Additional name information from the lives of the first world war website. Je whelan served with the east surrey regiment british army. A depottraining unit, it moved to grand shaft barracks at dover and remained there throughout the war. An archive of first world war research information on soldiers in the east surrey regiment. Please use the comments box below if you can provide more information about this person. There are over 37,000 east surrey regiment service and pension records for this regiment and its antecedents in various war office series held at the national archives. He was a grenade officer in charge of the bomb throwers within his battalion. Journeys end, the original cast exploring surreys past. Eleven days later, mobilization completed and at full war establishment, the 1st battalion was in france, and before the end of the month was in action against the germans. Royal east surrey regiment in the second world war 1939. Sherriff, author of journeys end, the most famous play of the great war, saw all his front line service with the 9th battalion east surrey regiment. The records for the queens royal west surrey regiment include enlistment registers and wwii honors indexes. Other than this there is little other identifying information. This tiny, yet fascinating, war diary was written in july, 1917, by a private of d company, 12th battalion, east surrey regiment.
My great grandfather was killed in the early hours of july 3rd 1916,at ovillers,he was with the 7th battalion, east surrey regiment,his name was thomas william bliss,he was 29. Records for the east surrey regiment include enlistment registers, transfers in registers, and nominal rolls of officers. Dec 02, 2008 diaries kept by surrey soldiers on the front line during the first world war are now available on the internet. In jan 1884 they marched the 500 miles to bareilly in preparation for embarkation to egypt. The 9th east surrey in the great war, michael lucas. Once war was declared as he joined the inns of court o. The 2nd battalion had fought in the afghan war of 187980 as the 70th regiment and were stationed at dinapore when they became the 2nd battalion, east surreys.
This intense experience profoundly affected his writing and, through his play, it continues to have a powerful influence on our understanding of the conflict. As soon as a territorial unit arrived to take over the garrison, they returned to england, landing at devonport on the 23rd of december 1914. From the collection of the former buffs regimental museum. Regimental history of 2nd battalion east yorkshire regiment war military book 0 results. During the great war the queens raised 31 battalions and the east. Introduction to the war diaries, 19141918 of the queens royal west surrey and. I am a sergeant of the 4th battalion east surrey regiment i was stationed at the winchester tavern, great, suffolk streeton th november the prisoner spoke to me in reference to an advertisement in lloyds newspaperi said that it referred to men who had previously served and had been discharged with good characters after twelve years. Introduction to the war diaries, 19141918 of the queens royal west surrey and the east surrey regiment. Ham remembers rescuing from oblivion the stories of those. The 2nd battalion the east surrey regiment who returned from india during.
Welcome to forces reunited the place where you can find information and friends from east surrey regiment we are the largest and fastest growing community of uk forces veterans on the web with over 500,000 members. Four days later, as the men of the 7th battalion queens royal west surrey regiment went over the top at morlancourt, just north of the. Uk, wwi war diaries france, belgium and germany, 19141920. Get surrey looks back on the stories of young soldiers from 100 years ago. Beginning from small independent units recruited in the south london suburbs, it was attached to the queens royal regiment west surrey and served in the second boer war, world war i and third angloafghan war.
On 4 august 1914, the 1st battalion, east surrey regiment was in dublin. This collection consists of records from the queens royal west surrey and east surrey regiments. The east surrey regiment was a line infantry regiment of the british army in existence from 1881 until 1959. Ancestry can be used free of charge in surrey libraries and at surrey history centre. Clicking on the link will take you to the results on findmypast but you will need a subscription or payperview credits to actually view the records. The battalion war diaries for the queens royal west surrey and east surrey. Diaries kept by surrey soldiers on the front line during the first world war are now available on the internet. Get a daytoday look at what your ancestors unit was up to during the first world war with these war diaries. The queens royal west surrey regiment the east surrey regiment. Different parts of the collection cover units serving in. I have his dogtags and would love to get them home to his family.
Troops of the 12th battalion, east surrey regiment, who attacked on the first morning of the battle of messines 7 june, on 11 june 1917. The badge of the east surrey regiment as depicted on a cwgc gravestone. The east surrey regiment was a line infantry regiment of the british army in existence from. The 31st was in england when they became the 1st battalion. Those of them who lost their lives while on active service in the east surrey regiment were, in alphabetical order of surname. He enlisted with the artists rifles in november 1915 and eventually was commissioned in to the 9th service battalion east surrey regiment in. The history of the 12th bermondsey battalion east surrey. The east surrey regiment was created in 1881 from the amalgamation of the 31st huntingdonshire regiment, which became the 1st battalion, and the 70th surrey regiment, which became the 2nd. Bringing the sights, sounds, smells, and horrors of war, this book describes the daily life. During the war over 6,000 men of the east surrey regiment lost their lives. Battle of hill 60 three east surrey victoria crosses. My great grandfather was killed in the early hours of july 3rd 1916,at ovillers,he was with the 7th battalion, east surrey regiment,his name was thomas william bliss,he was 29 years old from islington,london.
Queens royal west surrey regiment during ww1 the regiment formed 28 battalions and was awarded 74 battle honours and 4 victoria crosses, losing 8,000 men during the course of the first world war. On august 4, 1918, the great war entered its fifth year. The east surrey regiment 1st battalion regimental colours flag. Mason the east surrey regiment by chris baker the british army in the great war the east surrey regiment by brad chappell the regiment warpath. Uk, wwi war diaries gallipoli and dardanelles, 19141916. The postcard is of men from the east surrey regiment, in the front row a second lieutenant flanked by three sergeants and a corporal, with 25 men behind them. The regimental records do not include information on every soldier who served with the. The battalion war diaries for the queens royal west surrey and east surrey regiments, 1914 1918, have been digitised and are now available online on the website of the queens royal surrey regimental museum. In july 1917, a young man in the 12th east surrey regiment kept a journal of his experiences at the front. East surrey regiment project gutenberg selfpublishing. In 1881 as part of the childers reforms the 31st was merged with the 70th surrey regiment to become east surrey regiment.
Nominal roll of 1st battalion, east surrey regiment surrey county. The first world war has always held a certain grim fascination its sheer magnitude, the horrific casualties, the bravery, the patriotism, the amazing logistical challenges and the speed of mobilisation. These records are the unit war diaries of the british army in the first world war and are held by the national archives in record series wo 95. A new archive uploaded by the royal surrey regiment association fleshes out the history of those whose names are displayed each year on war memorials throughout the county. East surrey regiment westminster school and the first world war. War diaries of the 9th battalion, east surrey regiment record him as wounded on. Although georges service record did not survive the blitz in the second world war like so many, it turns out that in the case of the 31st regimental district which included the east surrey regiment, and covered putney, the recruitment registers still survive. East surrey regiment east yorkshire regiment essex regiment general staff gloucestershire regiment.
The 1st battalion, east surrey regiment was a regular army unit based in england at the outbreak of world war ii in september 1939. This intense experience profoundly affected his writing and, through his play, it continues to have a. The history is actually made up of individual notes, memories, army records, diaries and anecdotes of their involvment from commencement right to the end of their war. The princess of wales royal regiment queens and royal hampshires the infantry regiments of surrey. The podcast explores in particular sherriffs experiences with the battalion and his reactions to them and the situations and characters he had in mind in writing his play. These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the second world war. Those of them who lost their lives while on active service in the east surrey regiment. East surrey regiment boer war medals 18991902 shc ref esr364 this index is from the digest of service for the 2nd battalion in south africa, which, as well as recording the battalions activities during the war, also gives the name, rank and number of those who received the south africa medal, as well as those soldiers who were wounded. The diary of the 9th battalion of the east surrey regiment for march. The regiment was formed in 1881 under the childers reforms by the amalgamation of the 31st huntingdonshire regiment of foot, the 70th surrey regiment of foot, the 1st royal surrey militia and the 3rd royal surrey militia. Sep 07, 2019 many men from, or of, ham chose to serve in the east surrey regiment during the great war. They are not personal diaries try the imperial war museum or local record offices for those. A key attraction was that it was kingstons local regiment and ham was part of the borough of kingston, surrey. The battalion war diary should be available on line through the queens royal surrey regiment website.
Leatherbound autograph diary written by col bertram reveley mitford dso 18631936, east surrey regiment, during his boer war and subsequent south african service, 1 nov 1901 to 31 dec 1903. Ts transcript 10pp of the official war diary of the 16th battalion the queens royal west surrey regiment 44th division for the campaign in france and belgium, 15 may 1940 31 may 1940 and covering in detail their preparations for and determined defence of positions along the escaut canal and their subsequent withdrawal to and evacuation from dunkirk. East surrey regiment this page summarises records created by this organisation the summary includes a brief description of the collections usually including the covering dates of the collection, the name of the archive where they are held, and reference information to help you find the collection. Photos, obituaries and short service records all available to view and download. The east surrey regiment was a line infantry regiment of the british army active from 1881 to 1959. Discover sources at surrey history centre and elsewhere for tracing military records. If you search only by name of regiment without a battalion number, your search. This volume of the regimental history is the story of the regiment in the great war during which the original five battalions two regular, one special reserve and two territorial expanded to twentyseven, five of which were raised as labour battalions. My son andrew and i also gave a talk at the national archives based on the book, which you can listen to as a podcast on the tna website.
The author, rc sherriff, saw all his front line service with 9th battalion east surrey regiment. My great uncle, reg howship served with the battalion from august 1918 and won the m. These records are the unit war diaries of the british army in the first world war and are held by the national archives in record. The regiment had its first indian posting in bengal 184857, before fighting in the maori wars 184566 in new zealand and then went on to fight during the second afghan war 187880. East surrey regiments football charge july 1st 1916. Some of these records can also be viewed online on ancestry although. The east surrey regiment nominal roll for the 9th battalion, 19141918. For anyone with an interest in others who served in a battalion of the east surrey regiment, may i recommend 1st world war diaries, a site with images from the first world war diaries of the regiments many battalions.
The battalion remained in india until the outbreak of the first world war. Surviving recruitment registers for the world war i period are extremely rare indeed and the surrey recruitment registers offer a fascinating snapshot of the men of surrey who served for king and country. In august 1940 all british troops were recalled from china and the battalion was sent to singapore for combat training headed by lieutenant colonel g. The battalion was part of the 11th infantry brigade, which also included the 2nd battalion, lancashire fusiliers and 1st battalion, ox and bucks light infantry. From the excellent paulhp collection at flickr, with. Many men from, or of, ham chose to serve in the east surrey regiment during the great war. Queens royal west surrey regiment regiment history, war. Researching soldiers who served in the east surrey regiment. The first world war has always held a certain grim fascination its sheer magnitude, the horrific casualties, the bravery, the patriotism, the amazing logistical challenges and the speed of. Photocopy 25pp of a ts narrative based on personal diary and individual recollections of officers serving in the 26th battalion east surrey regiment ta 12th infantry division while serving in france, 21 may 12 june 1940, describing the battalions movements, reactions to the german advance and encounters with enemy forces, the retreat to the coast and the capture of many personnel.
Royal east surrey regiment in the second world war, the wartime memories project. The 2nd battalion east surrey regiment when war was declared in 1939, the surreys were on protection duties in shanghai. Imperial war museum image q2819 th service battalion wandsworth. Richard charles greenwood, east surrey regiment wandsworth battalion. I am happy to cover all costs, if you are a family member or can put me in touch with them, please get in touch. Royal east surrey regiment in the second world war 19391945. Photos, obituaries and short service records all available to view and. It chronicles only one month in flanders and takes up only 27 pages of this 56 page book.
This battalion history looks at the 9th east surrey regiment, part of kitcheners new army, raised in 1914, thrown into combat in september 1915 and that stayed on the western front for the rest of the war. History of the queens royal west surrey regiment in. Queens royal west surrey regiment forces war records. Since writing journeys end battalion i have produced a further book and various articles, as mentioned below, which have a bearing on 9th east surrey. At willow grange, 22nd november, the east surrey supported the west yorks in the assault, and in his report, dated 24th november, general hildyard said, the behaviour of all ranks of the 2nd east surrey regiment when engaged was satisfactory under great difficulties. War diary of the 16th battalion the queens royal west. British army war diaries 19141922 the national archives. Remembering the brave men of the east surrey regiment who. War diaries 1914 1919 of the queens royal west surrey.
Journeys end is a wellknown play about the great war. The regiment went on to serve during the crimean war fighting at the siege of sevastopol, and then during the second opium war in china. War diaries of the 9th battalion, east surrey regiment record him as wounded on 3rd september 1916, and other sources as died of wounds. The 70th was stationed at dinapore when, on 1 july 1881, under the reorganisation of the infantry, they became the 2nd battalion, the east surrey regiment. Then in october 1881 they sailed from dover to ireland, stationed at buttevant. The east surrey regiment 1996 journal of the east surrey regiment 19201959 administrative biographical background. The fierce fighting on 20th april resulted in the award of three victoria crosses to men of the 1st battalion, east surrey regiment, in an action described in the regimental history as one of the hardest fights that the battalion has experienced.
In 1959 the east surrey regiment was amalgamated with the queens royal regiment west surrey to form the the queens royal surrey regiment. One of the most famous incidents to occur during the carnage of the first day of the battle of the somme was the 8th battalion east surrey regiments famous football charge towards the german trenches at montauban. Surrey author rc sherriff 18961975 won enduring fame through his epic first world war play journeys end 1929 set in a british dugout on the western front in 1918. Find your heroes and veterans from the great war in this collection of medal and award rolls.
Bodleian library in july 1917, a young man in the 12th east surrey regiment kept a journal of his experiences at the front. Rivers went out to the western front on 30 th august 1915. Bringing the sights, sounds, smells, and horrors of war, this book describes the daily life of one soldier. Amongst the records of the east surrey regiment held at surrey. The queens royal west surrey regiment 2nd foot history of the queens royal west surrey regiment in the great war the narrative describing the actions of the battalions gives names of officers present for duty at various times, reports casualties and names individuals in action. The journeys end battalion 9th east surrey in the great. The queens royal west surrey regiment was the second oldest regiment of the line, the 2nd foot. The registers are published here with the kind permission of the surrey history trust which retains all s in the database. The only officer remaining who had served with the battalion from its earliest days in france, he was wounded again, according to the battalion war diary, on the very last day of the war. Dranoutre military cemetery, westvlaanderen, belgium. The battalions war diary gives some indication of the how desperate the situation was.