The East Surrey Regiment

The XXXI Centrepiece

Presented by the Officers when the 31^st Huntingdonshire Regiment became the 1^st Battalion The East Surrey Regiment on the Cardwell system coming into force in 1881. The removal of the old Regimental distinctions was most unpopular, and both Regiments felt great resentment. The officers of the 31^st decided, therefore, that the spirit of their old Regiment should be commemorated in some visible form in their new Mess. On the last guest night before amalgamation, the officers collected a portion of the mess furniture, made a fire and collected a heap of ashes, which they carefully preserved. A silver urn was later made to their design into which the ashes were eventually placed. These ashes have long since turned to dust but nevertheless, the spirit of the 31^st remains symbolized by this centrepiece.

The figure of a soldier of the 31^st is not the original, which somehow disappeared around 1899. A new model was added in 1902, but after various adventures, the original soldier was recovered and mounted on a stand as a separate piece of silver.

The inscription on the centrepiece states: -
“ Presented to the Officers of the 1^st Battalion East Surrey Regiment by the Officers of the 31^st Huntingdonshire Regiment in remembrance of the old Corps which ceased to exist 30^th June 1881”

Figure of a Soldier of the 31st Regiment

This figure is an exact replica of one forming part of the XXXI Centrepiece. In fact, this is the original figure and it was part of that Centrepiece for some twenty years.

In 1899, the centrepiece becoming damaged was sent home from Jhansi, where the battalion was then stationed, to Elkingtons for overhaul. During the journey, or soon after arrival, the figure was found to be missing. Some time between 1899 and 1902, a new model was made and then mounted in the Centrepiece.

The missing figure had several strange adventures before finally being mounted on a stand and added to the regimental silver as a separate item. Its story is outlined in the following letter written in 1935 by Lieutenant Colonel R V C Brettell who was serving on the Mess Committees when the centrepiece was sent home in 1899.

“Some time in 1902 whilst I was at home serving at the Depot, as a result of a conversation I overheard in the canteen, I went to a pawnbroker in Limehouse and recovered the missing figure from him. Meantime between 1899 and 1902, a new model had been made. On the arrival home of the Battalion in 1903, I handed the figure over, but I regret to say the decision was reached at a Mess Meeting to have it melted down and made into mustard pots or ash trays.” Apparently, the figure was never actually melted down, as in 1910, whilst the Battalion was stationed at Plymouth, it appears to have been recovered once more from a shop in that town.

Apparently, the figure was never actually melted down, as in 1910, whilst the Battalion was stationed at Plymouth, it appears to have been recovered once more from a shop in that town.

The Longley Cup

This was presented by Lt Col J R Longley on relinquishing command to be competed for annually by officers of the 1^st Bn The East Surrey Regiment.

The inscription reads:-
“Officers’ Cross Country Cup Presented by Lieut-Colonel J R Longley in 1912 after many happy years in the Battalion from 2^nd Lieutenant to Lieut- Colonel”.
The cup has recently been renovated and is now in use with the 3^rd Bn The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.

The Freedom of Kingston Casket

The Honorary Freedom of the Royal Borough of Kingston–upon-Thames was conferred on the regiment in 1944. The actual ceremony did not take place until after the war when, on the 29^th July 1947, detachments of the Regiment (including the 6^th Battalion (TA), marched through the town with “Drums beating, and Colours flying and bayonets fixed.”

At a ceremony afterwards, the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor F C Judge, presented to the Colonel of the Regiment, Lt Gen Sir Arthur Dowler, a silver casket containing an illuminated scroll. The scroll and casket, now housed in the Regimental Museum, Clandon reads as follows: -
Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames Honorary Freedom of the Borough

At a Meeting of the Council of the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames, held on the 30^th day of May 1944 it was unanimously resolved that, pursuant to the powers conferred on this Council by the local Government Act 1933, the Officers, Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men serving in The East Surrey Regiment be admitted as Honorary Freemen of the Borough, and that in accordance with the provisions of the above-mentioned act, the name of theColonel of the Regiment be inscribed on the Freeman’s Roll kept by the Town Clerk dated this Thirteenth Day of July 1947 The Corporate Seal of the Mayor, Aldermen And Burgesses of the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames was hereto affixed in the presence of F C Judge Mayor A W Forsdike Town Clerk.