The British Battalion
Owing to the heavy casualties sustained by the 2 E Surreys and 1 Leicesters In Malaya during early December, they were amalgamated on 19 Dec 1941 and designated the British Battalion

The composition of the Bn was as follows:

"A" & "B" Coys comprised 1st Leicesters
"C" & "D" Coys comprised 2nd East Surreys

Bn HQ & HQ Coy were made up of an equal number of personnel from both Regts

The Bn came under command 15 Ind Inf Bde & remained with them until 15 Feb 1942 when Singapore fell

 

Medals of the Regiments:
The East Surrey Regiment
 

 
 
 
Victorian Helmet Plate East Surrey Regiment Cap Badge.
 
Other ranks standard helmet plate (Victorian crown 1881-1901) with interchangeable centre. For the Glengarry cap the central badge could also be worn without the plate but with a separate crown above. The central badge can also found with a long slider for wear with the Puggaree. King's crown type bimetal cap badge of the regiment. The central shield  bears the Arms of Gilford.
Kipling and King reference 287 and 322Kipling and King reference 640

© Images Copyright ©

 
 
 The East Surrey Regiment
1702 - 1959
 
 
 
Titles
pre 1881post 1881
31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment
70th (Surrey) Regiment of Foot2nd Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment
 
Earliest recognised formation: 31st Regiment: 1702, when raised as Villiers' Regiment of Marines.
70th Regiment: 1758 when the 2nd battalion of the 31st was redesignated the 70th (Glasgow Lowland) Regiment of Foot.
 
Motto: ??
 
Regimental Journal:  The Journal of the East Surrey Regiment.
 
WWI:Battle Honours; 62Victoria Crosses; 7Died; 6750
WWII:    Battle Honours; 21Victoria Crosses; 1Died; ???
 
Amalgamated:1959 with The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) to form  The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment
 
 
 
 

Peninsula War 1808 - 1814 31st Regiment: two battalions operational 1804-1814, 2nd battalion only present.

Military General Service Medal 1793 - 1814 clasps:

Total MedalsMax clasps
Talavera
Busaco
Albuhera
Vittoria
Pyrenees
Nivelle
Nive
Orthes
Toulouse
1849121681161229752535583
 

The Battalion suffered heavy casualties at Talavera and Albuhera resulting in a temporary amalgamation with the 66th Regiment to form the 1st Provisional Battalion.

An Egypt clasp and a Badajos clasp are noted to officers for service with other regiments.

 

Battle Honours: Talavera; Albuhera; Vittoria; Pyrenees; Nivelle; Nive; Orthes; Peninsula.

 
 
 

Capture of Martinique and Guadaloupe  1809-10 70th Regiment

Military General Service Medal 1793 - 1814 clasps:

Total MedalsMax clasps
Martinique
Guadaloupe
911*8
 

* William Daunt M.D., Assistant Surgeon.

 

Battle Honour: Guadaloupe.

 
 
 

First Afghan War 1839-1842  31st Regiment

Cabul Medal 1842

number:826
 

Battle Honour:  Cabool 1842.

 
 
 

The First Sikh War 1845 - 1846.  31st Regiment

The Sutlej Medal 1845 -46

Battle

Date
Moodkee 1845

18/12/1845

Ferozeshuhur

21-22/12/1845

Aliwal

28/01/1846

Sobraon

10/02/1846

numbers:877721524503
 

A recipients first battle corresponds to the medal reverse type, followed by clasp(s) for subsequent battles.

Battle Honours:  Moodkee, Ferozeshah, Aliwal, Sobraon

 
 
 

Crimean War  1854 - 1856  31st Regiment

Crimea Medal 1854 -56

 
Clasp: →..none...

Sebastopol

Total Medals
Number:107?9241031
 

 

 

Battle Casualties;

Action.KilledDied of Wounds'Wounded'Dangerously
Wounded
Severely
Wounded
Slightly
Wounded
MissingTotal
1st Attack on the Redan----5--5
2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th Bombardments of Sebastopol and Minor Actions.18--62463-111
         

 grand total   

116
 

Men who served in the Crimea also eligible for:

Turkish Crimea Medal 1855

 

Battle Honour: Sevastopol.

 
 
 

India Mutiny 1857-59  70th Regiment

India Mutiny Medal. 1857 -59

clasp:....none...
number:714
 
 
 
 

Second China War 1856-60 31st Regiment

Second China War Medal 1856-60

 
clasp:..none...

Taku Forts 1860

Pekin 1860

total medals 
number:291014531043 
      
      

 

 

Entitled to a Medal with:OfficersWarrant OfficersNCOs & MenTotal 
One clasp Taku: 293929961 
Two clasps Taku and Pekin:205153 
      

Medal Only = 29

 
 
 

Disposition  (6th Dec 1861?)

 Depot 31st Regiment ChathamOn Leave to EnglandWith The RegimentIn India 
Officers1327-Total Officers=31
Warrant Officers---3Total Warrant Officers = 3
 
 
Non Commissioned Officers and Men
DeadDepot 31st ChathamCape of Good HopeIndiaDesertedTransferred to 2/60 RiflesHong KongShanghaiWith the RegimentTotal NCOs & Men 
445261111118921009 
 

Total Officers, Warrant Officers, NCOs and men = 1043

(data in blue extracted from tables at the end of the original roll)

 
 

Battle Honour: Taku Forts

 
 
 

3rd Maori War, New Zealand 1863-1866   70th Regiment

New Zealand Medal 1845-1866

 
reverse18631863-18641863-18651864-651865total medals
number3*66766642**901
 

* 388 Pte. Alex Ferguson, 3229 Pte. Patk. O'Neill, 3406 Cpl. Stephn. Wildgoose

** Capt. Chas. Roger & 326 Pte. B. Griffiths

 

Battle Honour: New Zealand

 
 
 

Afghan War 1878  70th Regiment

Afghanistan Medal 1878  -1880

clasp:...none...
numbers:862 +/- 2
 
 

Battle Honour: Afghanistan 1878-9

 
1881: The Regiments now become 1st & 2nd Battalions, The East Surrey Regiment.
 

The Nile Expedition 1884-5 2nd Battalion

Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-89

 
clasp:...none...

Nile 1884-85

Suakin 1885

Total medals
number: 1*3** 792796
 

*Pte G Moreton - medal claimed 1929

** 1 officer and two privates

 

Figures are provided by OMRS 6718 S. Brandwood from his own studies. Mr Brandwood is always interested in purchasing medals to this regiment for the Egypt & Sudan Campaigns and medals to the 70th Foot generally. contact: 

 

Recipients also entitled to a Khedive's Star dated 1884-6

 

Battle Honour: Suakin 1885

 
 
 

Relief of Chitral 1895   ?

India Medal 1895

clasp:
Relief of Chitral 1895
number:21
 
 
 
 

South African War 1899 - 1902 or "Boer War"   2nd Battalion.  (Nov 1899- end )

Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, with or without the King's South Africa Medal 1901 - 1902

Common clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; also:

 
clasp:
Relief Ladysmith
Tugela Heights
Laing's Nek
 
number:??? 
 

 

Casualties:

OfficersNCOs and Men
KIA & DOWWoundedMissing / POWKIA & DOWDeath from disease WoundedMissing / POW
 
110-5061206-
 

VCs: 1 Albert Edward Curtis

Battle Honours: Relief of Ladysmith, South Africa 1899-1902

 
 
 

The Great War 1914 - 1918  ( 18 battalions; 9 served overseas:- )

Generally awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal, most men overseas prior to 1/1/1916 also a 1914 or 1914-15 Star.

Battalion →1 2*1/51/67891213
date of first overseas service.
 (first theatre red x )
15/8
1914
19/1
1915
2/12
1914
2/12
1914
2/6
1915
28/7
1915
1/9
1915
2/5
1916
4/6
1916
France & Flandersxx  xxxxx
Gallipoli         
Egypt & Palestine x       
Mesopotamia  x      
Macedonia x       
Italyx      x 
Aden   x     
India  xx     
Star
possible ?
1914 or 1914-15 x        
or 1914-15 only x  xxx  
VCs at a glance    
died
Extracted from : "Soldiers / Officers Died in the Great War" (consider approximate - in addition 151 officers are recorded with 'battalion not shown'   or with battalions not show here)
133967558867241122858713332
 
 

* The second battalion were in India when war broke out and returned first to the UK

RegularTerritorial ForceNew ArmiesGarrison.

 

VCs: 7;  Roupell  Geary  Dwyer  Fleming-Sandes  "Tiny" Foster  Cator   McNamara  (off site links)

Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19
815 officers and men of the East Surrey Regiment also qualified for this medal.

Battle Honours: Mons; Marne 1914; Somme 1916, 1918; Albert 1916, 1918; Cambrai 1917, 1918; Macedonia 1915-18. Le Cateau; Retreat from Mons; Aisne 1914; Armentières 1914; Hill 60; Gravenstafel; St Julien; Frezenberg; Bellewaarde; Bazentin; Delville Wood; Pozières; Guillemont; FlersCourcelette; Morval; Thiepval; Le Transloy; Ancre Heights; Ancre 1916; Arras 1917, 1918; Vimy 1917; Scarpe 1917; Messines 1917; Pilckem; Langemarck 1917; Menin Road; Polygon Wood; Broodseinde; Poelcapelle; Passchendaele; St Quentin; Bapaume 1918; Rosières; Avre; Lys; Estaires; Hazebrouck; Amiens; Hindenburg Line; Epéhy; Canal du Nord; St Quentin Canal; Courtrai; Sambre; France and Flanders 1914-18; Italy 1917-18; Struma; Macedonia 1915-18; Egypt 1915; Aden; Mesopotamia 1917-18; Murman 1919

 
 
 

WW2 1939 - 1945  

Battalion →1st2nd1/6th2/6th
campaign ↓    
France and
Belgium 1940.
(Dunkirk )
x xx
North Africa & Middle Eastx x 
Far East x  
Sicily / Italyx x 
N.W. Europe    
 

Notes.

 11th Infantry Brigade for the Duration1st Malaya Infantry Brigade, Singapore Fortress.
 19/12/41 amalgamated with the 1st Leicesters to form the British Battalion. N
10th Infantry Brigade
 4/5/40-31/8/45
37th Infantry Brigade 26/10/39-18/5/40, 18/6/40-29/7/44, & 12/9/44-31/8/45
 
 
 

WW2 Stars common to the Battalion. (excluding 39-45 star )
 Key: A = Africa, P = Pacific, B =  Burma, I = Italy,  F&G = France and Germany

 A, I.PA, I.-
     
 

Most also entitled to the 1939-45 War Medal and many the Defence Medal

 

VCs: 1 Wilson   attached Somaliland Camel Corps (off site link)

Battle Honours:  Dunkirk 1940; Longstop Hill; Sicily 1943; Sangro; Cassino; Italy 1943-5. Defence of Escaut; Tebourba; Fort McGregor; Djebel Ang; Djebel Djaffa Pass; Medjez Plain; Tunis; Montarnaud; Adrano; Centuripe; Trigno; Capture of Forli; Argenta Gap; Greece 1944-5; Kampar.

 
 
 

Jewish / Arab Unrest, Palestine 1945 - 48 2nd Battalion

General Service Medal 1918 -62

clasp:

Palestine 1945-48

number:?
 
 
Regulars reduced to a single battalion (the 1st) 1948
 

The Cyprus Emergency 1955 - 1960  1st Battalion (July 1958 - Sept 1958)

General Service Medal 1918-62

clasp:

Cyprus

number:?
 

with 'A' Coy. The  Queen's (West Surrey) attached

 

© This website and its contents are copyright. Images are digitally watermarked. © North East Medals, All Rights Reserved

 

  

 

Selected Links

The Regimental Museum. (Located in )

 
 
 

Selected Bibliography;

 
AuthorTitlePublisher
Richard Cannon, EsqHistorical Record of The Thirty-First, or, The Huntingdonshire Regiment of Foot; containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1702, and of its subsequent Services to 1850; to which is appended An Account of the Services of the Marine Corps, from 1664 to 1748; The Thirtieth, Thirty-First, and Thirty-Second Regiments having been formed in 1702 as Marine Corps, and retained from 1714 on the Establishment of the Army as Regiments of Regular Infantry. London: Parker, Furnivall & Parker, 1850.
Richard Cannon, Esq.   Historical Record of The Seventieth, or The Surrey Regiment of Foot; containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1758, and of its subsequent Services to 1848. 21 pp.London: Parker, Furnivall, & Parker, 1849.
   
 Col. Hugh W. Pearse.History of the 31st Foot, Huntingdonshire Regt.--70th Foot, Surrey Regt., subsequently 1st & 2nd Battalions The East Surrey Regiment. Vol. 1. 1702-1914.  London: Spottiswoode, Ballantyne & Co. Ltd., 1916.
Col. H. W. Pearse and Brig.-Gen. H. S. SlomanVols. 2, 3 [1914-1919]London: The Medici Society Ltd., 1933-34.
David Scott Daniell. Vol. 4. 1920-1952.  283 pp. Honours & Awards. London: Ernest Benn Ltd., 1957.
John Aston, and L. M. Duggan. The History of the 12th (Bermondsey) Battalion East Surrey Regiment. (With Letters from Lieut.-Gen. Sir Sydney T. B. Lawford and Brig.-Gen. F. W. Towsey. ) 331 pp. London: The Union Press, 1936.
Michael Langley.The East Surrey Regiment.  117 pp. London: Leo Cooper, 1972.

 

Additional Bibliography for this Page.

 
Author/CompilerTitlePublisher
Officers of the Regiment.Unpublished rolls in the care of the National Archives; WO 100/ etc.-
Stiles, Richard G.M.L.Mayhem in the Med  (Cyprus Emergency)Savannah Pub. London. 2005
   
 Additional bibliography same as Northumberland Fusiliers page  
   
   
 

 

 

Site Home Page

Guide to British Medals

© This website and its contents are copyright. Images are digitally watermarked 
All Rights Reserved. North East Medals 2007 ©