strain on family relationships and on civilian careers. Yet they and their predecessors have always been – and still are – ready and willing to answer the nation’s call.
That is why it is so important that we recognise their service and sacrifice across the county during this centenary year celebrations, including a joint Veterans Day and TA 100 event at The Historic Dockyard Chatham on 5 July, and other linked events at Penshurst Place, Maidstone and Dover.
The highlight will be a parade and thanksgiving service attended by General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff of the British Army, at Canterbury Cathedral on 6 September for all serving Territorials – and for veterans who have served over the years – and I urge the people of Kent to demonstrate their support.
The TA lives on
Kent still has a significant Territorial Army presence:
Our county infantry – the 3rd Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, has its headquarters at Canterbury, with a rifle company in Rochester and a platoon at Dover
Two Royal Engineers bomb disposal units are based here – at Rochester and Tunbridge Wells
The doctors, nurses and support staff of B Medical Squadron are based in Ditton, and in nearby Maidstone there is a Royal Logistics Corps petroleum unit
Ashford is the home of 133 (Workshop) Company, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
All need a steady stream of recruits – and officers to lead them.
Fact file
The Lord Lieutenant, the Queen's representative in the county, is himself a former National Service officer of The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment), was seconded to the 23rd King’s African Rifles and fought in the Mau Mau campaign. He is now Honorary Colonel of Kent’s TA infantry unit, the 3rd Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
Legislation to establish the Territorial Force – later called the Territorial Army – was passed in 1907 as a result of Lord Haldane’s reforms. The first units were stood up on 1 April 1908, and this date is accepted as the birth date of the TA – and Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations (RFCAs)
In Kent, the Lieutenancy is leading the centenary celebrations, with participation from the other Volunteer Reserves including the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Marines Reserve, the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, the RAFVR, and former Royal Observer Corps personnel
Former Territorials and other Volunteer Reservists, or their widows or other close relatives, are being invited to provide their contact details for a database that will enable the organisers of Kent-based TA 100 events – the Lieutenancy, the Chain of Command and today’s TA units – to keep those interested informed
To enter your contact details on the TA100 database send them with brief dates of your service and former unit to:
TA100 Database, Lord Lieutenant’s Office, Cumberland Cottage, Chilham, Canterbury CT4 8BX; fax them to 01227 738855; phone Jackie Dale on 01227 738800 Monday-Thursday only; or e-mail them to Kentta100@allanwillett.org