Battalion and outline history

No of Officers Killed

No of Soldiers Killed

The 1st Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment was based in Fermoy, Ireland on the outbreak of war on 4 Aug 1914 as part of 16th Brigade in 6th Division. The battalion was moved to Cambridge on 19 Aug. On 10 Sep 1914, the battalion landed in France at St Nazaire. It remained in France and Flanders for the duration. On 17 Nov 1915 it was reassigned to 71st Brigade but still in 6th Division. The battalion ended the war on Armistice day at Rue de Vaux, Bohain, France.

27

987

The 2nd Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment, one of the two pre-war regular battalions, was based in Raniket, India at the outbreak of war on 4 Aug 1914. The battalion was in the Garwhal Brigade of the Meerut Division. It returned to Europe immediately landing at Marseilles, France on 12 Oct 1914, where it remained a month before being redeployed to Egypt. The battalion landed in Alexandria between 10 and 17 Nov 1914. In Egypt it was assigned to the 28th Indian Brigade. Between 23 Nov and 6 Dec 1914 it was moved via Suez to Basra. And with its brigade was assigned to 7th Indian Division. On 22 Jan 1918 it returned to Suez and was redeployed to Palestine. It ended the war on 31 Oct 1918 at Shaikh Bedaur, near Tripoli in Syria.

19

1030

The 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment was mobilised at Leicester on 4 Aug 1914 and spent the war years in the UK acting as a reserve and training depot, primarily for the two regular battalions. Later in Aug 1914 it was moved to Portsmouth. In May 1915 it moved to Kingston upon Hull and it remained in the Hull area until the end of the war.

34

35

The 4th Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) was a pre-war territorial (part-time) battalion. After the outbreak of war, the 4th Battalion, in common with other territorial units, formed itself into two and later three lines in order to accommodate those who rushed to enlist. These were known as the 1/4th, 2/4th and 3/4th Battalion respectively.

45

0

The 1/4th Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) was mobilised at Oxford Street, Leicester on 4 Aug 1914 and assigned to the Lincoln and Leicester Brigade in the North Midland Division. It was moved to the Luton area. In Nov 1914 it was moved to Bishops Stortford. On 3 Mar 1915 it embarked for France, landing at Le Havre. On 12 May 1915, the formations were retitled 138th Brigade in 46th (North Midlands) Division. On 21 Jan 1916 it embarked at Marseilles for Egypt but disembarked the next day as the move was cancelled. The battalion ended the war in the same formation on 11 Nov 1918 at Dains du Nord, south-east of Avesnes, France.

See above

583

The 2/4th Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) was formed at Leicester in Sep 1914. In Jan 1915 it was in the Luton area and assigned to the 2/1st Lincoln and Leicester Brigade in the 2/North Midland Division. In Jul 1915 it was moved to St Albans. In Aug 1915 the formation was renamed 177th Brigade in 59th (2/North Midland) Division. In Apr 1916 the battalion was deployed to Ireland returning in Jan 1917 to the Fovant, Wiltshire area. On 24 Feb 1917 the battalion was deployed to France. On 8 May 1918 the battalion was reduced to a training cadre and returned to England with 16th Division. On 20 Jun 1918 the cadre was absorbed by the 14th Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment at Aldeburgh, Suffolk.

See above

203

The 3/4th Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) was formed in Apr 1915. In Apr 1916 it became the 4th Reserve Battalion in North Midland Reserve Brigade. On 1 Sep 1916 it absorbed the 5th (Reserve) Battalion. It was stationed at Grantham and Catterick in 1916 and North Coates and Louth in 1917-18.

See above

22

The 5th Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) was a pre-war territorial (part-time) battalion. After the outbreak of war, the 5th Battalion, in common with other territorial units, formed itself into two and later three lines in order to accommodate those who rushed to enlist. These were known as the 1/5th, 2/5th and 3/5th Battalion respectively.

25

0

The 1/5th Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) was mobilised at the Drill Hall, Loughborough on 4 Aug 1914 and assigned to the Lincoln and Leicester Brigade in the North Midland Division. It was moved to the Luton area. In Nov 1914 it was moved to Bishops Stortford. On 28 Feb 1915 it embarked for France, landing at Le Havre. On 12 May 1915, the formations were retitled 138th Brigade in 46th (North Midlands) Division. On 21 Jan 1916 it embarked at Marseilles for Egypt but disembarked the next day as the move was cancelled. The battalion ended the war in the same formation on 11 Nov 1918 at Dains du Nord, south-east of Avesnes, France.

See above

440

The 2/5th Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) was mobilised at Loughborough in Sep 1914. In Jan 1915 it was moved to the Luton area in the 2/1st Lincoln and Leicester Brigade of the 2/North Midland Division. In Jul 1915 it was moved to the St Albans area. In Aug 1915, the formation was retitled 177th Brigade in 59th Division (2/North Midland). In Apr 1916 the battalion moved to Ireland, returning in Jan 1917 to the Fovant, Wiltshire area. On 24 Feb 1917 the battalion landed in France. On 3 Feb 1918 it was disbanded in France. The 2/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment was reported to have been split up as follows: "30 Jan 1918 - 2 officers and 50 other ranks to 1st Battalion, 9 officers and 158 other ranks to 1/4th Battalion, 9 officers and 201 other ranks to 1/5th Battalion, 12 officers and 207 other ranks to 11th Battalion, 7 officers and 171 other ranks to the 2/4th Battalion."

See above

151

The 3/5th Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) was formed in Apr 1915. In Apr 1916 it became the 5th Reserve Battalion in North Midland Reserve Brigade. On 1 Sep 1916 it was absorbed into the 4th (Reserve) Battalion.

See above

4

The 6th (Service) Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment was formed at Leicester in Aug 1914 as part of the first of Kitchener's new armies. It was assigned to 9^th Division at Aldershot. In Apr 1915 it was transferred to 110^th Brigade in 37^th Division on the Salisbury Plain. On 29 Jul 1915 the battalion embarked for France and Flanders. On 7 Jul 1916, the 110^th Brigade was transferred to 21^st Division. The 6th Battalion ended the war in the same formations on 11 Nov 1918 at Berlaimont, France.

16

768

The 7th (Service) Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment was formed at Leicester in Sep 1914 as part of the second of Kitchener's new armies. It was assigned to Army Troops attached to 9^th Division at Aldershot. In Apr 1915 it was transferred to 110^th Brigade in 37^th Division on the Salisbury Plain. On 29 Jul 1915 the battalion embarked for France and Flanders. On 7 Jul 1916, the 110^th Brigade was transferred to 21^st Division. The 7th Battalion ended the war in the same formations on 11 Nov 1918 at Berlaimont, France.

25

889

The 8th (Service) Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment was formed at Leicester in Sep 1914 as part of the third of Kitchener's new armies. It was assigned to Army Troops attached to 23rd Division at Aldershot. In Apr 1915 it was transferred to 110^th Brigade in 37^th Division on the Salisbury Plain. On 29 Jul 1915 the battalion embarked for France and Flanders. On 7 Jul 1916, the 110^th Brigade was transferred to 21^st Division. On 28 Jun 1918 the battalion was reduced to a training cadre and the surplus men transferred to the 7^th Battalion. On 29 Jun 1918 the cadre was transferred to 25^th Division at Boulogne and then moved to England. On 7 Jul 1918 the cadre formed the 14^th West Riding Regiment at Clacton.

22

780

The 9th (Service) Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment was raised at Leicester in Sep 1914 as part of the third of Kitchener's new armies. It was assigned to Army Troops and attached to 23rd Division at Aldershot. In Apr 1915 it was reassigned to 110th Brigade in 37th Division at Perham Down on the Salisbury Plain for final training. It embarked for France, landing on 29 Jul 1915. On 7 Jul 1916 the battalion was transferred with 110th Brigade to 21st Division. On 20 Feb 1918, the 9th Battalion was disbanded at Moislains with surviving personnel transferred to the 6th, 7th, 8th and 11th Battalions, The Leicestershire Regiment and to VII Corps Reinforcement Camp.

26

491

The 10th (Reserve) Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment was formed at Portsmouth in Nov 1914 as a service battalion in the fourth of Kitchener's new armies. It was assigned to the 96^th Brigade of the original 32nd Division. On 10 Apr 1915 it became a second line reserve battalion. In Jun 1915 it moved to Barnard’s Castle and in Nov to 1^st Reserve Brigade at Rugeley on Cannock Chase. On 1 Sep 1916 it became the 5th Training Reserve Battalion in the 1st Reserve Brigade. The Training Reserve battalions were disbanded in late 1918 and early 1919.

16

10

The 11th (Service) Battalion (Midland Pioneers), The Leicestershire Regiment was raised at Leicester in Oct 1915 by the Mayor and local committee and was stationed in Leicester. In Mar 1916 it landed in France and on 1 Apr 1916 was assigned to 6th Division as the divisional Pioneer Battalion. It ended the war in the same role and formation at Bohain, France.

16

268

The 12th (Reserve) Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment was formed at Leicester in Mar 1916 as a local reserve battalion from the depot companies of the 11th Battalion and assigned to 19^th Reserve Brigade. By Jul 1916 it had moved to Newcastle upon Tyne. On 1 Sep 1916 it became the 83rd Training Reserve Battalion in the 19th Reserve Brigade. The Training Reserve battalions were disbanded in late 1918 and early 1919.

0

7

The 13th (Labour) Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment was formed in the autumn of 1916 and it served in France from Oct 1916 to Apr 1917 with Army Troops of the Third Army. In Apr 1917 it was transferred to the Labour Corps as the 20^th and 21^st Labour Companies.

0

2

The 14th (Service) Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment was formed at Aldeburgh in Jun 1918, absorbing the cadre of the 2/4^th Battalion. On 29 Jun 1918 it joined 47^th Brigade and 16^th Division at Aldershot. On 30 Jul 1918 the battalion embarked for France and Flanders. The 14th Battalion ended the war in the same formations on 11 Nov 1918 south of Tournai, Belgium.

0

8

The 1st (Home Service) Garrison Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment was formed at Easington in May 1916 where it remained. In Aug 1917 it became the 9^th battalion, The Royal Defence Corps.

0

6

The Depot, The Leicestershire Regiment, Leicester.

0

16

Battalion not shown

64

0