1/4th Battalion (Territorial Force) Border Regiment (Cumberland & Westmorland)

History

This section requires expansion.  (August 2013)

File:1st-4th Border Regiment Maymyo, Burma (1915).jpg

1/4th Border Regiment Maymyo 1915

The 4th Border Regiment, along with its sister battalion the 5th Border Regiment, were both Territorial Force battalions. The 4th Battalion was mobilised on the 4th August 1914 and shortly after that sailed for India, however, it wasn't until the raising of the Battalion's reserve unit that it became known as the 1/4th Battalion Border Regiment, after which this was the Battalion's official title. The battalion, in Carlisle at the time, moved to Barrow and then in September was moved to Sittingbourne.

On the 29th September the 1/4th Battalion sailed from Southampton for India, its primarily role being to replace the regular 1st Battalion who were at that time stationed in Burma. When they arrived they were attached to the Burma Division and arrived at Rangoon in early December 1914. Both battalions of the Regiment met only very briefly for a duration of no more than twenty minutes as their trains stopped side by side in a remote area of India. The 1/4th Battalion spent the duration of the war stationed there. In February 1918 the Battalion transferred to the Jubbulpore Brigade in 5th (Mhow) Division.

Colonel Wylly, C.B., author of the The Border Regiment in the Great War (book), briefly writes his only account of their actions by stating:

Gallery

• 4th Battalion (soon to be 1/4th Bn) marching to Kendal Station, August 1914

  4th Battalion (soon to be 1/4th Bn) marching to Kendal Station, August 1914

• 1/4th Border Regiment Maymyo, 1915

  1/4th Border Regiment Maymyo, 1915

• 1/4th Border Regiment Band, Maymyo 1915

  1/4th Border Regiment Band, Maymyo 1915

• 1/4th Border Regiment Band, Maymyo (larger group with officers)

  1/4th Border Regiment Band, Maymyo (larger group with officers)

• 1/4th Border Regiment, Maymyo 1917

  1/4th Border Regiment, Maymyo 1917

The 2/4th and 3/4th Battalions in brief

The 2/4th Battalion, which was raised on the 24th October 1914 as a "second line" or home service battalion supplied many in number for the 1/4th Battalion on their departure to India. The battalion at this time was stationed at Kendal and then some time afterwards was stationed at Blackpool where they trained on the nearby beaches and countryside. German submarine activity at the mouth of the Mersey and in the Irish Channel also meant they had to patrol the coastline for possible dangers. They were billeted at South Shore and Battalion Headquarters was located at the Grand Hotel. Even though the 2/4th Battalion was a home service battalion, like the 1/4th battalion, they sailed for India and spent the duration of the war there.

The 3/4th Battalion was raised simply as a "third line" or depot / training battalion and did not see front-line action in any theatre of war.

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