“ The Lancashire foot were as stout men as were in the world and as brave plunderers as ever went to a field.... “ It was to admiration to see what a spirit of courage and resolution there was amongst us, and how God hid us from the fears and dangers we were exposed to. ” Captain Hodgson, writing in 1648, on the Battle of Preston. [COPYRIGHT] 1921 Printed by Geo. Toulmin & Sons, Ltd. , Guardian Works, Preston. Published by the Battalion History Committee ....

The purpose of this book is to supply to the people of Preston and district, for the first time, a complete and authentic record of the adventures of their original local Territorial Infantry Battalion during the Great War, such a record being a chapter of local history which must sooner or later be written; to put into the hands of the relatives and friends of those who have gloriously fallen the story of the unit with which they served faithful unto death, with its accompanying tribute from th

A Reduced Facsimile of the Roll of Volunteers for Service Abroad signed in the Public Hall, on 8th August, 1914 A Company  B Company  C Company D Company  E Company  F Company G Company  H Company...

The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment has a peculiar history, being descended from the old 47th, the Lanarkshire [A] Regiment, and the 81st, the Loyal Lincoln Volunteers. In 1881, when these two Regiments were at their Depot at Preston, it was found convenient to amalgamate them, and they became the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the North Lancashire Regiment. The Lincolnshire men were not pleased at having to drop the epithet “Loyal” (conferred on them [B] in memory of an occasion during the Peninsula

On the 2nd of May, 1915, Major Foley, Second Lieutenant Harris (Transport Officer), the Machine Gun Officer, and 104 other ranks and the whole of the Regimental Transport, entrained at BALLAST PIT SIDING, BEDFORD, at one o’clock in the morning, arriving at SOUTHAMPTON at 6 40 a.m., where they embarked on s.s. “ROSSETTI” and sailed at 4 30 p.m., arriving at HAVRE at 3 a.m. on the 3rd. On the evening of that day, the rest of the Battalion entrained at BALLAST PIT SIDING in two trains, and travelle

Major Foley took over the command of the Battalion on June 16th, 1915, vice Lieutenant-Colonel Hindle, wounded; Major Nickson became senior Major, vice Major Foley, from the same date; Lieutenant Duckworth became Adjutant, vice Captain Norman, wounded; Captain Widdows took over command of C Company, vice Major Nickson; Lieutenant Rennard of D Company, vice Captain Hibbert, missing; Lieutenant Gregson B Company, vice Captain Peak, missing; Second Lieutenant Rogerson became Machine Gun Officer, vi

On the 27th of June we were bombarded by all calibres, but sustained no casualties. On the 28th the raiding party of three Officers and 56 Other Ranks mentioned in the last chapter left our lines at the junction of GAMBLER STREET with the fire trench at 5 35 p.m. The raid was preceded by the discharge of cloud gas and artillery fire. This party was working in conjunction with raiding parties from all Battalions in the Division. They advanced by two rushes to within a few yards of the enemy trenc

On the 1st October we left MANANCOURT and entrained at EDGE HILL, arriving in billets at L’ETOILE at 11 p.m. The following day we marched to LONGPRE, where we entrained for POPERINGHE, where we were billeted for the night. The next day we marched to BRANDHOEK, where we were in huts for the next few days, furnishing a daily working party to dig a cable trench near RIGERSBERG CHATEAU. During this period Second Lieutenant G. Duerden joined us again, and the following Officers as reinforcements:—Cap

POPERINGHE. 28th July. Announced to be W day in connection with forthcoming operations. Bombs again dropped during night fairly near our camp. Second Lieutenant W. Young and three Other Ranks to Field Ambulance sick. 29th July. X day in connection with forthcoming operations. Preparations made for moving into concentration area. At 9 p.m. the Battalion (less party of 100 Other Ranks and seven Officers who were being left out of the attack) marched off from camp by Platoons at 300 yards’ distance

At 12 midnight, July 31st/August 1st, the Battalion held a line of resistance just in front of the Black Line. At 1 15 a.m. completion of relief by the 165th Infantry Brigade was reported, and the remnant of the Battalion were ordered to concentrate in our original front line between Warwick Farm and Lone Street. This was done, and Battalion Headquarters was established at the mined dugouts in Oxford Trench. At 10 a.m. Headquarters was transferred to the mined dugout at WIELTJE. Meanwhile an eff

YPRES. 15th September. Fairly quiet day. One Other Rank reinforcement. One Other Rank to Field Ambulance sick. 16th September. About 10 45 a.m. 10 enemy aeroplanes dropped bombs in the vicinity of the camp, causing one casualty. Road near camp heavily shelled at dusk. Two Other Ranks wounded. 17th September. Situation normal. Reconnaissance of forward area carried out. W day in connection with forthcoming operations. One Other Rank killed in VLAMERTINGHE. 18th September (X day). Day spent in fit

TRENCHES. 21st September. There was fairly lively shelling at dawn, but the situation was reported quiet at 7 30 a.m. The front was continually patrolled before daylight and no signs of the enemy found. During the morning a further Officers’ patrol worked forward to KEIR FARM and confirmed the previous report that it was practically non-existent. On the afternoon of this day the strength of the Companies in the line was reported at 90, though it was known there were still many more men of this u

At WATOU we began once more to pull the Battalion together and bring it up to strength, and reinforcements began to come in. Captain Duggan, M.C., from the 10th Battalion, joined us here, also Second Lieutenants J. O. Firth, J. H. Livesey, H. Ramsbottom, and P. Adamson, and 18 Other Ranks. On the 26th we marched to HOPOUTRE, where we entrained and moved out at 9 30 a.m., travelling in cattle trucks via ARRAS to BAPAUME, where we arrived about 7 p.m. Thence we marched through desolate and ruined

Headquarters, France, Monday, 1 15 p.m. On the morning of the German attack on April 9th, 1918, the 55th (West Lancashire) Division (Territorial) was holding a front of about 6,000 yards, extending from the LA BASSEE CANAL to just south of RICHEBOURG L’AVOUE, where its line joined that held by the Portuguese. The enemy’s attack on the southern portion of this front was delivered by all three Regiments of the 4th Ersatz Division, which was well up to strength. A captured Divisional Order issued b

From Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, K.T., G.C.B., G.C.V.O., K.C.I.E., April 10th, 1918:— “Please convey to General Jeudwine and to all Officers and men of the 55th Division my congratulations on their splendid fighting yesterday, especially at FESTUBERT and GIVENCHY.” From General Sir H. Plumer, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., Commanding 2nd Army, April 9th, 1918:— “Many congratulations on your success at GIVENCHY from the 2nd Army.” From Lieutenant-General Sir H. S. Horne, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., Comman

“The Times,” April 11th, 1918:— 55th DIVISION’S FINE FIGHTING. (From our Special Correspondent.) “The breach made by the Portuguese retirement threw an enormous strain on the British 55th Division on the extreme right, which held the positions about GIVENCHY. The Lancashire men threw back their left to make a flank on that side, and then began the defence of GIVENCHY, which will be remembered as one of the brilliant incidents of this war. The ground here was of some importance, as being almost t

On the 1st September, 1918, orders were received that Infantry Brigades in the line must be prepared to follow up the enemy rapidly should he commence to withdraw on the Divisional front, fighting patrols to make good what ground they could; this was consequent upon reports of fires and explosions behind the enemy’s line and information from enemy prisoners. On the 4th, patrols having reported the evacuation of the enemy’s front line trenches, Battalion Headquarters moved up from WINDY CORNER to

Although fighting was now over, the “War” was not. Working parties and training still continued at LEUZE, whither we marched on the 14th, and on the 25th the “Education Period” commenced. We moved to WATTINE (Chappelle) on the 26th, and on the 2nd December sent an escort, consisting of Captain S. H. Pruden, M.C., and Lieutenant Bulling, Company Sergeant-Major Roberts, and two Sergeants, to England to bring out the Colours, which were handed to them on the 7th in Preston by the Mayor. The same da

A.—List of Honours and Distinctions earned by the Battalion. B.—Casualties....

A LIST OF HONOURS AND DISTINCTIONS EARNED BY THE BATTALION. Lieutenant-Colonel R. Hindle, D.S.O., June, 1917. Bar to D.S.O., September, 1917. Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Crump, D.S.O., June, 1918. Major H. J. G. Duggan, D.S.O., January, 1919. Lieutenant-Colonel T. G. Williams, D.S.O., June, 1919. Major H. Parker, D.S.O., June, 1919 (Brigade Major, 42nd Division)....

These lists, originally compiled in Battalion Orderly Room as the casualties were reported, have now been checked with Records. It is too much to hope that they are absolutely correct, but the compilers have done all they can to correct mistakes. The following signs and abbreviations have been used:— A list of all casualties sustained by the Battalion between April, 1915, and November, 1918 [A] Changed to “Lancashire” in 1781 when they were sent to that County to recruit. [B] According to tradit