25th County of London Cyclist Battalion
The London Regiment

  
Return to Stanley's page
Return to Diaries page
An Account of Stanley Vinson Rust
 
His time in the 25th Londons including
 
India & Mesopotamia


[written in an older hand]
My chief Army moves in
The Great War 1914-1919
27,631 Miles
With the
25th London (Cyclist) Battalion, T.F.
1908-1912
1914-1919

Stanley V Rust (late Sgt)
25 Tabor Gardens
Cheam, Surrey
2.12.66


[and an even older hand]
Jan 23rd 1973, nearly 84
Read through these papers.
Thanks be to God for bringing me home safely
Where are the Boys now?
Jan 73 Stanley V Rust
[end of older hand]

1914

 

Aug 29th

Rejoined 2/25th Cyclist Battalion The London Regt TF

30th

Lt Col Gilbertson Smiths recruiting campaign

31st

My official date of enlistment

2/25th raised in 6½ hours  All England Record

Nov 5th

The 2/25th (Cyclist) Bn London Regt were inspected by  Gen Sir Francis Lloyd 2nd London Divn on Mitcham Common, afterwards cycled down to East Grinstead, Sussex; stopped there one hour for dinner stacked cycles in the Market Place then on over  Forest Row & Wych Cross to Lewes where we were billeted for one night

Nov 6th

B Company cycled to Worthing & took over Coast Duty. Coy headquarters Old Skating Rink

Dec 5th

B Coy moved to Littlehampton & took over that sector of coast. Coy headquarters “Belle Croft”

1915

 

Jan 9th

B Coy moved to Lewes (Headquarters Btn) Grammar Sc

I was training recruits & lived at Grammar School Southover & St Annes Crescent

Jan 30th

B Coy moved back to Worthing (111 Marine Parade)

Mar 30th

B Coy moved to Lewes for one night

Mar 31st

B Coy moved from Lewes to Bexhill-on-Sea took over coast. Coy HQ Glynde Hall Hotel

Apr 12

B Coy moved to Eastbourne. Private Billets

Apr 19

B Coy & C Coy cycled to Lewes & the other Coys concentrated there also & we entrained for an unknown destination which turned out to be Sheringham Norfolk. We went via Thames Tunnel & Liverpool Street

Arrived Sheringham (GER) about 6pm. B Coy went to private billets. I was billeted at Mrs Brettingham’s 4 Scarborough Terrace, Beeston Road

Apr 28th

B Coy moved to Bn HQ Holt

July 17th

B Coy moved from Holt to Wells next the Sea

Aug 28th

B Coy moved from Wells to Holt

Oct 24

B Coy moved from Holt to Weybourne Huts

Nov 15th

B Coy moved from Weybourne to Wells

Dec 1st

B Coy moved from Wells to Holt Letheringseth Left our cycles here

Dec 3rd

After a battalion parade (the first time without cycles) at 6AM on Holt parade ground the draft of 300 NCOs and men who volunteered marched to station & entrained. Went via M&GN NWR GWRly to Chiseldon Wilts, detrained & joined the 1/25th Bn London Regt.

Dec 25th

I was Sgt of Guard Chiseldon

Dec 27th

Went on final leave home

1916

 

Jan 1st

Returned to Chiseldon from final leave

18th

First heard we were going to India

22nd

Went to Savernake Forest

Feb 1st

All ready to move!

3rd

Reveille 3.45AM Left Chiseldon Camp Stn 5.45AM arrived Devonport Docks 1PM via GWRly through Wilts Somerset & Devon.

Embarked on HMT Ceramic (White Star) 18,500 tons

Feb 4th

Left Devonport 4.10PM in pouring rain passed Eddystone LH & the last thing I saw of England was that & the flash of the light on the Lizard, just below the horizon

8th

Passed Gibraltar 4AM (Ships time)

9th

Inoculated against Cholera

11th

Passed Malta

14th

Arrived Port Said 7AM (Ships time)

Started wearing helmets

15th

Left Port Said & went through Suez Canal (90 miles)

16th

Passed Suez & Sinai Peninsular

21st

2nd Inoculation against Cholera

22nd

Wore drill for the first time

24th

First glimpse of India 4.15pm Anchored in Bombay harbour for night

25th

Came into Dock 8AM & disembarked.

Slept on board. Route March.

26th

Left Ship & entrained on GIPRly. Went via Western Ghauts, Poona, Raichus Jn, Guntakal, Arkonam, TMSM to Bangalore

27th

Arrived Bangalore Cantt Stn 11.10PM march to Baird Barracks

March 18

Came out of Quarantine

Apr 4th

Proclamation of new Viceroy of India (Lord Chelmsford)

“25th” were on Maidan & I was in front rank.

May 26

Went to Dodballapur with BTS

June 8th

Went to Kolar Gold Fields

19th

1/25th Bn moved from Bangalore (Baird Barracks) to Hebbal Camp

July 20th

I get 101 pts in Classification (1st class shot)

Iearned afterwards  that my dear Aunt Caroline departed this life at 5.10PM English time on this day

25th

Aunt Caroline buried at Willesden Cemetary 3.30PM English time

31st

Went to Yesvanthur Field Firing Camp &

Aug 1st

Returned to Hebbal

Aug 14th

A Coy 1/25th march to & camped at Kengeri 16 mls from Hebbal

15

Struck camp & marched another 16 mls to Closepet & camped there.

22nd

Left Closepet & camped 14 miles from Bangalore

23rd

Arrived Hebbal

29th

Roumania declares war on Germany

Sept 7th

New draft from 2/25th arrives

15th

Went to Seringapatam. Saw Old Fort etc Also went to Mysore City

17

Left Mysore City arrived Bangalore.

Oct 2nd

First issue of “The Londoner”

7th

Old “B” Coys dinner at M&P’s Restaurant. Bangalore

Nov 19

Went to Shwanganga 30 mls NW of Bangalore.

25th

GOC Secunderabad Divn inspected the (old cyclists) Brigade on the Maidan & complemented us on our smart appearance.

30th

Packing up for NW Frontier

Dec 1st

Left Bangalore Cant Stn 11AM & via MSM Arkonam & GIP Madras-Bombay Line to Manmad & thence via GIP Rly to Agra & Delhi thence by NW Rly to Burham via Lahore (Anritza) & Rawal Pindi

Dec 7th

Arrived Burham 9AM. Awful Place!...!

16th

G.O.C. I Divn Inspected us Genl Munro later C in C

21

Got Christmas leave. Left Burham 10AM & went to Delhi via GIPRly

22

Reached Delhi 7.45AM. Stayed at Albion Hotel

Reg WInter & Lue Vaughan went with me

23rd

Cycled from Delhi to Kutab Minas etc

24th

Went to Mosque of Delhi

25th

Christmas Day. Went to old St James’s Ch.

26th

Left Delhi 8.10AM  Arrd Agra 11AM

Stayed at Empress Hotel Went to see the Taj Mahal. The finest tomb in existence

27th

Saw Fort & Palace etc

Left 6PM passed Delhi 9.30PM

28th

Arrived Amritza 8AM Saw Golden Temple left 12.15 noon arrived Lahore 2PM

Went to Pictures. Left 10.30PM

29th

Arrived Burhan 11AM. Good Holiday

1917

 

Jan 1st

Feu-de-Soir Salute fired by the 16th Divn

Feb 23rd

Night march & attack over hills at dawn

Mar 3rd

Marched to Dhamrah Inter-Bole Mausoleum

Camped near 195th milestone Hasan Abdul.

4th

Sunday (day of rest) shifted tents & made road

5th

Khaki Force Manoeuvres near Sargon suddenly stopped. Packed up ready to go

6

Marched back to Burham

7

Struck tents - & put them up again ?!!!-???!!!!!---

12th

Kitcheners Test 15 mile route march & attack over rough ground 21 mls in all full equipment with groundsheets.

22nd

A party of us left Burhan 1.30PM and arrived Peshwarar 5.30PM

Put up at Kings Liverpools Barracks

23

Drive in gharries to Jamrud Fort & Khyber Pass as far as frontier of Afghanistan at Ali Musjud. Returned & drove round Pashwarar (Goo etc)

24th

Left 11.35AM arrived Burhan 5.30PM

Mar 30th

1/25th Bn Left Burhan Camp (cheers)

No2 Platoon A Coy left by 2nd train at 4.13PM. Tea at Pindi. New NWR Military car

31st

Passed Lahore 9.50AM Arrived Jullundur 4.30PM. Band of the 1st/4th Dorsets T.F. played us in to Wellington Barracks

Apr 1st

1/4th Dorset Regt left 5PM. 11960.

15th

Packing up!

16th

“A” Coy left Jullundur for hill station

Left Cantt Stn 7.30PM & via Amritza to Pathankot; arrived 2AM 17th Detrained at

17th

6.30AM. Had first glimpse of Himalayas.

Stopped at station & in the rest camp all day. Started march at midnight

18th

Reached Dhar at 7AM after 18 miles march one halt of ½ an hour at Halfway House.

19th

Left Dhar 1.45AM & marched 11 miles to Duvera. Arrived 6 45AM. Slept in daytime. Left 5.30PM & reached Naim Khud Rest Camp at 9.15PM 10½ miles. Heavy Rain.

20th

Heavy rain. Right up in mountains - lovely scenery. Left 4PM & marched in pouring rain all uphill to Banikhet arrd 7PM

Soaked through. Spent most of night drying our clothes

May 22nd

Left Banikhet (Dalhousie) 4PM & marched to Naini Khud 10mls

23

Left Naini Khud 5AM & arrd Dunesa 10mls 9AM

Left Dunesa 4.30PM arrd Dhar 9PM tired out

24th

Left Dhar 5AM arrd Halfway House 9AM

Left 10AM arrd Pathankote 2PM. Forced March. Mardst march to date. Myself & six others of No2 finished with the (A) Coy re-packed kit

Entrained & left Stn at 11PM

May 25th

Passed Amritza 2AM Lahore 7AM & arrd Mari Indus 6.30PM. Ferried over & bivouacked on side of K-B Rly

26th

Entrained on K-B Light Rly & left Kalabagh 9.30PM. Arrived Tank 5PM

Marched to Tank Base Camp

27th

Whitsunday. Putting up tents, wiring etc

Fearfully hot.

June 3rd

Four hours dust storm ugh!

7th

Marched to Khurghi via Gam Post 11.30PM

8th

Arrd from Post 5AM Ghurkhas cut up by Mahsuds reached Khurghi at noon

This is the worst march I have ever done Everyone was “whacked”

9th

Left Khurghi 7.30AM. I was on Camel transport Guard. Sgt James died 8.30PM.

Arrived Jandola about noon - only seven miles

11th

We had to shift camp at Jandola

12th

Moved out for the 1st strafe with the Mahsuds.

13th

Reconnaisance in Force. I am now left in charge of the platoon

16th

Went out to strafe some villages

18th

Got bad Frontier Sores all over my legs.

19th

Bn went on to Burwand. I was left in charge of post at Haidas Kats of sick

20th

Left by camel for Jandola

21st

In Jandola Hospital

22

Left by camel for Khurghi

23

Left Khurghi for Gam & thence by motor (some road) to Tank Genl Hospital

27

Tank was 127oF in the shade when I left 7.30PM

28th

Changed train at Kalabagh 5AM.

Left Mari Indus 10AM arrd Pindi 8PM

Entered Pindi General Hospital

June 28th to July 13th

In Pindo Hosp. during which time my Frontier Sores were cured, but I had Malaria & then was convalescent

14th

Left by motor ambulance 7 30AM for Gharial War Hosp. arrd 11AM

30th

When almost fit got Ague & this kept me in till

Aug 13th

When I went to Upper Topa Convalescent Depot. I began to feel real well again in the fine mountain air

22nd

Went to “Roseneath” Mussee & had seven (?) m teeth extracted

Sept 1st

Returned to Bn who had arrived. They were perfect wrecks.

Nov 14th

Battalion inspected on Gharial Flats by HE C in C of India

30th

Bn left Gharial & marched to Trett - dusty

Dec 1st

Marches from Trett to Bharaco. Nearly flooded

2nd

Marched from Bharaco to Pindi

3

Entrained at Rawal Pindi 8.30PM

4th

Arrd Lahore 11.30AM & Jullundur 4.30PM

12

Sgt Paul McCrerie & I went to Amritza for the day

25th

Christmas Day waited on the “boys”

1918

 

Jan 1st

Feu-de-Soir on Parade Ground Jullundur & Bn Sports 2.30-5PM

27th

A & B Coy went out to F. Firing Camp

28th

My 29th Birthday. “A” Coy won “knock-out” field firing competition

29

My Aunt Ellie Died

30

Returned to Barracks

Feb 7

1st Bn Cross Country Run about 575 starters I finished 51st No 2 Platoon came 3rd

Feb 14th

Inoculated against plague

18th

Most of my platoon still sick with inoculation

March 1st

Attack at dawn East Beyne River

12

Kitcheners Test

18

Inspection by Bgdr Genl Dyer Jullundur Bde

25

All Quinine [??] men & part of A & B Coys start for Jutogh

26

A Coy move into No 13 & 14 Bungalows & become No 5 & 6 Pltns B Coy

Apr 2

C in C inspected Brigade in Mall Jullundur

6

A to WSs Inspection

I started three weeks furlough

Left Jullundur Camp Stn 5PM Calcutta mail O & R via Amballa & Saharanpur

7

Arrived Lucknow 9.14AM Put up at YMCA Dilkusha. Saw [?] Palace, La Martinere Col. & The Residency

8

Rumi Darwaza, Gt Imambara, Hussainabad Pal. & Clock Tower  Jama Musjid, Chowk etc

9

Days excursion to Cawmpore saw The Well Massacre Ghat & Memorial Ch.

Engine broke down on way back

10

Left Lucknow 9.30M C.Mail B&Rlly

Arrived Benares 3PM. Stopped at Rev Hudsons Wesleyan Missionary. Went to see Monkey Temple & Thieves Reform Colony

11

Drove to Riverside 7AM & went in boat on the “Holy” Ganges  Saw Golden & Cow Temples

Left Benares Cantr Stn 2.58PM C Mair changes into EIR at Moghal Serai Stn

12

Arrived Calcutta (Hourah) 10.15AM

Stopped at St Johns Ambualnce Govt Place.

From now till I left Calcutta I visited Fort William Goo, Kidderpore, Jain Temple, Black Hole Botanical Gdns (by steamer) St Pauls Cathedral & Royal Mint

Bought a Watermans Fountain Pen Ps 12 at Newan & Cos Dalhousie Square

Went down river to Rajgunge & to Barrackpore

Apr 25th

Left Calcutta 2.6 (Stand. time)

27

Arrived Jullundur 9.40AM

May 1st

Started one months Sergeants Mess Caterer

29th

Finished Qualification Practice 59 & 12” & 8”

June 1st

Finished my month as Sgts Mess Caterer

5th & 6th

Started & finished my classification got “Marksman”

7th

Left Jullundur for Jutogh 8PM Jullundur dept

8th

Amballa dept 5.30AM Kalka 9.15 Jutogh arr 3PM

17

Went to Simla for first time

July 2nd

Went from Jutogh 1.14PM train to Dagshai for Dental Treatment arrd Kumashatti Stn 4.15PM

6

Went over to Sabathu to see some of No2 Platoon

13

Left Dagshai 11.30AM arrived Jutogh 3.30PM

14

Went to Simla for last time & heard “The Storm” at Christ Church

17

Left Jutogh Stn 6.8PM & travelling via Kalka

18

& Amballa arrived Jullundur 10AM

26

Left 1/25th London Regt at Jullundur bound for Basrah as Draughtsman. L Sgr Hewitt Cpl Web & Pte Barnes also travelled with me

Left Jullundur Cantt Stn 22.56 Bombay Mail

27

Passed Delhi 9AM & thence GIP route

28

Arrived Victoria Terminus 4.30PM & drove to Coloba Attached Section Camp

29

Paraded 6.30AM & went in Cossyto Alexandra Dock & embarked on HMAT “Vasna”

Left 11.30AM Bombay time

30th

At Sea (very much so)

Aug 4th

Arrived at Basra & anchored for night of 3rd BGH

Aug 5th

Disembarked at No 9 Berth Margil & went straight to PC&C Dept Margil. Proceeded to Strand Road in evening

6th

Started work at PC&C

11th

PC&C moved over to TANOOMA

17

Got first commencement of Sandfly Fever

Sept 29

Went on board “Industry” & steamed upstream to Gurmat Ali

Oct 1

Took velocity of tide with bottles 5.30AM to 6PM

2

Returned to Tanooma. Heard of Bulgaria’s unconditional surrender

3

Went on “Industry” again

4th

Took tidal observations 5AM to 6PM

5th

Returned to Tanooma

Nov 1st

Turkey signs armistice about this date

5th

Austro-Hungary also gives in

11th

Germany gives up & we have won the war

Great scenes of rejoicing. News was made public at 6.30PM in Basra

12th

Had day off & went to Margil

17th

Went to Thanksgiving Service

Dec 4th

Genl Salmond & 2 other officers & 2 mechanics arrived by Handley Page Biplane from Baghdad

Come from England via Taranto Cairo &

5th

Damascus. Proceeded on next morning to Bundar Abbas & thence to India. Aerial Post

25th

Christmas Day Parade Service Ashas Garrison Church at 10.15AM HC 11AM. Dinner given to BOR’s by officers at 6PM

1919

 

Mar 30

Laft Basra for Karachi

May

Left Karachi for England

June 1st

arrd Devonport

2

arrd home 46 Ranelagh Rd Harlesden N.W.10

Father and Winnie were up

12 midnight

 

Completed July 1932

[in older hand]
Father killed 24th June 1932
Battle Honours
"Waziristan" 127%F 8AM
"Afghanistan"
On the N.W. Frontier
1917
[end of older hand]

C=Cycle T=Train B=boat W=walking G=Ghassy & carriage

 

Mileage Travelled during War 1914-1919

Date

From

To

via

Mileage

 

Nov 5th

London

Lewes

Mitcham & E. Grinstead

44C

 

6th

Lewes

Worthing

Brighton & Shoreham

18C

 

Dec 5

Worthing

Littlehampton

Coast road

12C

 

1915

Jan 9

Littlehampton

Lewes

Shoreham & Brighton

30C

 

30

Lewes

Worthing

Brighton

18C

 

Mar 30

Worthing

Lewes

Brighton

18C

 

31

Lewes

Bexhill

 

25C

 

Apr 12

Bexhill

Eastbourne

 

12C

 

19

Eastbourne

Lewes

 

18C

 

19

Lewes

Sheringham

Thames Tunnel & L’pl St.

180T

 

28th

Sheringham

Weybourne

 

4C

 

June 3rd

Weybourne

Holt

Weybourne Heath

6C

 

17th

Holt

Welles-next-the-Sea

Binham

12C

 

Aug 28

Wells

Holt

Binham

12C

 

Oct 24

Holy

Weybourne

Weybourne Heath

6C

 

Nov 15

Weybourne

Wells

Cley & Morston

14C

 

Dec 1st

Wells

Letheringsett

Binham

10C

 

Dec 3

Letheringsett

Gave up our bikes here

Holt

-

2W

 

3

Holt

Chiseldon

M&GN, LNW & GWRys

200T

 

27

Chiseldon

London

Swindon & GWRy

70T

 

1916

Jan 1st

London

Chiseldon

Swindon

70T

 

Feb 3rd

Chiseldon

Devonport

GW route via Exeter

150T

 

Feb 4-24

Devonport

Bombay

Suez Canal

6600B

 

26-28

Bombay

Bangalore

GIP Arkonam & MSM

1000T

 

June 8th

Bangalore

Kolas Gold Fields

& back

100T

 

19

Bangalore (Barid Bks)

Hebbal

Cantt Stn

5W

 

Aug 15

Hebbal

Closepet

 

35W

 

23

Closepet

Hebbal

 

35W

 

Sept 15

Hebbal

Bangalore City Stn

 

4w

 

Bangalore City

Seringapatam

 

80T

 

17

Mysore City

Hebbal

Bangalore City Stn

83T

 

Oct 7

Hebbal

Bangalore (Monkhouse Bks)

Cantt Stn

6W

 

Nov 19

Bangalore

Shivaganga

& back

60T

 

Dec 1st to 7th

Bangalore

Burhan

Via MSM Arkonam

Maumad GIP & NW Rly

2400T

 

21

Burhan

Agra

Lahore GIP & Delhi

800T

 

27th & 28th

Agra

Burhan

Via Delhi Lahore & Pindi

800T

 

1917

Feb 23

Burhan

Burhan

Attack at dawn

17W

 

Mar 12

Burhan

Burhan

Kitcheners Test

21W

 

23

Pashawar

Khyber Pass & back

Jamrud Fort

43G

 

24th

Peshawar

Burhan

Attock & NW Rly

70T

 

30 & 31

Burhan

Jullundur

Pindi & Lahore

350T

 

Apr 16 & 17

Jullundur

Pathankote

Amritza

125T

 

-20th

Pathankote

Dalhousie

Dhar, Dunera & Naini Khud

48W

 

May 22

-24th

Dalhousie

Pathankote

Dhar, Dunera & Naini Khud

48W

 

24,26

Pathankote

Weari Indus

Amritza Lahore Lal Musa

500T

26th

Kalabagh

Tank

[???] Banna L Rly

June 7th

Tank

Khisghi

Gam Post

17W

 

20-23

Hardach Kats

Tank

Jandola Khirghi Gam

36 camel

 

27-28

Tank

Rawal Pindi

Mari Indus etc NW Rly

200T

 

July 14th

Pindi

Gharial

Sunny Bank

40 motor

 

Aug 13

Gharial

Upper Topa

 

3W

 

Sep 1st

Upper Topa

Gharial

 

3W

 

Dec 1st & 2nd

Gharial

Rawal Pindi

Trett Bharaco

40W

 

3rd & 4th

Rawal Pindi

Jullundur

Lahore & Amritza

315T

 

12th

Jullundur

Amritza back

 

104T

 

1918

Apr 6th

Jullundur

Lucknow

Amballa & OR Rly

520T

 

9

Lucknow

Cawnpore & back

 

100T

 

10

Lucknow

Benares

OR Rly

210T

 

11-12

Benares

Calcutta

ORR & EIR

460T

 

26th-27th

Calcutta

Jullundur

EIR & ORR & NWR

1190T

 

7-8th

Jullundur

Jutogh

Via Amballa & K-S Rly

210T

 

July 2nd

Jutogh

Kumarhatti (Dagshai)

KS Rly

30T

 

6

Dagshai

Subathu & back

Dharampur

12G 12W

 

July 13

Kumarhatti St

Jutogh

K-S Rly

30T

 

17 & 18

Jutogh

Jullundur

K-SR Amballa & NW Rly

210T

 

26-28

Jullundur

Bombay

Delhi & GIPRy Vic Ter

1220T

 

July 29

To Aug 5

Bombay

(Alexandra Dock)

Basra

(No9 Berth Margil)

India Ocean

& Persia Gulf

 

1500B

1919

Mar 30th tor Apr 3

No11 Berth Margil

Basra

Karachi

Persian Gulf

1350B

May

Karachi

Devonport - England

Suez Canal & Malta

6800B

[this last entry in older hand]

June 3

Devonport

Harlesden NW

Crystal Palace

300T

 

 

 

Total

27,631

 

 

 

Totalled 1966

I am now 77 ¾

2.12.66

 

IMPORTANT
These papers are a record of my principle moves in the Army during the Great War from August 1914 to June 1919 27,631 miles
Stanley V. Rust
July 5 1932

 

Copyright © Simon Parker-Galbreath - Please acknowledge these web pages, and/or the original source.