Rank: Private
Regiment: Royal East Kent Regiment (The Buffs)
Sent by: Miss Hankins
Miss Hankin’s Address: 122 Braybrooke Road, Hastings
Other Info: At the Front
Published: October 1915
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Pte H Anderson of The Buffs. This handsome soldier’s photograph was sent by my great aunt Priscilla Hankins in 1915. I would be interested to know more about him. She lost her two younger brothers in 1915. I wondered if she lost her sweetheart too or whether he was a friend or neighbour in Hastings.
Dear Julie, thank you for your comment. I cannot say for sure if Private Anderson was local to Hastings or someone that was billeted there. No one named Anderson is on Hastings War Memorial, however neither are Priscilla's brothers, Albert and James whose photos are on this website. She sent all three photographs in at the same time. Kind Regards, Kieron.
Dear Kieron how kind of you to reply and so quickly. I had assumed my great aunt lived in Hastings at the time with her brothers and not billeted there. Their parents had died some years before and Priscilla being the eldest took over the parental role. I know that James and Albert are commemorated at Loos Memorial. Would you know how I find out if they are listed on a village memorial somewhere? They were born in Maidstone, Kent to my knowledge and then lived in/possibly ran a boarding house in Hastings. Kind regards
Julie
Priscilla Hankins married name was Drury by the way.
They also lived in Sittingbourne, Kent.
I have found an address for Priscilla 58 West Street, Sittingbourne presumably the marital home and it’s from there she writes to the war office asking for news of Albert on 9 April 1917, saying she’s not heard anything since 26 September 1916. I have a Year of Birth for Albert of 1896. There was talk in the family that he was underage when he signed up. Please could his DOB be added to his records as I note this information is missing.
Thank you
Julie
Last comment on Albert John Hankins - I have been given a Short Service document dated 10/1/15 giving his age as 19 months and 61 days and address as 37 Rossington Street, Upper Clapton, London (where his sister, my grandmother, lived). On the reverse it lists his medals and presumed date of death 26/9/15. Would this bring us any nearer to where he might be commemorated on a war memorial in England?
Thank you once again
Julie