SURREY HISTORY SERVICE SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL 130 GOLDSWORTH ROAD, WOKING ESR/25 THE EAST SURREY REGIMENT, FORMERLY THE 31ST (HUNTINGDONSHIRE) REGIMENT AND 70TH (SURREY) REGIMENT: PERSONAL PAPERS OF MEMBERS OF THE REGIMENT, 1794-2007 Provenance Originally presented by the Queen's Royal Surrey Regimental Association and Museum, Clandon Park, in November 2003. Personal papers of soldiers who served in the regiment have accrued since that date. The preparation of this catalogue was funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Arrangement The papers are arranged alphabetically by surname of soldier. Related records For records of the East Surrey Regiment and its predecessors, 1702-2003, see ESR/-, the catalogue of which includes a detailed introduction to the history of the regiment and its constituent battalions. Access conditions There are no access restrictions. 2 ESR/25 THE EAST SURREY REGIMENT, FORMERLY THE 31ST (HUNTINGDONSHIRE) REGIMENT AND 70TH (SURREY) REGIMENT: PERSONAL PAPERS OF MEMBERS OF THE REGIMENT, 1794-2005 ESR/25/GAYW/ GAYWOOD, MAJOR FREDERICK JAMES, 1917- 1940 Served with 8th (Service) Battalion during World War I. 1 Notebook kept by Gaywood, recording daily 18 Sep 1917 routine, notes on HQ Company and some -8 Oct 1917 soldiers’ names 2 Transcript of Gaywood’s citations for the (Apr 1917- Military Cross, gazetted Apr 1917, and for a 1918) second bar to the Military Cross, c.1918 3 Photograph of Gaywood 1918 4 Field Service postcard to Miss Alison 29 May 1940 Gaywood ND ESR/25/GEAR/ GEARY, 2 LIEUTENANT BENJAMIN HANDLEY (C.1891- ?), 1914-1986 Born, c.1891. Gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant, 1914. Served with 4th Battalion, but attached to 1st Battalion. Awarded Victoria Cross, 1915. 3 1 Scrapbook containing letters from Geary and 1914-1924 his sister to Mrs Gunby Hadath [?a friend], 1914-1915; newspaper cuttings and army orders relating to the award of the VC; 1915, photographs of Geary alone and with [?his brother and mother]; typed copy (undated) of Geary’s diary, Sep 1914-Apr 1915; copy of an account by Geary for the East Surrey Regiment Annals, of events on Hill 60, 19-21 Apr 1915; letters to [Lieutenant] Darwell, who assumed command of the Battalion during the battle at Hill 60, from senior officers, concerning the events of that battle and news of other Battalions, 1915. Also press cuttings and ephemera relating to Geary’s later life, including his ordination, 1921, engagement and marriage, 1921-1922, and the birth of his son, 1924 1 Photograph of Geary on a stretcher carried by 1918 German prisoners of war at Achiet-le-Petit 2 Caption card for a German bayonet captured May 1986 by Geary during a trench raid, with biographical information of Geary. Bayonet in Regimental Museum ESR/25/GIBB/ GIBBS, SERGEANT STANLEY V, 1944-1945 Served with 1/6th Battalion. Awarded the Military Medal, 1945. 1 Photocopies of photographs and newspaper (1944-1945) cuttings concerning Gibbs. Includes photocopy of citation for the Military Medal, 1945, transcript of a [radio] broadcast in which Gibbs took part, 1944, and letters [from his former employers?] congratulating him on the broadcast and on being awarded the Military Medal, 1945. Includes some handwritten notes regarding Gibbs’ medals, [?late 20th cent] ESR/25/GIBSKJ/ GIBSON, PRIVATE KENNETH JOHN, 1940-1980 Served with 1st Battalion during World War II. Transferred to 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment. Killed in action, 1944. 4 1 Certificate issued to Gibson by the town of nd [c.1940] Dunkirk 2 Consolatory letter to Gibson’s sister from the 15 Dec 1944 Battalion Chaplain 3 Press cutting containing obituary nd [?1944] 4 Letter from depositor donating items and nd [?1980] giving further information, including the location of Gibson’s grave ESR/25/GIBSNJ/ GIBSON, REGIMENTAL SERGEANT MAJOR N J, 1908-1914 Served with 2nd Battalion. 1 Copies (undated) of photographs of Gibson (1908-c.1914) and his family. 3 items ESR/25/GILL/ GILLESPIE, SERGEANT NEIL, 1843-1844 Born in Ballymena, near Belfast, c.1804. Enlisted in Belfast, 1822. Served with 31st Regiment of Foot, including in Afghanistan, 1842. Discharged, 1844. 1 Photocopies (undated) of discharge forms and (1843-1844) statement of accounts, with transcripts and covering letter from depositor, [c.2002] ESR/25/GILM/ GILMOUR, ALAN J, 1986 Enlisted, 1939. Served with the 42nd Royal Tank Corps and 48th Royal Tank Regiment during World War II. 1 Photocopy (undated) of an article ‘Titan goes Dec 1986 to war’ by Gilmour from the magazine British Army Review concerning his experiences during World War II ESR/25/GING/ GINGELL, W G, 1940S Served with 1st Battalion. 1 Photograph of W G Gingell nd [?1940s] 5 ESR/25/GLOV/ GLOVER, CAPTAIN FRANK PERCY JOSEPH, 1918-1943 Served with the East Surrey Regiment Special Reserve during World War I. Later served with Home Guard. 1 Photocopies of citation for the Military Cross. (1918) 2 copies each of 2 different citations 2 Certificate presented by the Home Guard nd [c.1943] Training School, Nonsuch Park, to Glover in grateful recognition of his services ESR/25/GOLD/ GOLDFINCH, CORPORAL J H, 1997 Served with the East Surrey Regiment. 1 Colour photograph of Goldfinch at the Burma 1997 Star reunion, Blackpool ESR/25/GOOC/ GOOCH, LANCE CORPORAL FREDERICK, 1997 Served with [1st Battalion] during World War II. Volunteered for special service and took part in the raid on Dieppe, Aug 1942, as part of No 4 Commando. A photograph was also donated with this certificate. It can be found on page 44 of ESR/2/13/1/91. 1 Certificate awarded to those who took part in 19 Aug 1997 the Dieppe Raid, 1942 (French text) 2 Covering letter from John Skerry, who served nd [c.1997] with Gooch and was also at Dieppe, explaining the origin of the certificate and recalling his memories of Gooch ESR/25/GOUL/ GOULD, DRUM MAJOR HENRY JOHN, 1920S-1930S Served with 1st Battalion. 1 Copies (undated) of photographs of Gould (nd [?1920s alone and in groups with other soldiers. 4 -1930s]) items 6 ESR/25/GRANT/ GRANT, CORPORAL HENRY EDWARD, 1958 Born, 1915. Enlisted in London, 1934. Served with [2nd Battalion] in China, 1938-1940, Singapore, 1940- 1942. Was a Japanese prisoner of war, 1942-1945. Transferred to reserve, 1946. Served in England, 1946- 1951, with [?1st Battalion as part of] Middle East Land Forces in Egypt, [1951-1955]. Served in England, 1955-1958. Discharged, 1958. 1 Certificate of service, including character 1958 statement, certificates of transfer to reserve and discharge ND ESR/25/GRANTH/ GRANTHAM, 2 LIEUTENANT ERNEST RUSSELL (?-1917), 1917 Served with 9th Battalion during World War I. Killed in action, 1917. 1 Letters from Lieutenant Colonel L J Le 28 Nov 1917 Fleming, Commanding Officer of 9th -2 Dec 1917 Battalion, and Captain Percy High, Grantham’s company commander, to Mr A Grantham concerning the death of his son. 2 items 2 Letter from Annie Grantham, Ernest's mother, 8 Dec 1917 to Glen Williams, thanking him for his letter of sympathy (not present) 3 Photographs [of Grantham]. 2 items nd [?1915- 1917] ESR/25/GRAY/ GRAY, PRIVATE JACK THOMAS (C.1919-1940), 1980S Born, c.1919. Served with 1st Battalion in World War II. Killed in action, 1940. 1 Colour photograph of gravestones in nd [?1980s] Bournemouth North Cemetery, including Gray’s 7 ESR/25/GREY/ GREY SMITH, CAPTAIN W A C, 1885 Served with 2nd Battalion. Served at the Depot while 2nd Battalion was in Sudan, 1885. Served with 2nd Battalion in the 2nd Afghan War, 1878-1880. 1 Map of the Nile from Assouan to Khartoum, nd [c.1885] stamped ‘Officers’ Mess East Surrey Regiment’, with label giving brief biographical details of Grey Smith ESR/25/GRIF/ GRIFFEN, PRIVATE, 1946 Served with 2nd Battalion. 1 Photocopies (undated) of correspondence (1946) concerning recommendation of Griffen for the Military Medal, including a detailed description of the actions for which he is recommended ESR/25/GRIFT/ GRIFFITHS, PRIVATE GEOFFREY ALAN (1925-?), 1942-1953 Born, 1925. Enlisted, 1944. Served with General Service Corps, May 1944-Jun 1944. Joined 2nd Battalion, the East Surrey Regiment, Jun 1944. Discharged, 1947. 1 Leaflets regarding income tax allowances and 1942-1947 deductions. 3 items 2 Soldier's service book, giving details of 1944-1946 service, training, leave, medical records and next of kin 3 Programme for presentation of new Colours 30 Nov 1945 to 2nd Battalion at West Chiltington Camp, Sussex 4 Newspaper cuttings regarding the use of 1945-1953 footballs by 8th Battalion at the Battle of the Somme, presentation of Colours to 2nd Battalion in 1945, the situation in Palestine in 1947, and the regiment’s history in general 8 5 Leaflet and blank form regarding nd [c.1946] reinstatement in civil employment, with blank form to register with the National Association for Employment of Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen 6 Embarkation card, for embarkation at Port nd [c.1946] Said 7 Certificate of transfer to reserve 29 Oct 1947 8 Record of service card, showing regiments 29 Oct 1947 served with and dates 9 Postcard, filled in by Griffiths, advising of his 4 Dec 1947 change of address 10 Soldier’s release book, including release 1947 certificate, leaflets regarding pay arrangements, allowances and notice to soldiers reminding them that they must obtain War Office approval prior to publishing any letter or article in the press 11 1 shilling voucher to be used in British nd [?1944- Service Canteens 1947] ESR/25/HALL/ HALLAM, [?PRIVATE], 1946-1947 Served with 2nd Battalion. 1 Photograph album relating to Hallam's service 1946-1947 in Palestine with Carrier Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 1946-1947: local views in Egypt and around Haifa, Palestine, soldiers (with list of names), voyage back, 1947.