25th County of London Cyclist Battalion
The London Regiment


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Confidential War Diary
of
1/25th Bn. London Regt. (45th Brigade, 16th Division)
From 23rd May 1919 to 30th June 1919

May 6th/7th
Received orders from HdQrs 45th Brigade (No. 127/7/W.S. of 6/5/19) to mobilise.
Wired als. In India. Estimated strength for field service - Officers 21 - O.R. 300 (O.R. = other ranks)
Wired 16th Division. Health good

May 7th to 21st
Daily reports wired to Division

May 21st
Received orders from HdQrs 45th Brigade (No. 984/2/24/m) very early move to Peshawar expected.

23rd May (15.50 hrs)
Entrained at Amristar - strength 20 Officers, 275 O.R.
1 man left in hospital (accident in train).

24th May
2 men left in hospital Campbellpur (heatstroke).
(22.00 hrs) Arrived Peshawar - Officers 20, O.R. 272.

25th May
(05.00 hrs) Detrained + marched to Racecource - pitched camp.
(18.00 hrs) Ordered to find City Guards - 8 Officers, 216 other rks.

26th May
Found guards as above.

28th May
City Guards relieved by 1/1st Kent Bn.
(18.00 hrs) Ordered to entrain at Peshawar at 02.00 hours with Brigade to relieve Thal which was being besieged. Thal Relief Column formed.

29th May
(12.00 hrs) Detrained at Kohat - In rest camp pending transport arrangements.

30th May
(16.00 hrs) Entrained at Kohat, arriving Togh 21.00 hrs.
Remarks - Detachment of 3 Offr 100 O.R. 2/4th Border Regt. Attached from May 30th to 8th June 1919.

May 31st
By route march to Doaba - camped.

June 1st + 2nd
Arrived within 1 mile of Thal Fort. Enemy dispersed with aid of guns. Thal relieved. 2 men slightly wounded by enemy shrapnel.

June 3rd
Moved camp to compound of Lord Roberts Mission Hospital Thal.

June 13th
(06.00 hrs) Entrained at Thal. Arriving Nowshera 02.30 hrs June 14th. Moved into Artillery Barracks.

June 20th
Draft of 97 O.R. of 1/16th & 1/4th Devon Regt arrived from no.1 Spec. Brigade Rawalpindi.
Strength of Battn - Officers 19. O.R. 303.

July 1st - 7th 
At Nowshera, nothing to report.

July 8th
(21.44 hrs) 1 officer & 28 men proceeded to Muree for seven clear days in the Hills.

July 9th - 17th 
Nothing to report.

July 18th
(07.30 hrs) Inspection by Divisional Commander.

July 23rd
(21.54 hrs) Entrained at Nowshera leaving 1 officer & 20 men in charge of heavy baggage.

July 24th
(05.07 hrs) Arrived at Rawal Pindi for temporary duty in connection with the Peace Conference.
(16.00 hrs) Supplied Guard of Honour to British Delegation on their arrival.
Draft of 3 officers & 243 other ranks joined from British Military Base Depot.

July 29th
(09.00 hrs) Second batch leave details - left for Muree.

July 31st
Strength of Battn Officers 17 other ranks 509.

Note - each page is signed off - B.M. Hynes Lieut. Col. Comdg., 1/25th Bn. The London Regt.


Acknowledgements to the The National Archives - ref : WO 95/5414


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