WAR! 1914
Lancaster and The King's Own go to War.
Generously supported by the Sir John Fisher Foundation.
The Army in 1914
The pre-war army was formed of Regular, Territorial Force and Special
Reserve Battalions as well as the Regimental Depots which trained
regular soldiers and special reserve soldiers.
Bowerham Barracks, Lancaster, the regimental depot of the King’s Own
Royal Lancaster Regiment since 1880. In peace-time as many as 120
recruits would under go basic training before being posted to one of the
two regular battalions.
Accession Number: KO0651/10-34
‘A’ Company, 1st Battalion, at Dover, 1913.
The King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment had two regular battalions, in
1914 the 1st was stationed in Dover and the 2nd was in India.
Accession Number: KO0116/18
Territorial soldiers outside the Drill Hall, Ulverston, headquarters of
the 4th (Territorial Force) Battalion of the King’s Own, in 1914.
Formed in 1908 from the old volunteer battalions, the 4th and 5th
Territorial Force Battalions of the King’s Own had headquarters in
Ulverston and Lancaster respectively. The men trained on a regular basis
and attended an annual camp.
Company or drill locations of the 4th Battalion: Askam, Barrow in
Furness, Broughton in Furness, Coniston, Dalton in Furness, Grange over
Sands, Greenodd, Haverthwaite, Hawkshead and Millom.
Company of drill locations of the 5th Battalion: Arnside, Blackpool,
Carnforth, Caton, Fleetwood, Galgate, Garstang, Lancaster, Morecambe,
Preesall, Poulton, Silverdale and Thornton
Accession Number: KONEG0160
Men of the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion at Appleby Camp, July 1914.
‘X’ marks Private Albert Smith of Blackburn, who was mobilised for
service in August, sent to France on 1st November and killed in action
on 24th May 1915 near Ypres.
The Special Reserve was the descendent of the old County Militia
Regiments. The 3rd SR Battalion of the King’s Own was responsible for
training men up to a certain level. The men would return to their
civilian occupations, and could be called up in time of war. Former
regular soldiers were included in the reserve.
Accession Number: KO1992/02
© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
You must seek permission prior to
publication of any of our images.
Only a proportion of our collections
are on display at anyone time. Certain items are on loan for display
in other institutions. An appointment is required to consult any of
our collections which are held in store.
