2/20th London Regiment pre October 1916

[Guest]

Hi,

 

i'm looking for anyone with information on the 2/20th London Regiments movements, stationing and details from January 1916 until late September 1916.

 

I'm currently researching Pte A Tollington (5600). As a relative of mine, we have small amounts of detail but are missing definitive pieces with his war record being lost during the blitz. We're soon to make a trip over to France in remembrance of Alfred and would love to get a good picture of his movements and placements during his short stay in France.

 

From research I've pieced together the following, but as with many cases of the time this i'm wary of treating it as gospel. I wondered if others could shed any light.

 

- He was born/raised in Heather, Ibstock, Leicestershire. Both he and his brother fought in the great war.

- He joined RAMC (unknown date) before being drafted in to the 2/20th sometime between Jan 1916-May 1916.

- He was mobilised for war leaving Southampton and landing at Havre on 24th June 1916 and began training for crater fighting with the 51st Highlanders.

- On the 6th July 1916 both companies went to the line beside each other, although i can not find record of where (possibly Neuville-St-Vaast).

- This ends on the 12th July when the 2/20th become responsible for the own sector at the quarries near Neuville-St-Vaast.

- Then at some point the 2/20th were given the task of aggressively patrolling the craters facing Vimy Ridge. 

- Over the coming weeks the 2/20th London and 2/18th took it in turns to spend 8 day spells on the line here.

- On the 11th September the 2/20th carried out a pre-dawn raid on the German lines

- Alfred died aged 19 on the 14th September (although family members have reason to believe it could have been the 15th) presumably as a consequence of the raid on the German line during their 8 day stretch on the line.

- The division left this area in late October 1916

- He is buried in Ecoivres military cemetery Mont-St Eloi

 

It would be great to get a further understanding of the movements and activities of the 2/20th during this time frame especially around the Vimy Ridge area as, of course, most search results return the infamous Canadian battle some months later in 1917. 

 

Many thanks

Edited 4 January , 2018 by Guest

[Drew-1918]

Hello there,

 

Do you have the history of the 2/20th by Captain Elliot? I am away from my home at present, but I could check it in a couple of days if you want. The 2/19th history also mentions a transfer of RAMC men so I will have a look at that too, as soon as I can. 

 

Regards,

 

Chris