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23rd Battalion, London Regiment
23rd (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment were a unit of the Territorial Force with their HQ at 27 St John's Hill, Battersea. They were serving as part of 6th London Brigade, 2nd London Division in 1914. 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. They proceeded to France on the 16th 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. On the 11th of May 1915 the formation was renamed 142nd Brigade, 47th (2nd London) Division. 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 1921 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.
6th Dec 1914 Football Players in the Forces
1st Feb 1915 Inspection
2nd Feb 1915 Exercise
3rd Feb 1915 Divisional Exercise
5th Feb 1915 Company Training
6th Feb 1915 Progress
6th Feb 1915 Training
7th Feb 1915 Battalion Training
8th Feb 1915 Training
9th Feb 1915 Company Training
10th Feb 1915 Training
11th Feb 1915 Training
12th Feb 1915 Exercise
12th Feb 1915 Divisional Exercise
13th Feb 1915 Training
15th Feb 1915 Company Training
16th Feb 1915 Training
17th Feb 1915 Musketry
18th Feb 1915 Training
19th Feb 1915 Musketry
20th Feb 1915 Musketry
22nd Feb 1915 Exercise
22nd Feb 1915 Exercise
23rd Feb 1915 Route March
24th Feb 1915 Route March
25th Feb 1915 Route March
26th Feb 1915 Exercise
27th Feb 1915 Training
1st Mar 1915 Route March
9th Mar 1915 Musketry
14th Mar 1915 On the Move
15th Mar 1915 Move
15th Mar 1915 On the Move
16th Mar 1915 On the Move
17th Mar 1915 On the Move
18th Mar 1915 Training
18th Mar 1915 On the Move
19th Mar 1915 On the March
20th Mar 1915 On the March
21st Mar 1915 Church Parade
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
28th of April 1915 Reliefs
8th May 1915 Battle of Aubers Ridge
25th May 1915 Hold at any Cost
25th of May 1915 Into the Front Line
25th of May 1915 Ready to Attack
25th of May 1915 Into the Attack
25th May 1915 Attack Made
26th May 1915 Londons in Fierce Fighting
26th of May 1915 Situation Report 1
26th May 1915 Under Heavy Fire
26th May 1915 Hard Fighting
27th May 1915 Message of Congratulation
27th June 1915 Operational Order No.17.
28th June 1915 Reliefs
28th June 1915 Operational Order No.24.
6th July 1915 Operational Order No.25.
6th July 1915 Operational Order No.20.
21st October 1915 140th Infantry Brigade. Operational Order No.34.
21st October 1915 Operational Order No.34.
23rd October 1915 Reliefs
23rd October 1915 Reliefs
4th November 1915 Reserve Trench
10th November 1915 Billet shelled
19th December 1915 Intermittent Shelling
26th December 1915 Operational Order No. 47.
20th January 1916 Relieved by 23rd London Regt.
1st February 1916 Reliefs.
1st February 1916 Operation Order 51.
10th Mar 1916 Trench Work
8th April 1916 Quiet
8th April 1916 Operational Order No. 74.
30th June 1916 Schedule 20th July 1916
30th June 1916 Reliefs
30th June 1916 Operational Order No.86.
1st July 1916 Relief of 23rd London Regt.
29th October 1916 Shelling
7th November 1916 Schedule 7th Nov. 1916
7th November 1916 Operational Order No.116
8th January 1917 Operational Order 130
3rd February 1917 Frostbite Grease
3rd February 1917 Operational Order 135.
23rd Feb 1917 Reliefs
20th March 1917 Operational Order 151.
21st March 1917 Reliefs
18th April 1917 Recce
18th April 1917 Training
19th April 1917 Reliefs
28th Apr 1917 Reliefs
29th Apr 1917 Reliefs
6th May 1917 Reliefs
14th May 1917 Reliefs
22nd May 1917 Relief
25th July 1917 Reliefs
3rd December 1917 Congratulations received from Brigade General on yesterdays operations.
9th Dec 1917 Londons Regiments in action The War diary of the 21st London Regiment records: Considerable hostile shelling against our posts resulting in the evacuation of a post on our right garrisoned by the 23rd London Regt.
1 p.m. A counter attack is made by the 21st Londons, consisting of 20 O.R’s with a platoon in support was conducted by 2nd/Lt Stoke. This operation resulted in driving the enemy to the N side of the sunken road in K.10.b but further progress was impossible owing to heavy machine gun fire down the road. Lt Richmond and 2 O.R’s killed. Sgt Alexander who had been shot through the thigh early in the morning, slipped away from the regimental aid post and returned to the line when the enemy were attacking. He left the trench and charged and dispersed a party of the enemy with the bayonet but was killed whilst performing this act of gallantry. About 12 midnight the Advance Post under Lt C H Edmunds withdraws.
25th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal
2nd Sep 1918 In Action
3rd Sep 1918 Patrols
4th Sep 1918 Patrols and Posts
5th Sep 1918 Attack Made
6th Sep 1918 Ground Gained
4th Oct 1918 Shelling
5th Oct 1918 Reliefs
8th Oct 1918 Reliefs
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| Want to know more about 23rd Battalion, London Regiment? There are:5345 items tagged 23rd Battalion, London 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.
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Those known to have served with23rd Battalion, London Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Atkins William Frederick. L/Sgt. (d.26th May 1915)
- Bailey Alfred Birkitt. Pte. (d.1st July 1917)
- Blackman George Ebenezer. Pte
- Bonham Herbert George. L/Cpl. (d.2nd Oct 1916)
- Butler Herbert Ormonde. Pte.
- Chappell Percy. Cpl. (d.26th May 1915)
- Clement Frank Malcolm Louis. Pte. (d.16th Sep 1916)
- Craymer Horace Leonard.
- Dunn Sydney.
- Edgeworth Charles Frederick. L/Cpl. (d.26th Oct 1917)
- Faulkner W. Pte. (d.10th November 1915)
- Haggith Sidney Herbert. Pte. (d.8th June 1917)
- Harriss A. Pte. (d.10th November 1915)
- Headland William. Pte.
- Jenner Ernest Leslie . Pte. (d.10th November 1915)
- Kidd Arthur. Pte. (d.28th May 1915)
- Kirkland William Ernest. Pte. (d.2nd Sep 1918)
- Lewis Wilfred Henry. Pte. (d.26th May 1915)
- Lewis Wilfred Henry . Pte. (d.27th May 1915 )
- Lincoln W W . L/Cpl. (d.10th November 1915)
- Martin Walter Robert . Pte. (d.10th November 1915)
- McAuliffe Patrick Francis.
- Murphy Henry William. L/Cpl. (d.7th Jun 1917)
- Newman Alfred Mark. Sgt.
- North A. Pte. (d.26th February 1917)
- Pidgeon James William. Pte. (d.30th May 1917)
- Rochford Leonard. Cpl.
- Stone H.. 2nd Lt. (d.7th Jun 1917)
- Uglow Willard Alexander. L/Cpl. (d.26th May 1915)
- Upson James William. Cpl. (d.7th Jun 1917)
- Vainstein G V. Pte. (d.10th November 1915)
- Webb Leonard James. Pte. (d.16th Sep 1916)
- Whatling Frederick George . L/Cpl. (d.10th November 1915)
- Willey Peter. Pte. (d.16th Sep 1916)
- Woodbridge William Ernest. Pte.
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 23rd Battalion, London Regiment from other sources.
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L/Cpl. Charles Frederick Edgeworth 2/4th Btn. London Regiment (d.26th Oct 1917) Charles Edgeworth enlisted with the 23rd Btn London Regiment, he was killed on the 26th of October 1917 whilst serving with the 2/4th Londons.
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Pte. William Headland 23rd (Service) Battalion (First Sportsman) City of London Regiment William Headland joined the 23rd (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (First Sportsman), City of London Regiment on 6th October 1914 and came out 27th June 1916 Paragraph 392 XV1 as "Sickness" but never found out what List E/724 meant? Does anyone know. I know it came under "no longer physically fit for Service" thats all.
He also served in the ARP during the Second World War.
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Pte. Arthur Kidd F Coy., 1st/23rd Btn. London Regiment (d.28th May 1915) Volunteering in February 1915, Arthur Kidd was quickly drafted to France and subsequently fought in several engagements. On May 28th of the same year, he was unfortunately killed in action at Loos. He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star and the General Service and Victory medals.
His parents were George William and Maria Elizabeth Kidd of 30, Bolingbroke Road, Battersea, London.
“A valiant soldier with undaunted heart, he breasted life's last hill”
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Cpl. Percy Chappell 1/23rd Btn. London Regiment (d.26th May 1915) Percy Chappell was my great-uncle. His two brothers also served in the Great War. Albert Ricketts, Rifleman 6536, 8th Battalion, London Regiment, Post Office Rifles, Killed in Actiob 7 October 1916. Also, Arthur Ricketts (my grandfather) believed to have served in the Monmouthshire Regiment T.A.
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Cpl. James William Upson 1/23rd Btn. London Regiment (d.7th Jun 1917) My great uncle, James Upson is remembered on The Menin Gate.
I don't think my grandmother knew her brother was commemorated as she never really spoke about him.
It was after she passed away that I discovered his story.
She also lost her mother in 1917 and another brother in the 1920s from effects of the war.
Such a sad time.
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Pte. Peter Willey 1/23rd Btn. London Regiment (d.16th Sep 1916) Peter Willey was my great uncle. He died on 16th of September 1916 in the Battle of the Somme. My great grandmother woke up in the night and knew he had died, as she saw him in her room and he said, I have come to say goodbye Mam. As it was a long time ago I have no real details of him or pictures.
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Pte. G V Vainstein 23rd Btn. London Regiment (d.10th November 1915) Private G. V. Vainstein, at the time of his death was serving with the 23rd Battalion London Regiment. On the 4th of November 1915 the 23rd London Regiment of the 142 Brigade, 47th Division, were relieved from the front line near Loos in Northern France and moved back to the reserve trenches. From there they moved to Philosophe, Mazingarbe, France.
On the 10th November 1915 a shell landed on one of the billets occupied by C Company, 23rd Battalion London Regiment killing seven men outright including Private Vainstein. He is buried in the Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Pas de Calais, France. The personalised inscription on his headstone simply says "Mother with you".
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Pte. Walter Robert Martin 23rd Btn. London Regiment (d.10th November 1915) Walter Martin served with the 23rd Battalion London Regiment. On the 4 November 1915 the 23rd London Regiment of the 142 Brigade, 47th Division, were relieved from the front line near Loos in Northern France and moved back to the reserve trenches. From there they moved to Philosophe, Mazingarbe, France.
On the 10th November 1915 a shell landed on one of the billets occupied by C Company, 23rd Battalion London Regiment killing seven men outright including Private Martin. He is buried in the Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Pas de Calais, France.
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L/Cpl. W W Lincoln 23rd Btn. London Regiment (d.10th November 1915) Lance Corporal W. W. Lincoln. At the time of his death he was serving with the 23rd Battalion London Regiment, service no. 3786. On the 4 November 1915 the 23rd London Regiment of the 142 Brigade, 47th Division, were relieved from the front line near Loos in Northern France and moved back to the reserve trenches. From there they moved to Philosophe, Mazingarbe, France.
On the 10th November 1915 a shell landed on one of the billets occupied by C Company, 23rd Battalion London Regiment killing seven men outright including Lance Corporal Lincoln. He is buried in the Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Pas de Calais, France.
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Pte. Ernest Leslie Jenner A Coy. 23rd Btn. London Regiment (d.10th November 1915) Private Ernest Leslie Jenner, son of Frederick William and Emma Matilda Jenner, of Martins Road, Keevil, Trowbridge. At the time of his death he was serving with A Company, 23rd Battalion London Regiment. On the 4 November 1915 the 23rd London Regiment of the 142nd Brigade, 47th Division, were relieved from the front line near Loos in Northern France and moved back to the reserve trenches. From there they moved to Philosophe, Mazingarbe, France.
On the 10th November 1915 a shell landed on one of the billets occupied by C Company, 23rd Battalion London Regiment killing seven men outright including Private Jenner, he was aged 22 years. He is buried in the Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Pas de Calais, France. He is not listed on the War memorial, Keevil, Wiltshire, reason not known. The personalised inscription on his headstone says "Greater Love hath no man than this".
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Pte. A Harriss C Coy. 1st/23rd Btn. London Regiment (d.10th November 1915) Private A. Harriss, son of Arthur and Frances Harriss, of 21, Perran Road, Tulse Hill, London. At the time of his death he was serving with C Company, 1st/23rd Battalion London Regiment. On the 4th of November 1915 the 23rd London Regiment of the 142nd Brigade, 47th Division, were relieved from the front line near Loos in Northern France and moved back to the reserve trenches. From there they moved to Philosophe, Mazingarbe, France. On the 10th November a shell landed on one of the billets occupied by C Company, 23rd Battalion London Regiment killing seven men outright including Private Harriss, he was aged 27 years. He is buried in the Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Pas de Calais, France. The personalised inscription on his headstone simply says "In Loving Memory".
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Pte. W Faulkner 23rd Btn. London Regiment (d.10th November 1915) Private W. Faulkner. At the time of his death was serving with the 23rd Battalion London Regiment, service no. 4364. On the 4 November 1915 the 23rd London Regiment of the 142 Brigade, 47th Division, were relieved from the front line near Loos in Northern France and moved back to the reserve trenches. From there they moved to Philosophe, Mazingarbe, France. On the 10 November 1915 a shell landed on one of the billets occupied by C Company, 23rd Battalion London Regiment killing seven men outright including Private Faulkner. He is buried in the Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Pas de Calais, France. He has no personalised inscription on his headstone. This may have been the result of the initial policy of the IWGC, that the next of kin should pay for the inscriptions by the letter.
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L/Cpl. Frederick George Whatling 1st/23rd Btn. C Coy. London Regiment (d.10th November 1915) Frederick Whatling was born in Walthamstow in 1893, son of John Arthur and Eunice Whatling. The 1911 census shows the family living at 1 Cowper Road, Acton, London; Frederick was an entering clerk.
He enlisted with the British Army in 1909 and at the time of his death was serving with C Company, 1st/23rd Battalion London Regiment. On the 10th November 1915 a shell landed on one of the billets occupied by C Company killing seven men outright, including Frederick, he was aged 23 years. He is buried in the Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, France and is remembered on the War Memorial, St Mary's Church, Acton, London.
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Pte. Sidney Herbert Haggith 23rd Btn. C Coy London Regiment (d.8th June 1917) Sidney Haggith served with C Coy, 1st/23rd Btn. London Regiment in 142nd Brigade. He was killed at the Battle of Messines.
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Cpl. Leonard Rochford 23rd Btn. London Regiment Leonard Rochford was my great uncle, the sixth child of eight children, five boys and three girls. He landed in France on the 14th of March 1915
He volunteered for service and was not conscripted, the 23rd London Regiment was at Festubert, Loos, Somme, Lille, Tournai, Messines and Ypres between
1915 and 1918.
He would have joined for the Duration of the War and therefore probably
served in all the above places.
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Pte. A North 23rd Btn. London Regiment (d.26th February 1917) A. North was a gunner with the R.F.A and a private with the 23rd London regiment.
Volunteering in August 1914 he fought in many parts of the line. Owing to ill-health he returned to England and was discharged unfit in February 1916. He re-enlisted, however in the London Regiment and proceeded to the Western Front where he was in action in many engagement of note. In February 1917 he was killed by a sniper, and lies at rest at Ypres.
He was entitled to the 1914-15 star, and the general service and victory medals.
Thinking that remembrance, though unspoken, may reach him where he sleeps.
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Pte. Wilfred Henry Lewis 1/23rd Btn. B Company. London Regiment (d.27th May 1915 ) The family lived in Battersea (Wards & Lewis families), Bill Lewis joined the TA aged only 15 years old in 1912. He fought at Aubers Ridge and was killed in action during battle of Festubert on the 27th May 1915.
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Patrick Francis McAuliffe 23rd Btn. C Company. London Regiment My great grandfather Pat McAuliffe joined up probably in the first week of July 1914, certainly no later than 6th July. His original service number was 700279. He was in C Company when 1/23rd went to France in March 1915. His date of leaving France on 28th May 1915 would indicate very strongly that he was wounded on 25th/26th May at Givenchy, most of the 'lucky' casualties who made it back to UK appear to have left around that date. He may have been held back in UK for longer than it took him to recover from his wound, as he would have been only 17 in 1915.
After his recovery he is sent in a draft to 2/21st London in Salonika, even though he has a six digit 23rd London number. He wouldn't have had to change his number when transferred as 21st London were of the same corps (East Surreys) as 23rd London, but would have been issued it in Jan/Feb 1917.
He remains with 2/21st when they move to Egypt and on the reduction of 2/21st on 3rd June 1918 he's part of the draft that goes to 2/13th London (other drafts went to 2/19th and 2/22nd) and gets his number changed to 494569 He probably has some form of medical downgrade when with 2/13th which leads to his transfer to 21st Rifle Brigade, another number change, 212896 and ultimately his garrisoning of India until some time in mid 1919 when those battalions of the Rifle Brigade seem to have returned home.
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Pte. Wilfred Henry Lewis 1/23rd Btn. London Regiment (d.26th May 1915) Wilfred's brother Frederick Lewis was also in the same battalion and is believed gassed but survived.
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Pte. William Ernest Kirkland att. 1st/23rd Bn. London Regiment East Surrey Regiment (d.2nd Sep 1918) William Kirkland was the husband of Annie E. Kirkland who lived near the Post Office, in the High Street, Tean.
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