The East Lancashire Regiment was an Infantry Battalion that would have had an MG Section as part of its Battalion Headquarters.
The Great War
The MG Section would have been brigaded when the Machine Gun Corps was formed in 1915. The guns, and crews, would have been formed into a Machine Gun Company.
During the Great War, the Battalions were distributed as follows:
1st
The 1st Battalion was part of the 11th Brigade, attached to the 4th Division. It’s MG Section was transferred on 23 December 1915 to form the 11th Bde. MG Coy..
As a unit of the 4th Infantry Division, it will have taken part in the following battles and engagements.
| 1914 | |
| 25 August to 05 September | RETREAT FROM MONS [II. Corps, 26 to 30 August 1914, and III. Corps from 31 August 1914.] |
| 26 August | Battle of le Cateau [under II. Corps]. |
| 06 to 09 September | Battle of the Marne [III. Corps]. |
| 12 September | Crossing of the Aisne (11th Bde.). |
| 13 to 20 September | BATTLE OF THE AISNE [III. Corps]. |
| 13 October to 02 November | Battle of Armentieres [III. Corps]. |
| 13 October | Capture of Meteren |
| 1915 | |
| 25 April to 25 May | BATTLES OF YPRES [V. Corps, Second Army]. |
| 25 April to 04 May | Battle of St. Julien [V. Corps, Second Army, and from 28 April to 07 May in Plumer’s Force]. |
| 08 to 13 May | Battle of Frezenberg Ridge [V. Corps, Second Army]. |
| 24 and 25 May | Battle of Bellewaarde Ridge [V. Corps, Second Army]. |
2nd
The 2nd Battalion started the Great War as a member of the 24th Brigade, 8th Infantry Division.
As a unit of the 8th Infantry Division, its MG Section will have taken part in the following battles and engagements.
| 1914 | |
| The division had no existence before the outbreak of War. The first units to arrive (from Malta) assembled on Baddesley Common (near Southampton), and on 2nd October, 1914, Divisional H.Q. and available units moved to Hursley Park (near Winchester), where concentration ws effected. The arrival of the 2/E. Lanc. R. on the 30th October completed the division. The 12 infantry battalions had all been brought back from various overseas stations, viz: – India (3), S. Africa (1), Aden (1), Egypt (3), Malta (3), and Bermuda (1). The mounted troops included an existing yeomanry regiment and a cyclist company, which was formed on mobilization. The Field Artillery was made up by one Horse Artillery Bde. (3 batteries), and the two Field Artillery Bdes., which still remained at home. The two Heavy Batteries were new units formed at Woolwich after the outbreak of War, and the Field Companies came from Cairo and Gibraltar. The three Field Ambulances of the Wessex Division (T.F.) were used; and of the four A.S.C. Companies, one (41) came from Cairo and the other three were new formations.The division embarked at Southampton on the 4th and 5th November, and disembarked at Havre on the 6th and 7th; it began entraining for the Front on the 8th November, and completed its assembly around Merville by the 12th.
Throughout the remainder of the War the 8th Division served on the Western Front in France and Belgium, and was engaged in the following operations:- |
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| 18 December | Neuve Chapelle (Moated Grange Attack) [IV. Corps]. |
| 1915 | |
| 10 to 13 March | Battle of Neuve Chapelle [IV. Corps, First Army]. |
| 09 May | BATTLE OF AUBERS RIDGE |
| Attack at Fromelles [IV. Corps, First Army]. | |
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| 25 September | Bois Grenier [III. Corps, First Army]. |
The 24th Brigade transfered to the 23rd Division on 18 October 1915.
As a unit of the 23rd Infantry Division, its MG Section did not take part in any formal battles or engagements.
Its MG Section was transferred on 17 February 1916 to form the 23rd Bde. MG Coy..
4th
The 4th Battalion was part of the 126th Brigade, attached to the 42nd Division. It’s MG Section was transferred on 14 March 1916 to form the 126th Bde. MG Coy..
As a unit of the 42nd Infantry Division, it will have taken part in the following battles and engagements.
| MOBILIZATION, BATTLES, AND ENGAGEMENTS | |
| The division – an existing T.F. division – was drawn from Manchester and Salford and the Cotton and Colliery Towns of East Lancashire, with the divisional headquarters in Manchester. The twelve infantry battalions came from Bury, Rochdale, Salford (2), Blackburn, Burnley, Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Wigan, and Manchester (3). The artillery was very scattered: headquarters was at Nantwich (Cheshire); the I.E.Lanc.Bde. had its headquarters, one battery, and its ammunition column at Blackburn, with two outlying batteries at Church and Burnley; and the III.E.Lanc.Bde. was concentrated at Bolton. (The other two artillery brigades of the division did not go overseas until June, 1915. In 1914 the II.E.Lanc.Bde. was concentrated in Manchester, and the IV.E.Lanc.(How.)Bde. was at Carlisle, with an outlying battery at Workington.) There was no divisional ammunition column at the outbreak of the Great War. Except the heavy battery (which came from Liverpool) the remainder of the division – field companies, signla company, field ambulances, and the Divnl. T. and S. Column – came from Manchester.The order to mobilize was received at 5-30pm on the 4th August, and units were billeted within reach of their respective headquarters. On the 10th August the Territorial Force was invited to volunteer for foreign service; and, on the 20th, the division, having accepted the liability, moved out into camps for training. On the 5th September, the division was warned that it would be sent to Egypt. On the 9th it began to entrain for Southampton, and the first transport sailed on the 10th. The East Lancashire Division possesses the proud distinction of being the first division of the Territorial Force to leave England for foreign service.
The division began its disembarkation at Alexandria on the 25th September. The Manchester Inf. Bde. (less 1½ battalions) remained at Alexandria. This brigade sent a half-battalion to garrison Cyprus and one battalion to Khartoum. The rest of the division concentrated around Cairo for training. Towards the end of October some detachments were sent to strengthen the Canal Zone, and on the 5th November Great Britain declared war against Turkey. |
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| 1914 | |
| 1915 | |
| On the 1st May the division began to embark at Alexandria for Gallipoli. The first transports left on the 2nd and the last followed on the 6th. By the evening of the 9th, Divnl. H.Q., and all the infantry had landed at Helles. The strength embarking for Gallipoli was 14,224 all ranks, with 24 15-pdr. B.L.C. guns, and 24 machine guns. | |
| THE BATTLES OF HELLES | |
| 4 June | Third Battle of Krithia [VIII. Corps]. |
| 6 to 13 August | Krithia Vineyard [VIII. Corps]. |
| On 26th December the divison was ordered to prepare to leave Helles. Between 27 to 31 December the division (with the S.E.Mtd.Bde.) reached Mudros (less the Divisional Artillery, detnt. of R.E., and 1st and 3rd Fd. Ambces., which were all attached to the 13th Divison, and with it took part in the Evacuation of Helles, 7th/8th January, 1916). | |
| 1916 | |
| The Division embarked for Egypt between 12-16 January and concentrated at Mena on 22nd January, its effective strength on this day was 6,669 all tanks. On 29th January the division began to take over part of the IX. Corps front, Canal Defences. | |
5th
The 5th Battalion was part of the 126th Brigade, attached to the 42nd Division. It’s MG Section was transferred on 14 March 1916 to form the 126th Bde. MG Coy..
As a unit of the 42nd Infantry Division, it will have taken part in the following battles and engagements.
| MOBILIZATION, BATTLES, AND ENGAGEMENTS | |
| The division – an existing T.F. division – was drawn from Manchester and Salford and the Cotton and Colliery Towns of East Lancashire, with the divisional headquarters in Manchester. The twelve infantry battalions came from Bury, Rochdale, Salford (2), Blackburn, Burnley, Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Wigan, and Manchester (3). The artillery was very scattered: headquarters was at Nantwich (Cheshire); the I.E.Lanc.Bde. had its headquarters, one battery, and its ammunition column at Blackburn, with two outlying batteries at Church and Burnley; and the III.E.Lanc.Bde. was concentrated at Bolton. (The other two artillery brigades of the division did not go overseas until June, 1915. In 1914 the II.E.Lanc.Bde. was concentrated in Manchester, and the IV.E.Lanc.(How.)Bde. was at Carlisle, with an outlying battery at Workington.) There was no divisional ammunition column at the outbreak of the Great War. Except the heavy battery (which came from Liverpool) the remainder of the division – field companies, signla company, field ambulances, and the Divnl. T. and S. Column – came from Manchester.The order to mobilize was received at 5-30pm on the 4th August, and units were billeted within reach of their respective headquarters. On the 10th August the Territorial Force was invited to volunteer for foreign service; and, on the 20th, the division, having accepted the liability, moved out into camps for training. On the 5th September, the division was warned that it would be sent to Egypt. On the 9th it began to entrain for Southampton, and the first transport sailed on the 10th. The East Lancashire Division possesses the proud distinction of being the first division of the Territorial Force to leave England for foreign service.
The division began its disembarkation at Alexandria on the 25th September. The Manchester Inf. Bde. (less 1½ battalions) remained at Alexandria. This brigade sent a half-battalion to garrison Cyprus and one battalion to Khartoum. The rest of the division concentrated around Cairo for training. Towards the end of October some detachments were sent to strengthen the Canal Zone, and on the 5th November Great Britain declared war against Turkey. |
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| 1914 | |
| 1915 | |
| On the 1st May the division began to embark at Alexandria for Gallipoli. The first transports left on the 2nd and the last followed on the 6th. By the evening of the 9th, Divnl. H.Q., and all the infantry had landed at Helles. The strength embarking for Gallipoli was 14,224 all ranks, with 24 15-pdr. B.L.C. guns, and 24 machine guns. | |
| THE BATTLES OF HELLES | |
| 4 June | Third Battle of Krithia [VIII. Corps]. |
| 6 to 13 August | Krithia Vineyard [VIII. Corps]. |
| On 26th December the divison was ordered to prepare to leave Helles. Between 27 to 31 December the division (with the S.E.Mtd.Bde.) reached Mudros (less the Divisional Artillery, detnt. of R.E., and 1st and 3rd Fd. Ambces., which were all attached to the 13th Divison, and with it took part in the Evacuation of Helles, 7th/8th January, 1916). | |
| 1916 | |
| The Division embarked for Egypt between 12-16 January and concentrated at Mena on 22nd January, its effective strength on this day was 6,669 all tanks. On 29th January the division began to take over part of the IX. Corps front, Canal Defences. | |
6th
The 6th Battalion was part of the 38th Brigade, attached to the 13th (Western) Division.
As a unit of the 13th (Western) Infantry Division, it will have taken part in the following battles and engagements.
| This New Army Division had no existence before the outbreak of the Great War.A proclamation was issued on the 11th August, 1914 asking for an immediate addition of 100,000 men to the Regular Army (see Appendix). Army Order No. 324 of the 21st August (amended by Army Order No. 382 of the 11th September) authorized the addition of six divisions (9th to 14th) and Army Troops to the Regular Army. This augmentation formed the First New Army, and late in August, 1914 the 13th (Western) Division began to assemble.
The infantry brigades first assembled on Salisbury Plain. In September and October the 40th Brigade moved to Chisledon and Cirencester; and in January 1915 the 39th Brigade moved to Basingstoke. By the end of February the 13th Division concentrated for its final intensive training at Blackdown, near Farnborough; equipment and arms were now practically complete and the artillery and enginees had joined the division. Divisional field manoevres were undertaken. On the 7th June, 1915 the Division received orders to prepare to move to the Mediterranean theatre of war. The motor bicycles and all mechanical transport (except 4 motor cars) were withdrawn; and, except in the artillery, engineers, and signal company, first reinforcements were not to proceed with the Division. On the 10th June embarkation orders were received and the first transports sailed on the 13th. Immediately before embarkation a third machine gun was issued to each infantry battalion). On the 16th June a message to the 13th Division was received from H.M. the King, and on the 18th Divisional Headquarters sailed from Avonmouth. Alexandria was reached on the 28th and headquarters landed at Mudros on the 4th July. Between the 6th and 16th July the infantry of the Division crossed to Helles and relieved the 29th Division on the left of the line. The infantry returned to Mudros at the end of the month, and between 3rd to 5th August the 13th Division landed at Anzac. Thereafter, and for the remainder of the Great War, the 13th (Western) Division served in Gallipoli, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, and was engaged in the following operations: |
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| 1915 | |
| BATTLES OF SUVLA | |
| 06 to 10 August | Battle of Sari Bair [Godley’s Force]. |
| 07 August | Russell’s Top (8/Ches. and 8/R.W.F.). |
| 27 and 28 August | Hill 60, Anzac (4/S.W.B.) [Cox’s Force]. |
| After the evacuation of Suvla the 13th Division concentrated at Mudros, and between 27 and 31 December Divisional Headquarters and the infantry of the Division (less 38th Inf. Bde.) moved from Mudros to Helles and took over the Left Section of VIII Corps Front Line. | |
| 1916 | |
| 07 January | Last Turkish Attacks at Helles [VIII Corps]. |
| Night, 08/09 January | Evacuation of Helles [VIII Corps]. |
| After leaving Helles the 13th Division went to Mudros until 18 January 1916′ on this day the Division began to embark for Egypt, and by 31 January 1916 the whole Division concentrated at Port Said. The Division then held posts on the Suez Canal. On 08 February 1916 orders were received for the 13th Division to move to Mesopotamia, and on 12 February 1916 the Suez Canal posts were handed over to the Ayrshire Yeomanry and Lanarkshire Yeomanry. On the same day the first troops of 13th Division left Port Said by rail for Suez, embarked at Suez on the 13th, sailed on the 14th, and disembarked at Basra on the 27th February. On the 2nd March the Division began to move by river up the Tigris, on the 13th March divisional headquarters reached Shaikh Saad, and by the 27th March the whole Division had arrived at Shaikh Saad (less 7/Glouc., of 39th Bde. segregated for fever at Basra; 7/Glouc. rejoined 13th Division on 19 April 1916). On 02 April 1916, 13th Division took over a portion of Tigris Corps Front and became engaged in the third attempt to relieve Kut al Imara. From this time until the end of the Great War the 13th Division served in Mesopotamia and was engaged in the following operations: | |
| THIRD ATTEMPT TO RELIEVE KUT AL IMARA | |
| 05 April | Capture of Hanna and Fallahiya [Tigris Corps]. |
| 09 April | Second Attack on Sanniyat [Tigris Corps]. |
| 17 and 18 April | Bait ‘Isa [Tigris Corps]. |
| 22 April | Third Attack on Sanniyat [Tigris Corps]. |
It’s MG Section was amalgamated with those of the other Battalions in the Brigade to form a Provisional Brigade MG Company. This was then amalgamated with into the 38th MG Coy. which was formed on 24 October 1916 at Amara.
7th
The 7th Battalion was part of the 56th Brigade, attached to the 19th (Western) Division.
As a unit of the 19th (Western) Infantry Division, it will have taken part in the following battles and engagements.
| FORMATION, BATTLES, AND ENGAGEMENTS | |
| This New Army Division has no existence before the outbreak of the Great War.Army Order No. 285 of the 11th September 1914 authorized the further addition of six divisions (15th to 20th) and Army Troops to the Regular Army. This augmentation formed the Second New Army, and during September 1914 the 19th (Western) Division began to assemble near Bulford.
At first the infantry brigades were camped at Tidworth, Ludgershall, and Grately. In December, the brigades went into comfortable billets at Andover and Whitchurch, Basingstoke, and Weston-Super-Mare. The early discomforts and difficulties were similar to those which were experienced by all the divisions of the New Armies, consequently a few D.P. rifles were received with enthusiasm. By March 1915 the Division was clothed in khaki and a great advance had been made in training. During March the Division concentrated around Tidworth to begin its final preparation for the field, and regimental training was completed by mid-May. On the 7th June the 19th Division first operated together as a complete division, and between the 12th and 18th June the 19th Division Artillery carried out its first gun-practice. On Wednesday, the 23rd June, the 19th Division was inspected by H.M. The King; and, at the end of the parade, His Majesty said to the General-Officer-Commanding: “Your Division is as good as anything I have seen in the New Army.” On the 11th July the advanced party of the 19th Division left for France, on the 16th the Division began to move, and by the 21st July it had crossed to France and completed its concentration near St. Omer. For the remainder of the Great War the 19th Division served on the Western Front in France and Belgium and was engaged in the following operations:- |
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| 1915 | |
| 25 September to 02 October | Battle of Loos [Indian Corps, First Army]. |
| 25 September | Action of Pietre |
It’s MG Section was likely to have been sent to Grantham for retraining and subsequently transferred into the 56th Bde. MG Coy. which disembarked at le Havre on 09 February 1816 and joined the Division on 14 February 1916.
Inter-war Period
In 1922, the Machine Gun Corps was disbanded and the guns returned to the Infantry Battalion as a Machine Gun Platoon and then formed as a Machine Gun Company in the early 1930s.
Second World War
This remained until the formation of Divisional Machine Gun Battalions in 1936 where guns were brigaded once again.
Post-Second World War
Upon the disbandment of Divisional Machine Gun Battalions in the post-WW2 restructure of the British Army, the Vickers Machine Gun assets reverted to individual Battalions as part of the Support Company as a Machine Gun Platoon.
