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17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment
17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment, a Territorial unit and had thier headquarters at 66 Tredegar Road, Bow, when war broke out in August 1914, serving as part of 5th London Brigade, 2nd London Division. The Division had just arrived for their annual summer camp on Salisbury Plain when war wasdeclared in August 1914, they were at once recalled to their home base and mobilised for war service. The Division concentrated in the St Albans area for training, with the 17th Battalion at St Albans. They proceeded to France on the 10th of March 1915, landing at le Havre, being only the second TF Division to arrive in theatre. The 5th London Brigade was ordered to Cassel, and the remainder of the Division concentrated near Bethune and were joined by 5th London Brigade near the end of the month. They saw action in The Battle of Aubers Ridge, The Battle of Festubert, The Battle of Loos and The subsequent Actions of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, In 1916 they fought during The German attack at Vimy Ridge, and on The Somme in The Battle of Flers-Courcelette capturing High Wood, The Battle of the Transloy Ridges in which the captured Eaucourt l'Abbaye and The attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt. In 1917 they were in action in The Battle of Messines, the Third Battles of Ypres and The Cambrai Operations where they captured Bourlon Wood and fought against the German counter attacks. On the 1st of February 1918 they transferred to 140th Brigade still with 47th (2nd London) Division. In 1918 they were in action on The Somme and the Final Advance in Artois including making the official entry into Lille. At the Armistice the the forward units of the Division had reached Franses-lez-Buissenal. They marched back to Tournai and on the 26th of November moved on to the Bethune area where demobilisation began with the first parties returning to England in the first week of January 1919.
4th Aug 1914 Poplar and Stepney Rifles return from Salisbury Plain 17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, The London Regiment. It was a Territorial unit and had its headquarters at 66 Tredegar Road, Bow, when war broke out in August 1914. It was part of 5th London Brigade, 2nd London Division (later the 47th Division). The Division had just arrived for their annual summer camp on Salisbury Plain when war was declared in August 1914 and they were at once recalled to their home base and mobilised for war service.
1st Feb 1915 Inspection
2nd Feb 1915 Exercise
3rd Feb 1915 Divisional Exercise
12th Feb 1915 Exercise
12th Feb 1915 Divisional Exercise
22nd Feb 1915 Exercise
22nd Feb 1915 Exercise
26th Feb 1915 Exercise
4th Mar 1915 Preparations
6th Mar 1915 Orders
9th Mar 1915 On the Move
10th Mar 1915 Poplar and Stepney Rifles proceed to France 17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, The London Regiment proceeded to France on the 10th of March 1915, landing at le Havre. The 5th London Brigade was ordered to Cassel, and the remainder of the Division concentrated near Bethune and were joined by 5th London Brigade near the end of the month.
10th Mar 1915 In Camp
18th Mar 1915 On the Move
22nd Mar 1915 Inspection
23rd Mar 1915 Orders
23rd Mar 1915 Praise
24th Mar 1915 Instruction
25th Mar 1915 Instruction 
26th Mar 1915 Instruction
27th Mar 1915 Frost
28th Mar 1915 No Wood
29th Mar 1915 Orders
30th Mar 1915 Orders Received
31st Mar 1915 Instruction
1st Apr 1915 Training
2nd Apr 1915 Training
3rd Apr 1915 Inspection
4th Apr 1915 Training
5th Apr 1915 Training
6th Apr 1915 Instruction
8th Apr 1915 Instruction
9th Apr 1915 Instruction
10th Apr 1915 Instruction
11th Apr 1915 Instruction
12th Apr 1915 Instruction
13th Apr 1915 Instruction
14th Apr 1915 Instruction
15th Apr 1915 Instruction
16th Apr 1915 Instruction
17th Apr 1915 Instruction
18th Apr 1915 Church Parade
19th Apr 1915 Into Billets
20th Apr 1915 Inspection
22nd Apr 1915 Orders Received
23rd Apr 1915 Report
24th Apr 1915 Relief
25th Apr 1915 Quiet
26th Apr 1915 Quiet
27th Apr 1915 Quiet
28th Apr 1915 Quiet
29th Apr 1915 Quiet
30th Apr 1915 Some Shelling
1st May 1915 Heavy Firing
2nd May 1915 Quiet
3rd May 1915 Relief Completed
4th May 1915 Reliefs
5th May 1915 Reliefs
6th May 1915 Preparations
7th May 1915 Conference
8th May 1915 Preparations
9th May 1915 On the March
10th May 1915 Orders
11th May 1915 Orders Received
12th May 1915 On the March
12th May 1915 Relief
13th May 1915 Orders Received
14th May 1915 Heavy Rain
15th May 1915 Breastworks
16th May 1915 Supporting Fire
17th May 1915 Orders Issued
25th May 1915 Attack Made
26th May 1915 Hard Fighting
27th May 1915 Message of Congratulation
28th May 1915 Bombing Attack
2nd Jun 1915 Recce
8th June 1915 In Divisional Reserve
12th June 1915 Operational Order No.10.
5th July 1915 Operational Order No.19.
23rd July 1915 In Brigade Reserve in S. Maroc.
29th July 1915 Operation Order No.21.
15th Aug 1915 Heavy Rain
16th Aug 1915 Route March
17th Aug 1915 Sports
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
29th October 1915 140th Infantry Brigade. Operational Order No.36.
29th October 1915 140th Infantry Brigade. Operational Order No.36.
30th October 1915 Reliefs
30th October 1915 Relievfs
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
19th December 1915 In to Brigade Reserve
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
24th January 1916 Reliefs
5th February 1916 Reliefs
9th February 1916 Call Ups
20th March 1916 Ready to move
21st March 1916 Relief Complete
25th April 1916 Operational Order No.76.
14th Sep 1916 Reliefs
16th Sep 1916 Consolidation
29th September 1916 Infantry Assault
7th Jun 1917 In Action
2nd of September 1917 March to Relief
17th of October 1917 Quiet continues
18th October 1917 17th London Regt. raided enemy positions
28th Nov 1917 17th Londons in action War Diary of 17th London Regiment records:
"Bourlon Wood Sector Relief of 186th Infantry and 2nd Dismounts Cavalry Div.
Hostile Artillery and Machine Gun Fire."
29th Nov 1917 17th Londons in action
24th January 1918 Enemy shelled Ribecourt village
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Barrett Edward John. Rflmn. (d.1st Oct 1916)
- Blake William Peter. Rflmn. (d.22nd June 1915)
- Brown John Alexander. Cpl. (d.24th Nov 1915)
- Burnett Edward. Rflmn. (d.28th Sept 1919)
- Burtt Sidney. Rflmn.
- Cable Charles Ernest. Rfmn. (d.22nd Apr 1917)
- Cable Charles Ernest. Pte. (d.22nd Apr 1917)
- Campling Thomas. Pte.
- Caton J. J.. Pte.
- Cole George Albert. Pte.
- Conway Patrick. Rfmn. (d.29th Nov 1917)
- Cooke William. Rfmn. (d.3rd June 1917)
- Cornwell H. W.. Rfm. (d.7th Jun 1917)
- Duhig John Francis. Pte.
- Elmer Malcolm Henry. Pte.
- Flemming Thomas. (d.23rd Mar 1918)
- Ford Jack. Rflmn. (d.15th Sep 1916)
- Garner Frederick. Pte. (d.1st Sep 1918)
- Geerts Walter Philibert. CSM.
- Gutberlet John Thomas. Rfmn.
- Harman MM. Frederick. Cpl.
- Harris Thomas. Pte. (d.18th January 1919)
- Hart Woolf. Rfmn. (d.7th Jun 1917)
- Herbert John. Supply Sgt
- Hester Charles William James. Rflmn.
- Holloway Robert Joseph. Rflmn.
- Ives James. Pte.
- Joy George Henry. Rflmn. (d.9th Jan 1917)
- Lawrence William. Rflmn.
- Loomes John Jack. Rfmn.
- Loomes John Jack. Pte
- Marshall Thomas William. Pte.
- Mathers John George. Rfmn. (d.24th Aug 1918)
- McGuinness Henry James. Rfmn. (d.23rd Apr 1917)
- Meere Mathew Charles. Lt.
- Moore Arthur Doncaster. Rfn
- Morris Thomas G . Rflmn. (d.1 Oct 1916)
- Morrison Charles Henry. Rfn.
- Morrisson Charles Henry. Rfn.
- Munton John Edward. Rifleman (d.28th Nov 1917)
- Neal John Francis. Rfl. (d.17th Sept 1915)
- Oliver Francis Henry. Rfm.
- Oram Sidney Abraham. Pte. (d.25th March 1918)
- Parfait Edward. Pte.
- Parry Arthur Ernest. Pte.
- Peak MID William A. Sgt
- Poore Walter Thomas. Pte.
- Scarsbrook MM George Frederick. L/Cpl
- Simpson C. R.. Pte.
- Solomons Henry. Rfmn.
- Sullivan Edward James. Rflmn. (d.18th September 1916)
- Thatcher Henry Claude. Pte.
- Thomas Walter. Pte.
- Tovey William. Rflmn.
- Watson George Douglas. Pte.
- Watts G. H. W.. Rfm. (d.7th Jul 1917)
- Westwood Edward James. Rflmn.
- Wheeler Harry. Rifleman
- White William. Rflmn. (d.29th Nov 1917)
- Williams Thomas. Pte. (d.13th Sept 1917)
- Wood Granville Barton. Pte. (d.8th Nov 1916)
- Wright Edward. Rfln (d.1st Oct 1916)
- Wright MC. Howard Caldwell. Capt. (d.2nd Sep 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 17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment from other sources.
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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
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Rfm. H. W. Cornwell 1/17th Btn. London Regiment (d.7th Jun 1917) Rifleman Cornwell lost his life whilst attached to the Royal Irish Rifles at the Battle of Messines. He was 25 years old.
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Pte. George Douglas Watson 9th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles  I just found the military service history of my late granddad, George Watson. At age 18, he joined the British Army and served with the 9th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, and the 17th London Regiment, with which he fought in the Great War. He returned to civilian life in 1920, but on 22 May 1928, at age 31, he died of shell shock from his terrible experiences in that war. He is buried in Putney Vale Cemetery, Wandsworth, London. I feel I need to add to Granddad George's tragic life story.
He was the love of my late nan’s life, and all that I knew of him was what she told me. She said he was a real cheeky, funny lad when they were courting, but at the age of 18 he felt he had to join the army to fight in the Great War. When he returned in 1920, he was a shadow of himself and suffering from shell shock. She told me he used to wake up screaming at night with cold sweats because of the horrors he witnessed at the front, and that in the end it became so unbearable with all the pain and sorrow, it eventually made him take his own young life, 7 years later, by drinking arsenic down in the coal cellar. She said that he screamed in agony for well over 3 hours until the poison finally killed him. My nan was pregnant at the time with my father. How horrific that must had been for her, no one could ever imagine.
In those days, men with psychiatric problems from the war were told to man up, but we now know they were suffering from PTSD and so many took their own lives when they returned from the front. A lot of them felt guilty because they survived and their closest friends were killed in battle. So, on this Remembrance Sunday and on the 11th, I shall be thinking not only of my great-uncle James but my granddad George as well (my nan's brother and the husband she lost to the war) for the sacrifices that they made for this country in the First World War. God bless their souls. Anthony Christopher Watson
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Cpl. John Alexander Brown 18th (London Irish Rifles) Btn. London Regiment (d.24th Nov 1915) John Brown served with the 17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment during the Great War. He had previously served 28 years as a territorial with the 18th (London Irish Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment.
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Thomas Flemming 17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Btn. London Regiment (d.23rd Mar 1918) For many years, all my grandmother knew of her grandfather, Thomas Flemming was that he was in WW1 and had a bronze plaque which we later found. This meant he had died in the war. Through research we have now found out he died while serving with the Poplar and Stepney Rifles at the age of 34.
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Pte. Malcolm Henry Elmer 17th Btn. London Regiment Malcolm Elmer joined up on the 5th of July 1915 and awarded with the Victory, British and 1915 Star medals.
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Rflmn. Sidney Burtt 17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion London Regiment Sidney Burtt was born in 1897 in Hackney Downs, London. His parents were Sidney M Burtt (1875-1938) and Adeline E Muscat (1870-1932). He had a sister Adeline born in 1898 and who died in 1945.
By the time of the 1901 census the family were living at 18 Arlington Park Gardens North Chiswick, Brentford.
Sidney enlisted in April 1916 in the 17th Battalion, London Regiment, the Poplar & Stepney Rifles. He enlisted as a rifleman and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
In the third quarter of 1921 he married Lucy Swalwell who was born in 1902 in Northallerton Yorkshire. They had two sons William, who was born on the 16th March 1925 in Ealing, and Peter Gordon who was born in September 1927 in Brentford.
Sidney died on the 6th July 1958 in Bristol.
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Pte. Thomas William Marshall 17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion London Regiment My grandfather, Thomas Marshall, enlisted on the 7th of August 1914 aged 18. He was blown up and buried several times and gassed. He was discharged, unfit for service, in March 1916. He was severely affected by shell shock and continued to spend periods of time in the Epsom Hospitals. He suffered all his life with the after effects and with tuberculosis contracted in the trenches. He died of TB in 1964.
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Pte. Walter Thomas Poore 17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion London Regiment My uncle was Walter Poore. He served in the 17th London Regiment and was wounded at the Third Battle of Ypres on the 30th of October 1917 age 19.
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Rflmn. Robert Joseph Holloway 17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion London Regiment Robert Holloway enlisted on 3rd of September 1914 and was wounded in the back in June 1916. He was discharged unfit for service on 22nd of August 1916.
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Rifleman Harry Wheeler 17th Battalion London Regiment Harry Wheeler wrote a number of letters and poems to by Grandmother, Eileen Young, a nurse at the Bevan Military Hospital at Sandgate in Kent. According to his letters, he was wounded on 16th of May 1917 at Ypres, by June 1917 he was being treated at The Bevan.
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Rflmn. William Peter Blake 17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Btn. London Regiment (d.22nd June 1915) When going through my father's estate in 2007, I discovered a death penny in honour of William Blake. I'm quite sure that my father was interested in the penny and purchased it in Windsor, Ontario for its interest and historical significance. It seemed appropriate to include his name in your archives.
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Pte. Thomas Harris Royal Defence Corps (d.18th January 1919) Thomas Harris previously served as Pte. 3925, 1/17th London Regiment and entered France on 6th December 1915. He died and is buried at Netley Hospital.
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Rflmn. Edward James Westwood 1/17th Battalion London Regiment Rifleman E.J. Westwood, my mother's father, was sent to France in October 1915, he joined his Battalion in the Loos sector.
He served with the Battalion until 22nd of March 1918. The battalion was part of the 140th Infantry Brigade of the 47th (London) Division, Third Army.
On the 21st of March 1918, the Battalion was serving in the front line near Villiers Plouich, a village in the Flesquieres salient first great 1918 Offensive, codenamed Operation Michael, against the British 3rd and 5th Armies. The battle began with an intense 5 hour artillery bombardment from 10,000 guns and mortars, which fired 1.2 million shells during that period using a mixture of High Explosive and Gas shells.
The weather over the sector was still and foggy, the smoke, fumes and gas from the shells combined with the fog to limit visibility to almost zero, this greatly favoured the attacking German Storm Troops, who succeeded in breaking the British lines in many areas.
The 1/17th Londons and neighbouring battalions were forced to retreat after stiff resistance, to a defensive position about 5 kilometres to the SW at Metz-en-Couture. Here they suffered a heavy gas bombardment and forced to retreat again.
The German P.O.W records show that they captured a wounded Rifleman Westwood in Metz, he was gassed and had a head wound and was taken to a German Field Hospital. He was later sent to the Zerbst P.O.W Camp in Saxony-Anhalt in NE Germany. This camp had 100000 registered prisoners but only held 15000 prisoners, those not in the camp worked in factories and on the land, my grandfather worked the rest of 1918 on a German farm. He was repatriated in early 1919 under the Danish Scheme. He lived until 1955 having experienced and survived 29 months on the western front only to lose two sons killed on active service in WW2
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Rflmn. Jack Ford 17th Battalion London Regiment (d.15th Sep 1916) My Great Uncle Jack Ford was killed in action at High Wood during the Somme Battle
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Rflmn. William White 17th Btn. London Regiment (d.29th Nov 1917) William White died aged 23 at the Battle of Cambrai.
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Pte. Henry Claude Thatcher 17th Btn. London Regiment My granddad, Henry Thatcher, joined the Territorial London Regiment in 1911. His father had served in the Army, so I think this was expected of him. He went on to serve in France.
He was buried in mud for three days (under his horse and a wagon?). After three days was found by another division. He was, I believe, gassed and lost his ear drums, so was profoundly deaf and suffered all his life from terrible giddiness. He had very bad shell shock, too, and suffered from this for the rest of his life. His worst memories and nightmares consisted of hearing the horses screaming. He said that that noise was a worse memory than those concerning his mates.
I think this War haunted him all his life and, despite fire watching in WW2 in the East End, he never got over his time in France. He hated his medals.
He was discharged from the Army in 1922, according to his pension. He was a very lovely, gentle man.
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Rflmn. William Tovey 17th Btn. London Regiment Grandad, William Tovey never told much of his war. He was medically discharged in October 1916, suffered from shell shock for the rest of his life.
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Rfmn. Henry "Sollie" Solomons 17th (Popular and Stepney) Btn. London Regiment Henry received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, he joined the Popular and Stepney Rifles.
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Pte. Sidney Abraham Oram 1/17 (Stepney & Poplar) Btn. London Regiment (d.25th March 1918) Sidney Oram was my mother's father and served in France from 1916 to his death during German advance on 25th of March 1918.
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Rfmn. Charles Ernest Cable 17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion London Regiment (d.22nd Apr 1917) Ernest Charles Cable was one of four siblings who left Limehouse to fight in Flanders at the Somme, Ypres etc. He lived at 3 Eastfield Street.
He was attached in 1916 to the 9th Company Machine Gun Corps and died in action at the 2nd Battle of the Scarp.
He was the only one who died in the family, the others being unscathed in the Navy, one captured in 1918 and one wounded by Shrapnel.
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