The Lonsdale Battalion Border Regiment, September 1914 to June 1915: Difference between revisions

On [[15 October|October 15th]] the West Cumberland recruits were transferred from Workington to Blackhall Camp. The Westmorland men remained at Kendal until [[5 January|January 5th]], 1915, when (the hutments at Blackhall being completed) they were brought to Headquarters by Colonel Haworth, and handed over, 280 strong, as “C” Company.▼

The command of the Lonsdale Battalion was given to Mr. [[Percy Wilfred Machell|P. W. Machell, C.M.G.]], of Crackenthorpe, with the temporary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel Machell in the Army from [[1 September|September 1st]], 1914. On [[17 October|October 17th]], 1914, Lieutenant-Colonel Machell proceeded, with the Orderly Room Staff and Lieutenant and Quartermaster Dawson, from Penrith to Blackhall. During October and November a great deal of hard spade work was done, and the foundations of the Battalion were well and truly laid in a spirit of practical patriotism, with every consideration for local feeling and good comradeship, and for the democratic ideals of the twentieth century worker. During these formative days of the Battalion’s earliest history it became clear to everyone in the Border Counties that this really was a Battalion of “Pals”, of comrades, and of Border men. From its Commanding Officer to the last joined recruit, all ranks worked together with a will, and in the friendliest spirit of unity, to make a Battalion which should eventually prove itself to be worthy of the best traditions of the British Army. There was here no suggestion of men working while the officers looked on. In the “Lonsdales” all realised that in this time of national emergency it behoved them to develop self-reliance to the utmost limit of their capacity. Lord Lonsdale’s unfailing generosity and watchful care were of the greatest possible value and assistance. The growing Battalion made its own non-commissioned officers; the Border Counties furnished its officers; and recruits, at the rate of some fourteen or fifteen a day, began to say that they would join the Lonsdales or nothing. The Battalion, in short, became an accomplished fact, a reality of Border Counties life.▼

Captain [[P. G. W. Diggle]], Border Regiment, was appointed Adjutant from [[3 December|December 3rd]], 1914; and R.Q.M.S. R. Stanley was Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant from [[27 October|October 27th]], 1914, until his appointment to a commission on [[22 February|22nd February]], 1915. A noteworthy personality in the Battalion’s period of early development was Colour-Sergt. Cowie (Border Regiment), who acted as Battalion Sergeant-Major from [[1 October|1st October]], 1914, to [[20 May|20th May]], 1915.▼

On [[3 January|January 3rd]], 1915, the Battalion attained a total strength of 1,152 non-commissioned officers and men.▼

By order of the War Office, conveyed in War Officer letter No.20/Infy./635 (A.G.1) dated [[3 December|3rd December]], 1914, the Lonsdale Battalion became the 11th (Service) Battalion, Border Regiment (Lonsdale). On the [[10 December|10th December]], 1914, the Battalion was attached to the 124th Infantry Brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General Collings. On the [[16 March|16th March]], 1915, the Battalion was transferred to the 112th Brigade, under Brigadier-General Mackenzie. On [[8 May|May 8th]], 1915, the Battalion left Blackhall for [[Prees Heath camp]], Salop, where it joined the 97th Infantry Brigade, under Brigadier-General Hacket Thompson, C.B., the other Battalions being the 15th, 16th and 17th Highland Light Infantry (1st, 2nd and 3rd Glasgow). On [[22 June|June 22nd]], 1915, the Battalion went under canvas at Wensley, in Yorkshire, where it was joined by the remainder of the Brigade.▼

The following is list of the officers of the Battalion at the present time (see right):-▼