4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment)

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment) between 1908 and August 1914. 

Men signed up for six years' service on the understanding that they were "liable to be called out or detained whilst called up for training, in case of imminent national danger, or great emergency, on permanent service in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere..." and furthermore that they "could be detained in army service for the unexpired portion of [their] term of service in the Army Reserve and for a further period not exceeding 12 months..." And when Britain went to war in August 1914 that is exactly what happened. Men in the Extra Reserve were called up and were soon forming drafts to replace casualties in the regular battalions which, in the case of the King’s (Liverpool Regiment), were the 1st and 2nd Battalions. 

The regimental numbering sequence used by the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion was entirely separate from the numbering series used by the 1st and 2nd Battalions and separate also from the numbering system in the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalions. Both the 3rd and the 4th Battalions had been created in April 1908 with the demise of the 3rd and 4th (Militia) Battalions. Use these sample regimental numbers to ascertain when a man would have joined the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment). 

7072 joined on the 19th July 1908 

4/8153 joined on the 20th January 1909 

8423 joined on the 6th April 1910 

8652 joined on the 13th March1912 

8810 joined on the 25th July 1913 

8909 joined on the 18th March1914 

9103 joined on the 4th August 1914 

The 4/ prefix was used inconsistently and it can therefore be confusing at times when it comes to trying to ascertain, from a man's regimental number alone, whether he was a regular soldier or a man who had originally joined the Extra Reserve. For instance, whilst the number 9103, above, was issued to an Extra Reservist in August 1914, the same number would have been issued to a man signing up as a regular in 1904.

For photos of King's (Liverpool Regiment) soldiers don't forget to check out my British Army Ancestors website.

3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment)

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment) between 1908 and November 1914. 

Men signed up for six years' service on the understanding that they were "liable to be called out or detained whilst called up for training, in case of imminent national danger, or great emergency, on permanent service in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere..." and furthermore that they "could be detained in army service for the unexpired portion of [their] term of service in the Army Reserve and for a further period not exceeding 12 months..." And when Britain went to war in August 1914 that is exactly what happened. Men in the Special Reserve were called up and were soon forming drafts to replace casualties in the regular battalions which, in the case of the King’s (Liverpool Regiment), were the 1st and 2nd Battalions. 

The regimental numbering sequence used by the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion was entirely separate from the numbering series used by the 1st and 2nd Battalions and separate also from the numbering system in the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalions. Both the 3rd and the 4th Battalions had been created in April 1908 with the demise of the 3rd and 4th (Militia) Battalions. Use these sample regimental numbers to ascertain when a man would have joined the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment). 

9272 joined on the 30th June 1908 

9542 joined on the 24th June 1909 

9732 joined on the 4th March 1910 

9851 joined on the 18th April 1911 

10030 joined on the 5th January1912 

10290 joined on the 19th February 1913 

3/10628 joined on the 6th August 1914 

3/11991 joined on the 12th September 1914 

3/12339 joined on the 1st October 1914 

3/12628 joined on the 2nd November 1914 

The 3/ prefix was used inconsistently and it can therefore be confusing at times when it comes to trying to ascertain, from a man's regimental number alone, whether he was a regular soldier or a man who had originally joined the Special Reserve. For instance, whilst the number 9851, above, was issued to a Special Reservist in April 1911, the same number would have been issued to a man signing up as a regular in 1907.

For photos of King's (Liverpool Regiment) soldiers don't forget to check out my British Army Ancestors website.

King's (Liverpool Regiment) - 7th Battalion (TF)

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 7th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) between 1908 and 1914.

The 7th Battalion was a Territorial Force unit which was formed on the 1st April 1908 and, prior to this, had been the 4th Volunteer Battalion, the King's Liverpool Regiment. In 1908, as The Territorial Year Book for 1909 records, the battalion strength comprised 32 officers and 602 men. 217 men attended camp in 1908 for 8 days and 255 attended for 15 days.

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength of the battalion in 1909 stood at 25 officers and 866 men; a good increase on the previous year. At the annual camp that year, 303 officers and men attended for eight days whilst 348 officers and men attended for 15 days. 

The battalion was initially headquartered at 77 Shaw Street, Liverpool; later at 99 Park Street, Bootle, and recruited in Bootle , Southport, Formby and Crosby as below:

A, B, C, D and F Companies: recruited in Bootle
E Company: recruited in Crosby 
G & H Company: recruited in Southport, with a drill station at Formby

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 7th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment). The majority of men signing up from April 1908 would have been men who, up until the 31st March, had been serving members of the 4th VF Battalion.

141 joined on the 2nd April 1908
853 joined on the 8th March 1909
1098 joined on the 31st March 1910
1151 joined on the 25th February 1911
1297 joined on the 9th March 1912
1639 joined on the 6th February 1913
1955 joined on the 19th March 1914
2051 joined on the 4th August 1914 

The battalion does not appear to have had any trouble recruiting and with the outbreak of war in August 1914, a reserve battalion was formed in Bootle in October 1914. The original 7th Battalion now became the 1/7th Battalion and the new reserve battalion became the 2/7th Battalion. A 3/7th Battalion would be formed in May 1915.

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 1678 he would have joined this battalion at some time between 6th February 1913 and 19th March 1914 (and probably in about April 1913).

King's (Liverpool Regiment) - 5th Battalion (TF)

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 5th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) between 1908 and 1914. 

The 5th Battalion was a Territorial Force unit which was formed on the 1st April 1908 and, prior to this, had been the 1st Volunteer Battalion, the King's Liverpool Regiment. In 1908, as The Territorial Year Book for 1909 records, the battalion strength comprised 26 officers and 599 men. 237 men attended camp at Peel, on the Isle of Man in 1908 for 8 days and 250 attended for 15 days. Best shot of the unit was Sergeant C Smith.

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength of the battalion in 1909 stood at 33 officers and 1016 men; a significant increase on the previous year. At the annual camp that year, 925 officers and men attended for eight days whilst 650 officers and men attended for 15 days. Best shot of the unit was Sergeant J Marwood.

The battalion was headquartered at 65 St Anne Street, Liverpool and recruited in Liverpool and the surrounding district. Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 5th (Rifle) Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment).

200 joined on the 1st April 1908 
640 joined on the 2nd February 1909 
1164 joined on the 5th January 1910 
1328 joined on the 29th March 1911 
1386 joined on the 10th January 1912 
1548 joined on the 29th January 1913 
1820 joined on the 4th March 1914 
1954 joined on the 4th August 1914 

The battalion appears to have recruited well from 1909 and with the outbreak of war in August 1914, a reserve battalion was formed in September 1914. The original 5th Battalion now became the 1/5th Battalion and the new reserve battalion became the 2/5th Battalion. A 3/5th Battalion would be formed in May 1915.

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 1345 he would have joined this battalion at some time between 29th March 1911 and 10th January 1912.

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To search for photos of your King's (Liverpool Regiment) ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

King's (Liverpool Regiment) - 6th (Rifle) Battalion

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 6th (Rifle) Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) between 1908 and 1914. 

The 6th (Rifle) Battalion was a Territorial Force unit which was formed on the 1st April 1908 and, prior to this, had been the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, the King's Liverpool Regiment. In 1908, as The Territorial Year Book for 1909 records, the battalion strength comprised 28 officers and 588 men. 341 men attended camp in 1908 for 8 days and 176 attended for 15 days. 

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength of the battalion in 1909 stood at 29 officers and 968 men; a significant increase on the previous year. At the annual camp that year, 484 officers and men attended for eight days whilst 448 officers and men attended for 15 days. Best shots in the battalion were Sergeant J Pownall and Rifleman G Good. 

The battalion was headquartered at Prince's Park Barracks, Liverpool and recruited in Liverpool and the surrounding district. Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 6th (Rifle) Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment).

10 joined on the 1st April 1908 
811 joined on the 8th March 1909 
1129 joined on the 31st January 1910 
1189 joined on the 6th March 1911 
1249 joined on the 18th March 1912 
1396 joined on the 31st March 1913 
1553 joined on the 23rd March 1914 
1637 joined on the 1st August 1914 

The battalion appears to have no trouble in recruiting and the relatively low annual recruitment rates from 1910 is evidence of the battalion having already reached its establishment.

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 he would have joined this battalion at some time between 6th March 1911 and 18th March 1912.

Remember. I research soldiers!

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To search for photos of your King's (Liverpool Regiment) ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

King's (Liverpool Regiment) - Other Rank PoWs 1914

There are only 19 King's (Liverpool Regiment) men recorded in what I refer to as the Princess Mary tin archive. These are men who were captured by the Germans on or before Christmas Day 1914. I transcribed this collection from original lists held at the Imperial War Museum and have been publishing edited versions on this blog for some while. The men listed here all appear under reference B.O.2 1/135 which is a two-page, part hand-written, part typed list sent by the Liverpool Civil Service League to Sir Ernest Goodhart, dated 20th December 1918. Sir Ernest was the man charged by Princess Mary with gathering together a list of men who had missed out on her Christmas 1914 gift. You can read more about this collection on my 1914 Prisoners of War page. 

11343 Private H Clark 
11198 Sergeant A Haines 
9299 Private J Lane 
11404 Private N Leatham 
11587 Private F Lee 
9545 Private T Lynch 
11271 Private J F Martin 
8645 Private M Molloy 
8424 Private J Morrough 
11224 Private R Norris 
9453 Private P North 
8319 Private R Potts 
9480 Private F C Randall 
9257 Private J Singleton 
8322 Private F Taylor 
11313 Private R Thorn 
11738 Private W A Turner 
8476 Private T Walsh 
9285 Private J Walters

The photo on this page is from my collection and shows an unidentified King's soldier wearing his tropical whites in India.

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Liverpool Pals: Number sequences and battalions

Here are some number blocks for the Liverpool Pals: more correctly, The 17th (1st City) King's (Liverpool Regiment), 18th (2nd City) King's (Liverpool Regiment), 19th (3rd City) King's (Liverpool Regiment) and 20th (4th City) King's (Liverpool Regiment).

15000 - 16151: 17th Battalion
16152 - 17259: 18th Battalion
17260 - 21899: 19th Battalion
21900 - 21999: a combination of 18th and 20th Battalion
22000 - 23149: 20th Battalion

These series may be considered to cover the initial intakes into the four City of Liverpool Pals' Battalions.  I am less certain of the battalions whose numbers fall into the following series:

23150 - 23599: non City Battalions
23600 - 23699: mostly 17th Battalion (but also men from the 15th, 16th and 18th Battalions)
23700 - 23800: various, including at least three men who died whilst serving with regular battalions
23801 - 24004: mostly 20th Battalion
24005 - 24199: non City Battalions
24200 - 24399: mostly 19th Battalion
24400 - 24499: mostly 20th Battalion
24500 - 24799: mostly 18th Battalion
24800 - 24999: mostly 17th Battalion
25000 - 25299: non City Battalions
25300 - 24349: mostly 19th Battalion
24350 - 25499: non City Battalions
25500 - 25599: mostly 19th Battalion
25600 - 25699: non City Battalions
25700 - 25799: mostly 18th Battalion
25800 - 25999: non City Battalions
26000 - 26099: mostly 18th Battalion
26100 - 26199: mostly 17th Battalion
26200 - 26499: non City Battalions
26500 - 26599: mostly 20th Battalion
26600 - 26699: mostly 17th & 18th Battalions


The majority of the City Battalion men whose numbers fall between and 15000 and 26199 arrived overseas in France on 7th November 1915.

Both Ancestry and Findmypast have data collections covering the King's (Liverpool Regiment) City Battalions, and here's a tip for finding men in Ancestry's poorly indexed WO 363 and WO 364 collections. After you've exhausted King's, Lpool and Liv* in the regiment field, just type in KLCB.  This is, of course, the acronym for King's Liverpool City Battalion and was scrawled across many an attestation paper in 1914 (and keyed-as-seen by Ancestry's transcription house many years later).

Also see my request for assistance with Liverpool Pals battalions HERE.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

Liverpool Pals

For the most part, the number blocks allocated to the initial contingents of the first four battalions of the Liverpool Pals are well defined. However, there is a series of 100 numbers between 21900 and 21999 (where the number series proper for the 20th Bn / 4th Liverpool Pals begins) which leaps about a little and includes men from the 17th (1st Pals), 18th (2nd Pals) and 20th (4th Pals) Battalions.  
 
The list below shows number, rank (taken from medal index cards), forename and last name. I've copied this directly from my Liverpool Pals' database.  Numbers with no entry against them indicate that I could find no MIC.  Entries in bold indicate a surviving service record in WO 363 or WO 364 (all available on Ancestry). I would be grateful for assistance in filling in the gaps. 

	21900	Pte	Arnold Henry	Walker
	21901
	21902	Pte	David	Corry
	21903	Pte	Charles F	Newman
18th Bn	21904	Cpl	John C	Routledge
	21905	Pte	Walter	Fortune
	21906
	21907	Pte	Thomas	George
	21908	Pte	William	Stott
	21909	Pte	Albert Ed	Jones
18th Bn	21910	Pte	Ernest	Phillips
18th Bn	21911	Pte	Andrew Campbell	Wood
18th Bn	21912	Pte	Thomas H	Rosbotham
18th Bn	21913	Pte	John	Stockley
	21914	Pte	John	Heyes
	21915	Pte	William	Heyes
	21916
	21917	Pte	Herbert R	Edwards
18th Bn	21918	Pte	Benjamin Arthur	Jackson
	21919
	21920
	21921
	21922
	21923
	21924
	21925
	21926	Pte	Thomas	Holman
	21927	Pte	J H	Taylor
18th Bn	21928	Pte	Robert Armour	Bell
	21929	Pte	Alexander	Maude
	21930	Pte	James W	Unsworth
	21931
17th Bn	21932	Pte	Cyril Charles Holland	Ahier
	21933	Pte	Charles	Stapley
	21934	Pte	Bernard H	Spice
	21935	Pte	Arthur Angus	McLean
	21936	Pte	William H	Mason
17th Bn	21937	Pte	George Frederick	Wright
	21938	Pte	George H	Mills
17th Bn	21939	Pte	Alfred	Taylor
20th Bn	21940	Pte	Thomas	Ackerley
20th Bn	21941	Pte	Percy	Braham
	21942	Pte	John	Butt
	21943	Pte	John Cory	Carr
20th Bn	21944	Pte	Edward	Charnock
	21945	Pte	Fred W	Cheesbrough
20th Bn	21946	Pte	John R	Dawson
	21947
	21948	Pte	George	Ellis
	21949
	21950	Pte	Lawrence A V	Fish
20th Bn	21951	A/Cpl	Alfred	Greenwood
17th Bn	21952	Pte	Charles	Gilroy
17th Bn	21953	Pte	Frederick	Grundy
	21954
	21955	Pte	Frank C	Harrison
	21956
	21957	Pte	Leo Francis	Heyes
	21958
17th Bn	21959	Pte	S Talbot	Jones
	21960	Pte	Herbert E	Jones
20th Bn	21961	Pte	John	Litchfield
	21962
18th Bn	21963	Pte	Frederick	Meek
	21964
	21965	Pte	Frederick C	Morgan
	21966	Pte	Frank	Oldfield
	21967
	21968	Pte	Percy	Parkinson
	21969	Pte	Edward	Roberts
	21970
	21971
	21972	Pte	John	Williams
17th Bn	21973	Pte	Seymour Glynne	Weston
	21974		Oswald	Winfield
20th Bn	21975	Pte	Harold	Barker
17th Bn	21976	Pte	Matthew Flood	Jackson
	21977
	21978
	21979	Pte	John	Ralph
	21980	Pte	Richard Neville	Spong
	21981	Sgt	Thomas	Teare
	21982	Pte	William R	Mears
	21983	Pte	Samuel	Barker
	21984
	21985	Sgt	Charles E	Maddox
18th Bn	21986		Walter	Lloyd
	21987	Pte	William	Irving
	21988	Pte	Thomas	Cunnett
	21988	Pte	William H	Nichols
18th Bn	21989	Pte	Edward	Morris
	21990	Pte	Joseph Ed	Blackmore
	21991
	21992	Pte	Frederick	Downham
17th Bn	21993	Pte	Robert	Beggs
	21994	Pte	Arthur	Biddles
	21995
17th Bn	21996	Pte	John	O'Sullivan
	21997
17th Bn	21998	Pte	Frederick Ivan	Pulford
	21999	Pte	Edward Gerrard	Austin

The image on this post comes from The Liverpool Organic Brewery which, in turn, draws attention to the fund to pay for a permanent memorial to the Liverpool Pals.  Read more about this on the Liverpool Pals Memorial Fund website.

Also see my post on Liverpool Pals battalions and number series.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.