Notes page for Frederick William Blencowe 1890 Banbury

2nd East Surrey regiment 1914-1917

My notes from war diaries etc.

1915
  • January. The 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment (2 E.Surreys) assembled at Winchester a prepared mobilisation.
  • 19 January. The 2 E.Surreys departed Winchester and landed at Le Havre via Southampton.
  • 20-21 January. Travelled by train to Hazebrouck near Belgium border.
  • 4 February. Marched to Ypres and suffered 1 man wounded first casualty of the war.

    The main Poperinge-Ypres road looking towards Vlamertinge from Brandhoek. With thanks to Geneanet for use of this image.
  • February. Front Line Kruistraat, and Vlamertinqhe, Ypres. Casualties for the month 70 men killed.

    The location of Vlamertinghe
  • March. The Bn was at Lindenhoek and Dikkiebusch, Belgium Casualties heavy.
    locations in March frontline

     

  • 22 Apr 1915.Nr Zonnebeke, Belgium. Heavy Casualties were taken from a German attack, 216 Men killed in the month most in this period.
  • 8 May. Velorenhoek, Belgium. On the front line at Velorenhoek, with heavy casualties, 91 men were killed
  • 22 May.Potijze. Trenches at Potijze casualties 29 men killed
  • June. Short spell in trenches but a quiet month.
  • July. Trenches at Vierstraat, Rosenhilbeek and Loker, Relatively quiet but still 15 men were killed in the month
  • August. Trenches at Wulverghem. Quiet time.
  • September. Began the month in trenches at Wulverghem Belgium but by 27th 40kms south in trenches at Vermelles in the Lens sector

    Vermelles
Indian and British alongside each other in France. English and Indian soldiers of the Signal Troop of the Lucknow Cavalry Brigade relaxing in a farmyard at Brigade Headquarters.
British Raj Red Ensign.svg This image is taken from the H. D. Girdwood collection of propaganda photographs produced for the Government of India in 1915.
  • 22 October. The battalion arrive at the port of Marseilles and embark for Egypt
  • 25 October. Arrival in Alexandria, Egypt.
  • 26 November. Embarked on SS Horata for Mudros and from there onto Salonika, Greece arriving on 1st December