D Company statistics 1915 (11th Service Battalion Border Regiment)
The following statistics are an analysis of 'D' Company of the 11th Battalion Border Regiment as identified on The Roll of NCO's and Men Proceeding Overseas, 1915, totalling 291 on the roll plus six Officers; casualties - killed and wounded. It is based on newspapers, the roll of honour, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and service records. The data is probably complete for those killed but is currently incomplete for those wounded.
Marital status & age
Marital status (Data for 245 men)
Age (Data for 289 men)
Single Married Men with children Married men killed Of whom had children
J. Howsen
Timmins
Elliott
Matthews
167 (68%)
78 (31%)
59 (24%)
17 (28%)
12
6 children
4 children
4 children
4 children
20 or under 20 to 30 30 or over Youngest Oldest
95 (32%)
135 (46%)
59 (20%)
18 years old
42 years old (Captain Dawson)
Location
(Data for 261 men)
Inside Cumbria
Outside Cumbria
Abbey Town
Aspatria (3)
Blennerhasset (5)
Brigham
Bullgill (5)
Carlisle (20)
Cleator Moor
Cockermouth
Dearham (2)
Distington
Fletchertown (4)
Flimby (2)
Great Broughton (2)
Gresouthen (2)
Irthington
Keswick
Lowca
Maryport (19)
Mawbray
Mealsgate
Millom
Nenthead
Oughterside (2)
Parton (2)
Penrith (4)
Plumbland
Silloth
Temple Sowerby
Wigton (4)
Whitehaven (10)
Workington (150)
Ashington
Birmingham
Bishop's Waltham
Canonbie (2)
Clapham
Glasgow
Lincoln
London
South Shields
Wadhurst
Location refers to birthplace or residence.
250 from Cumberland, 11 from outside, 36 unknown.
250 (95%) of D Company were from Cumberland and 219 (83%) from West Cumberland.
150 (57%) were from Workington.
226 (86%) were from towns or, exceptionally, cities.
Family relationships
Pte. William and Cpl. Thomas Beaty: brothers – both killed in action in 1917, Thomas at Nieuport.
Sgt. Alex Blezard brother in law to John McLuskey who was killed in action.
Pte. James and Pte. John Bragg: brothers. Both survived. James wounded 1st July & treated at Alnwick.
Cpl. James Culley, kia 18/11/1916 – two brothers serving Thomas in RASC & William HMS Bramble.
Thomas Edwards brother in law to Joseph Martin both killed on 1st July 1916.
Pte. Reuben Hetherington dow 14/7/1916. Brother Frank killed serving in RFA in 1915.
Pte. Thomas and Pte. Joseph Rumney: brothers – Joseph kia and Thomas wounded on 1st July 1916
Pte. Morrison Timmins (kia 1/7/1916) had four brother serving in forces.
2nd Lieut. Godfrey Tyname, kia 18/11/1916, had 2 brothers kia in 1917. William in 7th Battalion Canadian Infantry and Hugh in RN submarines.
Occupations
(Data for 243 men)
A to F
Analyst
Apprentice Engineer
Architect's Assistant (off.)
Barber
Blastfurnaceman (2)
Boilersmith
Boiler Cleaner
Brass Worker
Brazier
Brick Labourer
Bricklayer (2)
Butcher (6)
Carter (2)
Clerk (6)
Coke Worker (2)
Collector - Corpration Gas Dept.
Collier (21)
Colliery Pumperman
Commercial Traveller (2)
Commission Agent
Drapers Assistant (5)
Dentist
Engine Driver (3)
Engineer
Farmer (3)
Farm Servant (12)
Farm Worker
Fireman (Railway) (2)
G to L
Gamekeeper
Gardener
GasStoker
Grocer (4)
Groom
Hatter
Hotel Boots
Ironworker (3)
Insurance Agent
Joiner (2)
Labourer (27)
M to R
Machinist (2)
Mason
Miner (55)
Moulder
Motor Mechanic
Outfitter
Painter (4)
Picture Framer
Plasterer (3)
Platelayer (2)
Plumber
Police Constable (4)
Postman (2)
Printer
Railwayman
Railway Cleaner
Rivetter
S to Z
Sailor
Schoolmaster (2)
Shepherd
Shoemaker
Signalman
Solicitor
Stage Carpenter
Steelworker (18)
Stoker
Storeman
Tailor (2)
Tanner
Watchmaker
Weighman
Officers:
Twynam and Robinson, occupations unknown.
Barnes – Surveyor in Canada;
Corbett – Architect;
Dawson – Author and Traveller;
Hobson – Solicitor.
The majority of men worked in heavy industry – 128 (52%). This figure excludes labourers, 27 (%), of whom most would have worked in towns. At least 77 (31%) men worked in the local pits. Only 20 (8%) worked in traditional rural occupations. This was an urbanised, industrialised workforce reflecting the industrial nature of West Cumberland at the outbreak of the war.
Transfers to other units
In total 37 men (12%) on the original 1915 roll transferred out of the Company. Eight of these died.
Significant unit transfers:
Other Border Battalions (8)
Labour Corps (7)
Royal Engineers (5)
Commissioned (2)
Casualties
Total number of men on roll – 291 (plus six officers as additions)
Wounded
Died
Wounded
Somme wounded
SWB Awards
Officers
Other Ranks
Total known Somme Casualties killed and wounded
Total known casualties
66 (incomplete) (21%)
30 (27 on first day)
27
2
62
(24%)
170 (55%)
Killed in Action
Died of Wounds
Total Killed
Granatloch, 5th June 1916
The Somme, 1st July 1916
The Ancre, November 1916
Nieuport, July 1917
Officers
Other Ranks
1916
1917
1918
86
18
104 (34%)
5
42
18
8
4
100
74 (25%)
19 (6%)
11 (3%)
Notes
Wounded only includes men wounded and survived. Only counted once however many times wounded – many men were wounded several times. Doesn't include men who were later killed eg. A soldier wounded at The Ancre and then killed at Nieuport is only counted under KIA. (The exception being Somme wounded and killed - see separate figures.)
Figures for killed and died of wounds are likely to be accurate.
Figures for wounded are incomplete.
Should Granatloch casualties be added to overall Somme casualties?
The lists do not include names of men or casualties who joined after ‘D’ Company was posted overseas.
The data includes officers of ‘D’ Company. (All ‘D’ Coy. officers proceeding overseas in 1915 became casualties.)
