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- 9th 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

9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment



   9th Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment was raised at Kingston-upon-Thames in Septeber 1914 as part of Kitchener's Third New Army and joined 72nd Brigade in 24th Division. They trained at Worthing, moving to Shoreham by April 1915 the moving to Blackdown, Aldershot in June for final training. They proceeded to France, landing at Boulogne on the 1st of September 1915. The Division concentrated in the area between Etaples and St Pol on 4 September and a few days later marched across France into the reserve for the British assault at Loos, going into action on the 26th of September and suffering heavy losses. In 1916 they suffered in the German gas attack at Wulverghem and then moved to The Somme seeing action in The Battle of Delville Wood and The Battle of Guillemont. In 1917 they were in action at The Battle of Vimy Ridge in the Spring, The Battle of Messines in June and Third Battle of Ypres in October before moving south where they were in action during The Cambrai Operations when the Germans counter attacked. In 1918 they were in action on the Somme and The Battle of Cambrai and the Final Advance in Picardy. At the Armistice the Division were in the line 1.5 miles east of the Maubeuge-Mons road. They moved back to the area between Denain and Douai at the end of November moved to St Amand-Orchies, then on the 18th of December the Division moved to Tournai for demobilisation, which was completed by 26 March 1919.

22nd Aug 1915 Orders

23rd Aug 1915 Training

23rd Aug 1915 Training

25th Aug 1915 Orders

29th Aug 1915 Orders

30th Aug 1915 On the Move

31st Aug 1915 On the Move

1st Sep 1915 Orders

2nd Sep 1915 On the March

3rd Sep 1915 On the March

4th Sep 1915 On the Move

5th Sep 1915 Organisation

6th Sep 1915 Lectures and Organisation

7th Sep 1915 Communication

8th Sep 1915 Communication Issues

9th Sep 1915 Spies

10th Sep 1915 Orders

11th Sep 1915 Training

12th Sep 1915 Instruction

13th Sep 1915 Instruction

14th Sep 1915 Field Day

15th Sep 1915 Infection Measures

16th Sep 1915 Cameras and Drink

17th Sep 1915 Infection

18th Sep 1915 Grenade School

18th Sep 1915 Runners

19th Sep 1915 Entrenching

20th Sep 1915 Training

21st Sep 1915 On the March

23rd Sep 1915 On the March

24th Sep 1915 On the March

25th Sep 1915 On the March

25th Sep 1915 Into the Trenches

26th Sep 1915 In Action  location map

27th Sep 1915 Reliefs Completed  location map

28th Sep 1915 On the Move

29th Sep 1915 Refitting

30th Sep 1915 Refitting

15th Jan 1916 Relief Completed  location map

7th Feb 1916 Reliefs  location map

3rd Mar 1916 Reliefs

14th Mar 1916 Hope to Keep Lucky

18th Oct 1916 Reliefs

2nd Feb 1917 Break from the Winter Campaign

23rd Jun 1917 Reliefs  location map

25th Jul 1917 Reliefs Completed

15th Aug 1917 Reliefs  location map

7th Sep 1917 Reliefs  location map

14th Dec 1917 DCM for Good Work

5th Jan 1918 Reliefs

30th Jan 1918 Reliefs

5th Mar 1918 Reliefs

23rd Mar 1918 Surrounded

13th Jan 1919 Prisoner Repatriated

15th July 1919 Reliefs

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





Want to know more about 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment?


There are:5285 items tagged 9th 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

9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Broad Walter James. Pte. (d.10th Oct 1917)
  • Clark DSO MC. Charles Alfred. Mjr.
  • Corley William Raymond. 2nd.Lt. (d.27th Mar 1918)
  • Frost John Albert William. Pte. (d.16th August 1916)
  • Gillman Richard Joseph. Cpl. (d.13th Jun 1917)
  • Hartley Richard Rutland. Pte. (d.3rd Sept 1916)
  • Jennings Walter Charles. Pte. (d.24th Jun 1917)
  • Martin Frank William. Pte. (d.16th October 1918)
  • McNamara VC. John. Cpl. (d.16th Oct 1918)
  • Noe John Thomas. Pte.
  • O'Connell Jeremiah. Pte. (d.6th Oct 1916)
  • Picton MC. James Allanson. Lt. (d.23rd July 1917)
  • Stanbury George Wyndham . Cpl.
  • Sweetland John Thomas. Pte. (d.24th Mar 1918)
  • Wardell John. Pte. (d.16th October 1918)
  • Warters Sydney Arthur. Pte.
  • Weed James Thomas. Pte (d.18th Jun 1917)
  • Wiggins William Thomas. Pte. (d.16th Aug 1916)
  • Young Allen George. Pte. (d.3rd September 1916)

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 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment from other sources.


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  Pte. John Thomas "Jock" Sweetland 9th Btn. East Surrey Regiment (d.24th Mar 1918)

Jock Sweetland was my Grandmother's brother. He had already run away from home and joined up in 1914 aged 15, but the family found him and took him home again. Two years later aged 17, he successfully joined up again and went away to fight. He died two years later on the 24th March 1918 in Operation Michael. He is buried in a small cemetery outside the village of Rosieres in the Somme region of France.

My family passes his story down to each generation, and remembers him every year. There are no photographs of him that the family knows about.

Dean Waters






  Pte. Allen George Young 9th Battalion East Surrey Regiment (d.3rd September 1916)

Allen Young's name is on the WW1 Memorial in St. Barnabas Church, Sutton although born in Sevenoaks and at 1911 Census was living in Maidenhead at aged 15 years and employed in work in Gardens. He is also remembered on the Sutton Memorial.

Ellen Martin






  Pte. Frank William Martin 9th Btn. East Surrey Regiment (d.16th October 1918)

Frank Martin was my great uncle whom we knew nothing about until doing research on my grandfather. We found his name on the Roll of Honour for men from London who had served during the War. That was when I began my search to find as much information about him as I could.

He was killed on 16th of October 1918, which was a very bad day for the East Surreys, at a village called Haussy, in the Nord region, where he is buried in the communal cemetery along with seventeen others several who died on the same day. Unfortunately, I have no photo of Frank so if any one has any photos I would dearly love to see them. I am planning to revisit his grave and all the other lads in the centenary to pay my respects, if anyone else has a relative they would like me to visit it would be lovely to see you there.

Susan Mead






  Lt. James Allanson Picton MC. 9th Btn. B Coy. East Surrey Regiment (d.23rd July 1917)

Lieutenant James Picton MC, served with B Company, 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment.

Caroline Hunt






  Pte. William Thomas Wiggins 9th Btn. East Surrey Regiment (d.16th Aug 1916)

William Wiggins served with the 9th East Surreys. He landed in France on 4th of November as part of a draught sent over it make the battalion up to strength after Loos. William saw action at Ypres in November 1915 and was gassed at Wulverghem in March 1916. He was, as with most British troops, based mainly around Ypres, Hooge, Poperinghe and the infamous Ploegsteert. William was killed in at Guillemont in August 1916.

Geoff Belson






  2nd.Lt. William Raymond Corley 9th Btn. East Surrey Regiment (d.27th Mar 1918)

William Corley served with the 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment and was killed in action on the 27th of March 1918. Aged 23, he was the son of William and Marian Corley, of 2 Selby Avenue, St. Albans. He had been Mentioned in Despatches. Having no known grave he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France and on the St Albans war memorial.

Helen Whittle






  Pte. Jeremiah O'Connell 9th Btn., att. 250th Tunnelling Coy., Royal Eng. East Surrey Regiment (d.6th Oct 1916)

Jeremiah O'Connell served with the 9th Btn. East Surrey Regiment and was attached to the 250th Tunnelling Coy., Royal Engineers.

Kyle O'Connell






  Pte. Walter James Broad 9th Battalion East Surrey Regiment (d.10th Oct 1917)

My great great grandfather, Walter Broad, was born Nov. 1883 Woodford Bridge, Essex. Walter married Emily Elizabeth Barnard 13th Sept. 1903 at Woodford Bridge, Essex. Their only son, Stanley, was born in 1913. Walter enlisted at Bedford, he was resident 32, Castle Rd., Fleetville, St. Albans and the bus ran to Bedford from the end of his road.

G/32330 Private Broad served with 1st & 9th Battalions East Surrey Regt. His Regimental number seems to show a mid-November 1915 enlistment and is prefixed with G/. shows a wartime short attestment as men enlisting with the East Surrey Regiment for wartime service only were given numbers from a separate series prefixed with the letter G/. He was killed in action aged 35 between 2nd July 1917 -10th October 1917: Maybe at Passchendaele, 3rd Battle of Ypres as his death date is noted as 10th October 1917 which was the last date of the Battle, presumably missing in action before then (see note on effects ledger.) His remains are buried in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Emily never remarried & was fortunate that her only son grew up, avoided the 2nd War by being in a protected profession. Stanley married Gertie (who also lost her father in the war). Stanley was my partner's Grandad.

As far as I've been able to ascertain so far, 1st Battalion landed at Le Havre 15th August 1914, remaining in France to 12th January 1916 in 5th Division. November 1917 moved with the Division to Italy but returned to France in April 1918.

The 9th (Service) Battalion East Surrey was formed at Kingston-upon-Thames in September 1914 as part of K3 and came under orders of 72nd Brigade in 24th Division.They were moved to billets in Worthing & in April 1915 to Shoreham & Blackdown, Aldershot in June 1915, landing at Boulogne 1 September 1915 & straight into battle at Loos with heavy casualties for green novice troops. The Battalion remained on Western Front until the Armistice.

I may be wrong though so any help or tips on tracing his war very much appreciated.) I have traced some documents but have no pictures of him...yet Walter James Broad is listed on the St. Albans City World War 1 Memorial in St Peter's Street which lists 634 names of men who died from St. Albans in the Great War.

Unrelated but also commemorated on St Albans memorial: William Raymond Corley, Second Lieutenant, 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action 27 March 1918. Aged 23. Son of William and Marian Corley, of 2, Selby Avenue, St. Albans. Mentioned in Despatches. No known grave. Commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France.

Helen Whittle






  Mjr. Charles Alfred "Nobby" Clark DSO MC. 9th Btn. East Surrey Regiment

My grandfather Charles Clark was born in 1878 in Bermondsey and first served in the Boer War, rising through the ranks to become Lieutenant Colonel after WW1. He retired from the army around 1930. The regiment was a 'pals' regiment and gained the nickname 'The Gallants'.

During WW1 he served with with the well known author and playright R C Sherriff who wrote the famous war play "Journey's End", and they remained in contact for many years after the war.

As Commanding Officer he was captured, badly wounded, after a valiant last stand against a German advance in 1918 and was one of only twenty or so survivors from the battalion. His war diary survived which details some of that period, including his time in captivity. He was highly praised in Arthur Conan Doyle's book "The British Campaign in France and Flanders" regarding this last stand:

"On the morning of the 26th of March the new line had been occupied. The Seventeenth Corps had retired in the night to the Bray - Albert line, which left a considerable gap in the north, to the west of Frise, but this was filled up by an impromptu line made up of stragglers and various odds and ends from the rear of the army. It was in the south, however, that the attack was most severe, and here it soon became evident that the line was too long and the defenders too weak, so that it could not be maintained against a determined assault. Before the sun had risen high above the horizon it had been shaken from end to end, the Twenty-fourth Division being hard put to it to hold Fonches, while the Sixty-sixth were driven out of Herbecourt. At 9.30 the order was given to withdraw, and with their brave rearguards freely sacrificing themselves to hold back the swarming enemy, the troops -some of them in the last stage of exhaustion - fell back upon a second position. It was at this period that Major Whitworth, the gallant commander of the 2/6 Manchesters, stood at bay with his battalion, which numbered exactly 34 men. He and 17 of his men were dead or wounded after this last stand, and 17 survivors were alt that could be mustered that evening. Before the right wing fell back to Vrely there had been a good deal of fighting. The Twenty-fourth Division, which was now a mere skeleton, was strongly attacked in the morning of March 27, and Dugan 's 73rd Brigade was pushed back towards Caix, the 8th Sussex having very heavy losses, including Colonel Hill, and Bonham, the second in-command. The situation upon the other flank of the Twenty-fourth Division was also particularly desperate, and the 9th East Surrey, under Major Clark, sacrificed itself to cover the withdrawal of the 72nd Brigade. There were few more gallant actions in the war. Major Clark, writing from a German prison, gave a small account which enables us to get a glimpse of the actual detail of such a combat. The enemy's infantry were in force, he says, within 100 yards of his scattered line. "We managed to get back some hundred yards when I saw that our position was really desperate. The enemy were sweeping up from the south, and several lines of them were in between us and our next defensive line... We were seen and the enemy began to surround us, so I decided to fight it out. We took up position in a communication trench, and used our rifles with great effect. Grant was doing good work till shot through the head, and Warre-Dymond behaved admirably. It was a fine fight, and we held them until ammunition gave out. They then charged and mopped up the remainder. They were infuriated with us. My clothing had been riddled with shrapnel, my nose fractured, and my face and clothing smothered with blood. There are 3 officers and 59 men unwounded. The rest of the battalion are casualties. It was a great fight, and the men there simply splendid. I have the greatest admiration for them. It was a glorious end" Such were the class of men whom the East End of London sent into the New Army."

In retirement he was appointed Chief Air Raid Warden for Folkestone, Kent, in WW2 and died in the town in 1971.

Bryan Sharpe






  Cpl. George Wyndham Stanbury 250th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers

My grandfather, George W Stanbury, was with the 250 Tunnellers in the Royal Engineers I'm proud to say. My father, his son, is now 91 and remembers him tell the story of how they dug out a huge cavern under Hill 60 and carried explosives in their stocking feet to fill it up. My father also remembers Australian cap badges on display next to my grandfather's in their house growing up, no doubt of his comrade tunnellers. George was originally in the 9th East Surreys, but as he was a miner in South Wales he soon became attached to the 250's

If you have anymore info on my grandfather I would love to be able to relay this to my father.

Chrissy






  Pte. Richard Rutland Hartley 9th Btn. East Surrey Regiment (d.3rd Sept 1916)

Private Richard Rutland Hartley was killed in action at Delville Wood during the Battle of the Somme on 3rd September 1916 at the age of 25. War diaries of the 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment record him as wounded on 3rd September 1916, and other sources as 'died of wounds'.

Remembered by his family and, in particular, his sister Phoebe Elizabeth Hartley (my grandmother). Now remembered by his family in 2014 on the 100th Anniversary of the start of the First World War.

George Bish






  Pte James Thomas Weed 9th Btn. East Surrey Regiment (d.18th Jun 1917)

James Weed was my Great grandfather, south london born, he was aged 41 at time of death.

Editor's Note:- Private 8135 James Thomas Weed is interred in the Lussenthoek Military Cemetery. The CWGC also have his age as 41. However, his military record is still intact, and shows him as enlisting on 6th February 1915, giving his age as 28years and 11 months. He had a wife, Ellen (nee Ferrey), who he married on 1st March 1905, and had a son and 3 daughters. This age would appear to be backed up by the 1911 census which shows him as aged 25. He has given a lower age on enlistment as he would have been above the upper age limit for service at the time.







  Cpl. John McNamara VC. 9th Btn. East Surrey Regiment (d.16th Oct 1918)

John McNamara died on 16th of October 1918, aged 29.

An extract from the London Gazette, dated 12th Nov., 1918, records the following:- "For conspicuous bravery, initiative, and devotion to duty. When operating a telephone in evacuated enemy trenches occupied by his battalion, Cpl. McNamara realised that a determined enemy counter-attack was gaining ground. Rushing to join the nearest post, he made the most effective use of a revolver taken from a wounded officer. Then seizing a Lewis gun he continued to fire it till it jammed. By this time he was alone in the post. Having destroyed his telephone, he joined the nearest post, and again displayed great courage and initiative in maintaining Lewis gun fire until reinforcements arrived. It was undoubtedly due to the magnificent courage and determination of Pte. McNamara that the other posts were enabled to hold on, and his fine example of devotion is worthy of the highest praise."

s flynn






  Pte. John Thomas Noe 9th Battalion East Surrey Regiment

A Prisoner Of War From 1915

A prisoner of war from 1915 until that great day The Armistice. Three years and three months. I began to wonder if dear old Blighty really was the place for me. Hoping on day after day, until it got to be year after year, it was anything but a time of pleasure. How often have I sat and thought, amidst my solidarity surroundings, after my unaccustomed hard days work was done, of home and dear ones. How vividly that beautiful picture came before my eyes, but I was all too soon, awakened from my reverie, and then the hoping on.

Looking back to 26th September, 1915 with a chill running through my veins, I recall the night or rather the early evening that I was put out of action. Under heavy shell fire, shrapnel flying all around us, I was very badly wounded and had to remain where I had fallen until five days had elapsed. Thirsty and worn out, in a semi conscious condition, weak through loss of blood and want of nourishment, I was suddenly aroused by being kicked, and not too lightly! Being brought to my senses thus, it all came back to me, the horrors of war. German language I could not understand - I only knew I was in the hands of the enemy. I think I must have lost myself completely for I do not remember them picking me up. I only know I found myself in Lens Cathedral and remained there for one night.

The following day in spite of our wounds we were conveyed in cattle trucks to Germersheim-on Rhine where I remained in hospital until January, 1916. Absolutely a wreck at this time and feeling far from robust in health I was sent to Hammelburg. From here we were sent to various other places. At one time I was working very hard in a stone quarry, at another in a forest felling trees, where, on one occasion, I got injured by a tree falling upon my shoulder and was in very great pain. Then I was transferred to Friesenhausen.

Fresenhausen, a small village in Bavaria, is situated about 300 kilometres from the Swiss frontier. The inhabitants of this village which numbered very few chiefly famers and farm workers. Women as well as children working very hard toiling on from morning till night, religion their one thought, work their only hobby, pleasure they very rarely got.

I was one of many prisoners here, our party consisting of English, French and Belgians. We all had our share of farm work, myself having to plough the fields with a couple of oxen of whom I did not greatly appreciate. Working on and on seeming to reach no end, the idea came to me to make a bid for liberty.

Freedom, what would it mean? Only those who were prisoners of war can perhaps realize what freedom meant. Living under the meanest conditions, insufficient food and working from morning to late at night. I look back and wonder how we could tolerate these conditions for so long. Yes, liberty, freedom, these thought would run through my brain, every moment thinking and trying to plan some way of escape, but I found it to be no easy task. The necessary articles such as a map, compass and food, how were we to procure them?

Watching every opportunity, although feeling our very movements were being watched, our hearts thrilled with the only joy we knew. Listening to the sentry's footsteps was like listening to a sentence of death. Consequences! What would they be? Freedom or capture and perhaps to pay a heavy penalty. Who knew? Never less do-or-die, and still retaining some of our old fighting spriit, we continued to make this bold endeavour to free ourselves from what seemed to be iron bonds or fetters holding us with their grasp. My fellow prisoners, and, I must say, my very good pals, one a Scotsman keen and alert, the other South African full of determination and spirit, reminded me of the gambler's den of Madam Tussauds tableau, as our heads were close together tracing a map trying to find a track across this unknown land, contemplating reaching the Swiss frontier.

Sleeping in the room at an old farmhouse we had many nights of planning and, I must, say, many days working and scheming, hiding and storing food away, chiefly that which had been sent to us from home, preparing for our escapade.

One day, while doing my usual routine of work on the farm, I cut my finger and bandaged it the best way I could with a piece of rag that was not, I am sorry to say, any too clean. I had not been working very long when I noticed someone coming towards me. A young girl of, I suppose 18 or 19 years stood before me, somehow I was rather astounded by her appearance and more astonished to hear her speak in broken English to me. Naturally I became very interested, and, after learning that she had previously to the war, been on a visit to England, and that she loved the English people who had been so good and kind to her, we were conversing very freely.

She seemed very sensible for a girl of her years, and noticing my finger tied up with the very soiled piece of rag immediately removed my clumsy bandage and ties a very dainty handkerchief around my finger. Little did I think what an important part this young Fraulein was to take in our attempted escape, but assistance I must obtain, one day, conversing as usual, I took an opportunity to ask if she possessed a compass. This she soon provided quite secretly, and, supplying her with chocolate that had been sent to me from England, I felt a bargain was indeed made.

Having a compass and necessary tools which we had got from the farm where we were working, and also a fair amount of provisions we thought it quite time to make this big attempt to get back to our allies.

The eventful night came. It is possible to describe our feelings? I think not. Watching and waiting until everything was quiet, we stole to the first door, picking the lock. We had yet another door to open. Should we be successful? Yes, the task was soon accomplished, and stealing from those prison walls, as they appeared to us, we made straight ahead for the most secluded spot we could find.

So the first night passed. Keeping our sprits up, feeling already we were breathing freely as we travelled on our way. Daytime! What would the daylight bring? Would it disclose our identity?

Making our way towards a thickly wooded forest that we could see in the distance, weary and tired through the walking we had done and feeling hungry by now, we all sat down and had a snack from our mean provisions and then our after dinner nap, which I am afraid was with one eye open all the time. Here we stayed in hiding until nightfall when we again started on our way.

Another day hiding. Another day tramping on. Hiding in a forest once more. Getting more accustomed to our lot. Throughly tired we slept more soundly and one day I must have been in a very deep sleep, when suddenly I started to my feet, for some fairly large animal had completely run over my body. I awoke just to see it disappearing through the bushes. It was a nightmare in reality which I shall never forget.

Another day in hiding, we very narrowly escaped being discovered. We heard voices and the tramp of feet quite near to us. Keeping as still as we possibly knew how, not daring to breathe lest these people should find us, they passed just a little more than an arms length from us. Another snack, almost the last we should get, for or food was getting low. Another nap. And so we continued until the fifth day.

Whether we got more daring as the days passed I cannot say but to our great disappointment we were captured near a small village. Not understanding what was being said to us while being arrested, we were put into a stable for the night and the following day were marched, under arrest back to Hammelburg. We were then searched and were deprived of our luxury - our cigarettes.

We were put in a prison cell and the following day were brought before the German authorities, not understanding anything about the proceedings in which were taking place. We were marched back to our cells in ignorance of what the penalty was to be. it was several days before we discovered what our sentence actually was. Our sentence turned out to be fourteen days in a dark cell living on bread and water, our rations consisting of half-a-pound of black bread and a jug of water per day. The dimensions of our dungeon were about 15ft by 12ft. It took just five paces to step from end to end and four paces across. I paced up and down this prison some hundreds of times during my sentence, hungry and weary in thought. I often think that if I had a repetition of these fourteen days I should certainly go mad.

We had no beds of any description, just an empty dark call with only the wooden floor to lie on. Not being provided with sufficient water to wash ourselves, we were indeed feeling very dirty. I can imagine my appearance by my two fellow companions. Not being allowed to shave or to wash was a punishment in itself and the pangs of hunger and the darkness of the cell seem too awful to recall. The only exercise we had was 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes during the evening. The first day or two in the cells we slept rather heavily, having had no proper sleep for some time but, as the days passed, our sides were too sore to lie down and we had to get what sleep we could in an upright position.

Our bread and water was brought in the early morning and we have been so hungry we have eaten the whole ration at the one time. On Saturday we had the double ration for Sunday but eagerly devouring it all in the same day, meant starvation on Sunday. The time we did not know, one day seemed endless. All we heard was the changing of the guard and the sentries nerve-racking footsteps. The fourteen days of our punishment at an end, weak and utterly worn out, we were taken back to the camp, being sent from there to resume the farm work again.

And so the time passed until the Armistice was signed. The Armistice was a day of all days, one that every soldier, parent and devoted wife living during that Great War will never forget. While we were overflowing with excitement overseas, so it was with the dear ones who were anxiously awaiting our return. And so the day came and I found "Dear Old Blighty" really was the place for me.

1426 Private J.T. Noe, East Surrey Regiment

D J Noe






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