25th Battalion, Kings (Liverpool) Regiment

[RED47]

Does anyone have access to the war diary of the above?

If so can they advise where the battalion was operating in the first week of September 1918 especially 05/09/18

Thanks

Ray

[sw63]

Hi Ray,

I'm not sure about this but.... on The Long Long Trail it states that:

25th Battalion

On 1 January 1917, the 44th Provisional Bn became 26th Bn TF. The 44th had been formed in 1915 from Home Service personnel from the TF Bns of the regiment.

7 May 1918 : landed as Calais as a Garrison Guard Battalion.

16 June 1918: attached to 176th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division.

26th Battalion

On 1 January 1917, the 43rd Provisional Bn became 25th Bn TF. The 43rd had been formed in 1915 from Home Service personnel from the TF Bns of the regiment.

29 March 1918 : disbanded at Kelvedon.

I think that the titles in bold should be the other way round because I know the 44th Prov Btn became the 26th TF Btn. My grandfather served in them.

Therefore, the 25th was probably disbanded in March 1918.

Simon

[connaughtranger]

Hi

It seems the 25th Battalion was still around well into 1918, not that there's much detail. It was originally known as the Garrison Guard Battalion but dropped this not long after it entered France in May 1918. They suffered their first fatal casualty on July 27th and on 28th a patrol engaged the enemy for the first time. On 3rd August they moved to Bavincoourt. Wyrall finds little to speak of after early August, though it seems they were in the 177th Brigade of the 59th Division and were involved in the advance to victory. On the 3rd September the Division was advancing towards Merville/Lestrem

Sorry I can't help you more but someone should have a copy of the 59th Division which might pinpoint the action in which they incurred probably their heaviest losses of the war

[RED47]

Hi

It seems the 25th Battalion was still around well into 1918, not that there's much detail. It was originally known as the Garrison Guard Battalion but dropped this not long after it entered France in May 1918. They suffered their first fatal casualty on July 27th and on 28th a patrol engaged the enemy for the first time. On 3rd August they moved to Bavincoourt. Wyrall finds little to speak of after early August, though it seems they were in the 177th Brigade of the 59th Division and were involved in the advance to victory. On the 3rd September the Division was advancing towards Merville/Lestrem

Sorry I can't help you more but someone should have a copy of the 59th Division which might pinpoint the action in which they incurred probably their heaviest losses of the war

Thank you for that, its pointing me in the right direction. It looks like a trip to Kew will be required as their war diary is not available online

Ray