King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

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First World War

Territorial Force Battalions, First World War

What does 1st/4th, 1st/5th or 2nd/5th mean?

From 1908 the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment had two Territorial Force Battalions, the 4th, with headquarters at Ulverston and the 5th, with headquarters in Lancaster. On the outbreak of the First World War both of these battalions were mobilised, and both started recruiting for more men. The original 4th and 5th Battalion was then supplemented by a 4th (Reserve) Battalion or a 5th (Reserve) Battalion, as more men were recruited. By the start of 1915 the battalions had been re-designated into the 1st/4th and 1st/5th as being the first line battalions, and the reserve battalions were re-designated into the 2nd/4th and the 2nd/5th as the second line battalions. Later third line battalions were established, a short lived 3rd/4th Battalion and a longer existing 3rd/5th Battalion are existed. Of these battalions the 1st/4th, 1st/5th and 2nd/5th served overseas on active service. The 2nd/4th did not itself serve overseas, but did provide drafts of men in support of the 1st/4th Battalion and/or other units, as the war continued.
 

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