Reginald Edward Datlen
Private 3906 - East Kent Regiment
Report by Shaun Griffiths - “The Datlen World War One Project”
Originated November 2000 Last reviewed - June 2006
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Born: 1900
Father: William Edward Datlen
Mother: Adeline (Adelaide) Rosine Gurney
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On the second day of October 1915, Reginald Edward Datlen signed up to join The Buffs. He was under age at 15 years old, but like many other young boys his age, keen to fight for his country, he lied about his age declaring that he was 19 years old.
His enlistment papers show that he was born in Dover, Kent, his address was 8 Maison Dieu Place, Dover and that he was a Tram conductor. His physical development was described as fair, 5 feet and 2 inches in height, weighed 100lbs with a chest measurement of 32.5 inches with a range of expansion of 2.5 inches. He had 6/6 vision and it was noted that he had a vaccination mark on his left arm which was made in infancy.
Reginald was posted to B Company, 3/4 Battalion, East Kent Regiment on 12th October 1915 stationed at Crowborough Camp. No further mention is made in his documents until 30th May 1916. His mother Adelaide was trying to claim her son from the Army on account that he lied about his age. She writes this poignant letter:-
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Sir,
In answer to yours, I still wish to claim my son out. His father is dead and my other 2 sons are away [This will be William Arthur Datlen and Ernest Sidney Datlen]. One is a British Prisoner of war [Probably Ernest Sidney Datlen]. I have been very ill for 10 months with chronic ulsers on my legs and my eldest daughter [Beatrice Victoria Datlen, Queenie?] has been under the Dr 6 months with Anemia and to make things worse we have lately been the victims of an air raid. I am not able to work as I have had to do for years. 9 Years next July I have been left to bring up 6 children so you may be sure I have had a very hard struggle and I am afraid I am done for.
Trusting you will do your best for me.
I remain respectfully.
Adelaide Datlen.
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This letter was met with a response from Major Messel :-
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Mrs Datlen,
In reply to your letter attached will you please attach birth certificate of your son and forward the two direct to the officer in charge, Records. T.F. Holly Grove, Staines Road, Hounslow.
? Messel, Major
Commanding 3/4 Bn The Buffs
Crowborough
1st June 1916
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Adelaide sent the birth certificate as requested and on 8th July 1916 Reginald was discharged. His discharge record gives further descriptive remarks that he had a fresh complexion with brown eyes and brown hair. He was discharged as a consequence of “having made a mis-statement of age on enlistment” under paragraph 392.VI.a of the Kings Regulations. His military and general character was described as very good. Reginald served a total of 281 days with The Buffs.
Three years later on 20th August 1919 Reginald enlisted into the Royal Air Force. RA.F. Number – 334318
Reginald went on to marry Helen Marjorie Pont in 1930, they had a son Leslie Alan Datlen in 1931. He died in 1963 and is buried in Chartham, Canterbury, Kent.
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Sources:
Civil Registration index of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales
“The Datlen Family Tree” book by Andy R Datlen, first edition March 1999
WW1 Service Records for Reginald Edward Datlen
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