Brighouse Chums

[SteveBarra]

I have just got hold of a book Brighouse 100 years ago which takes clips from the local paper from 100 years ago one clip follows

Brighouse "Chums"

Whilst the town hall pictures was offering "Nick Winters and the Mysterious Band", "The Making of a British Soldier" and special War films from the front, the Brighouse Chums Battalion was being formed. 300 strong by 16 October, they were to go next day, Saturday, on a route march to Halifax and, headed by the Regimental Band, to the football field for a recruiting appeal. A week later their number had risen to 700 and by 30 October the company was complete. They celebrated with a smoking concert at the Dril Hall in Wakefield Road. When they went on parade in November each Chum recived a brier pipe, the gift of J.F.Bottomley of Stoneleigh.

I live in Brighouse but have not heard of the Chums before does anyone have any details on them? did they all stick together as a battalion?

Steve Barraclough

[bigronhartley]

Hello Steve,

Traditionally, Brighouse was the base for a Company of the 4th Battalion West Riding Regiment (Territorial Force). The HQ for the 4th W Riding Regiment was based in Halifax. Around the locality there would have been active recruitment to establish the 2nd and 3rd line battalions during October and November. Is it possible to identify the Regimental Band from their cap badge ? Marching to Halifax for a recruiting appeal, followed by celebrations at the Drill Hall in Wakefield Road suggests the possibility that they were local Territorials. I have not heard of the Chums connected with Brighouse before. The only other possibility is the 12th KOYLI (Halifax Miners Battalion). Hope this is helpful.

Regards

Ron

[SteveE]

A quick "Google" suggests that the Brighouse Chums were part of the 4th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment.

Steve

[Tony Lund]

There was another unit based at Brighouse, but that was in 1915, when a new army artillery unit was raised in the Huddersfield area. Over eight hundred men were recruited for the 168th Brigade (Huddersfield), Royal Field Artillery’s four batteries, most of them during May. The batteries were split into four areas, A Battery, (the Huddersfield Battery) based at Huddersfield; B Battery, (the Calder Valley Battery), based at Brighouse; C Battery, (the Holme Valley Battery), based at Holmfirth; D Battery, (the Colne Valley Battery), based at Slaithwaite.

The four Batteries left for Ripon for training at Brigade level on Tuesday 13th of July, and sailed for France on 27th December 1915. Several casualties were reported during the artillery bombardment in the week prior to the 1st July 1916, obviously the Germans were shooting back.

Tony.

[bigronhartley]

Hello Tony,

Thanks for the information regarding the 168th Brigade (Huddersfield), I was aware of the connection with Huddersfield but not where the four batteries were based. Good information for trying to identify and locate photos of Artillerymen and units. Thanks again.

Regards

Ron