Showing posts with label 4th Battalion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4th Battalion. Show all posts

9 August 2022

Royal Munster Fusiliers - 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion of the Royal Munster Fusiliers between 1908 and 1914. The Special Reserve and the Extra Reserve were the natural heirs to the militia battalions which, for the most part, they replaced in 1908. My 2009 article on the Creation of the Special Reserve in 1908 may be helpful here.

The Royal Munster Fusiliers had three militia battalions (the 3rd, 4th and 5th battalions) and these survived in all but name when the Special Reserve was introduced in 1908. Men who were then serving with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, were asked if they wanted to continue to serve with the newly formed 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, and men who were then serving with the 4th and 5th (Militia) Battalions, were asked if they wanted to continue to serve with the newly formed 4th & 5th (Extra Reserve) Battalions. 

Men joining the militia and special/extra reserve were not career soldiers. The Army Book for the British Empire, published in 1893 provided a useful overview of the militia when it noted:

"Its object is to maintain in the United Kingdom a trained body of men available "in case of imminent national danger or great emergency" to supplement the regular army in the defence of the country.

"It offers military service to the class of men willing to give it for a month in the year for training of for the term of their engagement on emergency, but whose avocations do not lead them to become either regular soldiers or volunteers."

Most 1914 Star rolls show plenty of evidence of Special Reserve and Extra Reserve men who served alongside career soldiers. Sometimes their numbers are prefixed by the number of their battalion - typically a 3/ or 4/ in most line infantry regiments - but just as often there will be no prefix.

In 1908 the regular battalions were numbering in the 8000 range whereas the 4th Battalion, picking up the old militia numbering sequence, was numbering in the 4000s. When these 4th Battalion men were called up as drafts for the regular 1st and 2nd Battalions from August 1914, they retained their original 4th Battalion regimental numbers.

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 4th Royal Munster Fusiliers. Use this information to estimate when a man would have joined this battalion.

2876 (a former militia man) joined on the 2nd August 1908

6160 joined on the 27th June 1910

6297 joined on the 25th November 1911

6607 joined on the 16th March 1912

6917 joined on the 26th May 1913

7268 joined on the 17th July 1914

7325 joined on the 8th August 1914

7481 Joined on the 10th September 1914

7587 joined on the 15th October 1914

Do also read of some of the articles towards the bottom of the Army Service Numbers 1881-1918 index

29 May 2021

Devonshire Regiment - 4th Battalion (TF) - 1908-1914


This post will look at regimental numbering in the 4th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment between 1908 and 1914.

The 4th Battalion was formed on the 1st April 1908, taking in men from the former 1st and 3rd Volunteer Battalions which had been amalgamated to meet the requirements of the Territorial Forces Act of 1907. The 1st Volunteer Battalion claimed to be the oldest Volunteer Battalion.

The Territorial Year Book for 1909 recorded that the battalion strength was 34 officers and 791 men. Private H Squires was the best shot of the battalion and at the annual camp at East Anstey in 1908, 403 officers and men attended for eight days whilst 222 officers and men attended for 15 days.

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength was 28 officers and 932 men. At the annual camp at Whitchurch Down in 1909, 463 officers and men had attended for 8 days whilst 260 officers and men had attended for 15 days. Camp for 1910 was scheduled for West Down South from the 23rd July.

The battalion was headquartered at Exeter, and its eight companies drew men from the following areas.

A Company: Exeter, with a drill station at Broad Clyst

B & C Companies: Exeter

D Company: Exmouth, with drill stations at Budleigh Salterton and Lympstone
E Company: Tiverton, with drill stations at Bampton and Dulverton
F Company: Sidmouth, with drill stations at Ottery St Mary, Newton Poppleford, Honiton and Colyton
G Company: Cullompton, with drill stations at Burelscombe and Uffculme
H Company: Axminster, with drill stations at Chardstock and Lyme Regis

The battalion formed part of the Devon & Cornwall Infantry Brigade in the Wessex Division.

Understanding the company distribution is important if you know where your 4th Battalion soldier lived as it would likely suggest the company he served with. For instance, men living in Tiverton and wishing to join this battalion would have logically been assigned to E Company. (Note that such logic was abandoned after 4th August 1914).

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 4th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment.


33 joined on the 1st April 1908

429 joined on the 2nd March 1909
1394 joined on the 7th October 1910
1411 joined on the 20th February 1911
1772 joined on the 6th December 1912
2234 joined on the 6th November 1913
2279 joined on the 5th August 1914
2440 joined on the 5th September 1914

Use these regimental numbers to approximate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example if your man's number was 1555 he would have joined the battalion between February 1911 and December 1912.

The undated image on this post shows men of the 4th Battalion band. To search for photos of your Devonshire Regiment ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.


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25 December 2020

Yorkshire Regiment - 4th Bn (TF)

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 5th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment) between 1908 and 1914. 

On the 1st April 1908, the 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment was formed from what had previously been the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment. The newly formed 4th (TF) Battalion was headquartered at Northallerton and distributed as follows:

A Company: Middlesbrough
B Company: Middlesbrough
C Company: Yarm-on-Tees, with drill stations at Great Ayton, Stokesley and Hutton Rudby
D Company: Guisborough, with drill stations at Eston, South Bank and Grangetown
E Company: Richmond, with drill stations at Catterick, Eppleby and Reeth
F Company: Redcar, with a drill station at Marske by the Sea
G Company: Skelton, with drill stations at Carlin How, Lingdale and Loftus
H Company: Northallerton, with drill stations at Bedale, Thirsk, Easingwold, Brompton and Helperby

By August 1914 the battalion formed part of the York & Durham Infantry Brigade in the Northumbrian Division. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment:

14 joined on the 1st April 1908 
682 joined on the 25th February 1909
1125 joined on the 18th May 1910 
1153 joined on the 25th January 1911 
1338 joined on the 1st February 1912 
1602 joined on the 22nd February 1913 
1832 joined on the 12th February 1914 
1979 joined on the 11th August 1914 

A reserve or ‘second-line’ battalion was formed at Northallerton on the 4th September 1914, the original 4th Battalion now becoming the 1/4th Battalion and the new reserve battalion becoming the 2/4th Battalion. The Long, Long Trail website picks up the story of the 2/4th:

"Formed at Northallerton on 4 September 1914 as a home service (“second line”) unit. Troops began to arrive from 10 September. Supplied first drafts for overseas service in May 1915. 1 March 1915: came under orders of 189th Brigade, 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division, which was broken up in July 1916. 9 November 1916: transferred to 220th Brigade, 73rd Division. July 1917: reduced in strength; eventually disbanded in England November 1917."

A 3/4th Battalion was formed at Northallerton in March 1915 but never served overseas.  All three battalions - the 1/4th, 2/4th, 3/4th - issued numbers from the same regimental number series and from 1917 reissued numbers to serving soldiers and to new recruits from a brand new regimental numbers series which began at 200001 and extended to 240000. 

Use the regimental numbers above to estimate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example, if your man had the number 1200 and lived in Redcar, he would have joined the battalion in 1911 - and probably served with F Company. 

Remember. I research soldiers! Drop me a line if you need help 

To search for photos of your Yorkshire Regiment ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

24 December 2020

Wiltshire Regiment - 4th Bn (TF)


This post will look at regimental numbering in the 4th (Territorial Force) Battalion, The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment)  between 1908 and 1914. 

Until the 1st April 1908, the 4th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment had existed as two battalions: the 1st Wiltshire Volunteer Rifle Corps and the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment. The two battalions had represented the south and north of the county respectively and by March 1908, the 1st Wiltshire VRC numbered 782 in its ten companies whilst the 2nd VB numbered 785 officers and men. The county could, quite possibly, have sustained two Territorial Force battalions but it was decided that one battalion would suffice comprised of 5 companies  - A, B, C, F & G - drawn from the 1st VRC and three companies - D, E & H -  from the 2nd VB. By 1914 the battalion was headquartered at Fore Street, Trowbridge and drew its recruits from the following areas:

A Company: Salisbury, with a drill station at Farley
B Company: Wilton, with drill stations at Wishford and Barford
C Company: Trowbridge, with a drill station at Steeple Ashton
D Company: Chippenham, with a drill station at Calne
E Company: Devizes, with drill stations at Lavington and Bromham
F Company: Warminster, with drill stations at Westbury, Chitterne, Horningsham, Dilton's Marsh and Heytesbury
G Company: Bradford-on-Avon, with drill stations at Melksham and Holt
H Company: Swindon, with a drill station at Marlborough

By August 1914 the battalion formed part of the South Western Infantry Brigade in the Wessex Division. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 4th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment

26 joined on the 1st April 1908 
754 joined on the 6th January 1909
1293 joined on the 22nd February 1910 
1445 joined on the 13th January 1911 
1680 joined on the 31st July 1912 
1812 joined on the 7th January 1913 
2248 joined on the 8th August 1914 
2388 joined on the 3rd September 1914 

A reserve or ‘second-line’ battalion was formed at Trowbridge in October 1914, the original 4th Battalion now becoming the 1/4th Battalion and the new reserve battalion becoming the 2/4th Battalion. A 3/4th Battalion would be formed at Trowbridge in March 1915. The 2/4th Battalion was serving overseas (in India) by December 1914, but the 3/4th Battalion only ever remained in the UK, feeding recruits through to, for the most part, the 1/4th Battalions. All three battalions - the 1/4th, 2/4th, 3/4th - issued numbers from the same regimental number series and from 1917 reissued numbers to serving soldiers and to new recruits from a brand new numbers series which began at 200001 and extended to 225000. 

Use the regimental numbers above to estimate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example, if your man had the number 1700 and lived in Chippenham, he would probably have joined the battalion in about August 1912 and probably served with D Company. 

Remember. I research soldiers! Drop me a line if you need help 

To search for photos of your Wiltshire Regiment ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

Somerset Light Infantry - 4th Bn (TF)


This post will look at regimental numbering in the 4th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry)  between 1908 and 1914. 

Until the 1st April 1908, the 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry had been the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry and by 1914 it was headquartered at Lower Bristol Road, Bath, its eight companies drawing men from the following areas: 

A Company: Bath
B Company: Bath
C Company: Keynsham, with drill stations at Brislington, Whitchurch and Bitton
D Company: Frome, with drill stations at Bruton, Mells and Wenstrow
E Company: Weston-super-Mare, with drill stations at Winscombe and Cheddar
F Company: Castle Cary, with drill stations at Shepton Mallet and Evercreech
G Company: Midsomer Norton, with drill stations at Radstock, Bishop Sutton and Peasedown St John
H Company: Glastonbury, with a drill station at Wells

By August 1914 the battalion formed part of the South Western Infantry Brigade in the Wessex Division. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 4th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry).

480 joined on the 28th April 1908 
1058 joined on the 22nd March 1909
1204 joined on the 24th January 1910 
1458 joined on the 27th July 1911 
1555 joined on the 1st March 1912 
1815 joined on the 1st April 1913 
2082 joined on the 10th March 1914 
2497 joined on the 6th September 1914 

A reserve or ‘second-line’ battalion was formed at Bath in September 1914, the original 4th Battalion now becoming the 1/4th Battalion and the new reserve battalion becoming the 2/4th Battalion. A 3/4th Battalion would be formed at Bath in March 1915. The 2/4th Battalion was serving overseas (in India) as early as December 1914, but the 3/4th Battalion only ever remained in the UK, feeding recruits through to, for the most part, the 1/4th Battalions. All three battalions - the 1/4th, 2/4th, 3/4th - issued numbers from the same regimental number series and from 1917 reissued numbers to serving soldiers and to new recruits from a brand new numbers series which began at 200001 and extended to 240000. 

Use the regimental numbers above to estimate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example, if your man had the number 1234 and lived in Midsomer Norton, he would have joined the battalion in the first quarter of 1910 and probably served with G Company. 

Remember. I research soldiers! Drop me a line if you need help 

To search for photos of your Somerset Light Infantry ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

12 January 2020

Royal West Kent Regiment - 4th Battalion

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 4th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment (TF) between 1908 and 1914.

The 4th Battalion was formed on the 1st April 1908 and prior to this had been the 1st Volunteer Battalion, the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). In 1907, prior to the advent of the Territorial Force, the 1st Volunteer Battalion had a strength of 869 out of an establishment of 1,280. The following year, in 1908, as The Territorial Year Book for 1909 records, the battalion strength comprised 18 officers and 508 men. 179 men attended camp at Walmer in 1908 for 8 days and 250 attended for 15 days.

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength of the battalion in 1909 stood at 22 officers and 766 men. At the annual camp at Dover that year, 305 officers and men attended for eight days whilst 388 officers and men attended for 15 days. Camp in 1910 was scheduled to take place from the 23rd July at Dover.

By August 1914 the battalion was headquartered at Tonbridge, and recruiting in the following parts of the county:  


A Company: Maidstone
B Company: Maidstone, with a drill station at West Malling
C Company: Tonbridge, with a drill station at Hadlow
D Company: Tunbridge Wells
E Company: Tunbridge Wells
F Company: Orpington
G Company: Sevenoaks
H Company: Westerham, with drill stations at Edenbridge

The above information about company distribution is particularly useful if your ancestor enlisted with the 4th Royal West Kent Regiment prior to August 1914. For argument's sake, if he lived in Orpington he would have been most likely to have joined F Company; if he was in the immediate vicinity of Sevenoaks, G Company would have been the most likely company he served with.

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 4th Royal West Kent Regiment.

61 joined from the 1st Volunteer Force Battalion on the 6th April 1908
549 joined on the 4th February 1909
974 joined on the 21st March 1910
1174 joined on the 2nd May 1911
1293 joined on the 1st April 1912
1461 joined on the 26th February 1913
1720 joined on the 21st May 1914
1981 joined on the 14th August 1914

Use the regimental numbers above to estimate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example if your man's number was 1000 and he lived in Westerham, he would have joined the battalion some time after 21st March 1910 but before May 1911. Furthermore, he probably served with H Company.


Remember. I research soldiers!


To search for photos of your Royal West Kent Regiment ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

10 January 2020

The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) - 4th Battalion



This post will look at regimental numbering in the 4th Battalion (TF), The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) between 1908 and 1914.

The 4th Battalion was formed on the 1st April 1908 and prior to this had been the 1st Volunteer Battalion, the Buffs (East Kent Regiment). In 1907, the 1st VB was under-strength; 950 men out of an establishment of 1396. By 1908, as The Territorial Year Book for that year records, the battalion strength had shrunk further and now comprised 16 officers and 508 men. 158 men attended camp in 1908 for 8 days and 259 attended for 15 days.

The following year, after an obviously successful recruiting campaign, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength of the battalion in 1909 stood at 18 officers and 787 men. At the annual camp that year, 316 officers and men attended for eight days whilst 385 officers and men attended for 15 days. Camp in 1910 was scheduled to take place from the 23rd July at Dover.

By August 1914 the battalion was headquartered at Canterbury, and recruiting in the following parts of the county:  


A Company: Ramsgate, with drill stations at Birchington and Broadstairs
B Company: Canterbury, with drill stations at Chatham and Ash
C Company: Canterbury, with drill stations at Littlebourne, Wingham and Nonington
D Company: Folkestone, with a drill station at Hythe
E Company: Sittingbourne, with a drill station at Sheerness
F Company: Herne Bay, with a drill station at Whitstable
G Company: Margate, with drill stations at St Nicholas at Wade, and Westgate
H Company: Dover

The above information about company distribution is particularly useful if your ancest
or enlisted with the 4th Buffs prior to August 1914. For argument's sake, if he lived in Whitstable he would have been most likely to have joined F Company; if he was in the immediate vicinity of Dover, H Company would have been the most likely company he served with.

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 4th Battalion (TF), The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).

126 joined from the 1st Volunteer Force Battalion on the 24th April 1908
690 joined on the 12th January 1909
1017 joined on the 19th February 1910
1221 joined on the 17th February 1911
1367 joined on the 31st January 1912
1496 joined on the 29th January 1913
1774 joined on the 29th January 1914
1879 joined on the 5th August 1914

Use the regimental numbers above to estimate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example if your man's number was 1250 and he lived in Wingham, he would have joined the battalion some time after 17th February 1911 and before January 1912. Furthermore, he probably served with C Company.


The undated photo at the top of this page shows an unidentified battalion of the Buffs on the march.

Remember. I research soldiers!


To search for photos of your Buffs ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

8 September 2019

Border Regiment - 4th Battalion (TF) - 1908-1914



This post will look at regimental numbering in the 4th (Cumberland & Westmorland) Battalion (TF), Border Regiment between 1908 and 1914.

The 4th Battalion was formed on the 1st April 1908 and brought together what had previously been the 1st Cumberland Volunteer and the 2nd Westmorland Volunteer battalions. The Territorial Year Book for 1909 recorded that the battalion strength was 38 officers and 694 men and at the annual camp in 1908, 388 officers and men had attended for less than 15 days whilst 284 officers and men had attended for 15 days.


The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength was 38 officers and 882 men and at the annual camp in 1909 (at Conway), 337 officers and men had attended for less than 15 days whilst 456 officers and men had attended for 15 days.


In August 1914 the battalion was headquartered at Strand Road, Carlisle and the battalion's companies drew men from the following areas.


A & B Companies: Carlisle
C Company: Keswick, with a drill station at Brampton
D Company: Penrith
E Company: Kirkby Lonsdale, with drill stations at Sedbergh, Endmoor and Appleby
F & G Companies: Kendal, with drill stations at Burneside and Staveley
H Company: Windermere, with drill stations at Ambleside and Elterwater

Understanding the company distribution is important if you know where your 4th Battalion soldier lived as it would likely suggest the company he served with. For instance, men living in Penrith and wishing to join this battalion would have logically been assigned to D Company. (Note that this logic went out of the window after 4th August 1914).


Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 4th Battalion, Border Regiment.


28 joined from the Volunteer Force on the 1st April 1908

808 joined on the 17th February 1909

The battalion had recruited steadily since its inception and by the 24th November 1909 was issuing the number 1204 to its latest recruit. Recruitment hereafter slowed down dramatically, as can be seen from the pattern of numbers issued in the ensuing years to August 1914.

1149 joined on the 28th October 1910
1178 joined on the 6th January 1911
1313 joined on the 14th February 1912
1484 joined on the 9th April 1913
1628 joined on the 18th February 1914
1769 joined on the 4th August 1914

Use the regimental numbers above to estimate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example if your man's number was 1234 he would have joined the battalion between January 1911 and February 1912. 


Note that the 5th (Cumberland) Battalion of the Border Regiment had its own separate regimental number sequence which had also all started with the number 1 in April 1908.



Remember. I research soldiers!

To search for photos of your Border Regiment ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

20 September 2015

Royal Irish Rifles - 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion


My thanks to pal Martin Gillott who posted much of the information below on my post concerning numbering in the regular battalions of the Royal Irish Rifles. Rather than hide his hard work there, I thought this deserved a post of its own. Thank you, Martin.

It's worth re-stating, again, that regular battalions (typically the 1st and 2nd Battalions) of line regiments used a single regimental number series. The 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion used a different number series which often, but not always, was a continuation of the series which had been used by its 3rd (Militia) Battalion predecessor, and the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, where these existed, used it's own number series which was also mostly, but not always, a continuation of the series which had been started by the 4th (Militia) Battalion. In the case of the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles, it continued the series that had begun with the 4th Militia Battalion. Numbers 6013 and 6132 below, were almost certainly militiamen re-enlisting in the Extra Reserve, possibly to complete their six year terms.

6013 attested on 28th June 1908
6132 attested on 28th June 1908
6320 attested on 14th June 1910
6331 attested on 16th September 1910
6429 attested on 17th October 1911
6519 attested on 5th June 1912
6626 attested on 3rd April 1913
6821 attested on 12th August 1913
6861 attested on 18th August 1914
6865 attested on 18th August 1914
6983 attested on 24th August 1914
7028 attested on 23rd August 1914
7070 attested on 26th August 1914
7207 attested on 26th August 1914
7262 attested on 25th August 1914
7333 joined on 16th November 1914
7392 joined on 22nd December 1914

Martin notes that 7028 attesting one day before 6983 and 7262 attesting one day before 7207 (both in italics above) suggests that batches of numbers were used at different recruiting stations. This may be the case but I don't think the army was that well organised. Note too that when a man attested, the attestation date was recorded at the bottom of the form but the regimental number would not have been added to the papers until the man presented himself at the depot. I think therefore that the out of sequence patterns - commonly seen on attestation papers - is probably explained by the time delay between attesting and then presenting at the depot where the number would have been issued.

The Special Reserve and Extra Reserve battalions all became simply 'Reserve' Battalions in late September 1915 and the specific numbering sequences for these battalions ceased.

As Martin noted on his comment, the Royal Irish Rifles is one of those regiments where there is room for numbering confusion:

"The 6XXX series was used by the Regulars between 1900 and 1902 so it is easy to get these mixed up. Also the 5th (Extra Reserve) Battalion kept a separate series which lagged the 4th Battalion series by a few hundred more risk for confusion) and in early 1915 the Kitchener battalions had reached 6,000 recruits, so again more scope for a lot of confusion. The numbers above all come from documents clearly marked 4th Battalion and most have a 4/prefix on the attestation as well."

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17 August 2014

Royal Fusiliers - Other Rank PoWs 1914


This is an extract from a roll call of 247 men from the Royal Fusiliers who were said to have been captured on or before 25th December 1914.  You can read more about the source of this 1914 Prisoner of War roll on a new page I have created on this blog: 1914 PoWs. Amongst the Royal Fusiliers' Prisoners of War is a certain L/13814 Private Sidney F Godley (pictured above) who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his action at Mons on the 23rd August 1914.

This list is almost certainly incomplete and in my experience does not, for instance, contain the names of those men who were captured and subsequently repatriated before the cessation of hostilities.  There are also some errors. For instance, the notation on the medal index card of MR/8108 Private C J Webb states "P. of W. 27/4/16" which is obviously a good deal later than the 25th December 1914 cut-off date.

Nevertheless, this list, and others like it which I will publish over the following days, represents a fascinating snapshot of the regular army in 1914. Here we have a company's worth of trained soldiers taken out of action as a result of being captured by the enemy; men the British Army could ill-afford to lose.

The majority of the men on this list have the L/ prefix indicating regular soldiers, but there are also a number of men with the SR/ prefix indicating that they were Special Reservists. Godley's number indicates that he enlisted in December 1909 but there are many men who are considerably older hands. Corporal Arthurs, for instance, originally enlisted in 1898.  With the exception of L/10809 Private F J Taylor who was a 1st Battalion man, all of the men listed below were serving with the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers at the time of their capture. Any errors in transcription from the original badly faded documents are entirely my own.

The full transcription is available for sale as a download or CD for £20. Contact me if you would like to purchase a copy.

SR/1116 Private A Atkinson, L/6163 Corporal R Arthurs, L/7246 Private F Attewell,  L/8545 Private John Anderson, L/15520 Private Herbert J Adams.

SR/477 Private Frederick Bentley, Private Beaumont, L/6920 Private Albert H Bevans, L/7546 Private Thomas G Butler, L/9210 Sergeant J W Burrill, L/9328 Lance-Corporal W H Brewer, L/9407 Private A Brown, L/10040 Private W Bates, L/10202 Private William Bear, L/10204 Private J Bramley, L/10597 Private G A Beyer, L/10911 Lance-Corporal William Brandon, L/8567 Lance-Corporal Leonard M Brunt, L/11569 Private R Barker, L/12069 Lance-Corporal R Bowrie, L/12165 Private Alfred Basterfield, L/12884 Sergeant Albert H Burgess, L/12927 Lance-Corporal W S Batt, L/12953 Private W A Burrows, L/13151 Private J Bull, L/13268 Private Albert H Brown, L/14490 Private Albert V Barker, L/14523 Lance-Corporal W Boardman, L/14796 Private W Barrett, L/14891 Private R Barnard, L/15573 Private S G Bunce, L/15242 Private W Branscombe, L/15549 Private J Branston, L/16108 Private C A Bolton, L/6913 Private A Blandford, SR/579 Private Charles Burkinshaw, L/11151 Private W Bristow, L/7951 Sergeant J T H Bord.

SR/1297 Private George Chapman, L/8525 Private J J Collins, L/9608 Private A W Clack, L/9627 Private A Chopping, L/10367 Private Richard W Calvert, L/10397 Private Norman S Campbell, L/10431 Private F E Curtis, L/10840 Private W Cook, L/10910 Private Herbert H Chitty, L/11121 Private William Clarke, L/11326 Private John Connor, L/11582 Lance-Corporal Benjamin W Cox, L/1591 Private Frederick J Cockerill, L/11768 Private Thomas G Catley, L/12254 Corporal Lewis Christie, L/12835 Private George A Clifford, L/13035 Private [Unclear], L/15172 Lance-Corporal James H Cuffley, L/15384 Private John Crawley, L/15406 Private Alfred Cockman, L/15938 Private Albert James Cole.
 
SR/878 Private Edward N Denney, SR/1882 Private H Dalton, L/7883 Private George Demant, L/8327 Private Ernest E Dunsdon, L/10089 Private Walter Dye, L/10122 Private H E Day, L/11502 Sergeant Charles H Duller, L/11527 Private John Desmond, L/12503 Private William Dixon, L/15428 Private Michael Davis, L/15435 Private Horace Drury.
 
L/7387 Private Charles F Evans, L/12093 Private George Egan, L/12999 Private W Elvin, L/13316 Private Philip H Earl, L/14265 Private W C W Elliott, L/14860 Private W Everitt, L/15823 Private A H G Eaglis.
 
SR/247 Private A R Fretton, SR/1033 Private W T Field, L/10266 Private C Francis, L/10640 Acting Sergeant W F Freeman, L/10655 Private H J Francis, L/15660 Private W Freeman.
 
L/7344 Private Thomas P Glover, L/9901 Private G Glanfield, L/10053 Private J Green, L/11394 Private E Grubb, L/11414 Private L Gose, L/13125 Private Reuben T Green, L/13814 Private Sidney F Godley, L/14364 Private George Gore, L/15113 Private Cornelius Guince, L/15153 Private J W Gorst, L/16429 Private A Gardner, L/10208 Private T Gain.
 
SR/551 Private Samuel Haggar, SR/732 Private T Hollis, L/8244 Sergeant F E Haylock, L/9595 Private T J How, L/9647 Private H Hart, L/10262 Private W H Hopgood, L/10326 Private Robert R Hatchett, L/10495 Private Harry A Hutchings, L/10874 Private Alfred Holt, L/11172 Private William H Hatcher, L/11426 Private John Howard, L/12094 Private Elton Hampshier, L/13698 Lance-Sergeant Leslie B Hall, L/14024 Private Patrick Hussey, L/14631 Corporal W Howe, L/14645 Private H H Hewitt, L/14925 Private Edward Honeyman, L/15146 Corporal Robert S L Hughes, L/15359 Private Victor Higgins, L/15577 Private Thomas Hayes, L/15705 Private W C Hutt, L/15913 Private Leonard C Hale.
 
L/8676 Lance-Corporal Samuel Ing

SR/1537 Private H Johnson, L/6370 Private D R Jenkins,  L/10056 Private Harold Johnson, L/11105 Private T H Jones, L/12824 Private Frederick Jones, L/14928 Private Frederick Johnson, L/15667 Private H Johnson, L/15748 Private John H Jenkinson.

SR/1118 Private H Kelly, L/9927 Private H E Knight, L/11404 Private H Knowles, L/12997 Private C Keen.

SR/1125 Private J Lee, L/7238 Lance-Corporal J Langhorn, L/8125 Private F Locke, L/9738 Private R Lucas, L/9750 Private W H Lowe, L/11388 Private Charles A Lindley, L/11704 Private W London, L/11849 Private G H Lambert, L/15380 Private W Lawrence, L/16202 Private W Lomas  


L/8485 Private Ernest Locke (pictured above as a PoW at Altdamm, with thanks to Maureen Locke for this photograph of her grandfather)

SR/722 Private J Moles, SR/7281 Private Benjamin J Manser, SR/1120 Private W E Miller, L/10135 Private R Meads, L/11327 Private C A Mills, L/11398 Private L C J Monkhouse, L/11728 Sergeant E J McQuinn, L/11831 Lance-Corporal H McClelland, L/12933 Private F W Moore, L/13786 Private G Miller, L/13888 Private F May, L/14027 Private Albert H Matthews, L/15364 Private A Marshall. 

L/10594 Private E Norton, L/11092 Private C Neal, L/12362 Private W R Neal, L/12622 Private W Napham. 

L/9727 Private F Oliphant

L/7436 Private L Parker, L/5826 Private A R Phillips, L/7269 Private A Payne, L/7528 Private W T Preece, L/7754 Private Pillinger, L/8556 Private George Powell, L/8709 Private Joseph Parsons, L/9152 Private George A Parrott, L/10032 Private Arnold G Pocock, L/10730 Private W A Parkinson, L/11108 Private John J Preston, L/11187 Private John Pamphlett, L/11193 Drummer John G Piner, L/11253 Private Charles E Prince, L/11595 Corporal George D Phillips, L/11943 Private Alfred Parker, L/12574 Private Thomas Paice, L/14081 Private S Pusey, L/14952 Corporal H Parmenter, L/16095 Private F A Princep, L/14970 Private E Phipps. 

SR/903 Private E Rogers, SR/1040 Private L Rogers, SR/1634 Private E Rose, SR/955 Corporal H Robinson, L/10316 Private George Ralph, L/10926 Private William D Robertson, L/11652 Sergeant W H Rayment, L/15150 Private Arthur J Roberts,  L/15181 Lance-Corporal George C Rowles, L/12306 Private Harry Richardson. 

L/6215 Drummer Andrew Sibley, L/7167 Private F C Scarbrook, L/9235 Private T Saunders, L/9441 Private Joseph F Smith, L/9694 Private Thomas F Scott, L/9724 Private Joseph E Stratton, L/9987 Private John Sullivan, L/10155 Private David Stevens, L/10589 Sergeant Benjamin Smith, L/10991 Private Edward J Stone, L/11288 Private George W Shorter, L/11318 Private George W Slade, L/11670 Lance-Corporal L Simpson, L/11740 Private John W Stevens, L/11905 Private [Unclear], L/12118 Private Harry Smith, L/12400 Lance-Corporal Victor G Sherlock, L/12662 Sergeant Herbert Sparling, L/12504 Private Robert B Sutherby, L/13487 Lance-Corporal Simpson, L/14049 Private G Sainty, L/14469 Private Charles Shaboe, L/15811 Private Edward W Searle, L/15820 Private Sidney G Stratford, L/6805 Sergeant H [Unclear]

L/10809 Private F J Taylor, L/7455 Private William J Turner, L/7502 Private H Turner, L/8661 Private F Thomas, L/9222 Private W Thomas, L/10413 Private William S Tennant, L/10818 Private W E Thorley, L/11117 Private Alfred H Todd, L/11235 Sergeant George Thompson, L/11921 Private George E Turner, L/12233 Private William T Tyler, L/12442 Private Thomas Edward Turvey, 

L/10737 Private Sidney Utting 

L/15684 Private Thomas Williamson, SR/1040 Private Richard Williams, L/1544 Private T Wiltshire, L/8069 Private Charles James West, MR/8108 Private C J Webb, L/8744 Private Timothy Walsh, L/9470 Sergeant Fara A Wood, L/9980 Private Ernest W Warren, L/10194 Private Charles Webb, L/10198 Private William E Ward, L/10516 Private H White, L/11070 Sergeant William Wallace, L/11071 Private Walter Wright, L/11451 Private Henry Watts, L/11500 Private George White, L/12274 Private Thomas Webb, L/13592 Private Woodley, L/15141 Private A Whitthread, L/15700 Private Edward Ward, L/15901 Private Ernest E Wells. 

Photo of Private Godley courtesy Wikipedia which references the photo as being part of an Imperial War Museums collection, reference Q80449.

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