Lieut.-Colonel W. F. A. WADHAM and Captain J. CROSSLEY COPYRIGHT...

These notes have been compiled, more or less in the form of a diary, with a view to placing on record the services of those who voluntarily came forward to serve their country in its hour of need. WALTER F. A. WADHAM. February, 1920. Notes by Lieut.-Col. W. F. A. Wadham, V.D....

The year 1914 will for ever be looked back upon as the most memorable in the history of the Battalion. The outbreak of the Great War in the month of August of that year caused the Mobilization Scheme, over which for years past each succeeding Adjutant had, in his turn, burned much midnight oil in endeavours to bring up-to-date the efforts of his predecessor, to be put to the test. On Sunday, August 2nd, of that year, the Battalion proceeded to Camp at Kirkby Lonsdale to undergo the usual fourtee

The task of writing the following pages has fallen to me. Now that the duty has come my way, I have done my best, after a lapse of more than fifteen years, with the material available, and am aware of many omissions and imperfections. These have been kept as few as possible. The record is written primarily for friends in the Battalion. No literary merit is claimed, and should the book fall into the hands of the general reader, his indulgence in this respect is solicited. It has been pleasant lab

We left England under the impression that our military training was complete. There was one item, however, of which we had learnt little, and that was bombing. It was now impressed upon us that this weapon would play an important part in trench warfare. A Bomb School was therefore formed at a farmhouse between Lacouture and Richebourg St. Vaast. Qualified instructors were appointed, and a party under Lieut. G. F. Taylor was furnished from the Battalion. Material was scarce and equipment primitiv

Our stay at Estaires was short, and at 9.45 a.m. on the 27th we marched via St. Venant to Berguettes (where we had detrained on our first arrival three months previously), twelve miles distant, on the Nord Railway, and there entrained. The train consisted of the usual enormously long string of closed wagons “8 Chevaux 40 Hommes,” with here and there a dilapidated passenger coach. We passed westward through Hazebrouck and St. Omer, west into the night, and crept slowly over the flats, deeper and

All this time in France our Brigade had formed part of the 51st (Highland) Division. This apparent anomaly—a Lancashire brigade in a Highland division—arose through paucity of men and the consequent necessity for compression and rearrangement of units in the early days. The unusual association worked remarkably well. The subsequent careers of the two Divisions—the 51st and 55th—on the Western Front, both of which won outstanding reputations, serves but to emphasise the sentiments of respect for

Kits were now reduced to the required minimum. Surplus kit was stacked and laid aside—with confidence this time that they would be available on the return of less hectic times. G.S. wagons were laden and limbers filled up to their limit, and the Battalion started off on another pilgrimage, its ultimate destination as yet unknown, but only one conclusion could be drawn from the thorough examination of equipment, and the issue of trench maps delineating the battle-front of the Somme. We made Sombr

For the present we were not to be re-engaged upon the Somme, but, transported to Longpré, were moved into quarters for the night of October 1st at Bouchon. The following day we entrained at Longpré and moved to the north. In the early afternoon we passed through Abbeville. The tented dunes of Etaples swarmed with reinforcements. As darkness descended we entered the region of the flats of Flanders. The coast line receded. Boulogne and Calais were left far behind. St. Omer and Hazebrouck were befo

From April 23rd to May 6th we remained in Moulle under perfect conditions. The time was given over principally to practising the attack and consolidation of trenches. Training began early in the mornings and the afternoons were devoted to relaxation. The downs west of St. Omer formed ideal country for the re-conditioning of troops from the Salient, while by way of relaxation inter-Company league football matches were played. These were keenly contested and aroused close interest. St. Omer, too,

Time was passing, the enemy unconquered, and our pleasant stay in Reclinghem came to an end. Companies engaged in preparations for the Battalion move towards the Line. At 8.15 a.m. on the 7th February we proceeded by march route via Beaumetz-les-Aire, Laires, Febvin, Palfart to Ligny-les-Aires, where billets were reached at 12.30 p.m. Rain fell in torrents during this march. At 10 a.m. the following morning the march was resumed, and proceeding via St. Hilaire and Lillers, we halted in billets f

Little remains to be told. The great conflict was over, with overwhelming victory on our side. What followed might have been of importance and interest in the ordinary peace time experience of the Battalion but, after its searching test of the past four years, current events assumed the complexion of the commonplace and even dull. What will always remain of imperishable importance and interest, is that the Battalion emerged from its trials with jealously guarded reputation untarnished, and fit t

Nominal Roll of Officers Mobilized with the Battalion, 4th August, 1914....

Nominal Roll of Officers who Proceeded Overseas, 3rd May, 1915....

Additional Nominal Roll of Officers who served with the 1/4th Battalion The King’s Own Royal Regt. (in order of joining):—...

Extract from the Supplement dated 28th June, 1918, to the “London Gazette” dated 25th June, 1918. War Office, 28th June, 1918. His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men:— 2nd Lieut. Joseph Henry Collin , late Royal Lancaster Regiment. For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice in action. After offering a long and gallant resistance against heavy odds in th

Extract from the Supplement dated 14th September, 1917, to the “London Gazette” dated 14th September, 1917. War Office, 14th September, 1917. His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Men:— No. 200717, Corpl. (L/Sgt.) Tom Fletcher Mayson , Royal Lancaster Regiment (Silecroft, Cumberland). For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when with the leading wave of the attack his

Extract from the Supplement dated 28th June, 1918, to the “London Gazette” dated 25th June, 1918. The War Office, 28th June, 1918. His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Men:— No. 15883, Lance-Corporal James Hewitson , Royal Lancaster Regiment (Coniston). For most conspicuous bravery, initiative and daring in action. In a daylight attack on a series of crater posts, L/Cpl. Hewit