King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

First World War

Soldiers of the King's Own

'Boy Scouts on Imperial Service'  The above photograph is of six members of the 4th Morecambe Boy Scouts who enlisted in the 5th Battalion of the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, for Imperial Service.  In February 1915 Tom Edmondson was at Sevenoaks, and was shortly proceeding overseas on active service.  The others were billeted at Blackpool with the 5th (Reserve), later 2nd/5th Battalion of the King's Own.  The names reading from left to right, rear are Arthur Johnson, of Victoria Street, Maurice Hodgson, Green Street, James Swain, Beecham Street, seated Arthur Baron, Hampton Road, Sandylands, Tom Edmondson, of Green Street, and Albert Hodgson, also of Green Street.
Accession Number KO1926/20

Private Arthur Johnson later joined the Machine Gun Corps and is featured in this photograph taken at Etaples.
Accession Number KO1926/19

5th Battalion group, including Private Harold Hayward back left.  Private Haywood remained with the Reserve Battalion of the King's Own and later served overseas with the South Staffordshire Regiment.
Accession Number KO2139/07

Cookhouse staff group, including Private Harold Hayward, front left.  Date and location unknown.
Accession Number KO2139/05

Group of soldiers, First World War, one has a 'T King's Own' shoulder title suggesting it is a group of Territorial Force soldiers.  Others have bandsman's badges on their sleeves.
Accession Number: KO1479/06

More images will be added to this section as time and resources permit.