THE ROYAL FUSILIERS 1914-18  

Mons, Le Cateau, Retreat from Mons, Marne 1914, Aisne 1914, La Bassée 1914, Messines 1914 '17 , Armentières 1914, Ypres 1914 '15 '17 '18, Nonne Bosschen, Gravenstafel, St. Julien, Frezenberg, Bellewaarde, Hooge 1915, Loos, Somme 1916 '18, Albert 1916 '18, Bazentin, Delville Wood, Pozières, Flers-Courcelette, Thiepval, Le Transloy, Ancre Heights , Ancre 1916 '18, Arras 1917 '18, Vimy 1917, Scarpe 1917, Arleux, Pilckem, Langemarck 1917, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Cambrai 1917 '18, St. Quentin, Bapaume 1918, Rosières, Avre , Villers Bretonneux, Lys, Estaires, Hazebrouck, Béthune , Amiens, Drocourt-Quéant, Hindenburg Line, Havrincourt, Épéhy, Canal du Nord, St. Quentin Canal, Beaurevoir, Courtrai, Selle, Sambre, France and Flanders 1914-18, Italy 1917-18, Struma, Macedonia 1915-18, Helles, Landing at Helles, Krithia, Suvla, Scimitar Hill, Gallipoli 1915-16, Egypt 1916, Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1918, Troitsa, Archangel 1919, Kilimanjaro, Behobeho, Nyangao, East Africa 1915-17.

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1st Battalion

4.8.14 Kinsale, as part of 17th Brigade, 6th Division. August 1914 to Cambridge. Landed at St Nazaire in France on 12.9.14. On 14.10.15 the 17th Brigade went to 24th Division. On 11.11.18 located at Bavai, France.

2nd Battalion

4.8.14 Calcutta. January 1915 landed in England and to Stockingford, near Nuneaton. Became part of 86th Brigade, 29th Division. Embarked at Avonmouth for Alexandria, arriving on 28.3.15. To Lemnos 11.4.15. To HMS Implacable and landed on X Beach, Gallipoli, 25.4.15. Evacuated from Gallipoli and to Egypt on 8.1.16. Landed at Marseuilles March 1916. On 11.11.18 located at St Genois, S.E. of Courtrai, Belgium.

Victoria Cross:

3rd Battalion

4.8.14 Lucknow. Moved to England December 1914 and became part of 85th Brigade, 28th Division, near Winchester. Landed at Havre on 18.1.15. Went to Egypt in October 1915, and then Salonika in December. On 3-4.7.18 went from Greece to Taranto in Italy, and arrived in France on 9.7.18. Sent to 149th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division on 15.7.18, located at Martin Eglise. On 11.11.18 located at Dourlers, north of Avesnes, France.

4th Battalion

4.8.14 Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, as part of 9th Brigade, 3rd Division. Landed at Havre in France on 13.8.14. On 11.11.18 located at Bavai, France.

Victoria Cross:

7th (Extra Reserve) Battalion

4.8.14 Artillery Place, Finsbury. To Falmouth 24.7.16. Landed at Havre 27.7.16 and joined 190th Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. On 11.11.18 located at Harveng, south of Mons, Belgium.

8th Battalion

Formed at Hounslow on 21.8.14 and became part of 36th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division at Colchester. November 1914 to Hythe. February 1915 to Aldershot. Landed in France 31.5.15. Disbanded in France on 6.2.18.

Victoria Cross:

9th Battalion

Formed at Hounslow on 21.8.14 and became part of 36th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division at Colchester. November 1914 to Hythe. February 1915 to Aldershot. Landed in France 31.5.15. On 11.11.18 located east of Orchies, France.

10th Battalion (Stockbrokers)

Raised by the Lord Mayor and City of London on 21.8.14. Recruited largely from business staffs in the City. September 1914 became part of 54th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division. October 1914 became Army Troops in 18th Division. March 1915 sent to 111th Brigade, 37th Division, on Salisbury Plain. Landed at Boulogne on 30.7.15. On 11.11.18 located south of Le Quesnoy, France.

Victoria Cross:

11th Battalion

Formed at Hounslow on 6.9.14 and became part of 54th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division at Colchester. May 1915 to Salisbury Plain. Landed in France July 1915. On 11.11.18 located near Le Cateau, France.

12th Battalion

Formed at Hounslow on 13.9.14 and to South Downs as part of 73rd Brigade, 24th Division. In billets at Shoreham and Brighton between November 1914 and April 1915. June 1915 to Pirbright. Landed in France on 1.9.15. To 17th Brigade, 24th Division, on 18.10.15. Disbanded in France on 13.2.18 and personnel sent to 1st, 10th and 11th Battalions.

13th Battalion

Formed at Hounslow on 13.9.14 and and to South Downs as part of 24th Division. To billets in Worthing December 1914. March 1915 to 111th Brigade, 37th Division, at Ludgershall. Landed at Boulogne on 30.7.15. On 4.2.18 to 112th Brigade, 37th Division. On 11.11.18 located south of Le Quesnoy, France.

17th Battalion (Empire)

Raised in London by the British Empire Committee on 31.8.14. To Warlingham, Surrey, on 12.9.14. To Clipstone Camp, Notts, in June 1915, and joined 99th Brigade, 33rd Division. Taken over by War Office on 1.7.15. To Tidworth August 1915. Landed at Boulogne on 17.11.15. Moved to 2nd Division with 99th Brigade on 25.11.15. Moved to 5th Brigade, 2nd Division on 13.12.15. Moved to 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, on 6.2.18. On 11.11.18 located at Preux-au-Sart, N.E. of Le Quesnoy, France.

Victoria Cross:

18th Battalion (1st Public School)

Raised at Epsom by the Public Schools and University Mens' Forces on 11.9.14. To Clipstone Camp June 1915 as part of 98th Brigade, 33rd Division. Taken over by the War Office on 1.7.15. To Tidworth August 1915. Landed in France November 1915. To 19th Brigade, 33rd Division on 27.11.15. To GHQ Troops on 26.2.16. The battalion was disbanded on 24.4.16 as many of the men had gone to take commissions.

19th Battalion (2nd Public School)

Raised at Epsom by the Public Schools and University Mens' Forces on 11.9.14. To Clipstone Camp June 1915 as part of 98th Brigade, 33rd Division. Taken over by the War Office on 1.7.15. To Tidworth August 1915. Landed in France November 1915. To GHQ Troops on 27/28.2.16. The battalion was disbanded on 24.4.16 as many of the men had gone to take commissions.

20th Battalion (3rd Public School)

Raised at Epsom by the Public Schools and University Mens' Forces on 11.9.14. Located at Leatherhead October 1914 to March 1915. To Clipstone Camp June 1915 as part of 98th Brigade, 33rd Division. Taken over by the War Office on 1.7.15. To Tidworth August 1915. Landed in France November 1915. To 19th Brigade, 33rd Division on 27.11.15. Many of the original members of the battalion went off to take commissions. However, the battalion stayed with 19th Brigade, 33rd Division. The battalion was disbanded on 16.2.18.

21st Battalion (4th Public School)

Raised at Epsom by the Public Schools and University Mens' Forces on 11.9.14. Moved to Ashtead October 1914 to March 1915. To Clipstone Camp June 1915 as part of 98th Brigade, 33rd Division. Taken over by the War Office on 1.7.15. To Tidworth August 1915. Landed in France November 1915. To GHQ Troops on 27/28.2.16. The battalion was disbanded on 24.4.16 as many of the men had gone to take commissions.

22nd Battalion (Kensingtons)

Raised by the Mayor and Borough of Kensington on 11.9.14 at the White City. To Horsham in Roffey Camp, October 1914. June 1915 to Clipstone Camp, as part of 99th Brigade, 33rd Division. Taken over by War Office on 1.7.15. To Tidworth August 1915. Landed at Boulogne November 1915. Moved with 99th Brigade to 2nd Division on 25.11.15. Disbanded at Metz en Couture on 26.2.18. 

23rd Battalion (1st Sportsmans)

Raised in London by E. Cunliffe-Owen on 25.9.14. The recruits were enrolled at Hotel Cecil in the Strand. Moved to Hornchurch. To Clipstone Camp June 1915, as part of 99th Brigade, 33rd Division. Taken over by War Office on 1.7.15. To Kandahar Barracks, Tidworth, August 1915.  Landed at Boulogne 17.11.15. Moved with 99th Brigade to 2nd Division on 25.11.15. On 11.11.18 located near Le Quesnoy, France.

24th Battalion (2nd Sportsmans)

Raised in London by E. Cunliffe-Owen on 20.11.14. To Clipstone Camp June 1915, as part of 99th Brigade, 33rd Division. Taken over by War Office on 1.7.15. To Kandahar Barracks, Tidworth, August 1915.  Landed at Boulogne 17.11.15. Moved with 99th Brigade to 2nd Division on 25.11.15. To 5th Brigade, 2nd Division on 13.12.15. On 11.11.18 located north of Le Quesnoy, France.

25th Battalion (Frontiersman)

Raised in London by the Legion of Frontiersmen on 12.2.15. Embarked at Plymouth fro East Africa on 10.4.15. Arrived at Mombasa 4.5.15. Left East Africa for England at the end of 1917. Disbanded at Putney on 29.6.18.

Victoria Cross:

26th Battalion (Bankers)

Raised by the Lord Mayor and City of London from Bank Clerks and Accountants on 17.7.15. To Marlow. To Aldershot November 1915 and joined 124th Brigade, 41st Division. Landed in France 4.5.16. To Italy November 1917. Returned to France March 1918. On 11.11.18 located north of Renaix, Belgium.

32nd Battalion (East Ham)

Raised by the Mayor and Borough of East Ham on 18.10.15. Joined 124th Brigade, 41st Division, December 1915 at Aldershot. Landed in France 5.5.16. To Italy November 1917. Returned to France March 1918. Disbanded in France on 18.3.18. 

33rd - 37th (Labour) Battalions

These were formed in Sussex between March-June 1916 for Labour duties in France. They went to France in June 1916, and in April 1917 became the 99th - 106th Labour Companies of the Labour Corps.

38th Battalion (Judean)

Formed at Plymouth on 20.1.18 from Jewish volunteers. Embarked at Southampton for Cherbourg on 5.2.18. The battalion then crossed France to Italy. Embarked Taranto for Alexandria, arriving on 1.3.18. To 31st Brigade, 10th (Irish) Division on 11.6.18; remained with this formation until 25.7.18. Attached to ANZAC Mounted Division in September 1918 in Chaytor's Force. Remained in Palestine for rest of war.

39th Battalion (Judean)

Formed at Plymouth on 21.1.18 from Jewish volunteers. Went to Egypt April 1918. Attached to ANZAC Mounted Division in September 1918 in Chaytor's Force. Remained in Palestine for rest of war.

40th Battalion (Judean)

Formed at Plymouth January 1918 from Jewish volunteers. Went to Egypt August 1918where it remained for rest of the war.

45th - 46th Battalions

Formed in London April 1919. Many recruits were Australians who had previously served in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Went to North Russia. Disbanded in December 1919.

Victoria Cross:

PRINTED SOURCES

Anon - THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL FUSILIERS "U.P.S", UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS BRIGADE ( FORMATION AND TRAINING) (The Times 1917)

O'Neill, H.C.  - The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War  (William Heinemann 1922).
- The book has now been reprinted by the Naval & Military Press.

Stone, Christopher - HISTORY OF THE 22ND (SERVICE) BATTALION ROYAL FUSILIERS (KENSINGTON) (Originally published 1923, Reprinted by Naval & Military Press 2001)

Ward, Fred W - The 23rd (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (First Sportsman's) A Record of it's Services in the Great War, 1914-1919 (London. Sidgwick & Jackson, Ltd., 1920)

Wyrall, Everard - The 17th (S.) Battalion Royal Fusiliers 1914 - 1919 (Methuen & Co., 1930)

INTERNET SOURCES

The Royal Fusiliers - on Chris Baker's 'Long, Long Trail' website.

Royal Fusiliers Photos - photos of the Royal Fusiliers on WW1 Photos site.

N.B. Only battalions that saw overseas service are listed here. Units that stayed in England are not shown.

©Paul Reed 2005