Regimental Timeline | The East Surrey Regiment | The Second World War: 1940

Regimental Timeline

The East Surrey Regiment

The Second World War: 1940

1940
	The East Surrey Regiment
	1^st Battalion
March	Moves to Saar front (Maginot Line).
May	Moves to the Dyle, Brussels and the Charleroi canal.
18^th - 22^nd May	Withdraws to the Escaut, battle on the Escaut.
25^th May	Withdraws to the Lys.
27^th - 31^st May	Retreat to Dunkirk, embarkation and return to England.
4^th June	Battalion begins to re-form at Axminster.
	2^nd Battalion
	Shanghai.
21^st August	Moves to Singapore/Malaya.

The Bren Gun, issued to the British Army in 1938. This a Mark II. Also shown are the large holdall for the spare barrel and cleaning rod.
The pockets hold various items, such as the oil bottle, graphite grease, mop, wire brush and anti-fouling tool.
On the right is the spare parts wallet, which also contains the pull-through and oil can. The magazine box above holds twelve magazines.

Territorial Army
	1^st/6^th Battalion
5^th April	Embarks at Southampton for France and moves to the Belgian frontier. Joins 10 Infantry Brigade (4^th Division).
14^th April	Moves to defensive positions on the Senne.
17^th - 19^th May	Withdraws to the Dendre, then the Escaut.
May	Withdraws into France.
22^nd May	Retreat to Dunkirk, defence of the perimeter.
27^th - 31^st May	Embarks and returns to England. Re-forms at Milbourne Port, Hampshire.
June - October	Defence of the South coast of England.
	Southampton.
	2^nd/6^th Battalion
March	Moves to Richmond. Joins 37 Inf Bde (12^th Division).
21^st April	Embarks at Southampton for France and moves to Le Havre.
18^th May	Moves to Rouen area.
20^th May	Moves to Lyon area.
21^st May	Withdraws to Dieppe area.
4^th June	Returns to Rouen area.
6^th - 9^thJune	Heavy fighting against Germans.
11^th June	Moves to St Valery and joins 51^st (Highland) Division.
12^th June	Surrenders at St Valery. Battalion into captivity.
July	Battalion re-formed in England from rear details and drafts. Coastal defence duties.
Home Defence Battalions
	8^th Battalion
March	Transferred to the Corps of The East Surrey Regiment at Rochester.
August	Manpower transferred to 70^th Battalion.
	9^th Battalion
May	Formed at Romford; coastal defence duties.
October	Moved to Northern Ireland.
	10^th Battalion
4^th July	Formed at Kingston. Moved to Ilfracombe, then Bideford on coastal defence duties.
	11^th Battalion
July	Formed at Dover from 50^th (Holding) Battalion.
	50^th (Holding) Battalion
28^th May	Formed at Dover.
July	Dorking. Redesignated as 11^th Battalion.
	70^th (Young Soldiers) Battalion
September	Formed from two coys of 8^th (HS) Bn.
	Coastal Defence in the Thames Estuary.
Home Guard Battalions
	3^rd (Weybridge), 51^st (Malden), 52^nd, 53^rd (Molesey), 54^th, 55^th, 56^th (Epsom, Ewell and Banstead), 62^nd (Norbury), 63^rd (Richmond), Battalions affiliated.
Depot
	ITC moves to Richmond Park.

Web Equipment (Braithwaite) 1937.

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Regimental Timeline

The East Surrey Regiment

The Second World War: 1940

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