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Remembered Today:

14th Batt. Highland Light Infantry.


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I have a birth cert. of my fathers brother. It states that their father Robert Wilson was a private in the 14th Batt. Highland Light Infantry. The cert. is dated 15/8/1918. It also has his occupation as Engine Fitter.

Would he have been a Reserve or Territorial Army person. Also where would he have been in the war, or was it a "home regiment".

I have tried to find his papaers at Kew and there is nothing on him on Ancestry, so I was hoping that someone could enlighten me about the 14th Battalions movemennts, especially as I can find no information anywhere.

Thanks in advance

Regards

Anne.

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Hi Anne,

the 14th (Service) Battalion HLI were formed at Hamilton in July 1915, as a Bantam battalion. Read here on the mother site about the service that the battalion saw,

cheers, Jon

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I have a birth cert. of my fathers brother. It states that their father Robert Wilson was a private in the 14th Batt. Highland Light Infantry. The cert. is dated 15/8/1918. It also has his occupation as Engine Fitter.

Would he have been a Reserve or Territorial Army person. Also where would he have been in the war, or was it a "home regiment".

I have tried to find his papaers at Kew and there is nothing on him on Ancestry, so I was hoping that someone could enlighten me about the 14th Battalions movemennts, especially as I can find no information anywhere.

Thanks in advance

Regards

Anne.

Anne,

The 14th Bn. HLI was not a reserve battalion nor a pre-war territorial battalion. It was a New Army battalion; one of Kitchener's Army. Originally it was recruited as a "Bantam" battalion; which meant that each recruit was no taller than 5'3". After the initial recruitment surge, the 14th took on some "normal" height men. Somewhere in in 1917, the battalion had so many replacements of normal (5'4" or more) height that it lost its Bantam designation. The original officers and nco's were not bantams.

The 14th saw all its service in France and Flanders. Depending on when your uncle enlisted or was drafted, he might have been a true bantam or a replacement of normal height. Does the birth certificate note the date that Robert Wilson ENTERED the army? If entry into the army was around the date of the certificate itself, he might not have gotten overseas at all. If he did however, he would have earned the silver British War Medal and the bronze Victory Medal if he had not also been awarded a bravery medal of some sort. The key is his date of army entrance.

Do you have his medals? If so, the serial number on the edge of his medals might give a clue. Possibly the birth certificate might have his serial number on it.

Hope this helps.

Brian

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Hello Brian,

Really sorry that I havent replied before. My computer has had a few hiccups.

It sounds like he could have been a Bantam, as his father was only 5 foot 3in. His sister was just 5 foot, and Dad was 5foot 5in. They all seemed to be quite small people.

It is weird as it only states on one birth cert about the Highland Light Infantry. Robert maried in 1917, Glasgow. He is listed as an Iron fitter, another birth in 1919 also states that he is an iron fitter so I dont think he ever went to war. There is are no other records to him being in the army at all.

I have been on Ancestry and cannot find any paperwork for him, so I am going to go too the National Archives soon to see if there are any papers for him there.

Many thanks for your help.

regards

Anne.

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  • 3 years later...

There is a website that I've found which is dedicated to the 14th Bn HLI at:

http://www.14hli.co.uk/

My grandfather, Pte 37091 Robert Lang, 14th Bn. HLI, was killed on 24 April, 1917 at Villers-Plouich, France, and is buried at Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery, France.

Hope this helps.

Kindest Regards,

Tom Lang.

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That's no plug. You have a superb website and I'll always 'recommend' it to anyone!

Kindest Regards,

Tom Lang.

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