East Surrey Regiment

[PETER49109]

Hello I'm new to this site and I'm looking for help in finding information on my Grand-father. His name was Walter Robert Joyce, service No 12109, He enlisted at Kingston on Thames on 04-05-1908 and was discharged on 3-05-1920 he served 10 years with the colours and 1 year in the Army reserve.

I have his paybook complete with bullet hole, discharge and character certificate. My mother remembers that he was presented with a pocket watch by the family of an officer whose life he saved, she remembers that there was an inscription on the watch which said "In grateful remembrance France 13-10-1914" but I do not know if this is the date he was presented the watch or the date of his action.

If anyone can assist me I will be very grateful. He served with the 1st East Surreys and at the time of his discharge was with the 3rd E Surreys.

Many Thanks

[sotonmate]

P

This was probably the Battle of La Bassee,which began on 12 Oct 1915,where 1 ESR were part of 14 Brigade of 5 Division,and part of II Corps. Read this for an idea:

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_la_bassee.html

The War Diary which would normally be accessible at the National Archives is shown in it's Catalogue as missing for the period you need,but there is another site where the Queen's and East Surrey Regts share the space for their War Dairies,here:

http://qrrarchive.websds.net/menu4.aspx

Sotonmate

[high wood]

The History of the East Surrey Regiment gives the names of the 1st Battalion officers who were wounded on the 13th October 1914.

[PETER49109]

P

This was probably the Battle of La Bassee,which began on 12 Oct 1915,where 1 ESR were part of 14 Brigade of 5 Division,and part of II Corps. Read this for an idea:

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_la_bassee.html

The War Diary which would normally be accessible at the National Archives is shown in it's Catalogue as missing for the period you need,but there is another site where the Queen's and East Surrey Regts share the space for their War Dairies,here:

http://qrrarchive.websds.net/menu4.aspx

Sotonmate

The History of the East Surrey Regiment gives the names of the 1st Battalion officers who were wounded on the 13th October 1914.

Many thanks for that information, it will start me off into delving deeper. I would like to get as much info as possible, mainly for my mum because her father never spoke to her about what he did in the War, all that she knows was that he was gassed 3 times and was wounded in the legs but he never showed his legs off, I suppose he was like the majority of men who came back and wanted to keep the horrors of what they saw to themselves.