Ron Posted 27 February , 2005 Share Posted 27 February , 2005 The account of the 17th Londons (Poplar and Stepney) Rifles first battalion's experiences on the Western Front has just appeared. It is available from the publisher: Philip Mernick, Secretary East London History Society, 42, Campbell Road, BOW, London E3 4DT at £7.50 plus £2 post and packing. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 17 March , 2005 Share Posted 17 March , 2005 Our copy arrived this morning, and my immediate impression is "what an excellent £7.50's worth!" 'The Poplars' by Ron Wilcox (is the previous poster being unduly modest?) is 187 well-illustrated pages of in-depth documentaion of the First Battalion Poplars' experiences on the Western Front, complete with index. Hopefully, I'll get around to doing a review sometime, though it will have to take its place in my 'to read' queue. Well done Ron, a welcome battalion history for one of the less-fashionable, but equally brave London units, and a must for followers of 47th Division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hambo Posted 17 March , 2005 Share Posted 17 March , 2005 Got mine last week, only had a chance for a skim read so far but looks excellent Well done to all involved and very good value Hambo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NZMel Posted 16 June , 2005 Share Posted 16 June , 2005 Hello, I thought I might add: There are some group photos of the Poplar and Stepney Rifles at www.1photos.com/London17th.html - they may be different from the booklet?. Oddly enough I found a photo of Christopher Edwin Harvey(Rfn 2113), we think it might be the only one they ever sell. Still waiting for the post here in New Zealand sigh. If you guys wanted too, could any one tell me where the unit was on the 16/5/1915, which was the date Christopher died? And maybe what happened? He arrived in France on the 9/3/15. So he was only there for 2 months. I would love to get a copy of that book but it becomes $28.00 New Zealand and about eight weeks for delivery. I am asking for a friend at work, who is building a memorial to his gr.uncle - he inherited his death penny and is thinking about placing it in a museum one day. We have his medal card and he is also on the solidiers died CDrom. Melissa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n cherry Posted 28 June , 2005 Share Posted 28 June , 2005 Suspect at the time 47th London Division were 'getting used to the front line' at the time when C Harvey was killed. The 47th Div were in the Cuinchy area in early May so probably died as a result of shell fire or ???? First went into action on the 25th May 1915 at the tail end of the Battle of Festubert.... Division suffered at this battle 2355 casualties, then took part at Loos in September 1915. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NZMel Posted 3 July , 2005 Share Posted 3 July , 2005 Hello, N Cherry - Thankyou for you reply. C Harvey obviously did not last long and he was buried in Cuinchy. Thankyou, your information gives a place to start reading. My friend was very excited to match up information to his great-uncle. Thankyou Melissa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NZMel Posted 3 September , 2005 Share Posted 3 September , 2005 Hello guys, I finally got to see a Obituary from 'De Rugviny's Roll of Honour' on my "Poplar and Stepney Soldier". Thankyou for starting this thread, I did not know they became the 47th Division. C E Harvey was killed in Action by shell fire at Pont Fixe, Givenchy 9 March 1915. If you type "Pont Fixe" In the search Engine on this site you will even find a map. Thankyou everyone, Melissa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffcole Posted 8 February , 2006 Share Posted 8 February , 2006 Dear Ron, I am assuming that you are the authour of "The Poplars" which I have just bought and am currently reading.It is an extremely well researched and informative account and well worth the price. I am in correspondence with the grandson of Sgt 1126?(later Captain) William Wood of the Pops and would be grateful for any information that you may have regarding him. Best regards, Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 8 February , 2006 Share Posted 8 February , 2006 Would there be any mention in your Book of Sergeant George Vanhinsbergh,DCM;who was attached to KAR & won his DCM @ Nikinjiri East Africa,for rescuing his Wounded Officer,in 1918;having spent the previous years on The WF,with his Regiment 17th London{He was a prewar Territorial & earned the TFEM as well}??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 9 February , 2006 Share Posted 9 February , 2006 Ron, I can't find mention of them in the book, but do you have anything on the Whitworth brothers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted 9 February , 2006 Author Share Posted 9 February , 2006 Cliff, Harry, Kate I am afraid I have no information on soldiers in the Poplars beyond those mentioned in the book. When researching it, I had difficulty in finding anything by individual soldiers and had to rely on the unit diary to a large extent. I guess that if you lived in east London you could do research in local newspapers of the period since from what I have seen of them they reported the War very fully but I moved away many years ago. Another problem is that the population has changed very radically over the last ninety years and few of the families of the period are still there. I am sorry not to be more helpful. Best wishes Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffcole Posted 10 February , 2006 Share Posted 10 February , 2006 Cliff, Harry, Kate I am afraid I have no information on soldiers in the Poplars beyond those mentioned in the book. When researching it, I had difficulty in finding anything by individual soldiers and had to rely on the unit diary to a large extent. I guess that if you lived in east London you could do research in local newspapers of the period since from what I have seen of them they reported the War very fully but I moved away many years ago. Another problem is that the population has changed very radically over the last ninety years and few of the families of the period are still there. I am sorry not to be more helpful. Best wishes Ron Ron, Many thanks for looking. I will do a bit more digging. Regards, Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 10 February , 2006 Share Posted 10 February , 2006 few of the families of the period are still there. Cheers Ron,we should have stayed !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest johnward Posted 13 February , 2006 Share Posted 13 February , 2006 The account of the 17th Londons (Poplar and Stepney) Rifles first battalion's experiences on the Western Front has just appeared. It is available from the publisher: Philip Mernick, Secretary East London History Society, 42, Campbell Road, BOW, London E3 4DT at £7.50 plus £2 post and packing. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubledouble Posted 27 May , 2009 Share Posted 27 May , 2009 Hi, Is this account still available? The last post was awhile ago? My Grandfather William Charle Frost was in the 17th Londons at the Battle of Loos. The mind boggles to imagine what he saw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connaughtranger Posted 27 May , 2009 Share Posted 27 May , 2009 An important addition to Great War histories and excellent value for money; hope you get a copy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dobbin Posted 27 May , 2009 Share Posted 27 May , 2009 Hi, Is this account still available? The last post was awhile ago? My Grandfather William Charle Frost was in the 17th Londons at the Battle of Loos. The mind boggles to imagine what he saw. I have the War Diaries and map re Loos. Cant PM you yet I need an e mail address to send to you. See if you can PM me first with e mail which is only shared between us and I will e mail docs to you. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dobbin Posted 27 May , 2009 Share Posted 27 May , 2009 I have the War Diaries and map re Loos. Cant PM you yet I need an e mail address to send to you. See if you can PM me first with e mail which is only shared between us and I will e mail docs to you. Colin Sorry meant to say docs too big to send via Forum link Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubledouble Posted 29 May , 2009 Share Posted 29 May , 2009 Sorry meant to say docs too big to send via Forum link Colin Does anyone know the ship this Battalion came over on? My mother believes her grandfather used to have a picture of it on the wall after he came back. p.s Thanks again c clive you are a gent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 29 May , 2009 Share Posted 29 May , 2009 Does anyone know the ship this Battalion came over on? The battalion embarked at Southampton on SS Viper, SS Copenhagen and SS Trafford Hall on the 9th March and disembarked at Le Harve, 8am on the 10th and marched to No.1 Rest Camp. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubledouble Posted 5 June , 2009 Share Posted 5 June , 2009 Does anyone know the ship this Battalion came over on? My mother believes her grandfather used to have a picture of it on the wall after he came back. p.s Thanks again c clive you are a gent. Just received the "The Poplars" by Ron Wilcox. Fantastic read. Call me a bit soppy but I love the idea that even though I never meet my grandfather who served in the 17th at Loos. I can read a book which includes many men that may have met him and may have shared laughs, tears etc with him. Thank you Ron. RIP Percy Wilcox and William "Bill" Frost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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