| Edwin joined the 2/17th Battalion of the London Regiment.
The 17th was known as the Stepney
and Poplar rifles.
His Medal Roll entry :-
17 Lond. R. Rfn
#5744 - 2(a) - 29.12.16
to 12.6.1917
17 Lond. R. Rfn
#572775 - 4(b) - 16.6.1917 to 2.5.1918
Whilst the medal roll
does not state which battalion Edwin was in, it must have been the
2/17th. This is deduced from the dates in the medal roll. The first
period coincides with the 2/17th battalions service in Salonika, and the
2nd period coincides with the 2/17th battalions transfer to Egypt for
the Palestine campaign against the Turks. Also Edwin was captured by the
Turks and held as a POW until the end of the war. Whilst the family
memories were that he was taken in Mesopotamia, this is corrected by the
memory of Aunt Marjorie that her dad said he had seen the Dead Sea. He
was taken prisoner only several miles north of the Dead Sea. In addition
the final date on his medal roll entitlement is the 2 May 1918. This
coincides with a report in the Battalions War Diary of some men being
taken prisoner at Es Salt (N.B. medal entitlements cease once taken
prisoner). All of this confirms that it must have been the 2/17th
battalion that he served in, and that he was one of the soldiers
captured on that day.
When he returned to England he had lost his hair and a lot of weight
and the story goes that his family didn't recognise him. |
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War Diary of the 2/17th Battalion, London Regiment - 2 May 1918
Es Salt - 2 May 1918
0200
Attack launched against Derbasi by "A" Coy plus 2 platoons "D" Coy on left, "B" Coy plus 2 platoons "D" Coy on right. "C" Coy in support, 2 Coys 2/17 Battn in reserve.
0305
Left attacking party occupied line of sangars on lower slopes of objective.
0310
Trenches on plateau assaulted but attacking party driven back by M.G. & rifle fire.
0340
Right attacking party reached lower slopes of objective and ordered to push on & co-operate with left attacking party.
0345
Bombardment of top of hill by artillery.
0400
Right party unable to retain ground gained on hill and forced to withdraw.
0415
Party of enemy worked round S. flank of the right party and cut off a number making them prisoner.1
1300
Orders received to hold on to positions gained.
1400
1 Coy 2/19th Battn sent to P33b to protect the right flank and get in touch with
W.H.R.
2000
Battn relieved by 2/19th Battn and Coys withdrawn to cover in rear of Bn HQ at P27a & b
Casualties
Capt C. H . Underwood & 2Lt J. p. Card "wounded & missing".
9 O.r.'s killed, 34 O.R. "wounded, 24 O.R. "missing".
National Archives Ref :- WO95/4669
1. In the book 'Military Operations - Egypt & Palestine' by Capt. Cyril
Falls, it states that 20 men were taken prisoner. The source for this extra info
was not given.
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