Intro

This website has been constructed to give the reader an idea of a man’s life between the years 1889 – 1971. This period covering the late Victorian era, Edwardian times, George V and early Queen Elizabethan; a full diary of wars and progressive living standards necessitating the coming railways and heavy road transport. He marched towards war pleased with his schooling, time in the Boys Brigade, and Territorial Army having spent eight years in the Kensington Regiment working his way up through the ranks, having been a drill sergeant and now Company Sergeant Major. He had every intention of looking after his men knowing them as neighbours and comrades in arms.

The military actions undertaken by Sergeant Major Albert Kearey of A Company Kensington Rifles, the 13^th (Kensington) Battalion, London Regiment, a unit of the Territorial Force their HQ at Iverna Gardens, Kensington. They were serving with the 4^th London Brigade, 2^nd London Division when war broke out in August 1914. They were mobilised for war and moved to camp at Abbots Langley. They proceeded to France, landing at Le Havre on the 4^th of November joining 25^th Brigade, 8^th Division on the 13^th in action at The Battle of Neuve Chapelle, and The battle of Aubers Ridge. On the 20^th of May 1915 they transferred to GHQ Troops and formed a composite unit with 1/5^th and 1/12^th London, retaining their identity on the 11^th of August. On the 11^th of February 1916 they were in action on The Somme, taking part in the diversionary attack on Gommecourt on the 1^st of July, The battle of Gincy and The battle of the Transloy Ridges later In 1917 they were in action during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the Battles of Arras in April, the battle of Langemarck in August then the Cambrai Operations in November. In 1918 they were in action on The Somme in the second Battles of Arras, The battle of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance into Picardy, about this time Albert was made up to Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM). At the Armistice the infantry took a rest period whilst the artillery were in action. The Division received orders to join the British force to occupy the Rhine bridgeheads, but these orders were later cancelled on the 21^st of November when they were in the area of Harveng undertaking road and railway repairs. Demobilisation was completed on the 18^th of May 1919. Albert remained behind to check all the men were fit and able for home life being the last to return home. He Volunteered again to remain in the Kensingtons obviously not knowing that war with Germany was to break out again and promotion offered.

A man of parts
by
Terence Kearey

Precis

This is a story of parts, beginning in 1889, of a Bromley boy’s disciplined life. One of a large family, sharing a room in a London home not far from The Queen’s Palace and Gardens. It tells a story of a chimney sweep who needed a child – to climb the inside of chimneys, so Bertie was stolen. His mother set out to claim him back which she did with vim and vigour threatening the sweep with arrest. School life was expected when the time was ripe costing 2p a day, later, joining The Boys Brigade till the age of seventeen. This was all part of life’s rich pattern of the time, expected and obeyed allowing sufficient time to learn and play the piano to a high standard, a personal choice of Bertie’s, playing at school assemblies and the local picture house showing magic lantern slides. His sisters and brothers were equally disciplined, jobs around the house had to be done the only difference being that the sexes had specific chores. Bertie had four brothers and three sisters. He joined the 6^th London Boys Brigade and commanded a squad. He obviously did well at school which made him suitable for office training joining a large heavy duty removal company, shipping equipment and engineering tools for the nearest main-line railway company. When he was eighteen he volunteered for the local Territorial regiment. It wasn’t long before he was made a Lance Corporal, sealing a companionable way of life, of a man about town, seven years before WW1 becoming a Drill Sergeant. After the war he returned to work joining The Freemasons and Old Contemptibles returning to the Army Volunteers. This ‘man about town’ did get married and have children returning to the Home Guard a Major to defend London from German parachutists.