9th (Service) Battalion Border Regiment (Pioneers): Difference between revisions

Their journey started in the latter half of 1915 when, at a strength of 30 officers and 935 other ranks, they disembarked at Havre on the 4th September, making an early start to Amiens by train. Sometime during the evening they were ordered to detrain at Longueru and march from there to Flesselles, which at that point was the location of 22nd Division headquarters. There they stayed for a few days awaiting new orders before moving on to their next calling. However, whilst there conflicting orders were received and rumours were making the rounds as to probable moves. It wasn’t until the 11th September that they were in fact issued with orders to march to La Neuville where they were intended for attachment to the 18th Division for the sole purpose of Pioneer duties of every sort. Before the end of the month the 9th Battalion had moved several times via Herleville and Bayonvillers, working on orders given and sustaining their first casualties; one other rank wounded, 2nd Lieutenant A.F. Sandeman slightly wounded and 2nd Lieutenant Ogilvie was killed accidentally by rifle discharge.

In a timely manner, and as a result of these arrangements, new orders were given to the 9th Battalion to make their way back to Longueru where they were to entrain for Marseilles on the morning of the 26th October. Battalion strength at this time as thus: 29 officers and 860 other ranks. Two days later, when arriving at port the men embarked on the ''Egra'' (minus Captain Wilson and 62 other ranks including all the transport animals, who journeyed later on a different boat) and the following day steamed out of port to a new theatre of war.

The journey was quite uneventful and then men enjoyed good weather and calm seas all the way. When they arrived at Alexandria they had spent a week on ship. It was the 3rd November and orders were issued almost straight away for them to stand fast in the event of a change of destination. These orders, however, did not come through and the Battalion were to make their way as originally instructed; this they did the following day on the 4th leaving one man behind in hospital as a result of sickness. The 9th Border Regiment once again steamed out of port and were on their way to Salonika under strict orders to be vigilant owing to the reported sighting of enemy submarines in the Mediterranean’s eastern waters. As a precaution, during the night, all lights were shielded and the men were ordered to have their life-belts to hand at all times.

On New Year’s Eve, most likely at a time of celebration, if this was at all possible, the enemy decided to bomb their camp.

*[[9th Battalion at Salonika (1916)|The 9th Battalion at Salonika (1916)]]

*[[9th Battalion at Salonika (1917)|The 9th Battalion at Salonika (1917)]]

*[[9th Battalion at Salonika (1918)|The 9th Battalion at Salonika (1918)]]

For the 9th Battalion roll of honour, see [[9th Battalion Border Regiment Casualty List]].

The Battalion moved on the 20 October, 1918 to Stavros, on 28 October to Dedeagatch then back to Stavros on 13 November and following days. On the 16 January, 1919 the Battalion proceeded to Kukus then Janes on 7 March. On the 16 March, greatly reduced in strength, the Battalion embarked on HMT ''Katonia'' bound for Constantinople, where it remained until 10 November when all remaining officers and other ranks were posted as a draft to the 9th Battalion The King's Own Regiment.<ref>{{Wylly|pageno=p.257}}</ref>

==Second World War (1939-1945)==

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== References / notes ==

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[[Category:9th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers)]]