JeffJames

I have prepared some notes on the First Surreys and the action at High Wood. I have visited the Lambeth Archives and the National Archives at Kew. In addition there are several good websites which give supporting versions. I have put to-gether a composite picture of events that day 15th September 1916. I have freely copied from other sources to achieve this and have taken care to list acknowledgements and extracts. This has been a private and non-commercial effort. I was simply intrigued and concerned that so many men became casualties that day. To quote,' the actual operation had not lasted more than an hour or so, and the ground covered was not more than one mile, but in this short space the First Surreys suffered more heavily than in our months of previous fighting'. No individual First Surrey, is mentioned in my notes. However, I would like to pay tribute to the battn medical officer Capt.H. H. Robinson RAMC and his stretcher bearers. If you would like a copy of the notes I will e-mail them to you.

Additonal to my previous, the list of cemeteries for the First Surreys should include Warlencourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais. There is also a Rifleman James Mace listed at Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais. Rifleman Mace was from the 2/21st Bn and not the 1st/21st Bn. The 2nd battalion was not in the order of battle for High Wood but he died on the 15th September 1916 and could have been in one of the companies. If that is the case then the total of officers and men killed on th 15th September will be 135.

Something more to say concerning the First Surreys. There is a First Surrey Rifles Asssociation and on the Sunday we were at Dulwich Common they were at St Giles' Camberwell holding a remembrance service. They also visit the Somme and perhaps those interested parties should get to-gether with them. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has sent me a list of casualties for the 15th September 1916 and they number 134 officers and men. I also have an additonal list for the remainder of the war. There is a discrepancy in the numbers given by the Commonwelth War Graves Commission and some other publications which I will look into. In additon to Thiepval, there are First Surreys at Adanac Military Cemetery, Miramount,Somme and Caterpillar Valley Cemetery,Longueval,Somme. Lambeth Council hold the archives for the First Surreys and by entering landmark.lambeth.gov.uk First Surrey Rifles a selection of those archives can be viewed. I have asked Southwark Council to put the names of the fallen or at least the name First Surreys on the memorial at Dulwich Common. My uncle was a bandsman with the First Surreys and he survived the war.

Concerning the SAS at High Wood Barracks. Thanks to BobS for his comment. I have spoken with the SAS Regimental Association and they say that the 21st SAS were there until 1997! I did put the 1968 date to them but they stuck with 1997. What may be of interest is the Archive section at the South London Press. The lady in charge is Hilda and she is there Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays until 12 noon. She says that they have records going back until 1865 and she can be contacted on 020 8769 4444 at 2-4 Leigham Court Road Streatham SW16.

I think you will find that the Dulwich & District Defence League became the 1st/12th London Battalion [The Rangers] and cap badges are still to be found for both through companies such as British Badge. I lived in Archdale Road from August 1940 to April 1963. High Wood barracks used to hold military displays and I believe at one stage had SAS billeted there in the early 1950's. I can recall them driving in an open jeep along Lordship Lane. I attended St Johns & St Clements school in North Cross road and services in the hall at Bassano Street as the church on Goose Green had been bombed. I will attempt to add some more information later this year.