Hampshire Regiment

[Ian C]

Hi,

Does anyone know anything about this battalion?

I bought a picture yesterday which has the following written on it;

Rflmn. G Newman, C Company, 8th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, British Barracks, Khartoum, Sudan.

The only mention I can find on the web seems to indicate that this battalion was raised just for the period of WW1. Did we have a presence in the Sudan during WW1?

Any info gratefully received,

Thanks

IanC

[Guest Ian Bowbrick]

8th Battlion was of course the Isle of Wight Rifles, served Gallipoli with distinction.

Marc Thompson and Racing Teapots are the experten on this group.

Ian

[Marc Thompson]

Ian,

Is the picture by any chance dated or does it give a regimental number for Rifleman Newman?

The IOW Rifles did have a prescence in Khartoum from March 1919 onwards where they undertook garrison duties. The Cadre of the unit eventually arrived back in England in March 1920. Demobilisation had started from December 1918, which depleted the strength of the Battalion, which was made up by men from other units.

The history of the Isle of Wight Rifles dates back over a century to 1859 when it was decided that a volunteer force should be raised for the defence of the Island. Following many changes, it was as the Isle of Wight (Princess Beatrice's) Battery, 457 Heavy Air Defence Regiment R.A. T.A. that they were finally disbanded in 1967, their remnants forming a company of territorial infantry.

Marc

[T8HANTS]

Hi Ian

It is just possible your Rfn G Newman's Regimental number was 1395, if so he sailed on the Aquitania to Gallipoli and was at Suvla Bay, being at that time in D Coy, but Newman is a failrly common name on the Isle of Wight. So there may be more than one. Hope that helps. Gareth Sprack Isle of Wight Rifles Living History Society