New Army Service Battalions

[Private Wilkinson]

Does anyone know which was the first New Army Service battalion to reach France, and when was this? Thanks.

[Lee Smart]

The 6th Bn East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) was a Service Bn 'raised' in Aug 1914...with most of the manpower recruited in September...from the 30 August to the 5th September 1914 174,901 men were attested into the British Army in response to Kitchener's call. This was the highest number of new recruits in any one week for the whole war! By the end of September Kitchener had raised enough manpower for a full Eighteen Divisions of Infantry.

After undergoing Training at various locations (including Purfleet and Aldershot) 6th Bn The Buffs arrived in France on the 1st/2nd June 1915.

I don't know if they were the first - more likely one of a number of the Service battalions together being rushed to the front to back-fill some of the losses sustained during the 2nd battle of Ypres - but likely to be amongst the first with only really some ten months of training.

Apparently Kitchener's original intent was for the New Army to be thoroughly trained for deployment in 1916 but the significant losses at the front meant that everything quickly became 'shifted to the left' (brought forward). Once in France they conducted more training as well as holding some of the trenches, relieving other units during the quiet defensive period of July and August when all sides were licking their woods and regrouping after Ypres  - but it was only really at the Battle of Loos where Kitcheners' Service Battalions were first properly and fully launched into battle - with significant bravery and appalling losses to match.

[stiletto_33853]

I believe the 9th Division were the first New Army Service battalions overseas, going overseas from 9th to 12th May 1915. The 14th Division (originally the 8th Div before troops came back from overseas) went overseas between 19th and 21st May 1915 although that date had been put back from earlier May 15 dates. So the 9th, soldiers rumours in the 14th Div put the delay down to U-Boat activity.

 

Andy

Edited 7 July , 2022 by stiletto_33853