Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Walter Henry Kind, a shoe trade laster, born 1877 in Whetstone, Leics., and his wife Annie Elizabeth Kind (nee Harrison), a Griswold stocking maker, born 1876 in Whetstone, Leics. Reuben was born in 1898 in Whetstone, Leics., he had one sibling, a brother Herbert, born 1901 in Whetstone, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Whetstone, Leics. Reuben’s father passed away aged 26, in the fourth quarter of 1902. In April 1911 Reuben was employed as a boot and shoe trade clicker and was residing in the family home at Victoria Road, Whetstone, Leics., together with his step father, Tom Kenney, a gas stoker, born 1879 in Whetstone, Leics., his remarried mother, and his siblings, Herbert, a schoolboy and Doris, a schoolgirl, born 1902 in Whetstone, Leics., also his half blood siblings, Harold Kenney, a schoolboy, born 1903 and Annie Kenney, a schoolgirl, born 1906, both his half blood siblings were born in Whetstone, Leics. On Saturday February 3rd 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS” – IN MEMORIAM. KIND.- In proud and loving memory of dear Reuben, who gave his life for his country at Berles au Bois, Feb. 3rd 1916, aged 18 years, of the 8th Leicester Regt., late of Victoria Road, Whetstone. He bravely answered duty’s call. He gave his life for one and all. His cheerful smile and pleasant face. No one can fill the vacant place. From his sorrowing Mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers. The War Diary for today records. 300 men for work parties. “D” Company in morning did Company platoon arm saluting drill, and practised fixing of smoke helmets. “D” Company in afternoon marched off with band to Divisional theatre. Men of “C” Company not on work parties fired on the range under Lt. WARNER. The same men practised the same work as “B” Company did in the morning. No. 16 platoon received grenade instruction in the morning and the new band was playing in the courtyard near canteen. The enemy heavily shelled the village for about ½ an hour, all troops and civilian inhabitants were ordered to caverns and caves. One shell fell and exploded near gateway of courtyard killing and wounding, several other men killed and wounded in other parts of the village. 20 were killed and 13 wounded. 3 of the latter died on admittance to Field Ambulance. 9 of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT were killed in all, and 2 officers and 6 other ranks wounded. 1 ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS officer was killed, 7 other ranks of the ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY and 1 ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY. One civilian inhabitant was killed and one wounded. The Divisional Commander arrived in the village from the trenches shortly after the bombardment had ceased. Most parts of the village including the FRENCH quarter was shelled.