HOME
Museum &
Collections
Sales
Donations
Events
Contact Us
REGIMENTAL HISTORY
17th Century
18th Century
19th Century
20th Century
First World War
Second World War
Actions & Movements
Battle Honours
FAMILY HISTORY
Resources
Further Reading
PHOTO GALLERY
ENQUIRIES
FURTHER READING
LINKS
|
First World War
1st & 2nd Volunteer Battalions,
King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
(Volunteer Training Corps)
By H H Owtram, April 1934.
The Volunteer movement of 1914-1919 appears to have originated
spontaneously, mainly from the action taken by ex-officers and members
of the old Volunteer Force in forming Miniature Rifle Clubs and later,
“Volunteer Training Corps”, entirely self-supporting and not under War
Office recognition.
In Lancaster in the early days of the War a Volunteer Corps under the
title of the Lancaster Volunteer Training Corps was formed by Mr A B S
Welch and one at Morecambe with detachments at Silverdale and Caton,
organised by Captain J Noar VC, these eventually became the “A” and “B”
Companies of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster
Regiment. Similar Corps or detachments were formed at Lytham, St. Annes,
Blackpool, Fleetwood and Poulton.
In 1916 Captain H H Owtram, formerly commanding the Mounted Infantry
Company of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Manchester Regiment, was invited
to take command of the corps in the Blackpool and Lancaster Area, and
was gazetted 19 October 1916 as Major in H M Volunteer Forces to command
this the, “13th Battalion, West Lancashire Volunteer Regiment.”
In October 1916 and Administrative Directory of County Volunteer
Regiments was issued by the War Office in which the Lancashire County
Volunteer Regiment, consisting of 16 Battalions is shown as being
divided into the following groups:-
| Manchester |
| Liverpool |
| North Eastern |
| North Western |
The latter embracing the geographical area distinguished as: “North
Lonsdale”,
“Blackpool and Lancaster” and “Preston” areas, all under the authority
of the Lord Lieutenant of the County – at that time the Right Honourable
Lord Shuttleworth.
Battalions dealt with by the East Lancashire Territorial Association
were the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th 9th, 10th, 11th 15th, and 16th and the West
Lancashire Territorial Association took over the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th,
12th, 13th, and 14th Battalions. Colonel Sir James de Hoghton was
appointed County Commandant and Major E Bohane, County Adjutant.
The North Western group, with which we are primarily concerned,
consisting of the 12th, 13th and 14th Battalions, had their headquarters
at Preston.
Major H H Owtram was appointed Group Commandant with rank of Lieutenant
Colonel , Captain G W Lowcock was the group adjutant, but upon his
retirement owing to ill health he was succeeded by Captain J W Turner of
the 13th Battalion.
The 12th Battalion took over the Headquarters of the 88th West
Lancashire Field Brigade, Royal Artillery, Territorial Force at Preston;
and the Headquarters of the 13th Battalion (afterwards the 1st Volunteer
Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment) were located at the
Dallas Road Drill Hill, Lancaster.
At Barrow in Furness, the 14th Battalion (afterwards the 2nd Volunteer
Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment) occupied the Territorial
Drill Hall.
Up to this time (October 1916) Members or Corps had to supply their own
uniforms (khaki disallowed) and equipment; a certain number of D P
rifles were obtained from the Territorial Force Associations, and all
ranks were ordered to wear red armlets bearing the letters “GR” in
black.
Until the Volunteer Force Order XXXI of 13 January 1917, came into
force, all Volunteer Units were entirely self-supporting. The above
order provided that men who were eligible for section “A” and who sign
the agreement to remain in the Force until the end of the war etc.,
should, as soon as passed efficient, be provided with uniforms and
equipment and that the whole cost of training and equipment would be
borne by the Government, also that if called out for active service they
would receive pay and allowances corresponding to Territorial Force
Rates.
(Section “A” – “over military age as defined in the Military Service
Act, 1916, and of physical standard not below that known as C(1).”)
As early as July 1916, men temporarily exempted from Military service
were being ordered by Tribunals to enrol in section “B” of Volunteer
Training Corps, compulsory powers to enforce these orders were given by
Military Service (No.2) Act, 1918.
Under Army Order 208 of 1918, authorising new alternative titles for
units of the Volunteer Force, the 13th (Lancaster) and 14th (Barrow)
Battalions Lancashire Volunteer Regiment, became the 1st and 2nd
Volunteer Battalions, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. Under Army
Council Instruction 898 Volunteer Force Order No. CSCVI, the Badges of
the Affiliated Units of the Territorial Force with the addition of the
letter “V” in bronze below the collar badge, were authorised and
adopted.
Equipment. As previously stated, up to about the end of 1916, units had
the responsibility of finding such equipment as it was possible to
obtain, for the members of their Corps. When Army Council Instruction
827 of 1917 came, authorising application to Territorial Force
Associations for sets of Infantry equipment for all men passed as
efficient on the strength of each unit, rapid progress was made.
In May and June 1917, rifles of 1914 pattern were issued with
instructions to return all DP rifles to Burscough; shortly afterwards
Hotchkiss guns were supplied to all units, also entrenching tools, great
coats, boots, even iron rations and all equipment required, so that
early in the year 1918 all units were prepared for an order at any time
for immediate mobilization and to take up their allotted duties.
Training. Efficient musketry and Machine gun instructors were supplied
from Western Command through the period 1917 to the end of the war, and
courses of instruction in these subjects took place daily in the
evenings. Saturdays and Sundays afforded opportunities for Musketry and
field work, entrenching, etc.
Many Officers and NCOs attended courses at Western Command Schools of
Instruction in gas and trench warfare, bombing classes, bayonet fighting
etc. Local schools of Instruction were also organised where courses
could be taken by Officers and NCOs in Map Reading, Musketry, etc.
Scheme of Defence. Mobilization Order by General Officer Commanding in
Chief, 27 April 1917. One Volunteer Battalion, will be added to each
Brigade of Regular Forces of 5 Brigades, other Volunteer Battalions,
allotted to General Reserve centres. Under general orders of defence the
three units of North West groups were detailed for defence of Railway
Line (approximately from Wigan to Westmorland Border).
Active Service. The 1st Volunteer Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster
Regiment, furnished a company under command of Captain G E Pearch,
Lieutenant F Thompson and 2nd Lieutenant J W Turner, for service on the
North East Coast from 29th June 1918 to 29th September 1918.
The 2nd Volunteer Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, also
provided a Company for similar active service at the same date.
War Office Instruction 99/869 (Adjutant General 1) 25th September 1919
ordered disbandment to be completed not later than 31st October 1919.
Report of Public Service Rendered by 1st Volunteer Battalion, King’s
Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Nature of Duty |
Officers |
Other Ranks |
Guard Duties
Carlisle Bridge, Lancaster.
London and North Western Railway Patrol of Railway Bridge from
Dec 1916 to Jan 1917 |
1 |
10 |
Guard Duties Munition Trains, 3 days, April 1917 |
1 |
20 |
Guard Duties Munition Works, 3 days, May 1917 |
1 |
20 |
Guard Duties Damaged Aeroplane, 3 days, June
1917 |
1 |
6 |
Turn out by Officer Commanding Troops Air Raid.
5 hours. 23rd August 1917 |
3 |
168 |
Turn out by Officer Commanding Lancaster White
Lund Munitions Works, 1st and 2nd October 1917 |
68 |
218 |
Guard Duties KMC Hospital, Blackpool. July 1917
to May 1918. Every Sunday. |
1 |
22 |
Guard Duties Damaged Aeroplane, 3 days, 19 Feb
1918 |
1 |
10 |
Guard Duties Tank Week, Blackpool, 18 to 23
February 1918 |
1 |
20 |
Special Service Company 84th Company Battalion,
June to September 1918 |
3 |
41 |
Special Police Warders (2 days) November 1918.
(Prison warders strike threat) |
|
2 |
Museum Collections:
| Photographs |
| Cap Badge of the Barrow and North
Lonsdale Volunteer Training Corps, First World War.
Accession Number: KO1161/01 |
| War Office letter dated 12 Jan 1920 to
Honorary Captain A B S Welch, who was an officer in the Volunteer
Force in the 1st Volunteer Battalion, The King’s Own Royal Lancaster
Regiment, in the First World War.
Accession Number: KO2744/17 |
| Letter from Lord Lieutenant to Captain A
B S Welch, 1st Volunteer Battalion, The King’s Own Royal Lancaster
Regiment dated 17 Oct 1919 relating to the Lancashire Volunteer
Corps in the First World War.
Accession Number: KO2744/18 |
| Certificate to Captain A B S Welch, 13th
Battalion, Lancashire Volunteer Regiment, with results of various
examinations held in Preston in Mar 1917.
Accession Number: KO2744/19 |
| Letter to Captain A B S Welch dated 19 Feb 1918 offering a
Commission as an officer in the Volunteer Forces.
Accession Number: KO2744/20 |
| Commission to Alfred Bassett Starbuck Welch as a Captain in the
Volunteer Force, 8 Dec 1916
Accession Number: KO2744/21 |
| Certificate The Lancashire Volunteer
Brigade to Alfred Basset Starbuck Welch, appointment as Company
Commander, 29 Mar 1916 front
Accession Number: KO2744/22 |
| Certificate The Lancashire Volunteer Brigade to
Alfred Basset
Starbuck Welch, appointment as Company Commander, 29 Mar 1916 rear
Accession Number: KO2744/22 b |
| Commission to Alfred Bassett Starbuck Welch as a Captain in the
Volunteer Force, 8 Dec 1916
Accession Number: KO2744/23 |
| Corps Register Barrow & North Lonsdale
Volunteer Training Corps, Headquarters, Drill Hall, Barrow in
Furness, December 1914 to March 1915.
Accession Number: KO1181/012 |
| Register Central Association Volunteer Training Corps Lancashire
Volunteer Regiment Ulverston Company 1917
Accession Number: KO1181/014 |
| Certificate of Service, Volunteer
Force, to Private John Thomas Ingle, number 954418, of the
2nd Volunteer Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Showing enrolment on 7 Sep 1916 and discharged on 23 Oct 1919.
Having entered into an agreement under the Volunteer Act 1916 on 20
Nov 1917.
Accession Number: KO3074/87 |
|