Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)

The Infantry Branch of the Machine Gun Corps was formed in October 1915 as one of the three initial branches. The following section describes how it develop

In November, 1915, machine-gun sections were withdrawn from Infantry battalions overseas and formed into machine-gun companies, one of which was attached to each brigade. At the same time, a Machine-Gun Training Centre was formed at Grantham for the purposes of training and supplying reinforcements for machine-gun companies in the field, and raising new machine-gun companies. As these new companies were raised and trained they were sent to the various theatres, and the numbers of machine-gun companies in each division was increased to four. In March, 1918, it was decided to form these four companies into a machine-gun battalion and to attach one machine-gun battalion to each division. This reorganisation was carried into effect in France and Italy, and, with certain modifications, in Egypt, but not in the other theatres of war. The machine-gun battalion in Egypt had an establishment of a headquarters and three companies only.

Strength

The strength of the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) was recorded from February, 1916, until March, 1920, on a month-by-month basis.

At its peak, in October, 1918, it consisted of 5,852 officers and 114,910 other ranks – a total of 120,772 all ranks. A more detailed analysis is available on the MGC strength page.

The Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) comprised of Companies until they were formed into Battalions.

Companies

Prior to the formation of MG Battalions, a Machine Gun Company was attached to each Infantry Brigade and their subsequent Division. Each company has a dedicated page accessed by clicking the company number below. There were also some lettered companies (X and Z) listed at the end of the numbered companies.

1st to 50th MG Companies

51st to 100th MG Companies

101st to 150th MG Companies

151st to 200th MG Companies

201st to 250th MG Companies

251st to 288th and lettered MG Companies

Battalions

In 1918, the MG Companies were combined and formed into Machine Gun Battalions and directly attached to Infantry Divisions rather than Brigades.  The exact date of amalgamation depended upon the Division concerned and the theatre of operations – some companies did not become part of Battalions at all. Each battalion has a dedicated page accessed by clicking on the number.

Some battalions were known as, for example, ‘Number 1 Battalion’ rather than ‘1st Battalion.’

Administration

After the initial Army Order 414 of October 1915, there were a number of other Army Orders issued that clarified certain aspects of administration or dealt with pay-related matters.

In 1916, these included:

Machine Gun Corps.

GEORGE R.I.

WHEREAS WE deem it expedient to provide rates of pay for certain artificers in the Infantry Branch of Our Machine Gun Corps formed under Our Warrant of 14th October, 1915;

OUR WILL AND PLEASURE IS that Fitters and Shoeing-Smiths in the Infantry Branch of Our Machine Gun Corps shall receive regimental pay at the rates of 2s. and 2s. 8d. a day respectively.

Given at Our Court at St. James’s, this 8th day of April, 1916, in the 6th year of Our Reign.

By His Majesty’s Command,

KITCHENER.

Army Order 150 of May 1916.

Saddlers in Machine-Gun Corps.

GEORGE R.I.

WHEREAS WE deem it expedient to provide a rate of pay for saddlers in the Infantry Branch of Our Machine-Gun Corps formed under Our Warrant of 14th October, 1915;

OUR WILL AND PLEASURE IS that saddlers in the Infantry Branch of Our Machine-Gun Corps shall receive regimental pay at the rate of 1s. 9 1/2d. a day.

Given at Our Court at St. James’s, this 5th day of June, 1916, in the 7th year of Our Reign.

By His Majesty’s Command,

A. BONAR LAW.

Army Order 219 of July 1916.

Further changes to the pay of artificers took in place in 1918 with Army Order 257.

I. Pay of Artificers in the Machine-Gun Corps and the Guards Machine-Gun Regiment.

GEORGE R.I.

WHEREAS WE deem it expedient to provide rates of pay for certain artificers in the Infantry Branch of Our Machine-Gun Corps, formed under Our Warrant of 14th October, 1915, and Our Guards Machine-Gun Regiment, formed under Our Warrant of 8th May, 1918;

OUR WILL AND PLEASURE IS that fitter staff-serjeants, farrier staff-serjeants, fitter serjeants, farrier serjeants and shoeing-smith corporals of the Infantry Branch of Our Machine-Gun Corps and of Our Guards Machine-Gun Regiment shall receive regimental pay at the following daily rates:-

Fitter staff-serjeant … 3s. 7d.

Farrier staff-serjeant … 3s. 4d.

Fitter serjeant … 3s. 2d.

Farrier serjeant … 2s. 10d.

Shoeing-smith corporal … 2s. 2d.

Farrier staff-serjeants, farrier serjeants and shoeing-smith corporals as such in Our Household Cavalry and transferred to Our Guards Machine-Gun Regiment on its formation shall continue to draw the Household Cavalry rates for these appointments.

OUR FURTHER WILL AND PLEASURE IS that fitter serjeants and farrier serjeants, after three years’ service as such, shall be eligible for appointment to fitter staff-serjeant or farrier staff-serjeant respectively, under conditions prescribed by Articles 814 and 817 of Our Warrant for the Pay, Appointment, Promotion and Non-effective Pay of Our Army, dated the 1st December, 1914.

Given at Our Court at St. James’s, this 8th day of August, 1918, in the 9th year of Our Reign.

By His Majesty’s Command,

MILNER.

Army Council’s Instruction on the above Warrant.

For the remaining period of the present war the rates laid down in the above Warrant shall be increased by 3. per diem, in accordance with paragraph 4 of the Warrant of the 3rd December, 1917, published as Army Order 1 of 1918.

Army Order 257 of September 1918.

There was also a change to allow signalling instructors to be appointment to the battalions of the Corps.

Appointment of Signalling Instructors in Battalions of the Machine Gun Corps and Guards Machine Gun Regiment. – The following temporary amendment (for the period of the war) is made to paragraph 707, King’s Regulations:-

In each of the undermentioned units, the following proportion of officers and non-commissioned officer who have qualified at an Army Signal School will be appointed as instructors and assistant instructors.

1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions, Guards Machine Gun Regiment … 1 officer, 1 serjeant per battalion.

4th Battalion, Guards Machine Gun Regiment … 1 serjeant per battalion.

Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), (Serving in France and Italy) … 1 serjeant per battalion.

Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), (Serving in Salonika, Egypt and Mesopotamia) … 1 officer, 1 serjeant per battalion.

Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), (Army Troops Battalions) … 1 officer, 1 serjeant per battalion.

Army Order 379 of December 1918.

Disbandment

The administrative run-down of the Corps included the cancellation of the Mobilization Stores Tables (Army Forms G1098) for the different units in April 1922, including:

  • Army Form G1098-417, “Mechanical Transport Section for an Army Troop, Machine Gun Battalion.”
  • Army Form G1098-418, “Army Troops, Machine Gun Battalion (France).”

Sources