Original Fourteenth Corps?

[BeppoSapone]

I have just picked up a menu for the 1918 Xmas Dinner of the Signal Coy of HQ 14th Corps.

This opens out to show a very nice black and white panorama of Trissino, so that must have been where they were based.

On the back is a little poem entitled "Ricordo 1918", which says that the 14th Corps in Italy was not the original:

"There was a Fourteenth corps before/But we are not that Corps"

So, does anyone know anything about the original 14th Corps?

[Graham Stewart]

Beppo,

Yes there was an original XIV Corps which was formed in France and served on the Western Front from January 1916 and then moved to Italy in November 1917 and served in the Montallo Sector of the Piave front in the December.

On 18th April 1918 XIV Corps merged in and became G.H.Q. British Force, Italy under Lt-Gen the Earl of Cavan.

In October 1918 XIV Corps was reformed and served in the Italian Tenth Army alongside the Italian XI Corps. The XIV Corps took part in the final Italian offensive at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto.

Graham.

[BeppoSapone]

Thanks Graham, very clearly explained.

Fourteen Corps had been reformed for just a couple of months when the card was printed/poem was written. This must be why they mention it.

[belgotim]

The exact text of this in XIV Corps War Diary reads:

"20/04/1918:

Under authority D.A. & Q.M.G British Forces in Italy A/165/37 the title of XIV Corps is abolished. A.D Signals, XIV Corps becomes A.D. Signals, G.H.Q. Italy, “J” Corps Signal Co. R.E. designated G.H.Q. Signal Company Italy, and XIV Corps Heavy Artillery Signal Section, - Signals, Heavy Artillery, G.H.Q. Italy."

I am researching Thomas and Sydney Baines (brothers) who both were sappers in "J" Corps Signals Coy. (later Signals Company, G.H.Q. Italy).