Private Benjamin Kilby (1870-1941) had enlisted in the Army Service Corps on 26th July 1889 (No 8888) and saw service in the Boer War from 24th April 1900 to 15th July 1902, qualifying for the South Africa Medal. He was discharged on 24th August 1902, but re-enlisted on 16th September 1914, joining the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (No 13734). According to The Evesham Journal of 3rd October 1914 he joined at Wickhamford, but the paper gives the wrong unit for him (Royal Field Artillery). His army record also mentions the Worcestershire Regiment (No 9568) so he initially signed for them but was rapidly transferred to the Warwickshires.
Living at Bowers Hill, Badsey, he was 44 in 1914, married with two sons and working as a market gardening groom.
Benjamin’s war service took him very briefly to France (25th-30th March 1915) before returning to England and on to Egypt, where he served from 20th August 1915. He was demobilised on 15th April 1919 and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War medals. He is registered on the 1919 Absent Voters' List for two parishes: Evesham All Saints and Broadway.