Transfers of formed companies between Regts.

[manxman]

The 7th Volunteer Battalion, King's Liverpool Regiment survived the 1908 reforms due to the Isle of Man's constitutional position. On the outbreak of war it seems that this unit was under strength (when compared to other Battalions). A unit entitled "1st Manx Service Company" was raised in March 1915 for overseas service (from volunteers from the battalion) and was transferred to the 16th Battalion, King's Liverpool. It was subsequently transferred en masse to the 3rd Battalion, the Cheshire Regt. and subsequently was sent to Salonika (Jan 1916), where it again was transferred en masse, to the 2nd Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment. It displaced "A" company, whose men were dispersed to the other companies within the unit. Though now A company, it apparently continued to be known as the Manx company.

My question is this, is it very unusual for a formed company to be transferred between regiments (or indeed battalions within a Regiment)?

In this particular case it was a company of "amateurs" joined a regular unit.

(A second service company was raised, but this was broken up and the men were sent piecemeal to a variety of units)

[Guest Ian Bowbrick]

Germane to your question, but maybe not quite answering it, when the Labour Corps was formed in April 1917, the Infantry Labour Companies of all Regiments were transferred to it and re-numbered as Coys of the Labour Corps. The soldiers were also re-numbered.

Ian

[Ivor Lee]

Ian

Don't forget Regimental Labour and Works Battalions (except 30th & 31st Middlesex Regiment) also ASC & RE Labour Companies were also transferred to the Labour Corps.

[Guest Ian Bowbrick]

Ivor,

Sorry I was talking from a rather personal viewpoint!!

Apologies to the lads that I forgot

Ian.

[charlesmessenger]

The same happened to the two Shetland Companies of the Gordons TF, who joined a bn of the Gordons in France as part of 51st Division.

I have also come across an April 1918 case, where E Coy 52nd Notts and Derby, which was made up of A4 boys, was sent en masse to the 10th Lincolns, but I suspect that the coy was broken up on arrival at its new unit.

Charles M