17th London Regiment Poplar and Stepney Rifles

[Guest maisie02]

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction for research please. I am currently tracing my family tree and am looking for information on my Great Grandfather. His name was William Richard Reginald Bubbers and I know that he served with the 17th London Regiment the Poplar and Stepney Rifles in the Great War. I also know that he achieved the rank of Major and I have a certificate stating that he was invalided from service but the only date I have is the 4th February (the certificate is missing its corner)

I would be grateful if anyone could help me by telling me anything about this regiment or my Great Grandfather.

Thanks

Jane

[Stebie9173]

Appointments and promotions for Officers were announced in the London Gazette. Some extracts:

London Gazette 17-7-1903

2nd Tower Hamlets, William Richard Bubbers, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant. Dated 18th July, 1903.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

London Gazette 11-3-1904

2nd Tower Hamlets.

The undermentioned Second Lieutenants to be Lieutenants:—

W. R. Bubbers. Dated 12th March, 1904.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

London Gazette 1-6-1906

2nd Tower Hamlets Volunteer. Rifle Corps;

Lieutenant W. R. Bubbers to be Captain.

Dated 21st May, 1906.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

London Gazette 21-12-1906

2nd Tower Hamlets Volunteer Rifle Corps;

Captain W. R. Bubbers is appointed Instructor of Musketry, vice Captain G. E. C. Clark who resigns that appointment Dated 20th November,

1906.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

London Gazette 25-9-1908

17th Battalion, County of London (Poplar and Stepney) Regiment;

The undermentioned officers, from the 2nd Tower Hamlets Volunteer Rifle Corps, are appointed to the battalion, with rank and precedence as

in the Volunteer Force. Dated 1st April, 1908 :—

Captain William Richard Bubbers. (To be supernumerary.)

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

(This was when the Militia changed to the Territorial Force)

London Gazette 8-7-1916

London Regt.

Capt. W. R. Bubbers to be Maj. with precedence as from 2nd Sept. 1915. 9th July 1916.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

London Gazette 3-2-1919

17th Bn., London Regt.—Maj. W. R. Bubbers relinquishes his commission on account of illhealth caused by wounds, 4th Feb. 1919, and retains the rank of Maj.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

There are a couple of Miscellaneus entries:

London Gazette 9-8-1929

NOTICE' is hereby given that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned, carrying on business as Commission Agents, at 122b, High-street, Aylesbury, under the style or firm of the COUNTY COMMISSION AGENCY. has been dissolved by mutual consent as from the 21st day of June, 1929, from which date the said business will be carried on by William Richard Bubbers alone.—Dated the thirty-first day of July, 1929.

W. R. BUBBERS.

M. C. ROUSSEAU.

F. H. SONGHURST.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

also:

London Gazette 7-10-1930

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

London Gazette 4-4-1913

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

Hope this helps,

Steve.

[Stebie9173]

Almost forgot!

This is the link to download his Medal Index Card which should give you more information (cost is £3.50 from the National Archives):

Medal card of Bubbers, William Richard

Corps Regiment No Rank

17th London Regiment Captain

52nd Grad Middlesex Regiment Major

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...&resultcount=10

He also has a hard copy file in series WO374/10433 BUBBERS, Major W R 1915-1919 that is stored at the National Archives at Kew.

Steve.

[Stebie9173]

Me again!

According to the Times he was reported wounded in the Times of 6th October 1915.

Bubbers, Capt. W. R. 17th London regt. (T.F.) (Poplar and Stepney Rifles)

"Reported from Headquarters on the 27th September". This from the HQ of the BEF which places him in the 1/17th London Regiment at the time rather than the 2/17th who were in Ireland.

It wouldn't surprise me if he was wounded on 25th September 1915, which was the first day of the battle of Loos. An officer of the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment on the same list was certainly wounded that day.

He also attended the King's Levee with many other officers in 1904, 1912, 1913 and probably mre. (Don't ask me exactly what it was though!)

Steve.

P.S. Is there a Dorothy E Bubbers in your Tree?

First Class Honours, Univ. College, Southampton. (Times 23-7-1928)

Also:

C R Bubbers attended the annual Tower Hamlets Rifles Dinner in 1937.

[Guest maisie02]

Thank you very much for this info I will now check on the links you kindly forwarded. I have got a Dorothy E Bubbers in my tree so I will also look into that info.

Jane

[Guest maisie02]

Thank you very much for this info I will now check on the links you kindly forwarded. I have got a Dorothy E Bubbers in my tree so I will also look into that info.

Jane

You sent me an e-mail but I am unable to open it.

Jane

[Stebie9173]

Jane,

I've sent another but it basically said.

You can probably access the Times Online Archive via your County Library Website as I do (provided that they subscribe and that you are a Library member - you use the library card number to log-in)

Alternatively, I can send you the pages as picture files over the next few days. Up to you...

Steve.