- 20th (Shoreditch) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment during the Great War -
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20th (Shoreditch) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
20th (Shoreditch) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was raised in Shoreditch on the 18th of May 1915 by the Mayor and Borough. In July 1915 they joined 118th Brigade in 39th Division and moved to Aldershot. In February 1916 they moved to Witley and transferred to 121st Brigade, 40th Division. They proceeded to France in June 1916 and the divison concentrated near Lillers. They went into the front line near Loos and were later in action in The Battle of the Ancre on the Somme. In 1917 they saw action during The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The capture of Fifteen Ravine, Villers Plouich, Beaucamp and La Vacquerie abd The Cambrai Operations, including the capture of Bourlon Wood in November. In 1918 they fought in The Battle of St Quentin and The Battle of Bapaume on the Somme then the The Battle of Estaires and The Battle of Hazebrouck in Flanders, suffering heavy losses. On the 6th of May 1918 they were reduced to a cadre and on the 31st they transferred to 16th (Irish) Division. On the 20th of June they absorbed the 34th Middlesex and moved to Boulogne on the 16th of July, transferring to 43rd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division. They returned to England on the 17th and moved to Brookwood. They returned to France on the 5th of July 1918 landing at Boulogne, they joined Second Army and saw action at Ypres 1918 and in the final advance in Flanders
21st April 1915 Letter
15th June 1915 Appointment
28th August 1915 2nd in Command
15th September 1915 Major General Barnardiston. M.V.O. inspected the Battalion
29th September 1915 Battalion Inspected by Brigadier General W. Bromilow Commanding 118th Infantry Brigade
30th September 1915 Entraining
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
16th October 1915 Reorganisation
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
2nd February 1916 Musketry
9th February 1916 Call Ups
12th February 1916 Musketry course completed
14th February 1916 Returned to Whitley Camp
10th March 1916 Posting
14th March 1916 Command of the Battalion.
31st March 1916 Draft
3rd April 1916 Join the 121st Brigade
20th May 1916 Draft
22nd May 1916 Draft
23rd May 1916 Draft
27th May 1916 40th Division was mobilised
27th May 1916 40th Division Mobilised
5th June 1916 Embarkation for Europe
5th June 1916 Embarkation
6th June 1916 Disembarked
7th June 1916 Entrainment
8th June 1916 On the Move
9th June 1916 Snipers
10th June 1916 Route March
11th June 1916 Inspections
12th June 1916 Inspection by General Sir Chas Munro Commanding 1st Army
13th June 1916 Gas demonstration
14th June 1916 Gas demonstration
15th June 1916 Training
16th June 1916 Musketry
17th Jun 1916 Orders
17th June 1916 Alarm was practiced at night.
18th June 1916 Church Parade
19th June 1916 Gas Danger Area
20th Jun 1916 Orders
20th June 1916 Training
21st June 1916 Live Bombs
22nd June 1916 Air raid on the town
23rd June 1916 6 German aeroplanes came over the town
24th June 1916 Battalion moved to Maroc
25th June 1916 Trench Mortar Duel
26th June 1916 Firing continued on both sides
27th June 1916 Mine exploded
28th June 1916 Shelling
29th June 1916 Gas demonstration at Drouvin
30th June 1916 Gas demonstrations
30th June 1916 Report
30th June 1916 Report
30th June 1916 Report
30th June 1916 Report
30th June 1916 Report
30th June 1916 Officers
1st July 1916 Preperations for Move
2nd Jul 1916 On the Move
2nd July 1916 Smoke Discharge
3rd July 1916 Attachment to 1st Loyal North Lancs.
4th July 1916 Bombardment
5th July 1916 Rifle Grenades
6th July 1916 Artillery Active
7th July 1916 Reliefs
8th July 1916 S.O.S. message received
9th July 1916 Heavy bombardment on our right
10th July 1916 No Casualties.
11th July 1916 Heavy Bombardment
12th July 1916 Squad Drill
13th July 1916 Brigade Bombing school opened.
14th July 1916 Baths
15th July 1916 Training
16th July 1916 Church Parade 1400 hours
17th July 1916 Reliefs Complete
18th July 1916 Fighting patrol
19th July 1916 Recce
20th July 1916 Wire Cutting
21st July 1916 Relief started
22nd July 1916 Reliefs
23rd July 1916 Working Parties
29th July 1916 Reliefs
30th July 1916 Shelling
31st July 1916 Artillery Active
1st August 1916 Intermittent Shelling
2nd August 1916 M.G. fire throughout night.
3rd August 1916 Quiet
4th August 1916 Attempted Raid
5th August 1916 H.Q. staff arrive
6th August 1916 Cleaning up and inspections.
7th August 1916 Divisional Baths allotted
8th August 1916 Close order drill
9th August 1916 Rifle range allotted
10th August 1916 Move
11th August 1916 Training
12th August 1916 In Reserve
13th August 1916 Fatigues & improving billets.
20th August 1916 Reliefs
21st August 1916 Rifle Grenades and Aerial Torpedoes
22nd August 1916 Fighting patrol
23rd August 1916 Shelling
24th August 1916 Trench Raid
25th August 1916 Heavy Shelling
26th August 1916 Enemy Party
27th August 1916 Relief of two companies.
28th August 1916 Relief Completed
29th August 1916 Fatigues
30th August 1916 Divisional Baths allotted
31st August 1916 Fatigues
1st September 1916 Reliefs
2nd September 1916 Quiet
3rd September 1916 Quiet
4th September 1916 A further quiet 24 hours
5th September 1916 Reliefs
6th September 1916 Cleaning and Fatigues.
9th September 1916 Battalion training
10th September 1916 Church parades in morning.
11th Sep 1916 Reliefs Completed
11th September 1916 Reliefs
12th September 1916 A very quiet day.
13th September 1916 Training
14th September 1916 Bomb throwing competition
15th September 1916 Into Support
16th September 1916 A quiet day.
19th September 1916 Reliefs
20th September 1916 Rifle Grenades
21st September 1916 Rifle Grenades and Aerial Darts.
22nd September 1916 Heavy T.M's. very active.
23rd September 1916 A quiet period.
24th September 1916 T.M's., Artillery and M.G's.
25th September 1916 Bombarded with Heavy T.M. & an M.G.
26th September 1916 Consolidating Crater
27th September 1916 Reliefs
28th September 1916 Cleaning up.
29th September 1916 Fatigues & Baths.
30th September 1916 Operations
30th September 1916 Fatigues, Baths & refitting.
1st October 1916 Preliminary Operation Order.
1st October 1916 Reliefs
2nd October 1916 Wet & Cold. A quiet day.
3rd October 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order No. 24.
3rd October 1916 Nearly all Battalion on fatigues.
4th October 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order No. 25.
4th October 1916 Table
4th October 1916 Relief Orders
4th October 1916 General Notes.
4th October 1916 Y Party Timetable.
4th October 1916 Orders
4th October 1916 X Party Timetable.
4th October 1916 Orders Issued
4th October 1916 120th Infantry Brigade O.O.32
4th October 1916 Orders Received
5th October 1916 Rations
5th October 1916 Reliefs
6th October 1916 Orders
6th October 1916 Casualties wounded.
7th October 1916 Instructions
7th October 1916 Instructions
7th October 1916 Quiet
8th October 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order No. 27.
8th October 1916 Preparation
9th October 1916 Shelling.
10th October 1916 Battalion Order
10th October 1916 Consolidation of New Crater.
10th October 1916 Mines
10th October 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order No. 28.
10th October 1916 Table of Reliefs
10th October 1916 Table of Reliefs
10th October 1916 Instructions
10th October 1916 Reliefs
11th October 1916 Orders
11th October 1916 Orders Updated
11th October 1916 Trench Raid
12th October 1916 Battalion Order 20 Issued.
13th October 1916 Reliefs Complete
14th October 1916 Cleaning up.
15th October 1916 Visit
15th October 1916 Confirmation of Orders
15th October 1916 Orders from Brigade
16th October 1916 Orders
16th October 1916 Orders
16th October 1916 Order of Relief Table
16th October 1916 Army Commander expressed his appreciation
16th October 1916 Guards complimented by Army Commander.
17th October 1916 Reliefs
18th October 1916 Instructions
18th October 1916 SECRET
18th October 1916 Quiet day.
19th October 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order 30
19th October 1916 Letter
20th October 1916 121st Brigade Order No. 30. received.
21st October 1916 Orders
21st October 1916 Order of Relief Table
21st October 1916 Reliefs
22nd October 1916 Orders
22nd October 1916 Relief Table
22nd October 1916 Explosion
23rd October 1916 Orders
23rd October 1916 Orders
25th October 1916 Transport
23rd October 1916 Visit
24th October 1916 Enemy Trench Mortars
25th October 1916 Usual exchanges
26th October 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order 32
26th October 1916 March Table
26th October 1916 Billetting Arrangements
26th October 1916 Enemy blew in Saps
27th October 1916 Reliefs
28th October 1916 20th Middlesex Regt. Battalion Order No. 26.
28th October 1916 l2lst Infantry Brigade Order No.33.
28th October 1916 Billeting Arrangements
28th October 1916 New small respirators fitted
29th October 1916 Orders
29th October 1916 On the March
30th October 1916 On the March
31st October 1916 Cleaning up.
1st November 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order 34.
1st November 1916 March Table
1st November 1916 Training in open warfare
2nd November 1916 Move
3rd November 1916 Orders
3rd November 1916 Orders
3rd November 1916 121st Infantry Brigade HQ
3rd November 1916 Lorries
3rd November 1916 Instructions
3rd November 1916 Battalion drill
4th November 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order No. 38.
4th November 1916 Orders for Haute Visee detachment.
4th November 1916 Lack of Accomodation
5th November 1916 Orders for Detachment.
5th November 1916 After Orders
5th November 1916 On the March
6th November 1916 Respirator drill
7th November 1916 Draft of 37 O.R. joined.
8th November 1916 Company training
9th November 1916 Inspection
10th November 1916 Companies training
11th November 1916 Brigade Scheme
12th November 1916 Training.
13th November 1916 Route March
14th November 1916 Brigade Scheme
15th November 1916 121st Brigade Order No.39.
15th November 1916 Move
16th November 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order No.40.
16th November 1916 Very Cold Day
17th November 1916 March Table
17th November 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order 41 ( B.O.O.41 )
17th November 1916 March Table Issued with 121st Infantry Brigade Order 41 ( B.O.O.41 )
17th November 1916 Battalion Order by Major J.B. Johnson. Commanding 20th Middlesex Regt. Pt. 1
17th November 1916 Battalion Order by Major J.B. Johnson. Commanding 20th Middlesex Regt. Pt. 2.
17th November 1916 Move
18th November 1916 Move
19th November 1916 Battalion Order by Major J.B. Johnson. Commanding 20th middlesex regt.
19th November 1916 Leave Begins
20th November 1916 Outpost positions
21st November 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order 44 ( B.O.O.44 )
21st November 1916 March Table B.O.O.44
21st November 1916 Battalion Order by Major J.B. Johnson. Commanding 20th Middlesex Regt.
21st November 1916 Practicing replenishment of ammunition
22nd November 1916 Reference to Brigade Preparation Order of today
22nd November 1916 121st Infantry Brigade O.O.45. ( B.O.O.45. )
22nd November 1916 March Table ( Issued with B.O.O.45 )
22nd November 1916 On the Move
23rd November 1916 121st Infantry Brigade After Order to No.46.
23rd November 1916 The 121st Infantry Brigade Group will move tomorrow
23rd November 1916 March Table ( Issued with B.O.O.45 )
23rd November 1916 Battalion Order by Major J.B. Johnson. Commanding 20th middlesex regt.
23rd November 1916 On the Move
24th November 1916 Move
25th November 1916 Battalion Order
25th November 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order No.47.
25th November 1916 Arms drill
26th November 1916 On the March
27th November 1916 Company training
28th November 1916 Company training and Specialists.
29th November 1916 Company training and Specialists.
30th November 1916 Company training and Specialists.
30th December 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order 52
30th December 1916 March Table B.O.O.52
30th December 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order 36.
30th Nov 1917 Congratulations
24th Mar 1918 On the Move
1st Apr 1918 Reliefs Complete
2nd Apr 1918 Moves
3rd Apr 1918 Quiet
4th Apr 1918 Quiet
5th Apr 1918 Orders
6th Apr 1918 Reliefs Completed
7th Apr 1918 Reorganisation
9th Apr 1918 In Action
23rd of April 1918 TrainingIf you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
Want to know more about 20th (Shoreditch) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment?
There are:5523 items tagged 20th (Shoreditch) Battalion, Middlesex 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
20th (Shoreditch) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
during the Great War 1914-1918.
- Bailey Robert. Pte. (d.26th Nov 1917)
- Banner Lionel Henry. Pte. (d.24th Nov 1917)
- Brennan Henry Joseph. Pte. (d.11th May 1918)
- Cater William. Pte. (d.8th Jan 1918)
- Jenkins John. Pte. (d.20th Sep 1916)
- Jones Leonard Levi. Pte.
- Joyce Henry Thomas. Pte. (d.29th July 1916)
- Pidgeon William Henry. Pte. (d.9-12th April 1918)
- Reygate Charles Henry. Pte. (d.28th Sep 1918)
- Sutch Frederick George. Pte. (d.13th April 1917)
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 20th (Shoreditch) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment from other sources.
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Pte. Charles Henry Reygate 20th Btn. Middlesex Regiment (d.28th Sep 1918)Charles Reygate served with 20th Btn. Middlesex Regiment.Lee Schofield
Pte. Robert Bailey 20th Btn. Middlesex Regiment (d.26th Nov 1917)Robert Bailey served with the 20th Btn. Middlesex RegimentSteven L. Wagner
Pte. John Jenkins 20th Btn. Middlesex Regiment (d.20th Sep 1916)Jack Jenkins was my great uncle, born in Spitalfields East London, he enlisted at Shoreditch in July 1915.Pat Larner
Pte. Henry Joseph Brennan 20th Battalion Middlesex Regiment (d.11th May 1918)Henry Joseph Brennan Died aged 18 on Saturday 11th May 1918 whilst serving with the 20th Battalion Middlesex Regiment. He was the son of Michael and Sarah Agnes Brennan of 29 Field Terrace Jarrow. Born Jarrow in 1900, on the 1911 census he is listed as Henry Joseph Brennan age 11 at School living with his parents Michael and Sarah Agnes Brennan and family at 43 Harold Street, Jarrow. He enlisted in Farnborough Hampshire.Henry is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial.
Vin Mullen
Pte. Frederick George Sutch 20th Bn Middlesex Regiment (d.13th April 1917)Frederick George Sutch was the youngest son of John and Hester Sutch. John and Hester are my three times great uncle and aunt. The family was unknown to me until I started my family tree.Update:
The above period covers the duration of his military service until his death on the 13th April 1917. His Battalion was part of 121 Infantry Brigade which in turn was in the 40th Division and overall the 4th Army under General Rawlinson. His death must have occurred during operation at Fifteen Ravine and Villers Plouich in what was generally termed the Battle of Arras. He is buried at Gouzeaucourt British Cemetery, Nord, France.
- 20th (Reserve) Battalion (Shoreditch)
- 18th May 1915 Formed in Shoreditch, London by the Mayor and the Borough.
- July 1915 Transferred to 118th Brigade of the 39th Division.
- 15th August 1915 War Office takes over Command of Battalion.
- Oct 1915 Moved to Aldershot.
- Feb 1916 Moved to Witley and Transferred to the 121st Brigade of the 40th Division.
- June 1916 Mobilised for war and landed in France. Where they engaged in action on the Western Front including; The Battle of the Ancre in 1916, The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, (March 1917) The capture of Fifteen Ravine, Villers Plouich, (April 1917) Beaucamp and La Vacquerie, (May - June 1917) The Cambrai Operations. (June to November 1917)
Updated by John Doran (1st December 2013)
Michael Leach
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