King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

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

Preparation for Battle

The 1st Battalion, King’s Own, prepared for their part in the opening day of the battle over the weeks before hand. They used aerial photographs and a model of the German trenches, 20 feet by 14 feet (6m by 4m) in size, that was made by the battalion’s Padre, Reverend Cyril Burnell and young 2nd Lieutenant Charles Christopher MacWalter who would later lead the battalion’s scouts into action. On the 5th May Major John Nisbet Bromilow took over as Commanding Officer from Colonel James Nixon who was sick and returned home.

Major John Nisbet Bromilow, photographed in the early 1900s.  In May 1916 he took over the command of the 1st Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.  He went missing and was later confirmed as killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916.
Accession Number: KO0545/05

Special Order of the Day 30th June 1916
To the soldiers of the 19th Division, issued on the eve of the Battle of the Somme, by Major General Bridges, Commanding the 19th Division.
Duplicated on foolscap, issued to Officer Commanding D Company, 7th Battalion King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
Accession Number: KO1527/116

Next: The Soldier's Equipment

Supported by the Sir John Fisher Foundation and the Army Museums Ogilby Trust

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