South Lancashire Regiment

[Sue Light]

A local man, Sergeant 8722 William Emery, joined the South Lancashire Regiment in 1907, and at the outbreak of war was with the 1st Battalion in Quetta. He left Bombay on 26th August 1916, and disembarked at Basra on September 1916; he was posted to the 6th Battalion from 2nd October of that year.

Can anyone tell me how many 1st South Lancs men [roughly speaking] were transferred at that time - was it more likely that he went because of a need for experienced N.C.O's, or was there a larger movement of all ranks to other theatres?

Thanks - Sue

[CROONAERT]

A local man, Sergeant 8722 William Emery, joined the South Lancashire Regiment in 1907, and at the outbreak of war was with the 1st Battalion in Quetta.  He left Bombay on 26th August 1916, and disembarked at Basra on September 1916; he was posted to the 6th Battalion from 2nd October of that year.

Can anyone tell me how many 1st South Lancs men [roughly speaking] were transferred at that time - was it more likely that he went because of a need for experienced N.C.O's, or was there a larger movement of all ranks to other theatres?

Thanks    -    Sue

Sue.

If he left Bombay on 26th August 1916, chances are he had been transferred at this point as the 1st Bn stayed in India throughout the war.

As the war progressed, 1st Bn men , especially specialists such as signallers, were dispatched to other Bns on the various battle fronts.

The Regimental History mentions that "In 1916,also, 120 handpicked NCOs and men were drafted to the 6th(service)Bn of the regiment and to the 6th ELR, then in Mesopotamia, all of whom took part in the fighting around Kut-el-Amara and the subsequent advance to Baghdad"

Looks like your Sgt. was one of these 120.

Dave.

[Sue Light]

Dave

Thankyou - the bit from the regimental history would seem to answer my question more exactly than I had hoped for! William Emery was one of eight men in his family to serve, and one of three brothers who died, as far apart as possible - one on the Western Front, one in Mespot, and one in a submarine in the North Sea - the wartime travels of three ordinary men from one sleepy village.

Sue