The Fourth Battalion, The King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) and the Great War

CHAPTER I.

Early Days.

The year 1914 will for ever be looked back upon as the most memorable in the history of the Battalion.

The outbreak of the Great War in the month of August of that year caused the Mobilization Scheme, over which for years past each succeeding Adjutant had, in his turn, burned much midnight oil in endeavours to bring up-to-date the efforts of his predecessor, to be put to the test.

On Sunday, August 2nd, of that year, the Battalion proceeded to Camp at Kirkby Lonsdale to undergo the usual fourteen days’ Annual Training as one of the units forming the West Lancashire Brigade of the Territorial Force. War and rumours of War then filled the air, and, upon arrival at Kirkby Lonsdale, a warning was issued by the Brigade Commander (Colonel G. L. Hibbert, D.S.O.) for the units composing the Brigade not to make themselves too comfortable, nor to make preparations for any lengthened stay, as orders had been received to detain the trains in which the troops had arrived, and further orders for the troops to return to their peace stations were hourly expected. These orders duly arrived in the early hours of Monday, August 3rd, and at 9.30 a.m. the Battalion started on its homeward journey, after the shortest Annual Training on record.

The Detachments proceeded to their various peace Headquarters, and the men were dismissed to their


 homes, with a warning that, in the event of the expected Mobilization taking place, they would be immediately recalled.

Germany having violated the neutrality of Belgium by attempting to utilize that country as a high road to Paris, Great Britain declared war on Germany on the 4th August, 1914, and on the night of the 4th/5th, orders were issued throughout the country for the Mobilization of the Territorial Force. The Mobilization telegram reached Headquarters about 6 p.m. on the 4th, and notices were at once issued, and the Battalion began to assemble at 5 a.m. on the 5th, for Medical Inspection. At 7 a.m. the Headquarter Companies had been medically inspected and at once left to guard the Kent and Leven Viaducts and by 4.30 p.m. that day, with the exception of the guards left by the Ulverston Detachment to protect the Kent and Leven Viaducts and by the Millom Detachment to protect the Duddon Viaduct, the Battalion had assembled in Barrow, and, under the command of the Officer Commanding Barrow Coast Defences, taken over important duties in connection with the protection of the works of Messrs. Vickers and the Harbour and Docks of the Furness Railway Company. Headquarters were established in the Holker Street Schools, and the surplus men, not required for guards, were billeted there.

Little of any importance or worthy of note occurred during the time the Battalion was stationed in Barrow, an air-raid scare, involving the standing to arms of all ranks for several hours in the middle of a very cold night, forming the only excitement.

The time was chiefly devoted to obtaining mobilization stores, ammunition and equipment (not forgetting transport, which, in these early stages of the war, was a most heterogeneous selection, varying from a milk float to a motor lorry, with water carts commandeered from the Local Authorities). The animals necessary for their haulage were an equally varied selection, including about every kind of “hairy” from a polo pony to a Clydesdale.


It was generally expected that the Battalion’s next move would be to Ireland, and the advance party started off for that destination on the morning of August 8th, only to be recalled from Liverpool later in the day, owing to an order having been received cancelling the move.

On the 10th the Battalion was relieved from all duties in connection with the Barrow Defences, these being taken over by another Battalion, and on the 11th orders were received to move to Ulverston that day. The Battalion left Barrow at 6.15 p.m. on the 11th, and proceeded by road to Ulverston, arriving about 9.15 p.m………………..