Another church …

… another memorial. On a recent jaunt to London I found myself in St Mary’s Church, Battersea, for a jazz gig. It’s a fine Georgian Church right by the Thames and is the burial place of Benedict Arnold, general of the American Revolutionary War who had the ‘distinction’ of serving on both sides!

Whilst waiting for the music to start I took a look at the many memorials in the church and was delighted to discover in a corner a brass plaque – unfortunately smeared with brass polish – remembering the 1125 men of the 23rd Battalion of the London Regiment who died in the Great War. A quick question to Mr Google confirmed my suspicion that the Battalion – with its headquarters at St. John’s Hill, Battersea – had indeed served with the BSF.

The Territorial Force 23rd (County of London) Battalion actually provided three battalions for service in the war: the First Line Battalion served on the Western Front, the Second Line Battalion saw service in Macedonia and the Third Line Battalion remained in the UK.

2/23rd (County of London) Battalion was formed at Clapham Junction in August 1914. It became part of 181st Infantry Brigade with 60th (2/2nd London) Division, sailing to Salonika at the end of 1916 and taking part in the First Battle of Doiran in April and May 1917. It left Macedonia shortly afterwards for Palestine. In May 1918 the Battalion left the Middle East and joined 30th Division in France.

TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THE1125 OFFICERS, WARRANT OFFICERS, N.C.O.s & MEN OF THE 23RD BATTALION OF THE LONDON REGIMENT WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING & COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR

1914-1918

Loyalty Unites Us