18th Bn Royal Fusiliers

[Guest Bob Twigg]

Hi

The 18th Battalion (1st Public Schools) Royal Fusiliers landed in France in November 1915. They were attached to 19th Brigade,33rd Division and stationed at la Bassee during the winter. They transferred to GHQ Troops on 26/2/16. The battalion was disbanded on 24/4/16.

Can anyone give me any more details of the battalion during this period, were they involved in any action? Where were they stationed when they were attached to GHQ Troops?

If nobody knows, where could I search? I have been googling for the last week and cannot get any more detail.

Thanks, Bob

[SteveE]

Bob

If nobody can help then the Battalion War Diary covering November 1915 to February 1916 is available to download (costs £3.50) from the NA website. Not only the 18th but you get a few other units thrown in for good measure too.

Link to it is here..... http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=1

Regards

Steve

[Colin W Taylor]

Bob

I recently downloaded a copy of the war diary from the Public Records Office; if you can give me an email address I can email you a copy.

The 18th RF arrived in Boulogne on 14 Nov 15 and the war diary I have lasts until 29 Feb 16. I don't know where you could acquire a copy of the war diary for up until April 1916 (while they are under GHQ Tps) but I would doubt they were anywhere near the front line after the end of Feb.

There was also a copy of the Public Schools Brigade History (of which I believe the 18th was a part) available on the internet to download for free on www.archive.org; however I believe this only deals with their training prior to departing for France.

I hope this is of assistance

Colin

Hi

The 18th Battalion (1st Public Schools) Royal Fusiliers landed in France in November 1915. They were attached to 19th Brigade,33rd Division and stationed at la Bassee during the winter. They transferred to GHQ Troops on 26/2/16. The battalion was disbanded on 24/4/16.

Can anyone give me any more details of the battalion during this period, were they involved in any action? Where were they stationed when they were attached to GHQ Troops?

If nobody knows, where could I search? I have been googling for the last week and cannot get any more detail.

Thanks, Bob

[Guest Bob Twigg]

Bob

I recently downloaded a copy of the war diary from the Public Records Office; if you can give me an email address I can email you a copy.

The 18th RF arrived in Boulogne on 14 Nov 15 and the war diary I have lasts until 29 Feb 16. I don't know where you could acquire a copy of the war diary for up until April 1916 (while they are under GHQ Tps) but I would doubt they were anywhere near the front line after the end of Feb.

There was also a copy of the Public Schools Brigade History (of which I believe the 18th was a part) available on the internet to download for free on www.archive.org; however I believe this only deals with their training prior to departing for France.

I hope this is of assistance

Colin

Hi Colin

I tried to PM you but I wasn't allowed access. My email is btwigg@iolfree.ie

Thanks very much.

Bob

[GraemeClarke]

Hi

Resurrecting this old thread as there seems to be little, if anything, on this battalion anywhere.

I am researching a man KiA on 11 April 1916

can anyone give me anything as to what was happening at this time, please.

taking Colin's comments above, they do not appear to have been in the front line.

I have O'Neil's History but there is nothing in there.

Many thanks,

Graeme

[Colin W Taylor]

Graeme

The war diary only covers until February so won't help. Who are you looking into?

Kind regards

Colin

[GraemeClarke]

Morning Colin,

Private 2090 Reginald Scott Sopwith

He's on the Loos Memorial,

Regards,

Graeme

[Colin W Taylor]

Graeme

He may well have been transferred to another RF battalion - likely to be 20th RF (3rd UPS) - there is another chap killed around this time whose unit was 18th attached 20th RF. I would presume those UPS men who didn't want to opt for commissions, as the 18th became an officer training unit prior to disbandment, were transferred elsewhere. 20th RF war diary has them being relieved on the 10th April and conducting training from 11th-17th. Presumably they may have not submitted a casualty return for Reginald until the end of the tour and he was killed in the preceding days?

I feel I should be able to provide more insight into this battalion, one of which I'm studying, than this. Of note, you can't extrapolate a date of enlistment from his service number - they were assigned en masse months after the men enlisted.

Kind regards

Colin

[GraemeClarke]

Hi Colin

Many thanks for that.

Funny you should mention Officers etc as when I was writing him up I was confused why he was not an officer. Good background, private school, expensive addresses etc.

Regards,

Graeme