2/17th (2nd Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment

2/17th (2nd Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment were raised in London in August 1914. After training in the London area they joined 2/5th London Brigade, 2/2nd London Division at Reigate in January 1915. The division was later retitled 180th Brigade, 60th (2/2nd London) Division. They moved to St Albans in March 1915, then to Bishops Stortford in May 1915 and to Sutton Veny in January 1916 for final training. They proceeded to France on the 23rd of June, landing at Le Havre. In November 1916 they moved to Salonika. they were ordered to Salonika. Travelling by train fom Longpre to Marseilles and sailing via Malta, they arrived in Salonika on 25 December 1916. In 1917 they were in action during the The Battles of Doiran in April and May. They moved to Egypt, concentrating at Moascar in the Southern Suez Canal Zone then advanced into Palestine. They were in action during The Third Battle of Gaza including the capture of Beersheba and the capture of the Sheria position and The capture and defence of Jerusalem. In 1918 they saw action in The capture of Jericho, The battle of Tell'Asur, The first Trans-Jordan raid (as part of Shea's Force) The attack on Amman (as part of Chaytor's Column) and The second Trans-Jordan raid. In the spring and summer the division was Indianised with British units leaving for France and units of the Indian Army taking their place. On the 27th of May the 2/17th Londons left the Division and moved to France, joining 89th Brigade, 30th Division the 30th of June at Audruicq. They were in action during the Advance in Flanders and by the Armistice had crossed the River Scheldt with advanced units reaching the line between Ghoy and la Livarde, north west of Lessines. In January 1919 30th Division took up duty at the Base Ports of Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne and Etaples and demobilisation began.

16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme

1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets

11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment

10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens

9th February 1916 Call Ups

22nd of May 1917 Reliefs

24th July 1918 Reliefs

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2/17th (2nd Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Gray Alfred. Cpl.
Hammond Arthur Morgan Decon. Sgt.
Sayers MM William Edwin.

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Cpl. Alfred Gray 2/17th (2nd Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion London Regiment

My Grandfather Alfred Gray served with the 2/17th Poplar & Stepney Rifles. He served from volunteering in 1914 until demobilisation around 1919.
He recalled: As the Turks retreated through Palestine they committed the worst of crimes: they poisoned all water sources. The British Army was on strict water rations, each soldier responsible for his own supply not to be shared. After a skirmish, they were mopping up and I came across a Turks lying there dying. He begged me, "Water Tommy, Water!" I cradled him in my arms and gave him water, he died then. For this act, I was court-martialed in the Field, lost my stripes and was tied to a gun carriage and left in the desert for 24 hours"
Alf was a resilient man and to a great extent lacked sensibility, laughing off most setbacks. This may explain his light hearted attitude to being shot in the foot and surviving without infection from field hospital to field hospital from Jerusalem to Alexandria and a bullet that went through his helmet leaving a groove in his head into which as children we would love to place our fingers!!! Also to note, 2/17th included Alf and his four brothers one of whom is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. Another story was that Alf lost his stripes (again?) for being drunk on the Mount of Olives, True/False, I do not know. Loved the old B to death though A Lion led by Donkeys?
Trevor Wadham

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2/17th (2nd Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment
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Want to know more about 2/17th (2nd Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment?

Those known to have served with2/17th (2nd Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, London Regimentduring the Great War 1914-1918.

Can you help?

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- 2/17th (2nd Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment during the Great War -

Those known to have served with
2/17th (2nd Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment
during the Great War 1914-1918.