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• The Rifle Brigade 

Link to Rifle Brigade Museum web site

3 Bn The Rifle Brigade

At the outbreak of war 3 Bn Rifle Brigade was stationed in Cork, Ireland. They returned to England and then went over to France on 12 September 1914 with 17 Brigade, 6 Division. They were in action during the Race to the Sea in 1914. In 1915 they transferred into 24 Division. They were in action on the Somme in 1916, at Third Ypres and Cambrai in 1917 and, in 1918, the Kaiser Offensive and 100 Days. The Division was demobilised in March 1919.

Rifleman 7015 John W (Walter) Hughes, DoW 31 July 1915. Les Gonards Cemetery, Versailles.

 

• Royal Air Force – see Royal Flying Corps.

 

• Royal Army Medical Corps

Link to Museum of Military Medicine web site

Link to Royal Army Medical Corps Archive 

The Royal Army Medical Corps was formed in 1898 to care for sick and wounded soldiers. They were non-combatants, only allowed under the Geneva Convention to use weapons to defend themselves. During WW1 the RAMC operated a chain of medical facilities from the front line – first Aid Posts, Field Ambulances through Casualty Clearing Stations back to base hospitals overseas and in the UK. During the war the RAMC suffered over 6870 casualties.

56 Field Ambulance 

Field Ambulances were mobile units attached to divisions and brigades and, along with Casualty Clearing Stations, were situated behind the line treating battlefield casualties typically brought in by stretcher bearers or ‘walking wounded’. They were made up of first aiders, stretcher bearers and doctors. Depending on the severity of the casualty treatment would be performed at the ambulances or they would be sent back to the base hospitals.

Private 72682 Francis H (Harold) Carless, 56 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps. KIA 22 October 1917, Tyne Cot Memorial (unknown)

 

• Royal Fusiliers 

The Royal Fusiliers, also known as the City of London Regiment raised over 50 battalions. These were regular or service battalions – the regiment had no territorial force itself but was affiliated to the territorial only unit the London Regiment

 

3 Bn Royal Fusiliers – 85 Brigade, 28 Division

The 3 Bn Royal Fusiliers was a regular army battalion and were in India at the start of the war. They returned to the UK in December and went over t France in January 1915, The saw action at Second Ypres and the Loos Offensive. In October 1915 they were transferred to Egypt and went on to Salonika. In mid 1918 they returned to France, joining 149 Brigade, 50 (Northumberland) Division, and in October took part in the 100 Days. The Division disbanded in March 1919.

Second Lieutenant BR (Benjamin Richard) Corley Rogers, KIA 17 October 1918, Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau – in 6 Bn Royal Fusiliers attached 3 Bn RF.

9 Bn Royal Fusiliers – 36 Brigade, 12 (Eastern) Division

The 9 Bn Royal Fusiliers was a service battalion raised at Hounslow on 21 August 1914. They went over to France in May 1915 and first saw action at the Loos Offensive in October. In 1916 they served on the Somme and in1917 at Arras and Cambrai. In 1918 they took part in the Kaiser Offensive and 100 Days.

Private 73090 Cyril Jones, Vis en Artois Memorial.

Captain Herbert MB Lawford, KIA 7 October 1916, Thiepval Memorial (unknown). (October 1914) commissioned in the RF on the outbreak of war and was promoted captain in June 1915

10 Bn Royal Fusiliers (Stockbroker’s Battalion)

The 10 Bn Royal Fusiliers was a service battalion raised at Hounslow on 21 August 1914. Also known as the Stockbroker’s Battalion recruiting ‘Pals’ from the City financial offices. In March 1915 they were posted to 111 Brigade, 37 Division and went over to France in July. They first saw action at the battle of the Ancre. In 1917 they were in action during the Arras Offensive and at Third Ypres and in 1918 during the Kaiser Offensive and 100 Days. The demobilisation of the battalion began on Boxing Day 1918 and was completed by March 1919.

Private G/23165 Jack Francis, KIA 23 April 1917, Chili Trench Cemetery

24 Bn Royal Fusiliers (2nd Sportsman’s Battalion) – 33 Brigade. 33 Division transferred December 1915 5 Brigade, 2 Division

The 24 Bn Royal Fusiliers was a service battalion raised in London on 20 November 1914 – it was also known as the 2nd Sportsman’s Battalion.  They went over to France in November 1915. They first saw action at the battle of Festubert and the Loos Offensive in 1915 and in 1916 at the Somme. In 1917 they were in action during the Arras Offensive and at Cambrai and in 1918 during the Kaiser Offensive and 100 Days. After the war they were part of the Army of Occupation.

Second Lieutenant John J Garland, 1/2 Bn Gloucestershire Regiment. DoW 9 July 1918, Tannay British Cemetery, Thiennes. – formerly in 24 Bn RF prior to commission in Gloucestershire Regiment.

 

• Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Link to Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Museum

The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was an Irish regiment with HQ at Omagh and recruiting mainly in the north of pre-partition Ireland. During the war the regiment raised 2 regular and 2 reserve battalions and 9 service battalions, of these the 2 regular and 7 service battalions served overseas.

Units of the regiment were stationed at Park Hill Camp, Oswestry. The regiment provided Honour Guards for some of military funerals held in the Town, including – Private 8407 Percy J Davies, Labour Corps. Trans. from 4 Bn RWF. Died 7 November 1918, Oswestry General Cemetery

2 Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

The 2 Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was a regular army unit. At the outbreak of war the battalion was stationed at Dover, they went over to France on 22 August 1914. During the war they served in various brigades and divisions ending up in 109 Brigade, 32 Division in February 1918. After the war, in January the battalion was stationed at Roncq and then Mouscron near Tourcoing, France. Men were steadily demobilised and by April 1919 the battalion was reduced down to cadre strength.

Private 49724 Frederick O Ellis, KIA 29 September 1918, Tyne Cot (unknown)

 

• Royal Scots

Link to The Royal Scots web site

1/6 Bn Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment).

The 1/6 Bn Royal Scots was a territorial unit based in Edinburgh. They spent the first months of the war on Home Service coastal defence. In September 1915 they were posted to Egypt until May 1916 when they went to France. In June the battalion was amalgamated with 1/5 Bn Royal Scots and went into 14 Brigade 32 Division.

Private 2621 JA (James Alfred) Dutton, Died at Home 25 January 1917. Oswestry General Cemetery.  C coy – JA Dutton – died at home

NOTE 1/7 Bn Royal Scots, sister battalion to 1/6 Bn, were the troops in the Quintinthill rail accident on 22 May 1915 when their troop train crashed and caught fire – the battalion lost 210 killed and 224 injured out of total casualties of 473, the worst rail accident in the UK.

13 Bn Royal Scots -45 Brigade, 15 (Scottish) Division

The 13 Bn Royal Scots was a service battalion formed at Edinburgh, in September 1914, they went over to France in July 1915. They first went into action during the Loos Offensive in 1915. They were also on the Somme in 1916, in 1917 during Arras and Third Ypres, and, in 1918, during the Kaiser Offensive and 100 Days.

Private 29458 CW Mac  Roberts, KIA 22 August 1917, Tyne Cot Memorial (unknown)

 

 

 

References and Sources

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