2nd East Surrey Regiment - 14th February 1915

One hundred years ago today, on Sunday the 14th February 1915, 44 men from the East Surrey Regiment laid down their lives for King and Country. They are listed below, courtesy of The Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

With the exception of 6934 Colour Sergeant Andrew McGee (Depot) who died in England and AR/7204 Sergeant Frederick Farmer (1st Battalion) who died of wounds in Boulogne, all of the men were serving with the 2nd Battalion and only five have known graves, their companions all being remembered on the Menin Gate at Ypres.

The men were killed in an assault to re-capture a lost trench on the south side of the Ypres-Combines canal. 300 men took part in the attack which was launched at 2.30pm but by 4.30pm it was clear that the men had suffered heavy losses and were unable to advance further. Support was called for by the 2nd Buffs (East Kent Regiment) who found the remaining men of the East Surreys about 800 yards from the trench.

By 7pm the Buffs had reached to within about 500 yards of the trench but by now it was dark and, according to the 2nd East Surrey's war diary, "No one could tell us the position of the trench or the nature of the ground over which we had to proceed, and as it seemed possible that we should advance against the main German position and not the one trench intended, the OC decided to postpone the attack until some reconnaissance could be made and some guides could be obtained."

By the time the remains of the battalion reported back to headquarters it was 11.30pm and they had been floundering in mud and filth for nine hours. Little wonder then that the majority of those who died were subsequently lost in the mud or their bodies blown to pieces by shellfire.

9766 Corporal HENRY JAMES ADAMS
9817 Private CHARLES LOT BENNETT
Second Lieutenant ERNEST JOHN WILFRED BIRNIE
6441 Private FREDERICK BOOTH
8865 Private FRANCIS EDWARD BOWYER
10265 Private GEORGE JOSEPH BRITTEN
9755 Private SIDNEY EDWIN CHANDLER
9986 Private HAROLD DEAN DAVIS
9826 Private DAVISON
3197 Private FRANCIS ROBERT DOUGHTY
AR/7204 Serjeant FREDERICK CHARLES FARMER
10269 Private PHILLIP FERRICK
10280 Private GEORGE HENRY FULLER
8621 Corporal FREDERICK BARRY GAUNTLETT
10296 Private HARRY SIDNEY GEORGE
6533 Private CHARLES HAYWARD
10246 Private ARTHUR HINES
9757 Private JAMES WILLIAM HOBSON
9888 Private HERBERT HOUSEGO
9564 Private JOHN LANE
9016 Private ALBERT LAWTHER
9607 Private LEAREY
8700 Private WILLIAM LENTON
7168 Private MAURICE MARSHALL
8794 Private JOSEPH MORLEY
6934 Colour Serjeant ANDREW McGEE
10019 Lance Corporal McGREGOR
9886 Lance Corporal WALTER ALFRED NAYLOR
10199 Lance Corporal CHARLES NORRIS
9985 Private JOSEPH DICK OFFORD
4022 Private WALTER REDMAN
Captain CHARLES SIMMS REEVE
9467 Serjeant RIDDY
Second Lieutenant ROBERT FRANCIS SHONE
8666 Private FREDERICK WILLIAM SORRELL
10237 Lance Corporal FREDERICK STANDRING
10175 Private TIBBS
7228 Private ALFRED JAMES TIDY
9513 Serjeant EDWARD GEORGE TURNER
8030 Serjeant WILLIAM JAMES WAGSTAFF
8810 Private ALFRED JAMES WHITE
10189 Private JAMES FREDERICK WOODGATE
10021 Private CHARLES HENRY WOODHOUSE
10477 Private HERBERT PERCY WOODS

Pictured on this post, 2nd Lt Birnie who was shot in the chest on the 14th.  His last reported words to his sergeant were, "Sergeant Oliver, cheer the platoon up and look well after them. Goodbye, I have done my best."

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.