List of Northumberland Fusiliers battalions in World War I

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Men of the Northumberland Fusiliers in a reserve trench at Thiepval, during the Battle of the Somme, September 1916.

This is a list of Northumberland Fusiliers battalions in World War I. When the

British Army during World War I, surpassed only by the 88 battalions of the London Regiment.[5][6]

The Northumberland Fusiliers earned 67

Italian Front
.

Introduction

Pre-war

At the outbreak of the

Northumberland Fusiliers consisted of seven battalions:[8]

Expansion

The expansion in battalions mostly came through two sources: the duplication of the Territorial Force battalions and the formation of Kitchener's New Armies. Of the 45 battalions raised during the war, 10 were Territorial Force and 27 were New Army.[2]

Territorial Force

In accordance with the

7 Edw. 7, c.9) which brought the Territorial Force into being, the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered for Imperial Service. Therefore, TF units were split into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units. 2nd Line units performed the home defence role, although in fact most of these were also posted abroad in due course. Later, a 3rd Line was formed to act as a reserve, providing trained replacements for the 1st and 2nd Line units.[10] When 2nd Line battalions were formed, the 1st Line took on a fractional designation so, for example, 4th Battalion became 1/4th Battalion (first fourth) and its 2nd Line was designated 2/4th Battalion (second fourth); in due course the 3rd Line was formed as the 3/4th Battalion (third fourth).[8]

In the summer of 1915, personnel of 2nd and 3rd line battalions who had not volunteered for overseas service were formed into Provisional Battalions. They were used to form Provisional Brigades and later Home Service divisions (71st, 72nd, and 73rd Divisions); on 1 January 1917 they became numbered battalions of line infantry regiments.[11] In the case of the Northumberland Fusiliers, the 21st and 22nd Provisional Battalions became the 35th and 36th Battalions (T.F.) of the regiment.[3]

New Army

Kitchener was one of the few people in 1914 to realize that the war was not going to be a short one; he believed that it would last three years and would require an army of 70 divisions. He eschewed the Territorial Force – partly due to the limitations imposed by its terms of service but also due to the poor impression he formed when observing the French Territorials in the Franco-Prussian War – and did not make use of the framework envisioned by Haldane. He launched his appeal for 100,000 volunteers on 7 August 1914 to form a New Army of six divisions (and support units) and within a few days this target had been reached; by the end of September, half a million volunteers had come forward to form the New Armies.[12]

Each of the 69 line infantry regiments raised one battalion for the First (K1)[d] and for the Second New Armies (K2)[e] designated as Service battalions and numbered after the existing Territorial Force battalions (so 8th and 9th (Service) Battalions for the Northumberland Fusiliers). This rigid structure did not take account of the differing ability of regiments to raise troops based upon the population of their recruiting areas. Therefore, the Third New Army (K3) had a much higher proportion of battalions from the more populous north of England, notably Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland (10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th (Service) Battalions). The Fourth New Army (K4) was formed from men of the Reserve and Special Reserve battalions which were over establishment. Originally formed into the 30th – 35th Divisions, these were broken up so the battalions could train recruits and send drafts to the first three New Armies.[12] The regiment raised the 15th (Reserve) Battalion in this manner.[8]

While the first four New Armies were being raised, a number of units were also being raised by committees in cities and towns, and by other organizations and individuals – the

Tyneside Irish Brigades: 16th (Newcastle), 17th (NER Pioneers), 18th (1st Tyneside Pioneers), 19th (2nd Tyneside Pioneers), 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish), 21st (2nd Tyneside Scottish), 22nd (3rd Tyneside Scottish), 23rd (4th Tyneside Scottish), 24th (1st Tyneside Irish), 25th (2nd Tyneside Irish), 26th (3rd Tyneside Irish), and 27th (4th Tyneside Irish) battalions.[28]

The locally recruited – pals – battalions formed depot

companies and in 1915 these were grouped into local reserve battalions to provide reinforcements for their parents. The regiment formed 28th, 29th (Tyneside Scottish), 30th (Tyneside Irish), 31st, 32nd, 33rd (Tyneside Scottish), and 34th (Tyneside Irish) Reserve Battalions.[3]

Others

The regiment formed eight other battalions. The 37th (Home Service) Battalion was formed in April 1918 to replace the 36th Battalion when it moved to the Western Front. The 38th Battalion was formed in June 1918, but was absorbed into the 22nd Battalion before the end of the month.[3]

The regiment raised three Garrison Battalions (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) of officers and men unfit for active service but considered fit for garrison duty at home and overseas, thereby releasing fitter troops for front line service.[3]

In May 1917, the Training Reserve was reorganized with the battalions becoming more specialized in their training. Young Soldier Battalions took in recruits aged 18 years and one month and, after basic training, posted them to one of two linked Graduated Battalions. Eventually, 23 Young Soldier Battalions and 46 Graduated Battalions were formed. On 27 October 1917, these were allocated to 23 infantry regiments and thereby the Northumberland Fusiliers gained the 51st (Graduated), 52nd (Graduated) and 53rd (Young Soldier) Battalions.[29][30]

Reserve battalions

A number of reserve battalions served during the war. They recruited and trained drafts for the active service units and were designated by use of (Reserve) after the battalion number. These had a number of different origins and had a variety of fates.

Special Reserve battalions

The

Northumberland Fusiliers[31] as the county regiment of Northumberland. The Northumberland Light Infantry Militia became the 3rd (Militia) Battalion and the rifle volunteers formed the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Volunteer Battalions of the regiment.[1]

Further

Special Reserve" as "Reserve" – 3rd battalions – or "Extra Reserve" – 4th and subsequent – battalions. The volunteer battalions were renumbered in the same sequence as the regulars and millitia. Hence, the 3rd (Millitia) Battalion became the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion and the volunteers became the 4th, 5th and 6th Battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers.[1]

Almost all of the Special Reserve battalions remained in the United Kingdom throughout the war,[g] training replacements and providing drafts to the regular battalions.[36] The 3rd (Reserve) Battalion remained part of the regiment as a training unit until the end of the war.[8]

2nd Reserve battalions

On 8 October 1914, each Reserve and Extra Reserve battalion of the line infantry regiments were instructed to form a Service battalion. The battalions thus raised, including the 15th (Service) Battalion, were used to form the divisions of Kitchener's Fourth New Army.[37] The divisions were never fully formed; the need for trained reinforcements for the first three New Armies meant that they were broken up and the infantry battalions were used to provide and train reinforcements. On 10 April 1915, the infantry battalions became reserve formations to be known as 2nd Reserve battalions (in the sense that they were second to the original Reserve and Extra Reserve battalions).[38] The 15th Battalion became the 15th (Reserve) Battalion and provided replacements for the 8th – 14th battalions.[36]

The introduction of conscription caused a reorganisation of the reserve battalions as the regimental system could not cope with the number of new recruits. A new, centralized, system was put in place, called The Training Reserve. On 1 September 1916, the 15th Battalion became part of the new organisation.[8][39]

Local Reserve battalions

The locally recruited Service battalions of the

companies and in 1915 these were grouped into Local Reserve battalions to provide reinforcements for their parents. Like the 2nd Reserve battalions, they became part of the Training Reserve on 1 September 1916.[3][39]

Territorial Force Reserve battalions

Almost all Territorial Force battalions had formed a 3rd Line – designated with the fractional 3/ – by June 1915; they supplied reinforcements to their parent 1st and 2nd Lines. In the autumn of 1915 they were brought together in 14 Third Line Groups, one for each of the pre-war T.F. divisions[11] – those of the Northumberland Fusiliers joining the Northumbrian Third Line Group,[8] along with those of the East Yorkshire Regiment,[33] the Green Howards,[40] and the Durham Light Infantry.[41]

In April 1916 they dropped the fractional designation and became Reserve Battalions T.F. On 1 September 1916 the reserve territorial battalions of each regiment were amalgamated into a single unit (or two units in certain large regiments, for example the Manchester Regiment's 5th and 8th Reserve Battalions[42]). At the same time, the Third Line Groups were renamed as Reserve Brigades T.F.[11] The Northumbrian Reserve Brigade T.F. commanded 4th (Reserve) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers,[8] 4th (Reserve) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment,[33] 4th (Reserve) Battalion, Green Howards,[40] and 5th (Reserve) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry[41] in the Hornsea area as part of the Humber Garrison.

Along with the Special Reserve battalions, the T.F. Reserve battalions remained as regimental reserves. New recruits were posted to them first until they were up to strength, then to the Training Reserve. When drafts were needed for the overseas units, they were taken first from the regimental reserves; if there were insufficient trained replacements then recourse was made to the Training Reserve.[29]

Battalions

1st Battalion

The 1st Battalion was a

Armistice with Germany.[8] It fought in the following major battles:[43]

Battle of Mons
First Battle of the Aisne
First Battle of Ypres
Battle of the Somme (1916)
Battle of Arras (1917)
Third Battle of Ypres
First Battle of the Somme (1918)
Battle of the Lys (1918)
Second Battle of the Somme (1918)
Battles of the Hindenburg Line
Final Advance in Picardy

2nd Battalion

The 2nd Battalion was a regular army battalion, stationed in

Salonika front in November. In June 1918, it left 28th Division and was transferred to France where it joined the 150th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division for the rest of the war. During the war, it fought in the following battles with 28th Division:[45]

Second Battle of Ypres
Battle of Loos
Struma

and with 50th Division:[46]

Battles of the Hindenburg Line
Final Advance in Picardy

3rd (Reserve) Battalion

The 3rd Battalion was a

Sunderland) where it remained throughout the war as part of the Tyne Garrison[8] and provided drafts to the regular (1st and 2nd) battalions.[36] The battalion was disembodied on 29 July 1919 (personnel transferred to the 1st Battalion on 12 July) but was not formally disbanded until April 1953.[47][j]

4th Battalion (T.F.)

In peacetime, the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions formed the

118th Brigade, 39th Division. It was disbanded on 10 November 1918.[8] It took part in the following battles with 50th Division:[48]

Second Battle of Ypres
Battle of the Somme (1916)
Battle of Arras (1917)
Third Battle of Ypres
First Battle of the Somme (1918)
Battle of the Lys (1918)

5th Battalion (T.F.)

This history of the 5th Battalion – redesignated as 1/5th Battalion with the formation of the 2nd Line battalion in November 1914 – was identical to that of the 4th Battalion.[8]

6th Battalion (T.F.)

This history of the 6th Battalion – redesignated as 1/6th Battalion with the formation of the 2nd Line battalion in December 1914 – was identical to that of the 4th Battalion.[8]

7th Battalion (T.F.)

This history of the 7th Battalion – redesignated as 1/7th Battalion with the formation of the 2nd Line battalion in September 1914 – was identical to that of the 4th Battalion until February 1918.

42nd (East Lancashire) Division as Pioneers on 12 February 1918 where it remained for the rest of the war.[8] It took part in the following battles with 50th Division:[48]

Second Battle of Ypres
Battle of the Somme (1916)
Battle of Arras (1917)
Third Battle of Ypres
First Battle of the Somme (1918)
Second Battle of the Somme (1918)

and with the 42nd Division:[50]

Battles of the Hindenburg Line
Final Advance in Picardy

2/4th, 2/5th and 2/6th Battalions (T.F.)

The 2/4th and 2/5th Battalions were formed at Blyth in November 1914 and the 2/6th Battalion at Newcastle on 28 December 1914. In January 1915 they were assigned to the 188th (2/1st Northumberland) Brigade, 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division[51] at Swalwell Camp near Newcastle. In November 1915, the brigade moved to York and in July 1916 the Division was broken up; the battalions remained with the brigade at York. In November 1916, the battalions were assigned to the 217th Brigade, 72nd Division[52] at Clevedon. They moved to Northampton in January 1917 and to Ipswich in May.[8] The 2/5th and 2/6th Battalions were disbanded on 6 and 5 December 1917 and the 2/4th Battalion on 8 April 1918 at Ipswich.[53]

2/7th Battalion (T.F.)

The 2/7th Battalion was formed at Alnwick on 26 September 1914 and assigned to the 188th (2/1st Northumberland) Brigade, 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division in January 1915.[51] In January 1917 the battalion moved to Egypt as a garrison battalion.[8] It was disbanded on 15 September 1919.[53][54]

3/4th, 3/5th, 3/6th and 3/7th Battalions (T.F.)

The 3rd Line battalions were formed in June 1915 at Hexham (3/4th), Newcastle (3/5th and 3/6th) and Alnwick (3/7th). On 8 April 1916 they became Reserve Battalions at Catterick: the 3/4th Battalion was redesignated as 4th (Reserve) Battalion, 3/5th as 5th (Reserve), 3/6th as 6th (Reserve), and 3/7th as 7th (Reserve). On 1 September 1916, the 4th (Reserve) Battalion absorbed the other three. After March 1917 it was at Atwick, Hornsea, to South Dalton in early 1918 and by July 1918 was at Rowlston (near Hornsea) where it remained in the Northumbrian Reserve Infantry Brigade until the end of the war.[8] It was disbanded on 17 April 1919 at Rowlston.[53][55]

8th (Service) Battalion

The 8th (Service) Battalion was formed at Newcastle on 19 August 1914.

Gallipoli on 7 August. In January 1916 it moved to Egypt where it formed part of the Suez Canal Defences, and in July to France where it spent the rest of the war (still in 34th Brigade, 11th Division).[8] It was disbanded on 27 June 1919 at Newcastle.[56] It fought in the following battles:[57]

Battles of Suvla including the Landing at Suvla Bay and the Battle of Scimitar Hill
Battle of the Somme (1916)
Battle of Messines (1917)
Third Battle of Ypres
Battle of Arras (1918)
Battles of the Hindenburg Line
Final Advance in Picardy

9th (Northumberland Hussars) Battalion

The 9th (Service) Battalion was formed at Newcastle on 8 September 1914

2/1st Northumberland Hussars and became the 9th (Northumberland Hussars) Battalion.[60] On 26 May 1918, it was transferred to the 183rd Brigade, 61st (2nd South Midland) Division. It was disbanded on 1 November 1919 in France.[56] It fought in the following battles with 17th Division:[61]

Battle of the Somme (1916)
Battle of Arras (1917)

with the 34th Division:[62]

Third Battle of Ypres
First Battle of the Somme (1918)
Battle of the Lys (1918)

and with the 61st Division:[63]

Final Advance in Picardy

10th and 11th (Service) Battalions

The 10th and 11th (Service) Battalions were formed at Newcastle on 22 September 1914

Italian Front, where they remained, still in 68th Brigade, 23rd Division.[8] The 10th Battalion was reduced to cadre in Italy in 1918. They were disbanded in Newcastle on 11 and 25 June 1919.[56] They fought in the following major battles:[64]

Battle of the Somme (1916)
Battle of Messines (1917)
Third Battle of Ypres
Battle of the Piave
Battle of Vittorio Veneto

12th and 13th (Service) Battalions

The 12th and 13th (Service) Battalions were formed at Newcastle on 22 September 1914,[56] also as part of Kitchener's Third New Army – K3 – and were assigned to the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division at Halton Park. They moved to France in September 1915.[8] They were amalgamated on 1 August 1917 as the 12th/13th (Service) Battalion.[65] The combined battalion remained in 62nd Brigade, 21st Division on the Western Front for the rest of the war.[8] The 12th/13th Battalion was disbanded at Catterick on 1 May 1919. They fought in the following battles:[66]

Battle of Loos
Battle of the Somme (1916)
Battle of Arras (1917)
Third Battle of Ypres
Battle of Cambrai (1917)
First Battle of the Somme (1918)
Battle of the Lys (1918)
Second Battle of the Somme (1918)
Battles of the Hindenburg Line
Final Advance in Picardy

14th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers)

The 14th (Service) Battalion was formed at Newcastle on 22 September 1914,[56] also as part of Kitchener's Third New Army – K3 – and was assigned to the 21st Division at Halton Park,[8] initially as Army Troops, but from February 1915 as a Pioneer Battalion.[65] It moved to France in September 1915 where it remained with 21st Division on the Western Front for the rest of the war.[8] The 14th Battalion was disbanded on 16 July 1919 in France.[56] It took part in the following battles:[66]

Battle of Loos
Battle of the Somme (1916)
Battle of Arras (1917)
Third Battle of Ypres
Battle of Cambrai (1917)
First Battle of the Somme (1918)
Battle of the Lys (1918)
Second Battle of the Somme (1918)
Battles of the Hindenburg Line
Final Advance in Picardy

15th (Reserve) Battalion

The 15th (Service) Battalion was formed at

1st Reserve Brigade.[68] It provided replacements for the 8th – 14th battalions.[m] In September 1916, it was absorbed by the other Training Reserve battalions of the 1st Reserve Brigade.[8][39]

16th (Service) Battalion (Newcastle)

The 16th was a

Boulogne and remained on the Western Front until 7 February 1918 when it was disbanded at Elverdinghe.[8] Its personnel were transferred to the T.F. battalions: A Company to 1/4th, B Company to 1/5th and C Company to 1/6th in 50th Division, D Company to 1/7th in 42nd Division and the remainder to the 13th Entrenching Battalion.[70] The battalion fought in the following battles:[71]

Battle of the Somme (1916) (including the battles of Albert, Bazentin Ridge, Ancre Heights and Ancre
)

17th (Service) Battalion (N.E.R. Pioneers)

The 17th Battalion was also a Pals battalion, raised by the

52nd (Lowland) Division as Pioneer Battalion where it remained until the end of the war.[8] It was disbanded at Newcastle on 27 June 1919.[69] The battalion took part in the following battles with 32nd Division:[71]

Battle of the Somme (1916) (including the battles of Albert, Bazentin Ridge, Ancre Heights and Ancre
)

and with 52nd Division:[72]

Second Battle of the Somme (1918)
Battle of Arras (1918)
Battles of the Hindenburg Line
Final Advance in Artois

18th (Service) Battalion (1st Tyneside Pioneers)

The 18th Battalion was a Pals battalion raised in Newcastle on 15 October 1914 by the Lord Mayor and City. On 8 February 1915 it became a Pioneer Battalion and in July joined

66th Division. Its last move was on 20 September 1918, when it was assigned to the 197th Brigade as Lines of Communication troops.[3] It was disbanded in France in June 1919.[69] While attached to 34th Division, it saw action at:[62]

Battle of the Somme (1916)
Battle of Arras (1917)
Third Battle of Ypres
First Battle of the Somme (1918)
Battle of the Lys (1918)

19th (Service) Battalion (2nd Tyneside Pioneers)

The 19th Battalion was a Pals battalion raised in Newcastle on 16 November 1914 by the Lord Mayor and City. On 8 February 1915 it became a Pioneer Battalion and in July joined 35th Division at Masham. It was taken over by the War Office in August 1915, and landed at Havre on 29 January 1916 with 35th Division. It remained with the 35th Division as Pioneers on the Western Front for the rest of the war.[3] 19th Battalion was disbanded on 30 April 1919 at Ripon.[69] The 35th Division was involved in the following battles:[73]

Battle of the Somme (1916)
Third Battle of Ypres
First Battle of the Somme (1918)
Final Advance in Flanders

20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd (Service) Battalions (Tyneside Scottish)

The 1st – 4th Tyneside Scottish Battalions were Pals battalions raised in Newcastle by the Lord Mayor and City on 14 October (1st), 26 September (2nd), 5 November (3rd) and 16 November 1914 (4th). In March 1915 they moved to Alnwick and together they formed 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, 34th Division in June 1915. They were taken over by the War Office on 15 August 1915, moved to Salisbury Plain at the end of the month and crossed to France in January 1916.[3] Due to extremely heavy casualties suffered during the attack at La Boiselle on 1 July 1916,[n] the Brigade was attached to the 37th Division between 6 July and 22 August 1916 in exchange for 111th Brigade.[58]

British

66th Division on 16 August and to 197th Brigade on 20 September where it remained for the rest of the war. The 22nd Battalion was likewise reduced to cadre on 17 May; it returned to England on 18 June with 16th Division. It absorbed the new 38th Battalion at Margate and was posted to 48th Brigade, 16th Division at Aldershot. It returned to France in July where it remained for the rest of the war.[3] The 22nd Battalion was disbanded on 14 June 1919 at Catterick, and the 23rd Battalion in June 1919 in France.[69]

While part of the 34th Division, the Tyneside Scottish took part in the following major actions:[62]

Battle of the Somme (1916) (Battle of Albert
only)
Battle of Arras (1917)
Third Battle of Ypres
First Battle of the Somme (1918)
Battle of the Lys (1918)

While part of the 16th Division, the 22nd Battalion also took part in the

Final Advance in Artois and Flanders.[76]

24th, 25th, 26th and 27th (Service) Battalions (
Tyneside Irish
)

A support company of the Tyneside Irish Brigade advancing on 1 July 1916.

The 1st – 4th Tyneside Irish Battalions were Pals battalions raised in Newcastle by the Lord Mayor and City on 14 November (1st), 9 November (2nd), 23 November 1914 (3rd) and 5 January 1915 (4th). In March 1915 they moved to Woolsington and together they formed 103rd (Tyneside Irish) Brigade, 34th Division in June 1915. They were taken over by the War Office on 27 August 1915, moved to Salisbury Plain at the end of the month and crossed to France in January 1916.[3] Due to extremely heavy casualties suffered during the attack at La Boiselle on 1 July 1916,[n] the Brigade was attached to the 37th Division between 6 July and 22 August 1916 in exchange for 112th Brigade.[58]

On 10 August 1917, the 24th and 27th Battalions were amalgamated as the 24th/27th Battalion.

66th Division on 16 August and to 197th Brigade on 20 September where it remained for the rest of the war.[3] 25th Battalion was disbanded in France in June 1919.[69]

While part of the 34th Division, the Tyneside Irish took part in the following major actions:[62]

Battle of the Somme (1916) – Battle of Albert[o]
Battle of Arras (1917)
Third Battle of Ypres
First Battle of the Somme (1918)
Battle of the Lys (1918)

28th (Reserve) Battalion

The 28th Battalion was formed at

19th Reserve Brigade, and in December to Harrogate. On 1 September 1916, it was absorbed by the Training Reserve Battalions of 19th Reserve Brigade.[3][39]

29th (Reserve) Battalion (Tyneside Scottish)

The 29th Battalion was formed at

20th Reserve Brigade, and in April to Hornsea. On 1 September 1916, it became 84th Training Reserve Battalion, 20th Reserve Brigade at Hornsea.[3][39]

30th (Reserve) Battalion (Tyneside Irish)

The 30th Battalion was formed at

20th Reserve Brigade, and in December to Catterick. On 1 September 1916, it became 85th Training Reserve Battalion, 20th Reserve Brigade at Hornsea.[3][39]

31st (Reserve) Battalion

The 31st Battalion was formed at

20th Reserve Brigade. In April 1916 it moved to Hornsea and on 1 September 1916, it became 86th Training Reserve Battalion, 20th Reserve Brigade at Hornsea.[3][39]

32nd (Reserve) Battalion

The 32nd Battalion was formed at

Usworth, Washington. On 1 September 1916, it became 80th Training Reserve Battalion, 19th Reserve Brigade at Newcastle.[3][39]

33rd (Reserve) Battalion (Tyneside Scottish)

The 33rd Battalion was formed at

20th Reserve Brigade at Hornsea.[3][39]

34th (Reserve) Battalion (Tyneside Irish)

The 34th Battalion was formed at

20th Reserve Brigade at Hornsea.[3][39]

35th Battalion (T.F.)

The

Herne Bay in 227th Brigade. It remained at Herne Bay until early 1918 when it moved to Westleton where it remained until the end of the war[3][80] with 227th Brigade.[81] The 35th Battalion was disbanded on 4 September 1919 at Saxmundham.[56]

36th Battalion (T.F.)

The

St. Osyth in 222nd Brigade.[3][80][81] It moved to Ramsgate in March 1917 and to Margate in April 1918. On 27 April it became a Garrison Guard battalion and went to France in May where it joined 178th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division. The "Garrison Guard" title was dropped by July. It was still with 178th Brigade, 59th Division at the end of the war.[3] It was reduced to cadre on 5 November 1919 in France and disbanded on 28 November in Northern Command.[56] It took part in the following battles:[82]

Second Battle of the Somme (1918)
Final Advance in Artois and Flanders

37th (Home Service) Battalion

The 37th (Home Service) Battalion was formed on 27 April 1918 at Margate to replace the 36th Battalion (T.F.) in 222nd Brigade. It remained at Margate in 222nd Brigade until the end of the war.[3][81] It was disbanded on 25 June 1919 at Canterbury.[83]

38th Battalion

The short-lived 38th Battalion was formed at Margate on 1 June 1918. It was absorbed by the 22nd Battalion (3rd Tyneside Scottish) on 18 June.[3]

1st Garrison Battalion

The 1st Garrison Battalion was formed in August 1915 and then sent to the island of Malta on Garrison duties.[3] It was disbanded in India on 4 March 1920.[83]

2nd Garrison Battalion

The 2nd Garrison Battalion was formed at Newcastle in October 1915, it was then sent to

Ahmednager Brigade in October[85] where it remained until the end of the war.[86] It was disbanded in the UK on 19 January 1920.[83]

3rd (Home Service) Garrison Battalion

The 3rd (Home Service) Garrison Battalion was formed at

Sunderland about March 1916. It sent to Ireland in 1917 and was at Belfast in 1918.[3] It was disbanded in Ireland on 24 June 1919.[83]

51st (Graduated) Battalion

The 51st (Graduated) Battalion was formed on 27 October 1917 by the redesignation of the 238th Graduated Battalion,

cadre in 1919 before being disbanded on the Rhine on 28 March 1920.[83]

52nd (Graduated) Battalion

The

Barnards Castle and in June to Guisborough where it remained until the end of the war.[87] The battalion was converted to a service battalion as 52nd (Service) Battalion on 8 February 1919. It was disbanded on the Rhine on 28 March 1920.[83]

53rd (Young Soldier) Battalion

The 53rd (Young Soldier) Battalion was formed on 27 October 1917 by the redesignation of the 5th Young Soldier Battalion,

Leicestershire Regiment) at Rugeley, Cannock Chase.[39] It remained in the United Kingdom throughout the war.[87] The battalion was converted to a service battalion as 53rd (Service) Battalion on 8 February 1919. It was disbanded on the Rhine on 26 October 1919.[83]

Post-war

The Northumberland Fusiliers continued to raise new battalions after the end of the war: the 39th (Service) Battalion on 10 May 1919 and the 40th (Service) Battalion in September 1919. They were disbanded in France on 5 March 1920 and 19 September 1919, respectively.[83][q]

All of the war-raised battalions had been disbanded by the end of March 1920.

Northumbrian Division.[93]
Therefore, the Northumberland Fusiliers entered the inter-war period with

See also

Notes

  1. ^ James' summary[2] shows 51 battalions but does not include the short-lived 38th Battalion.[3]
  2. ^ Battalions that served overseas were 1st and 2nd (Regular), 1/4th, 1/5th, 1/6th, 1/7th, 2/7th (Territorial), 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th (Service), 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd (Service, 1st – 4th Tyneside Scottish), 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th (Service, 1st – 4th Tyneside Irish), 36th (Territorial), 1st Garrison and 2nd Garrison.[4]
  3. ^ The Victoria Cross winners were:
  4. Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) and the King's Royal Rifle Corps raised three battalions for the 14th (Light) Division[16]
    for a total of 81 battalions.
  5. Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) and the King's Royal Rifle Corps raised three battalions for the 20th (Light) Division[20]
    for a total of 81 battalions.
  6. ^ The 12 pals battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers compares to the ten raised by the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment),[21] nine for the Welsh Regiment,[22] nine for the Duke of Cambridge's (Middlesex Regiment),[23] and nine for the Manchester Regiment.[24] The Royal Irish Rifles had nine battalions raised in a similar fashion from the Ulster Volunteer Force.[25] Other regiments formed less pals battalions, for example, two for the Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment),[26] some formed none, for example, the Buffs (East Kent Regiment) or the Norfolk Regiment.[27]
  7. Bedfordshire Regiment,[33] the South Staffordshire Regiment[34] and the North Staffordshire Regiment.[35]
  8. ^
    3rd Infantry Division and the 2nd Battalion to the similarly numbered 9th (Sirhind) Brigade, 3rd (Lahore) Division
    on 4 August 1914 is merely a coincidence.
  9. ^ Originally, the Northumberland Light Infantry Regiment of Militia.[1]
  10. ^ a b Redesignated as 3rd (Militia) Battalion in 1921, it continued to exist between 1919 and 1953 in "suspended animation" – without any personnel assigned.[47]
  11. ^ a b c As distinct from the Australian, Canadian and the New Zealand divisions which remained on a 12-battalion basis.
  12. ^ James says 104th Brigade, 34th Division[8] but this is a mistake as 104th Brigade was never part of the 34th Division.[59]
  13. ^ The 3rd Battalion performed a similar function for the regular 1st and 2nd Battalions and the 3rd Line TF battalions likewise for the 1st and 2nd Line TF battalions.
  14. ^ a b The Tyneside Scottish suffered over 2,400 casualties and the Tyneside Irish almost 2,100.[74]
  15. ^ 103rd (Tyneside Irish) Brigade also took part in the Battle of Flers–Courcelette while attached to 15th Division.[62]
  16. ^ a b c d e f g Local Reserve battalions performed the same role as 2nd Reserve battalions.[77]
  17. ^ Frederick allows that the 39th and 40th (Service) Battalions may have been disbanded in Egypt on 11 December 1919.[83]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers at regiments.org by T.F.Mills". Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ a b James 1978, Table B, Appendix I to Part II
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae James 1978, p. 47
  4. ^ a b "Medals of the Regiments: The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers". North East Medals. 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  5. ^ Haythornthwaite 1996, p. 219
  6. ^ James 1978, Table C, Appendix I to Part II
  7. ^ James 1978, p. 136
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af James 1978, p. 46
  9. ^ Conrad, Mark (1996). "The British Army, 1914". Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  10. ^ Baker, Chris. "The Northumberland Fusiliers". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  11. ^ a b c James 1978, Appendix IV to Part II
  12. ^ a b c James 1978, Appendix II to Part II
  13. ^ Becke 1938, p. 6
  14. ^ Becke 1938, p. 14
  15. ^ Becke 1938, p. 30
  16. ^ Becke 1938, p. 48
  17. ^ Becke 1938, p. 56
  18. ^ Becke 1938, p. 64
  19. ^ Becke 1938, p. 82
  20. ^ Becke 1938, p. 98
  21. ^ James 1978, pp. 49–50
  22. ^ James 1978, p. 83
  23. ^ James 1978, pp. 93–94
  24. ^ James 1978, pp. 97–98
  25. ^ James 1978, p. 106
  26. ^ James 1978, pp. 43–44
  27. ^ James 1978, pp. 44–45
  28. ^ James 1978, pp. 46–47
  29. ^ a b James 1978, Appendix III to Part II
  30. ^ James 1978, pp. 47–48
  31. ^ "No. 24992". The London Gazette. 1 July 1881. pp. 3300–3301.
  32. ^ James 1978, p. 51
  33. ^ a b c James 1978, p. 59
  34. ^ James 1978, p. 80
  35. ^ James 1978, p. 98
  36. ^ a b c d Chappell, PB. "Northumberland Fusiliers". The Regimental Warpath 1914–1918. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  37. ^ Becke 1945, p. 131
  38. ^ Becke 1945, p. 132
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Baker, Chris. "The Training Reserve". The Long, Long Trail. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  40. ^ a b James 1978, p. 62
  41. ^ a b James 1978, p. 101
  42. ^ James 1978, p. 97
  43. ^ Becke 1935, pp. 54–55
  44. ^ Perry 1993, p. 50
  45. ^ Becke 1935, p. 110
  46. ^ Becke 1936, p. 100
  47. ^ a b Frederick 1984, p. 276
  48. ^ a b Becke 1936, pp. 99–100
  49. ^ Becke 1936, p. 95
  50. ^ Becke 1936, p. 41
  51. ^ a b Becke 1937, p. 52
  52. ^ Becke 1937, p. 108
  53. ^ a b c Frederick 1984, p. 277
  54. ^ Westlake 1986, p. 79
  55. ^ Westlake 1986, p. 77
  56. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Frederick 1984, p. 278
  57. ^ Becke 1938, pp. 24–25
  58. ^ a b c Baker, Chris. "The 34th Division in 1914–1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  59. ^ Becke 1945, pp. 44–45
  60. ^ "First World War Hostilities-Only Battalions of The Northumberland Fusiliers 1914–1920 at regiments.org by T.F.Mills". Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  61. ^ Becke 1938, pp. 76–77
  62. ^ a b c d e Becke 1945, p. 49
  63. ^ Becke 1937, p. 39
  64. ^ Becke 1938, pp. 124–125
  65. ^ a b Baker, Chris. "The 21st Division in 1914–1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  66. ^ a b Becke 1938, pp. 108–109
  67. ^ Becke 1945, pp. 133–138
  68. ^ Becke 1945, p. 133
  69. ^ a b c d e f Frederick 1984, p. 279
  70. ^ Becke 1945, p. 26
  71. ^ a b Becke 1945, p. 28
  72. ^ Becke 1936, p. 115
  73. ^ Becke 1945, p. 58
  74. ^ "Tyneside Scottish and Tyneside Irish". tyneside-scottish.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  75. ^ a b Becke 1945, pp. 43–46
  76. ^ Becke 1938, p. 69
  77. ^ James 1978, p. 129
  78. ^ a b David Porter's work on Provisional Brigades at Great War Forum.
  79. ^ a b Army Council Instructions, January 1916, Appendix 18.
  80. ^ a b Frederick, pp. 184–5.
  81. ^ a b c Chappell, PB. "Miscellaneous Units and Unallotted Troops in Great Britain". The Regimental Warpath 1914–1918. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  82. ^ Becke 1937, p. 23
  83. ^ a b c d e f g h i Frederick 1984, p. 280
  84. ^ Perry 1993, p. 42
  85. ^ Perry 1993, p. 81
  86. ^ Chappell, PB. "6th Poona Divisional Area". The Regimental Warpath 1914–1918. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  87. ^ a b James 1978, p. 48
  88. ^ Frederick 1984, pp. 276–280
  89. ^ "4th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers at regiments.org by T.F.Mills". Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  90. ^ "5th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers at regiments.org by T.F.Mills". Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  91. ^ "6th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers at regiments.org by T.F.Mills". Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2005.
  92. ^ "7th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers at regiments.org by T.F.Mills". Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  93. ^ Westlake 1986, p. 47

Bibliography

External links
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