Wikipedia

List of pals battalions

This is a list of pals battalions (also called "service" or "locally raised" battalions) of the British Army during the First World War. Pre-war Territorial Force (T.F.) battalions have not been included, although they too usually recruited from a specific area or occupation. The 69 line infantry regiments formed 142 locally raised battalions and 68 local reserve battalions.[1] The Guards Regiments[2] and the regiments formed only from Territorial Force battalions[3][a] did not form pals battalions.

Recruiting poster for the Football Battalion

History edit

Lord Kitchener was one of the few people in 1914 to realise that the First World War was not going to be a short one; he believed that it would last three years and would require an army of 70 divisions. He eschewed the Territorial Force – partly due to the limitations imposed by its terms of service but also due to the poor impression he formed when observing the French Territorials in the Franco-Prussian War – and did not make use of the framework envisioned by Haldane's Reforms. He launched his appeal for 100,000 volunteers on 7 August 1914 to form a first New Army of six divisions (and support units) and within a few days this target had been reached; by the end of September, half a million volunteers had come forward to form the New Armies.[1]

Each of the 69 line infantry regiments raised one battalion for the First (K1)[b] and for the Second New Armies (K2)[c] designated as "service" battalions and numbered after the existing Territorial Force battalions of their parent regiments. This rigid structure did not take account of the differing ability of regiments to raise troops based upon the population of their recruiting areas. Therefore, the Third New Army (K3) had a much higher proportion of battalions from the more populous north of England, notably Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland. The Fourth New Army (K4) was formed from men of the Reserve and Special Reserve battalions which were over establishment. Originally formed into the 30th – 35th Divisions, these were broken up so the battalions could train recruits and send drafts to the first three New Armies.[1]

While the first four New Armies were being raised, a number of "service" battalions were also being raised by committees in cities and towns, and by other organizations and individuals. These units were recruited on a more narrow basis than usual, such as men who worked in a specific occupation or at a certain business, and were popularly known as "pals battalions". These were housed, clothed and fed by their committees until the War Office took them over in 1915 and the raisers' expenses were refunded. These units formed the Fifth and Sixth New Armies (later called the new Fourth and Fifth New Armies when the original Fourth New Army was broken up).[1]

The locally recruited battalions also formed depot companies and in 1915 these were grouped into "reserve" battalions to provide reinforcements for their parents. They became part of the Training Reserve on 1 September 1916.[12]

Units edit

The recruitment of pals battalions was confined to the 69 line infantry regiments of the British Army. The Guards Regiments[2] and regiments formed only from Territorial Force battalions[3][a] did not form any pals battalions. Amongst the line infantry regiments, there was considerable variation in the number of battalions recruited, depending upon the population of the regiment's recruiting areas. No pals battalions were raised in the more rural areas of England, the Scottish Highlands, or Ireland.

The Northumberland Fusiliers raised the largest number of pals battalions (twelve) of any regiment,[13] followed by ten raised by the Royal Fusiliers,[14] nine for the Welch Regiment,[15] nine for the Middlesex Regiment,[16] and nine for the Manchester Regiment.[17] The Royal Irish Rifles had nine battalions raised in a similar fashion from the Ulster Volunteer Force.[18]

In all, 142 "service" battalions and 68 "reserve" battalions were formed.[1]

Formations edit

The pals battalions formed the bulk of the infantry for the divisions of the Fifth New Army (30th, 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, and 35th) and the Sixth New Army (36th (Ulster), 37th, 38th (Welsh), 39th, 40th, and 41st). The exceptions were:

A handful of battalions served away from the Fifth and Sixth New Army divisions:

List of pals infantry battalions by regiment edit

Regiment Battalion Sub title Where and when formed Formed by Original assignment Notes
Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) 15th (Service) 1st Edinburgh Edinburgh, September 1914 Lord Provost (R. Cranston) and City 101st Brigade, 34th Division [32][33]
16th (Service) 2nd Edinburgh Edinburgh, December 1914 Lt Col Sir George McCrae MP 101st Brigade, 34th Division [32][33]
17th (Service) Rosebery Edinburgh, February 1915 Lord Rosebery and a local committee 106th Brigade, 35th Division Bantam battalion[32][34]
18th (Reserve) Edinburgh, June 1915 Depot companies of 15th, 16th and 17th Battalions 18th Reserve Brigade [32]
Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) 10th (Service) Battersea Battersea, 3 June 1915 Mayor and Borough of Battersea 124th Brigade, 41st Division [35][36]
11th (Service) Lambeth Lambeth, 16 June 1915 Mayor and Borough of Lambeth 123rd Brigade, 41st Division [35][36]
12th (Reserve) Brixton, October 1915 Depot companies of 10th and 11th Battalions 23rd Reserve Brigade [35]
Buffs (East Kent Regiment) Did not form any locally raised battalions. [37]
King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) 11th (Service) Lancaster, August 1915 120th Brigade, 40th Division Bantam battalion[38][39]
Northumberland Fusiliers 16th (Service) Newcastle Newcastle, September 1914 Newcastle and Gateshead Chamber of Commerce 96th Brigade, 32nd Division [40][41]
17th (Service) N.E.R., Pioneers Hull, September 1914 North Eastern Railway Pioneers, 32nd Division [40][41]
18th (Service) 1st Tyneside Pioneers Newcastle, 15 October 1914 Lord Mayor and City Pioneers, 34th Division [33][42]
19th (Service) 2nd Tyneside Pioneers Newcastle, 16 November 1914 Lord Mayor and City Pioneers, 35th Division [34][42]
20th (Service) 1st Tyneside Scottish Newcastle, 14 October 1914 Lord Mayor and City 102nd Brigade, 34th Division [33][42]
21st (Service) 2nd Tyneside Scottish Newcastle, 26 September 1914 Lord Mayor and City 102nd Brigade, 34th Division [33][42]
23rd (Service) 3rd Tyneside Scottish Newcastle, 5 November 1914 Lord Mayor and City 102nd Brigade, 34th Division [33][42]
24th (Service) 4th Tyneside Scottish Newcastle, 16 November 1914 Lord Mayor and City 102nd Brigade, 34th Division [33][42]
25th (Service) 1st Tyneside Irish Newcastle, 14 November 1914 Lord Mayor and City 103rd Brigade, 34th Division [33][42]
26th (Service) 2nd Tyneside Irish Newcastle, 9 November 1914 Lord Mayor and City 103rd Brigade, 34th Division [33][42]
27th (Service) 3rd Tyneside Irish Newcastle, 23 November 1914 Lord Mayor and City 103rd Brigade, 34th Division [33][42]
28th (Service) 4th Tyneside Irish Newcastle, 5 January 1915 Lord Mayor and City 103rd Brigade, 34th Division [33][42]
28th (Reserve) Cramlington, July 1915 Depot companies of the 18th and 19th Battalions 19th Reserve Brigade [42]
29th (Reserve) Tyneside Scottish Alnwick, July 1915 Depot companies of the 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd Battalions 20th Reserve Brigade [42]
30th (Reserve) Tyneside Irish Woolsington, July 1915 Depot companies of the 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th Battalions 20th Reserve Brigade [42]
31st (Reserve) Catterick, November 1915 Depot companies of the 16th Battalion 20th Reserve Brigade [42]
32nd (Reserve) Ripon, November 1915 Depot companies of the 17th Battalion 19th Reserve Brigade [42]
33rd (Reserve) Tyneside Scottish Hornsea, June 1916 From the 29th Battalion 20th Reserve Brigade [42]
34th (Reserve) Tyneside Irish Hornsea, June 1916 From the 30th Battalion 20th Reserve Brigade [42]
Royal Warwickshire Regiment 14th (Service) 1st Birmingham Birmingham, September 1914 Lord Mayor and a local committee 95th Brigade, 32nd Division [41][43]
15th (Service) 2nd Birmingham Birmingham, September 1914 Lord Mayor and a local committee 95th Brigade, 32nd Division [41][43]
16th (Service) 3rd Birmingham Birmingham, September 1914 Lord Mayor and a local committee 95th Brigade, 32nd Division [22][41]
17th (Reserve) Sutton Coldfield, June 1915 Depot companies of 14th, 15th and 16th Battalions 22nd Reserve Brigade [22]
Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) 10th (Service) Stockbrokers London, 21 August 1914 Lord Mayor and City of London from business staffs in the City[d] 54th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division [22]
17th (Service) Empire London, 31 August 1914 British Empire Committee 99th Brigade, 33rd Division [22][44]
18th (Service) 1st Public Schools Epsom, 11 September 1914 Public Schools and University Men's Force 98th Brigade, 33rd Division [23][44]
19th (Service) 2nd Public Schools Epsom, 11 September 1914 Public Schools and University Men's Force 98th Brigade, 33rd Division [23][44]
20th (Service) 3rd Public Schools Epsom, 11 September 1914 Public Schools and University Men's Force 98th Brigade, 33rd Division [23][44]
21st (Service) 4th Public Schools Epsom, 11 September 1914 Public Schools and University Men's Force 98th Brigade, 33rd Division [23][44]
22nd (Service) Kensington White City, 11 September 1914 Mayor and Borough of Kensington 99th Brigade, 33rd Division [23][44]
23rd (Service) 1st Sportsmen's London, 25 September 1914 E. Cunliffe-Owen 99th Brigade, 33rd Division [23][44]
24th (Service) 2nd Sportsmen's London, 20 November 1914 E. Cunliffe-Owen 99th Brigade, 33rd Division [23][44]
25th (Service) Frontiersmen London, 12 February 1915 Legion of Frontiersmen[e] [23]
26th (Service) Bankers London, 17 July 1915 Lord Mayor and City of London from bank clerks and accountants 124th Brigade, 41st Division [23][36]
27th (Reserve) Horsham, August 1915 Depot companies of 17th, 22nd and 32nd Battalions 24th Reserve Brigade [23]
28th (Reserve) Public Schools Epsom, August 1915 Depot companies of 18th and 19th Battalions 24th Reserve Brigade [23]
29th (Reserve) Public Schools Epsom, August 1915 Depot companies of 20th and 21st Battalions 24th Reserve Brigade [23]
30th (Reserve) Romford, August 1915 Depot companies of 23rd and 24th Battalions 24th Reserve Brigade [23]
31st (Reserve) Colchester, September 1915 Depot companies of 10th and 26th Battalions 24th Reserve Brigade [23]
32nd (Service) East Ham East Ham, 28 October 1915 Mayor and Borough of East Ham 124th Brigade, 41st Division [23][36]
King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th (Service) 1st City Liverpool, 29 August 1914 Lord Derby 89th Brigade, 30th Division [45][46]
18th (Service) 2nd City Liverpool, 29 August 1914 Lord Derby 89th Brigade, 30th Division [45][46]
19th (Service) 3rd City Liverpool, 29 August 1914 Lord Derby 89th Brigade, 30th Division [45][46]
20th (Service) 4th City Liverpool, 16 October 1914 Lord Derby 89th Brigade, 30th Division [45][46]
21st (Reserve) Knowsley Park, August 1915 Depot companies of 17th and 18th Battalions 16th Reserve Brigade [45]
22nd (Reserve) Knowsley Park, August 1915 Depot companies of 19th and 20th Battalions 16th Reserve Brigade [45]
Norfolk Regiment Did not form any locally raised battalions. [47]
Lincolnshire Regiment 10th (Service) Grimsby Grimsby, 9 September 1914 Mayor and Town 101st Brigade, 34th Division [33][48]
11th (Reserve) Lincoln, October 1915 Depot companies of 10th Battalion 19th Reserve Brigade [48]
Devonshire Regiment Did not form any locally raised battalions. [49]
Suffolk Regiment 11th (Service) Cambridgeshire Cambridge, 25 September 1914 Cambridge and Isle of Ely T.F. Association 101st Brigade, 34th Division [33][50]
12th (Service) East Anglian Bury St. Edmunds, July 1915 121st Brigade, 40th Division Bantam battalion[39][50]
13th (Reserve) Cambridgeshire Cambridge, September 1915 Depot companies of 11th Battalion 26th Reserve Brigade [50]
Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry) Did not form any locally raised battalions. [51]
Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) 15th (Service) 1st Leeds Leeds, September 1914 Lord Mayor and City 93rd Brigade, 31st Division [24][52]
16th (Service) 1st Bradford Bradford, September 1914 Lord Mayor and City 93rd Brigade, 31st Division [24][52]
17th (Service) 2nd Leeds Leeds, December 1914 Lord Mayor and City 106th Brigade, 35th Division Bantam battalion[24][34]
18th (Service) 2nd Bradford Bradford, 22 January 1915 Lord Mayor and City 93rd Brigade, 31st Division [24][52]
19th (Reserve) Clipstone, August 1915 Depot companies of 15th and 17th Battalions 21st Reserve Brigade [24]
20th (Reserve) Clipstone, August 1915 Depot companies of 16th and 18th Battalions 21st Reserve Brigade [24]
21st (Service) Wool Textile Pioneers West Riding, 24 September 1915 Lord Mayor and City of Leeds Pioneers, 4th Division [24]
East Yorkshire Regiment 10th (Service) 1st Hull (Hull Commercials) Hull, 29 August 1914 Lord Nunburnholme and East Riding T.F. Association 92nd Brigade, 31st Division [52][53][54]
11th (Service) 2nd Hull (Hull Tradesmen) Hull, 2 September 1914 Lord Nunburnholme and East Riding T.F. Association 92nd Brigade, 31st Division [52][53][54]
12th (Service) 3rd Hull (Hull Sportsmen) Hull, 11 August 1914 Lord Nunburnholme and East Riding T.F. Association 92nd Brigade, 31st Division [52][53][54]
13th (Service) 4th Hull (T'others) Hull, 3 November 1914 Lord Nunburnholme and East Riding T.F. Association 92nd Brigade, 31st Division [52][53][54]
14th (Reserve) Hull Lichfield, August 1915 Depot companies of 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th Battalions 21st reserve Brigade [53][54]
15th (Reserve) Seaton Delaval, February 1916 From the 14th Battalion 21st Reserve Brigade [53][54]
Bedfordshire Regiment Did not form any locally raised battalions. [55]
Leicestershire Regiment 11th (Service) Midland Pioneers Leicester, October 1915 Mayor and local committee Pioneers, 6th Division [25]
12th (Reserve) Leicester, March 1916 Depot companies of 11th Battalion 19th Reserve Brigade [25]
Royal Irish Regiment Did not form any locally raised battalions. [56]
Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment) 12th (Service) Tees-side Pioneers Middlesbrough, 21 December 1914 Mayor and Town Pioneers, 40th Division [39][57]
13th (Service) Richmond, July 1915 121st Brigade, 40th Division Bantam battalion[39][57]
14th (Reserve) Darlington, September 1915 Depot companies of 12th Battalion 19th Reserve Brigade [57]
Lancashire Fusiliers 15th (Service) 1st Salford Salford, 11 September 1914 Mr. Montague Barlow, MP and the Salford Brigade Committee 96th Brigade, 32nd Division [41][58]
16th (Service) 2nd Salford Salford, 5 November 1914 Mr. Montague Barlow, MP and the Salford Brigade Committee 96th Brigade, 32nd Division [41][58]
17th (Service) 1st South-East Lancashire Bury, 3 December 1914 Lt Col G.E. Wike and a committee 104th Brigade, 35th Division Bantam battalion[34][58]
18th (Service) 2nd South-East Lancashire Bury, 13 January 1915 Lt Col G.E. Wike and a committee 104th Brigade, 35th Division Bantam battalion[34][58]
19th (Service) 3rd Salford, Pioneers[f] Salford, 15 January 1915 Mr. Montague Barlow, MP and the Salford Brigade Committee 96th Brigade, 32nd Division [41][58]
20th (Service) 4th Salford Salford, 23 March 1915 Mr. Montague Barlow, MP and the Salford Brigade Committee 104th Brigade, 35th Division Bantam battalion[34][58]
21st (Reserve) Salford Conway, August 1915 Depot companies of 15th, 16th and 19th Battalions 17th Reserve Brigade [58]
22nd (Reserve) Ashton-in-Makerfield, August 1915 Depot companies of 17th, 18th and 20th Battalions 17th Reserve Brigade [58]
Royal Scots Fusiliers Did not form any locally raised battalions. [59]
Cheshire Regiment 13th (Service) Port Sunlight, 1 September 1914 Gershom Stewart, MP[g] [26]
15th (Service) 1st Birkenhead Birkenhead, 18 November 1914 Alfred Bigland, MP 105th Brigade, 35th Division Bantam battalion[26][34]
16th (Service) 2nd Birkenhead Birkenhead, 3 December 1914 Alfred Bigland, MP 105th Brigade, 35th Division Bantam battalion[26][34]
17th (Reserve) Bebington, 10 August 1915 Depot companies of 15th and 16th Battalions 17th Reserve Brigade [26]
Royal Welsh Fusiliers 13th (Service) 1st North Wales Rhyl, 3 September 1914 Denbighshire and Flintshire T.F. Associations 113th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division [60][61]
14th (Service) Caernarvon and Anglesey Llandudno, 2 November 1914 Welsh National Executive Committee 113th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division [60][61]
15th (Service) 1st London Welsh London, 20 October 1914 113th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division [60][61]
16th (Service) Llandudno, November 1914 Welsh National Executive Committee, from 13th Battalion 113th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division [60][61]
17th (Service) 2nd North Wales Llandudno, 2 February 1915 Welsh National Executive Committee 115th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division [60][61]
18th (Reserve) 2nd London Welsh London, February 1915 14th Reserve Brigade [60]
19th (Service) Deganwy, March 1915 Welsh National Executive Committee 119th Brigade, 40th Division Bantam battalion[39][62]
South Wales Borderers 10th (Service) 1st Gwent Brecon, October 1914 Welsh National Executive Committee 115th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division [61][63]
11th (Service) 2nd Gwent Brecon, 5 December 1914 Welsh National Executive Committee 115th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division [61][63]
12th (Service) 3rd Gwent Newport, March 1915 Welsh National Executive Committee 119th Brigade, 40th Division Bantam battalion[39][63]
13th (Reserve) St Asaph, July 1915 Depot companies of 10th and 11th Battalions 13th Reserve Brigade [63]
14th (Reserve) Prees Heath, September 1915 Depot companies of 12th Battalion 14th Reserve Brigade [63]
King's Own Scottish Borderers Did not form any locally raised battalions. [64]
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 13th (Service) Hamilton, July 1915 120th Brigade, 40th Division Bantam battalion[39][65]
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 9th (Service) County Tyrone Omagh, September 1914 Tyrone Volunteers of the Ulster Volunteer Force 109th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division [66][67]
10th (Service) Derry Omagh, September 1914 County Londonderry Volunteers of the Ulster Volunteer Force 109th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division [66][67]
11th (Service) Donegal and Fermanagh Omagh, September 1914 Donegal and Fermanagh Volunteers of the Ulster Volunteer Force 109th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division [66][67]
12th (Reserve) Enniskillen, July 1915 Depot companies of 9th, 10th and 11th Battalions 15th (Ulster) Reserve Brigade [66]
Gloucestershire Regiment 12th (Service) Bristol's Own Bristol, 30 August 1914 Citizens' Recruiting Committee 95th Brigade, 32nd Division [41][68]
13th (Service) Forest of Dean, Pioneers Malvern, December 1914 Lt Col H. Webb MP[h] Pioneers, 39th Division [68][69]
14th (Service) West of England Bristol, 22 April 1915 Citizens' Recruiting Committee 105th Brigade, 35th Division Bantam battalion[34][68]
15th (Reserve) Sutton Coldfield, August 1915 Depot companies of 12th and 14th Battalions 22nd Reserve Brigade [68]
16th (Reserve) Chiseldon, November 1915 Depot companies of 13th Battalion 22nd Reserve Brigade [68]
Worcestershire Regiment 13th (Service) Severn Valley Pioneers Worcester, 10 September 1915 Lt Col H. Webb MP[h] Pioneers, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division [27]
East Lancashire Regiment 11th (Service) Accrington Accrington, 2 September 1914 Mayor and town of Accrington[i] 94th Brigade, 31st Division [52][70][71]
12th (Reserve) Chadderton Camp, Oldham, May 1915 Depot companies of 11th Battalion 17th Reserve Brigade [70]
East Surrey Regiment 12th (Service) Bermondsey Bermondsey, 14 May 1915 Mayor and Borough of Bermondsey 122nd Brigade, 41st Division [36][72]
13th (Service) Wandsworth Wandsworth, 16 June 1915 Mayor and Borough of Wandsworth 118th Brigade, 39th Division [69][72]
14th (Reserve) Wandsworth, summer 1915 Depot companies of 12th and 13th Battalions 26th Reserve Brigade [72]
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 10th (Service) Cornwall Pioneers Truro, 29 March 1915 Mayor and City Pioneers, 2nd Division [28]
11th (Reserve) Launceston, November 1915 Depot companies of 10th Battalion 22nd Reserve Brigade [28]
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) Did not form any locally raised battalions. [73]
Border Regiment 11th (Service) Lonsdale Penrith, 29 March 1915 Earl of Lonsdale and an Executive Committee[j] 97th Brigade, 32nd Division [41][74]
12th (Reserve) Prees Heath Depot companies of 11th Battalion 17th Reserve Brigade [74]
Royal Sussex Regiment 11th (Service) 1st South Down Bexhill, 7 September 1914 Lt Col C. Lowther MP and committee 116th Brigade, 39th Division [69][75]
12th (Service) 2nd South Down Bexhill, 3 November 1914 Lt Col C. Lowther MP and committee 116th Brigade, 39th Division [69][75]
13th (Service) 3rd South Down Bexhill, 20 November 1914 Lt Col C. Lowther MP and committee 116th Brigade, 39th Division [69][75]
14th (Reserve) Bexhill, August 1915 Depot companies of 12th, 13th and 14th Battalions 23rd Reserve Brigade [75]
Hampshire Regiment 14th (Service) 1st Portsmouth Portsmouth, 3 September 1914 Mayor J. H. Corke and local committee 116th Brigade, 39th Division [69][76]
15th (Service) 2nd Portsmouth Portsmouth, 5 April 1915 Mayor J. H. Corke and local committee 122nd Brigade, 41st Division [36][76]
16th (Reserve) Portsmouth Portsmouth, September 1915 Depot companies of 14th and 15th Battalions 22nd Reserve Brigade [76]
South Staffordshire Regiment Did not form any locally raised battalions. [77]
Dorsetshire Regiment Did not form any locally raised battalions. [78]
Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) 11th (Service) St. Helens Pioneers St. Helens, 1 September 1914 Lord Derby Pioneers, 30th Division [46][79]
12th (Service) Warrington, June 1915 120th Brigade, 40th Division Bantam battalion[39][79]
13th (Reserve) Oswestry, September 1915 Depot companies of 11th Battalion 16th Reserve Brigade [79]
Welsh Regiment 10th (Service) 1st Rhondda Rhondda Valley, September 1914 D. Watts Morgan MP[k] 114th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division [15][61]
13th (Service) 2nd Rhondda Cardiff, 23 October 1914 Welsh National Executive Committee 114th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division [15][61]
14th (Service) Swansea Swansea, October 1914 Mayor and Corporation with the Swansea Football and Cricket Club 114th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division [15][61]
15th (Service) Carmarthenshire Carmarthen, October 1914 Carmarthenshire Country Committee 114th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division [15][61]
16th (Service) Cardiff City Cardiff, November 1914 Lord Mayor and Corporation 115th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division [15][61]
17th (Service) 1st Glamorgan December 1914 Welsh National Executive Committee 119th Brigade, 40th Division Bantam battalion[15][39]
18th (Service) 2nd Glamorgan January 1915 Welsh National Executive Committee 119th Brigade, 40th Division Bantam battalion[15][39]
19th (Service) Glamorgan Pioneers Colwyn Bay, February 1915 Welsh National Executive Committee Pioneers, 38th (Welsh) Division [15][61]
20th (Reserve) 3rd Rhondda St. Asaph, July 1915 Depot companies of 10th and 13th Battalions 13th Reserve Brigade [15]
21st (Reserve) Colwyn Bay, July 1915 Depot companies of 14th, 15th, 16th and 19th Battalions 13th Reserve Brigade [15]
22nd (Reserve) Prees Heath, September 1915 Depot companies of 17th and 18th Battalions 14th Reserve Brigade [15]
23rd (Service) Welsh Pioneers Porthcawl, September 1915 Welsh National Executive Committee Pioneers, 28th Division [15]
Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Did not form any locally raised battalions. [80]
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Did not form any locally raised battalions. [81]
Essex Regiment 13th (Service) West Ham West Ham, 27 December 1914 Mayor and Borough of West Ham 100th Brigade, 33rd Division [44][82]
14th (Reserve) Brentwood, September 1915 Depot companies of 13th Battalion 23rd Reserve Brigade [82]
Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) 15th (Service) Nottingham Nottingham, February 1915 Mayor and a committee 105th Brigade, 35th Division Bantam battalion[34][83]
16th (Service) Chatsworth Rifles Derby, 16 April 1915 Duke of Devonshire and the Derbyshire T.F. Association 117th Brigade, 39th Division [69][83]
17th (Service) Welbeck Rangers Nottingham, 1 June 1915 Mayor and a recruiting committee 117th Brigade, 39th Division [69][83]
18th (Service) Derby, 28 July 1915 121st Brigade, 40th Division Bantam battalion[39][83]
19th (Reserve) Brocklesby, August 1915 Depot companies of 15th, 16th and 17th Battalions 19th Reserve Brigade [83]
Loyal North Lancashire Regiment Did not form any locally raised battalions. [84]
Northamptonshire Regiment Did not form any locally raised battalions. [85]
Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) Did not form any locally raised battalions. [86]
Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) 10th (Service) Kent County Maidstone, 3 May 1915 Lord Harris, Vice-Lieutenant of Kent at the request of the Army Council 123rd Brigade, 41st Division [36][87]
11th (Service) Lewisham Lewisham, 5 May 1915 Mayor and a local committee 122nd Brigade, 41st Division [36][88]
12th (Reserve) February 1916 Depot companies of 11th and 12th Battalions 23rd Reserve Brigade [88]
King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) 12th (Service) Miners, Pioneers Leeds, 5 September 1914 West Yorkshire Coalowners Association Pioneers, 31st Division [52][88]
13th (Reserve) Pioneers Ripon, October 1915 Depot companies of 12th Battalion 19th Reserve Brigade [88]
King's (Shropshire Light Infantry) Did not form any locally raised battalions. [89]
Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) 16th (Service) Public Schools 24 St James's Street, London, 1 September 1914 Lt Col J. J. Mackay 100th Brigade, 33rd Division [44][90]
17th (Service) 1st Football London, 12 December 1914 Rt. Hon. W. Joynson Hicks MP 100th Brigade, 33rd Division [16][44]
18th (Service) 1st Public Works Pioneers London, 19 January 1915 Lt Col John Ward MP Pioneers, 33rd Division [29][44]
19th (Service) 2nd Public Works Pioneers Hornsey, April 1915 Lt Col John Ward MP Pioneers, 41st Division [29][36]
20th (Service) Shoreditch Shoreditch, 18 May 1915 Mayor and Borough of Shoreditch 118th Brigade, 39th Division [29][69]
21st (Service) Islington Islington, 18 May 1915 Mayor and Borough of Islington 118th Brigade, 39th Division [29][69]
22nd (Service) Mill Hill, June 1915 121st Brigade, 40th Division Bantam battalion[29][39]
23rd (Service) 2nd Football London, 29 June 1915 Rt. Hon. W. Joynson Hicks MP 123rd Brigade, 41st Division [29][36]
24th (Reserve) Public Schools Tring, October 1915 Depot companies of 16th Battalion 23rd Reserve Brigade [29]
25th (Reserve) Tring, October 1915 Depot companies of 18th, 19th and 26th Battalions 23rd Reserve Brigade [29]
26th (Service) 3rd Public Works Pioneers London, 9 August 1915 Lt Col John Ward MP Pioneers, 27th Division [29]
27th (Reserve) 1915 Depot companies of 17th and 23rd Battalions 23rd Reserve Brigade [29]
28th (Reserve) 1915 Depot companies of 20th and 21st Battalions 23rd Reserve Brigade [29]
King's Royal Rifle Corps 16th (Service) Church Lads Brigade Denham, Buckinghamshire, 19 September 1914 Field Marshal Lord Grenfell 100th Brigade, 33rd Division [30][44]
17th (Service) British Empire League London, 16 April 1915 British Empire League 117th Brigade, 39th Division [30][69]
18th (Service) Arts and Crafts Gidea Park, Essex, 4 June 1915 Major Sir Herbert Raphael 122nd Brigade, 41st Division [30][36]
19th (Reserve) Bexhill, October 1915 Depot companies of 16th and 17th Battalions 24th Reserve Brigade [30]
20th (Service) British Empire League Pioneers Green Park, London, 20 August 1915 British Empire League Pioneers, 3rd Division [30]
21st (Service) Yeoman Rifles Northern Command, September 1915 [l] 124th Brigade, 41st Division [30][36]
22nd (Reserve) September 1915 Depot companies of 20th Battalion 26th Reserve Brigade [30]
23rd (Reserve) Autumn 1915 Depot companies of 18th Battalion 26th Reserve Brigade [30]
24th (Reserve) Skipton, April 1916 Depot companies of 21st Battalion 21st Reserve Brigade [91]
Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment) Did not form any locally raised battalions. [91]
Manchester Regiment 16th (Service) 1st City Manchester, 28 August 1914 Lord Mayor and City 90th Brigade, 30th Division [46][92]
17th (Service) 2nd City Manchester, 28 August 1914 Lord Mayor and City 90th Brigade, 30th Division [46][92]
18th (Service) 3rd City Manchester, 28 August 1914 Lord Mayor and City 90th Brigade, 30th Division [46][92]
19th (Service) 4th City Manchester, 28 August 1914 Lord Mayor and City 90th Brigade, 30th Division [46][92]
20th (Service) 5th City Manchester, 8 November 1914 Lord Mayor and City 91st Brigade, 30th Division [46][92]
21st (Service) 6th City Manchester, 13 November 1914 Lord Mayor and City 91st Brigade, 30th Division [46][93]
22nd (Service) 7th City Manchester, 21 November 1914 Lord Mayor and City 91st Brigade, 30th Division [46][93]
23rd (Service) 8th City Manchester, 21 November 1914 Lord Mayor and City 104th Brigade, 35th Division Bantam battalion[34][93]
24th (Service) Oldham, Pioneers[m] Oldham, 24 October 1914 Mayor and Town 91st Brigade, 30th Division [46][93]
25th (Reserve) September 1915 Depot companies of 16th, 17th and 18th Battalions 16th Reserve Brigade [93]
26th (Reserve) September 1915 Depot companies of 19th, 20th and 21st Battalions 16th Reserve Brigade [93]
27th (Reserve) September 1915 Depot companies of 22nd, 23rd and 24th Battalions 16th Reserve Brigade [93]
Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment) Did not form any locally raised battalions. [94]
York and Lancaster Regiment 12th (Service) Sheffield Sheffield, 5 September 1914 Lord Mayor and City 94th Brigade, 31st Division [52][95]
13th (Service) 1st Barnsley Barnsley, 17 September 1914 Mayor and Town 94th Brigade, 31st Division [52][95]
14th (Service) 2nd Barnsley Barnsley, 30 November 1914 Mayor and Town 94th Brigade, 31st Division [52][95]
15th (Reserve) Silkstone, July 1915 Depot companies of 12th, 13th and 14th Battalions 21st Reserve Brigade [95]
Durham Light Infantry 18th (Service) 1st County Cocken Hall, 10 September 1914 Col R. Burdon and a committee 93rd Brigade, 31st Division [31][52]
19th (Service) 2nd County Durham, 13 January 1915 Durham Parliamentary Recruiting Committee 106th Brigade, 35th Division Bantam battalion[31][34]
20th (Service) Wearside Sunderland, 10 July 1915 Mayor and Committee 123rd Brigade, 41st Division [31][36]
21st (Reserve) Cocken Hall, July 1915 Depot companies of 18th and 20th Battalions 20th Reserve Brigade [31]
22nd (Service) 3rd County Pioneers County Durham, 1 October 1915 Durham Parliamentary Recruiting Committee Pioneers, 8th Division [31]
23rd (Reserve) Catterick, October 1915 Depot companies of 19th Battalion 20th Reserve Brigade [31]
Highland Light Infantry 14th (Service) Hamilton, July 1915 120th Brigade, 40th Division Bantam battalion[39][96]
15th (Service) 1st Glasgow Glasgow, 2 September 1914 Lord Provost and City with many recruits from Glasgow Tramways 97th Brigade, 32nd Division [41][96]
16th (Service) 2nd Glasgow Glasgow, 2 September 1914 Lord Provost and City with many recruits from Glasgow Boys' Brigade 97th Brigade, 32nd Division [41][96]
17th (Service) 3rd Glasgow Glasgow, 10 September 1914 Glasgow Chamber of Commerce 97th Brigade, 32nd Division [41][96]
18th (Service) 4th Glasgow Glasgow, 26 February 1915 Lord Provost and City 106th Brigade, 35th Division Bantam battalion[34][96]
19th (Reserve) Gailes (near Irvine, North Ayrshire), July 1915 Depot companies of 15th, 16th and 17th Battalions 18th Reserve Brigade [96]
20th (Reserve) Ripon, October 1915 Depot companies of 18th Battalion 18th Reserve Brigade [96]
Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's) Did not form any locally raised battalions. [97]
Gordon Highlanders Did not form any locally raised battalions. [98]
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders Did not form any locally raised battalions. [99]
Royal Irish Rifles 8th (Service) East Belfast Belfast, September 1914 Belfast Volunteers of the Ulster Volunteer Force 107th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division [18][67]
9th (Service) West Belfast Belfast, September 1914 Belfast Volunteers of the Ulster Volunteer Force 107th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division [18][67]
10th (Service) South Belfast Belfast, September 1914 Belfast Volunteers of the Ulster Volunteer Force 107th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division [18][67]
11th (Service) South Antrim County Antrim, September 1914 Antrim Volunteers of the Ulster Volunteer Force 108th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division [18][67]
12th (Service) Central Antrim County Antrim, September 1914 Antrim Volunteers of the Ulster Volunteer Force 108th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division [18][67]
13th (Service) 1st County Down County Down, September 1914 County Down Volunteers of the Ulster Volunteer Force 108th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division [18][67]
14th (Service) Young Citizens Belfast, September 1914 Belfast Volunteers of the Ulster Volunteer Force 109th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division [18][67]
15th (Service) North Belfast Belfast, September 1914 Belfast Volunteers of the Ulster Volunteer Force 107th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division [18][67]
16th (Service) 2nd County Down, Pioneers County Down, September 1914 County Down Volunteers of the Ulster Volunteer Force Pioneers, 36th (Ulster) Division [18][67]
17th (Reserve) Newcastle, County Down, March 1915 Depot companies of 8th, 9th and 10th Battalions 15th (Ulster) Reserve Brigade [18]
18th (Reserve) Holywood, County Down, April 1915 Depot companies of 11th and 12th Battalions 15th (Ulster) Reserve Brigade [18]
19th (Reserve) Newcastle, County Down, October 1915 Depot companies of 14th and 15th Battalions 15th (Ulster) Reserve Brigade [18]
20th (Reserve) Holywood, County Down, November 1915 Depot companies of 13th and 16th Battalions 15th (Ulster) Reserve Brigade [18]
Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers) 9th (Service) County Armagh September 1914 Armagh, Monaghan and Cavan Volunteers of the Ulster Volunteer Force 108th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division [67][100]
10th (Reserve) Lurgan, September 1915 Depot companies of 9th Battalion 15th (Ulster) Reserve Brigade [100]
Connaught Rangers Did not form any locally raised battalions. [100]
Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Did not form any locally raised battalions.[n] [102]
Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) Did not form any locally raised battalions. [103]
Royal Munster Fusiliers Did not form any locally raised battalions. [104]
Royal Dublin Fusiliers Did not form any locally raised battalions. [105]
Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) 16th (Service) St. Pancras Borough of St Pancras, 2 May 1915 Parliamentary Recruiting Committee 117th Brigade, 39th Division [69][106]
17th (Reserve) Charrington Hall, October 1915 Depot companies of 16th Battalion 26th Reserve Brigade [106]


Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Regiments that were made up exclusively of Territorial Force battalions were:
  2. ^ The Royal Scots, the Highland Light Infantry and the Seaforth Highlanders raised two battalions for the 9th (Scottish) Division;[4] the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the Royal Irish Fusiliers, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the Royal Munster Fusiliers raised two battalions for the 10th (Irish) Division;[5] the Royal Fusiliers raised two battalions for the 12th (Eastern) Division;[6] and the Rifle Brigade and the King's Royal Rifle Corps raised three battalions for the 14th (Light) Division[7] for a total of 81 battalions.
  3. ^ The King's Own Scottish Borderers, the Gordon Highlanders and the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders raised two battalions for the 15th (Scottish) Division;[8] the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the Royal Irish Fusiliers, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the Royal Munster Fusiliers raised two battalions for the 16th (Irish) Division;[9] the Royal Fusiliers raised two battalions for the 18th (Eastern) Division;[10] and the Rifle Brigade and the King's Royal Rifle Corps raised three battalions for the 20th (Light) Division[11] for a total of 81 battalions.
  4. ^ Although the 10th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers was a locally raised battalion, and carried an unofficial sub title of "Stockbrokers", it was in the Second New Army (K2) and was assigned to the 54th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division.[22]
  5. ^ 25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers served in the East African Campaign from May 1915 to the end of 1917.[23]
  6. ^ Later assigned as Pioneers to the 49th (West Riding) Division.[41]
  7. ^ The 13th (Service) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment differed from other locally raised battalions in that it did not have a sub title (although there is a reference to the "Wirral Battalion" in the regimental history) and it was assigned to the 74th Brigade, 25th Division in the Third New Army (K3).[26]
  8. ^ a b Lt Col H. Webb MP raised a battalion for the Gloucestershire Regiment[68] and another for the Worcestershire Regiment.[27]
  9. ^ 11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington), East Lancashire Regiment also recruited from Burnley, Blackburn, and Chorley.
  10. ^ 11th (Service) Battalion, Border Regiment was raised in Carlisle, Kendal and Workington with H.Q. at Penrith.[74]
  11. ^ 10th (Service) Battalion, Welsh Regiment was raised for the Third New Army (K3) and assigned to 76th Brigade, 25th Division but on 30 September 1914 it joined the other locally raised battalions in 38th (Welsh) Division.[15]
  12. ^ 21st (Service) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps was formed from farmers. Two companies from Yorkshire, one from Northumberland and Durham, and one from Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Norfolk.[30]
  13. ^ Later assigned as Pioneers to the 7th Division.[46]
  14. ^ 14th (Service) Battalion, Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) was not a locally formed battalion but was assigned to the 118th Brigade, 39th Division in the Sixth New Army which was otherwise made up of Pals battalions.[101]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e James 1978, Appendix II to Part II
  2. ^ a b James 1978, Table A, Appendix I to Part II
  3. ^ a b James 1978, Table C, Appendix I to Part II
  4. ^ Becke 1938, p. 6
  5. ^ Becke 1938, p. 14
  6. ^ Becke 1938, p. 30
  7. ^ Becke 1938, p. 48
  8. ^ Becke 1938, p. 56
  9. ^ Becke 1938, p. 64
  10. ^ Becke 1938, p. 82
  11. ^ Becke 1938, p. 98
  12. ^ Baker, Chris. "The Training Reserve". The Long, Long Trail. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  13. ^ James 1978, pp. 46–47
  14. ^ James 1978, pp. 49–50
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o James 1978, p. 83
  16. ^ a b James 1978, pp. 93–94
  17. ^ James 1978, pp. 97–98
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n James 1978, p. 106
  19. ^ Becke 1945, p. 75
  20. ^ Becke 1945, p. 136
  21. ^ Becke 1945, p. 94
  22. ^ a b c d e f James 1978, p. 49
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q James 1978, p. 50
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h James 1978, p. 58
  25. ^ a b c James 1978, p. 61
  26. ^ a b c d e f James 1978, p. 66
  27. ^ a b c James 1978, p. 73
  28. ^ a b c James 1978, p. 76
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l James 1978, p. 94
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j James 1978, p. 95
  31. ^ a b c d e f g James 1978, p. 101
  32. ^ a b c d James 1978, p. 43
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Becke 1945, p. 45
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Becke 1945, p. 55
  35. ^ a b c James 1978, p. 44
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Becke 1945, p. 111
  37. ^ James 1978, pp. 44–45
  38. ^ James 1978, p. 45
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Becke 1945, p. 103
  40. ^ a b James 1978, p. 46
  41. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Becke 1945, p. 25
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q James 1978, p. 47
  43. ^ a b James 1978, p. 48
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Becke 1945, p. 35
  45. ^ a b c d e f James 1978, p. 52
  46. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Becke 1945, p. 5
  47. ^ James 1978, p. 53
  48. ^ a b James 1978, p. 54
  49. ^ James 1978, pp. 54–55
  50. ^ a b c James 1978, p. 56
  51. ^ James 1978, pp. 56–57
  52. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Becke 1945, p. 15
  53. ^ a b c d e f James 1978, p. 59
  54. ^ a b c d e f Bilton.
  55. ^ James 1978, pp. 59–60
  56. ^ James 1978, pp. 61–62
  57. ^ a b c James 1978, p. 62
  58. ^ a b c d e f g h James 1978, p. 64
  59. ^ James 1978, pp. 64–65
  60. ^ a b c d e f James 1978, p. 67
  61. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Becke 1945, p. 85
  62. ^ James 1978, p. 68
  63. ^ a b c d e James 1978, p. 69
  64. ^ James 1978, pp. 69–70
  65. ^ James 1978, p. 70
  66. ^ a b c d James 1978, p. 71
  67. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Becke 1945, p. 65
  68. ^ a b c d e f James 1978, p. 72
  69. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Becke 1945, p. 95
  70. ^ a b James 1978, p. 74
  71. ^ Jackson.
  72. ^ a b c James 1978, p. 75
  73. ^ James 1978, pp. 76–77
  74. ^ a b c James 1978, p. 77
  75. ^ a b c d James 1978, p. 78
  76. ^ a b c James 1978, p. 80
  77. ^ James 1978, pp. 80–81
  78. ^ James 1978, p. 81
  79. ^ a b c James 1978, p. 82
  80. ^ James 1978, pp. 83–85
  81. ^ James 1978, p. 85
  82. ^ a b James 1978, p. 86
  83. ^ a b c d e James 1978, p. 87
  84. ^ James 1978, pp. 88–89
  85. ^ James 1978, p. 89
  86. ^ James 1978, pp. 89–90
  87. ^ James 1978, p. 90
  88. ^ a b c d James 1978, p. 91
  89. ^ James 1978, p. 92
  90. ^ James 1978, p. 93
  91. ^ a b James 1978, p. 96
  92. ^ a b c d e James 1978, p. 97
  93. ^ a b c d e f g James 1978, p. 98
  94. ^ James 1978, pp. 98–99
  95. ^ a b c d James 1978, p. 100
  96. ^ a b c d e f g James 1978, p. 103
  97. ^ James 1978, pp. 103–104
  98. ^ James 1978, pp. 104–105
  99. ^ James 1978, p. 105
  100. ^ a b c James 1978, p. 107
  101. ^ James 1978, pp. 108–109
  102. ^ James 1978, pp. 107–109
  103. ^ James 1978, p. 109
  104. ^ James 1978, pp. 109–110
  105. ^ James 1978, p. 110
  106. ^ a b James 1978, p. 111

Bibliography edit

  • Becke, Major A.F. (1938). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 3A. New Army Divisions (9–26). London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-08-6.
  • Becke, Major A.F. (1945). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 3B. New Army Divisions (30–41) & 63rd (RN) Division. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-08-6.
  • David Bilton, Hull Pals, 10th, 11th 12th and 13th Battalions East Yorkshire Regiment – A History of 92 Infantry Brigade, 31st Division, Barnsley: Pen & Sword, 2014, ISBN 978-1-78346-185-1.
  • James, Brigadier E.A. (1978). British Regiments 1914–18. London: Samson Books Limited. ISBN 0-906304-03-2.
  • Andrew Jackson, Accrington's Pals: The Full Story, Barnsley, Pen & Sword, 2013, ISBN 9781-84884-469-8.
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