4th (Extra Reserve) Bn The East Surrey Regiment

 

Distribution of medals to the Volunteer Service Coy 2 East Surreys at Kingston 0n Thames 1902. They served with the Bn from 12-4-1900 to 9-10-1900. Mayor of Kingston, High Sheriff, Col F F F Roupell, Col Ward. (Click to enlarge)

The 4^th (Extra Reserve) Battalion East Surrey Regiment was raised in 1852 on the 3^rd Royal Surrey Militia. (A battalion of the same name had been raised in 1798 but disbanded in the following year). The battalion served in South Africa in 1902, mainly on garrison and blockhouse duties in the Sterkstroom district but took part in the attack on the Boer position at Steinkop on 28^th April.

On returning to England it was granted the distinction of “South Africa 1902”. It was at Kingston-upon-Thames on annual training when on 3^rd August 1914, it received orders to mobilize. Within a few days it was made known that Reserve Battalions would not be sent overseas as complete units, but would be employed on garrison duty in the United Kingdom and to supply drafts to the line battalions in the field. Fulfilling these functions, the battalion served in Plymouth and Saltash and later, in 1917 at Felixstowe where it took over the Harwich Defences. During the first twelve months of the war the Battalion sent drafts of 34 officers overseas of whom 12 had been killed and 3 wounded by 4^th August 1915. 1,131 other ranks had been similarly drafted and by the end of the war this number had swollen to 4,732. Demobilisation commenced on 9^th November 1918, and continued until completion in 1919.

 

(Click to enlarge) 4th East Surrey Officers, Gravesend 1897.	(Click to enlarge) 4th Bn Surreys, Shorncliffe, 1908.

 

 

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