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- 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment during the Great War -


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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment



   2nd Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment was in Chaubattia, India when war broke out in August 1914. 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. They joined 85th Brigade, 28th Division who were assembling near Winchester. They proceeded to France, via Southampton landing at Le Havre on the 19th of January 1915. The Division concentrated in the area between Bailleul and Hazebrouck, being joined by additional Territorial units. In 1915 they were in action in The Second Battle of Ypres and The Battle of Loos. On the 19th of October 1915 orders were recieved to prepare to sail and five days later the first units left Marseilles for Alexandria in Egypt all units (with the exception XXXI and CXLVI Brigades RFA) arrived the by 22nd of November and the 2nd East Surreys moved to Salonika on the 1st of December. Later in the year they were in action during the occupation of Mazirko and the capture of Barakli Jum'a. In 1917 they were involved in the capture of Ferdie and Essex Trenches (near Barakli Jum'a) and then the capture of Barakli and Kumli. In mid 1918 a number of units returned to France. The remainer of the Division, including the 2nd East Surreys were later in action at the Battle of Doiran and the pursuit to the Strumica valley. When hostilities with Bulgaria ceased at the end of September the 28th Division was in the area of Trnovo. They moved in early November to Gallipoli and occupied the Dardanelles Forts.

11th November 1914 Inspection

21st December 1914 In Reserve

10th Feb 1915 Rounds Fired  location map

13th Feb 1915 Artillery Support  location map

14th Feb 1915 Attack Expected  location map

15th Feb 1915   location map

16th Feb 1915 Barrage  location map

17th Feb 1915 Relief  location map

18th Feb 1915 Reorganisation

22nd Feb 1915 Reliefs

26th Feb 1915 Reliefs

12th Mar 1915 Attack Made

16th Mar 1915 Reliefs

23rd Mar 1915 Reliefs

29th May 1915 Gas shells near Zonnebeke

18th Sep 1915 Instruction

19th Sep 1915 Instruction

20th Sep 1915 Instruction

21st Sep 1915 Reliefs

27th September 1915 

28th September 1915 

29th September 1915 

16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme

1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets

1st Dec 1915 East Surreys Arrive

3rd Dec 1915 2nd East Surreys on the Move

11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment

17th Dec 1915 2nd East Surreys on the Move

20th Dec 1915 2nd East Surreys on the Move

10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens

9th February 1916 Call Ups

29th June 1917 A fighting patrol was sent in to Oppy Village but found 2nd East Surrey still holding there and had to return.

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Want to know more about 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment?


There are:5262 items tagged 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.


Those known to have served with

2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Gray Frederick William James . Pte. (d.28th April 1915)
  • Gridley Charles. Pte. (d.2nd Aug 1915)
  • Hancock Ernest. Pte. (d.28th Nov 1914)
  • Norris Charles. L/Cpl. (d.14th Feb 1915)
  • Paice F. J.. SSgt. (d.23rd July 1915)
  • Poke John Henry. L/Cpl. (d.2nd April 1915)
  • Romer George Edward. Pte. (d.25th March 1915)
  • Strutton Edward. Pte. (d.25th April 1915)
  • Turpie William J.. Pte. (d.1st Jul 1915)
  • Wallis Herbert Francis. Pte. (d.27th Apr 1915)

All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment from other sources.


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  Pte. Frederick William James Gray 2nd Btn. East Surrey Regiment (d.28th April 1915)

Frederick Gray was born in Notting Hill about 1888, eldest of the four sons of William Frederick and Sarah Gray. The 1901 census shows him living with his parents (then aged 13) and three brothers Albert (11), Richard (9) and William (4) at 9 Nelson Place, The Steyne, Acton, London. His father was a horse keeper and his mother was a laundress. The 1911 census shows that Frederick had moved away from the family home.

Frederick served with the 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. He was killed in action on the 28th of April 1915, during the 2nd Battle of Ypres his age is recorded as 30 years. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. He is remembered on the War Memorial, St Mary's Church, Acton, London.

He was the first of the Gray brothers to die serving his Country. Richard died on the 23rd of April 1918 and William died on 28rd May 1918 . Tragically his parents lost 3 of their 4 sons to the War, it is not known if their brother Albert saw military service.

Caroline Hunt






  SSgt. F. J. Paice 2nd Bn. attd. Military Grass and Dairy Farm East Surrey Regiment (d.23rd July 1915)

Staff Serjeant Paice is buried in the Madras Wesleyan Cemetery in Chennai, India, Plot 2. Grave 3.

s flynn






  Pte. Charles Gridley 2nd Btn. East Surrey Regiment (d.2nd Aug 1915)

Charles Gridley was born about September 1872 in Richmond, Surrey, the son of a bricklayer. He joined the 31st and 70th Foot at the age of 18 years and 5 months on 16th February 1891 (Service Number 3370) and served in the East Indies and in South Africa during the Boer War. He had a total of 12 years service up to his discharge on 12th February 1903. He was awarded the SA Medal and the QSA Medal. Charles married Adeline Annie Barnett on 1st June 1903 at Christ Church, Richmond, Surrey.

He served with the East Surrey Regiment, 2nd Battalion and the Regiment diaries provide an overview of events:

  • January 1915 - arrived in France and joined the 28th Division.
  • Ypres salient.
  • Battle of St Eloi.
  • May 1915 - Second Battle of Ypres.
  • From July to September 1915 the battalion was in trenches at St Eloi and Wulverghem in Belgium.

Charles died on 2nd of August 1915 and is buried at Wulveringem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery in Belgium. (His name was entered as G. Gridley on the CWGC website. A correction has been requested.)

Irene Scrivener






  Pte. Ernest Hancock 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment (d.28th Nov 1914)

Ernest Hancock volunteered at the outbreak of the war although he was in an exempt occupation and had three young sons. The youngest (my father) was born in February 1915. Ernest was wounded at Ypres but subsequently died at Leicester Infirmary aged 30. Three of his wife's relatives were also killed.

My father also served in the East Surrey's during the Second World War in Italy although he initially served in the Royal West Kents.

P Hancock






  Pte. Herbert Francis Wallis 2nd Btn. East Surrey Regiment (d.27th Apr 1915)

Herbert Francis Wallis served with the 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment during WW1 and was killed in action on the 27th April 1915, aged 18. He is buried in Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery in Belgium. Son of Mrs. M. A. Wallis, of 117, Turkey Street, Waltham Cross, Herts.

S Flynn






  Pte. William J. Turpie 2nd Btn. East Surrey Regiment (d.1st Jul 1915)

William J Turpie served with the 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment during WW1. He was executed for desertion on the 1st July 1915, aged 24 and buried in the White House Cemetery in Belgium,.

S Flynn






  Pte. George Edward Romer 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment (d.25th March 1915)

George Edward Romer served with the 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment. Born 1883 in Hoxton Middlesex he was the son of Wilhelm August Romer and Mary Ann Romer nee. Metheringham. He married Elizabeth Dumphy in 1904 and had 3 daughters and one son. Elizabeth was living at 2, Russell Rd., South Tottenham, London at the time of George's death.

George was killed in action on 25th March 1915 and is buried inDickebusch New Military Cemetery, Belgium.







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