King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Lancaster

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King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment:
The Territorial Force 1908 - 1914

In 1905 the newly appointed Secretary of State for War, Richard Haldane, set about reforming the Army. In 1908 the Territorial Reserve Forces Act re-organised the Volunteer Forces creating the ‘Territorial Force’ - the forerunner of today's Territorial Army. The objective of the Territorial Force was that it would be ready to serve within 6 months of mobilisation.

Two battalions were created containing the Volunteers of the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, namely the 4th and 5th Battalions. Both were part of the North Lancashire Infantry Brigade within the West Lancashire Division.

4th Battalion, The King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment

Headquarters: Ulverston.
A Company: Ulverston, with a drill station in Grange over Sands.
B Company: Ulverston, with drill stations at Greenodd, Haverthwaite and Lakeside.
C, D, E, F Companies: Barrow in Furness.
G Company: Dalton in Furness with a drill station at Askam.
H Company: Millom with drill stations at Broughton-in-Furness, Coniston and Hawkshead.

Photographs of the 4th Battalion between 1909 and 1914 can be seen in the Photo Gallery.

5th Battalion, The King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment

Headquarters: Lancaster.
A Company: Lancaster, with a drill station at Galgate.
B, C, D Companies: Lancaster.
E Company: Morecambe.
F Company: Carnforth with drill stations at Arnside, Silverdale and Caton.
G Company: Fleetwood with drill stations at Poulton, Garstang and Blackpool.
H Company: Fleetwood with drill stations at Preesall and Thornton.

The Strength of the 5th Battalion, King's Own on 1st June 1913 was recorded as follows:
A Company, Lancaster: 100
B Company, Lancaster: 98
C Company, Lancaster: 118
D Company, Lancaster: 79
E Company, Morecambe: 52
F Company, Carnforth: 53
G Company, Fleetwood, 148
H Company, Fleetwood, 108

The total strength of the 5th Battalion was recorded as 756 rank and file on 1st June 1913, compared to 837 rank and file on the 1st April 1913.

Photographs of the 5th Battalion between 1908 and 1914 can be seen in the Photo Gallery.

Territorial Force (4th and 5th Battalions) Annual Camps:

	1908 Ramsey, Isle of Man
	1909 Caewys, Clwyd, North Wales
	1910 Hornby, Lancashire Records survive about the 1910 Hornby, Lancashire, camp which was held between 31st July and 14th August 1910. It is recorded that the 4th Battalion had a strength of 993 and the 5th Battalion had a strength of 828 personnel who attended the camp.
	1911 Holmescales, Westmorland
	1912 Kirkham, Lancashire The 4th Battalion notes in The Lion and The Rose regimental journal state that 22 officers and 723 rank and file attended the camp at Kirkham, during which the weather was cold and wet, of this total 21 officers and 541 rank and file attended the full period of 15 days.
	1913 Denbigh, Clwyd, North Wales The 4th Battalion notes in The Lion and The Rose regimental journal state that the first week of camp was attended by 20 officers and 575 other ranks; the second week was attended by 20 officers and 442 other ranks; The whole 15 days of camp was attended by 20 officers, 442 other ranks plus 8 attached.
	1914 Kirkby Lonsdale (cancelled owing to the outbreak of the First World War.

First World War

In August 1914 both the 4th and 5th Battalions were mobilised. They were initially employed on home defence, including guarding the docks at Barrow in Furness and, later, lines of communication in the South of England. In mid-February 1915 the 5th Battalion left England for the Western Front, to be joined in May by the 4th Battalion. Both Battalions were able to raise additional battalions during the war - the battalions were designated thus: 1st/4th Battalion; 2nd/4th Battalion; 1st/5th Battalion; 2nd/5th Battalion; 3rd/5th Battalion. Only the 1st/4th, 1st/5th and 2nd/5th served overseas - but men from other battalions, having completed their training, were drafted to serve with other units.