18th Battalian KRRs

[CGM]

A small question. Not sure how complicated the answer might be.

How many Corps could have been described as "Rifle Brigade?"

Many thanks, in advance, for any help anyone can offer.

CGM

[Chris_Baker]

The Rifle Brigade is a regiment. (Confusing, eh?)

The 18th Battalion was a unit of a different regiment, the King's Royal Rifle Corps. (Which was not a Corps but a regiment. Confusing again!)

[CGM]

Thank you very much Chris.

Umm, I think a cup of coffee and a time of quiet contemplation is appropriate now! I will work it out.....

CGM

[CGM]

From The Long, Long Trail (Thanks Chris!)

18th (Service) Battalion (Arts & Crafts)

Formed at Gidea Park in London by Major Sir Herbert Raphael on 4 June 1915.

October 1915 : moved to Witley and attached to 122nd Brigade in 41st Division. Moved to Aldershot in November 1915, on to Witley in February and thence back to Aldershot.

3 May 1916 : landed at Le Havre.

November 1917 : moved with the Division to Italy but returned to France in March 1918.

Am I correct in reading this as a Pals Battalion?

regards

CGM

[raich]

Am I correct in reading this as a Pals Battalion?

Yes, the 18th were recruited from all over the country, particularly heavily in the South Derbyshire area.

Herbert visited villages himself with a recruiting sergeant. The story goes that the young men of one village were shamed from the back of a dray into joining. The local newspaper reported it thus -

July 1915

" Recruiting – The recent visit of Sir H.H. Raphael M.P. to Oakthorpe [N.W. Leicestershire] is evidently beginning to bear fruit. A few days ago seven of the villagers enlisted in Mr. Raphael's Battalion , and are hoping ultimately to be able to "do their bit" in the present war. "

They were formed by the MP Herbert Raphael who was a lawyer and tried to win the Romford seat on two occasions. He managed to bag the South Derbyshire seat which he held for a number of years including the war years. He resided at his pad known as Raphael Park in Gidea Park, Essex. He along with other luminaries/patrons of the arts turned Gidea Park into an arts and craft-inspired architectural suburb, which is still there I hear. The Bn. was known as the Arts and Craft battalion.

During the war he raised and trained the 18th KRR at Gidea Park and was himself a captain (I think) although at 50+ yrs didn't make it into the front-line with his men.

The 18th were in the thick of the front line attack on Flers during the Somme, where they distinguished themselves with the new fangled tanks.

Hope this is of help.

[MBrockway]

CGM,

This Q crops a lot and it is confusing for soemone first encountering the rifles regiments!

The good news is that there is a large amount of info here on the Forum both about the unique characteristics and traditions of the two main rifles regiments (the King's Royal Rifle Corps and The Rifle Brigade) and on 18/KRRC specifically.

If you do some searches on KRRC, Arts & Crafts, Raphael, and Gidea Park, you should uncover Topics that answer all your questions.

Cheers,

Mark

[CGM]

Hello RaichCarter and Mark.

Thank you very much for all that extra information! I've done some searching on the forum but didn't think to search for Gidea Park or Arts and Crafts so completely missed all that part of the story. What an interesting man!

Looks like an interesting evening tonight.

Many thanks,

CGM