King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

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First World War

Album: Harry Burrow's photos of 1st/5th Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, 1914-15

14 Aug 1914 – the 5th Battalion (TF) The King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment left temporary billets in the derelict wagon works, Lancaster, and entrained for Didcot by Noon. Photo shews ‘C’ Company headed by it’s officer commanding, Captain Gerry Sharpe. In background top left is the River Lune.
Accession Number: KO1091/01-01

The 5th King’s Own Pals Company
On 2 Sep 1914 news flashed to Lancaster that 200 men were wanted to replace toll old and unfit men in the Battalion. There was a terrific rush to join up and before nightfall the list was closed. Many were turned away. In the current fervour of patriotic excitement ‘the Lancaster Observer’ dubbed these new recruits ‘The Gallant 200’ and the name stuck.
Photo shews ‘the Gallants’ parading on the Giant Axe Field, Lancaster. Caps were advised for drill purposes.
Photograph by Johnson.
Accession Number: KO1091/01-02

The Pals Company Church Parade
6th Sep 1914 ‘The Gallant 200’ attended Church Parade at St. Mary’s Parish Church, Lancaster. Photo shews them coming away down Castle Hill, that night they entrained for Didcot. Note straw hats and cobbled roadway.
Accession Number: KO1091/01-03

The Corn Exchange, Didcot, Sep 1914
The Gallants now in khaki provide a potato peeling fatigue party. On left is Lieutenant Colonel Lord Richard Cavendish and Major Cadman, in light breeches. The boys in the foreground are under age and are mostly occupied on light fatigue duties.
Photograph number 87
Accession Number: KO1091/01-04

The Corn Exchange, Didcot, Sep 1914
The Gallants now in khaki provide a potato peeling fatigue party.
Photograph number 92
Accession Number: KO1091/01-05

The Gallants under canvas on Station Meadow, Didcot. Note railway signals on extreme right of photograph. First line of tents, Jim Ewan, cutting cake. Nearest left Dick Irving, late 2nd Lieutenant and killed Somme battle 1916. Fourth from left W Pinch, late 2nd Lieutenant killed at Wieltje, 1917.
Accession Number: KO1091/01-06

The Gallants under canvas on Station Meadow, Didcot.
On extreme left C Longton, survived 2nd Battle of Ypres, visited his Didcot billet in Station Road twice in 1946.
Of the two groups two men did not go out with the battalion. Of the other only two came through the 2nd Battle of Ypres, the rest were casualties.
Accession Number: KO1091/01-07

Some of the Gallants, Sep 1914.
Eight men to a tent of this group of cronies. All were killed or wounded at 2nd Battle of Ypres, Apr 1915 to May 1915.
Accession Number: KO1091/01-08

Some of The Gallants, Sep 1914
Extreme left front row is Ike Keen. He left the battalion to take up a commission in another regiment.
Number 406
Accession Number: KO1091/01-09

‘A’ Company, Sevenoaks. These photos show ‘The Gallants’ now absorbed into the various companies, yet clinging together in their own squads.
Accession Number: KO1091/01-10

‘F’ Company, Sevenoaks. These photos show ‘The Gallants’ now absorbed into the various companies, yet clinging together in their own squads.
Accession Number: KO1091/01-11

5th King’s Own Signallers at Sevenoaks.
Most of the signal section was drawn from ‘the Gallants’ here are some of them, the other being on leave.
Accession Number: KO1091/01-12

Four cyclists of the 1st/5th Battalion, King’s Own after the 2nd Battle of Ypres, 1915.
Civilian bikes were bought in Reading for the Battalion establishment. Only the four shown survived the 2nd Battle of Ypres. I am on the right hand side. My first one had the bottom bracket blown out by shell fire. All four were roped in as temporary cyclists at various stages of the battle. Photographed by a civilian at Watou, 3rd June 1915. The battle over and we en route to Ryvelt for a rest.
Accession Number: KO1091/01-13

Five soldiers, of the 1st/5th King’s Own, location unknown, Didcot Suggested.
‘A’ Company supplied this guard of pre-war Territorials. The South African War type of equipment was replaced by web equipment before the battalion sailed for France. Not the civilian farm irrigation water barrel and civilian trap used as a mess cart. Both had been commandeered and were substituted by army transport before sailing.
Accession Number: KO1091/01-14

‘A’ Company, Sevenoaks
Accession Number: KO1091/01-15

Signallers of the 1st/5th King’s Own. Probably Sevenoaks.
Photograph number 422
Accession Number: KO1091/01-16

Volunteer Aid Detachment (VAD) Nurses and medical staff of the 1st/5th King’s Own.
Didcot. Berkshire Red Cross Detachment 12. The arrival of the 5th King’s Own on 14 Aug 1914, created an immediate need of medical services to the Battalion. The nursing ladies sprang into action and on 17 Aug the first working Voluntary Aid Detachment hospital in the country was opened in the Rectory Cottage opposite All Saints Church. It provided eight beds and remained open until the Battalion left in Nov 1914. During that time 36 in-patients and 1019 out patients were treated and 400 men inoculated.
Includes: Lance corporal R W Clarkson, Lieutenant George (RAMC) Medical Officer, 5th King’s Own, Brigadier General Hibbert, Lieutenant colonel Lord Richard Cavendish, Vicar Brown, Miss F Brown, Commandant, Private B Rushworth, Captain J M Young, Adjutant, 5th King’s Own, and Miss Gertie A Allen.
Accession Number: KO1091/01-17

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.