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To trace the movements and actions of any battalion, click on the Divisions with which it served
Battalions of the regular army
1st Battalion:
August 1914 : in Londonderry. Part of 15th Brigade, 5th Division. Landed at Le Havre 16 August 1914.
2nd Battalion:
August 1914 : in Jubbulpore, India. Returned
to England, landing at Devonport on 24 December 1914. Aattached to
84th Brigade, 28th Division at Winchester. Landed
at Le Havre 17 January 1915.
12 January 1916 : the 1st Manx (Service)
Company joined and became 'A' Company.
3rd (Reserve) Battalion:
August 1914 : in Chester. Remained in UK throughout
the war, providing drafts for other battalions. Regimental depot remained
at Chester while battalion moved to war station at Birkenhaed, to play
part in Mersey Defences. Moved in 1917 to Newscastle, in May 1918 to
Seaton Carew and in September 1918 to West Hartlepool, as part of Tees
Garrison.
Battalions of the Territorial Force
1/4th Battalion:
August 1914 : in
Birkenhead. Part of Cheshire Brigade, Welsh Division. Moved immediately
on mobilisation to Shrewsbury and Church Stretton but by the end of
August 1914 had moved to Northampton. In December 1914 moved again to
Cambridge and by March 1915 was at Bedford.
13 May 1915 : formation
became 159th Brigade, 53rd Division.
Sailed in July 1915 from Devonport, going via Alexandria to Gallipoli
where it landed on 9 August 1915.
31 May 1918
: left the Division and moved to France.
1 July 1918 : attached to 102nd
Brigade, 34th Division.
2/4th Battalion:
Formed
at Birkenhead on 9 September 1914 as a home service ("second line")
unit. Moved to Aberystwyth.
March
1915 : attached to 204th Brigade, 68th
Division at Northampton but was at Bedford by August 1915.
8 December 1915 : absorbed
by 2/7th Bn.
1/5th (Earl of Chester's) Battalion:
August 1914 : in Chester. Part of Cheshire
Brigade, Welsh Division. Moved immediately
on mobilisation to Shrewsbury and Church Stretton but by the end of
August 1914 had moved to Northampton. In December 1914 moved again to
Cambridge.
15 February 1915 : left the Division and landed
at Le Havre.
19 February 1915 : attached to 14th Brigade, 5th
Division.
29 November 1915 : converted to Pioneer Bn to the Division.
13 February 1916 : transferred to 56th Division.
2/5th (Earl of Chester's) Battalion:
Formed
at Chester on 28 November 1914 as a home service ("second
line") unit.
18 February
1915 : replaced 1/5th Bn in Chester Brigade,
Welsh Division at
Cambridge.
22 April 1915 : transferred to 204th
Brigade, 68th Division at Northampton. Moved to Bedford in August 1915
and on to Lowestoft in mid 1916. In 1917 moved to Westelton and later
to Bury St Edmunds.
21 April
1918 : disbanded in UK.
1/6th Battalion:
August 1914 : in Stockport. Part of Cheshire
Brigade, Welsh Division.
10 November 1914 : left the Division and landed
in France.
17 December 1914 : attached to 15th Brigade, 5th
Division.
1 March 1915 : transferred to GHQ and spent several months
on guard and other duties at Rouen, Abbeville and Dieppe.
9 January 1916
: transferred to 20th Brigade, 7th Division.
29
February 1916 : transferred to 118th Brigade, 39th
Division.
28 May 1918 : transferred to 75th Brigade, 25th
Division.
17 June 1918 : absorbed men of the 11th Bn, which was reduced
to cadre.
8 July 1918 : transferred to 21st Brigade, 30th
Division.
> Extract from battalion war diary
2/6th Battalion:
Formed at Stockport on 7 September 1914
as a home service ("second line") unit.
22 November 1914 : replaced 1/6th Bn in Chester Brigade, Welsh
Division at Northampton. Moved to Cambridge in December 1914.
22 April 1915 : transferred to 204th Brigade, 68th Division.
Moved to Bedford in August 1915.
22 November 1915 : absorbed the 2/5th Bn, the Welsh
Regiment. Moved to Lowestoft in September 1916, thence to Yarmouth
in March 1917 and Southwold in July 1917.
11 September 1917 : disbanded in UK.
1/7th Battalion:
August 1914 : in Macclesfield. Part of
Cheshire Brigade, Welsh Division. Moved immediately
on mobilisation to Shrewsbury and Church Stretton but by the end of
August 1914 had moved to Northampton. In December 1914 moved again to
Cambridge.
13 May 1915 : formation became 159th
Brigade, 53rd Division. Sailed in July 1915 from
Devonport, going via Alexandria to Gallipoli where it landed on 9 August
1915.
31 May 1918 : left the
Division and moved to France.
1 July 1918 : attached to 102nd Brigade, 34th
Division.
2/7th Battalion:
Formed at Macclesfield on 10 October 1914
as a home service ("second line") unit.
March 1915 : attached to 204th Brigade, 68th Division at Northampton.
Moved in August 1915 to Bedford.
8 December 1915 : absorbed the 2/4th Bn. Moved to Lowestoft in September
1916, thence to Wrentham in May 1917 and Southwold by March 1918.
31 March 1918 : disbanded in UK.
3/4th to 3/7th Battalions:
Formed in Birkenhead, Chester, Stockport
and Macclesfield in March 1915, respectively. All moved to Oswestry.
8 April 1916 : became 4th
- 7th Reserve Bns.
1 September 1916 : 4th absorbed the 5th, 6th and 7th
Bns., in Welsh Reserve Brigade. By April 1918 had moved to Kinmel Park
(Rhyl) and by August 1918 was at Whitstable.
23rd Battalion:
Originally created as the 46th Provisional Bn in June 1915 and manned by "home service only" men sent from the 2/4th and 2/5th Bns. Moved to Happisburgh. On 1 January 1917, became 23rd Bn TF. Moved to Bacton in late 1917 but returned to Happisburgh by April 1918. 27 April 1918 : became a Garrison Guard Bn. 21 May 1918 : landed at Calais. 21 May 1918 : attached to 178th Brigade, 59th Division. 19 June 1918 : transferred to 121st Brigade, 40th Division, and the Garrison Guard title discontinued.
Battalions of the New Armies
8th (Service) Battalion:
Formed at Chester on 12 August 1914 as part of K1 and attached to 40th Brigade, 13th (Western) Division. Moved to Tidworth but by October 12914 was at Chisledon. In February 1915 moved to Pirbright and in June 1915 embarked for Egypt and thence to Gallipoli.
9th (Service) Battalion:
Formed at Chester on 13 September 1914 as part of K2 and attached to 56th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. Moved to Salisbury Plain and by December 1914 was in billets in Basingstoke. Returned to Salisbury Plain in March 1915 and landed at Boulogne 19 July 1915.
10th (Service) Battalion:
Formed at Chester on 10 September 1914 as part of K3 and attached to 75th Brigade, 25th Division. Moved to Codford St Mary and by November 1914 was in billets in Bournemouth. Moved to Aldershot in May 1915 and landed at France on 26 September 1915.
26 October 1915 : transferred to 7th Brigade, 25th Division.
21 June 1918 : reduced to cadre strength and main body of personnel transferred to 9th Bn. Cadre returned to England and moved to Aldershot.
July 1918 : absorbed by 15th Bn, South Wales Borderers at North Walsham.
11th (Service) Battalion:
Formed at Chester
on 17 September 1914 as part of K3 and attached to
75th Brigade, 25th
Division. Moved to Codford St Mary and by November
1914 was in billets in Bournemouth. Moved to Aldershot in May 1915 and
landed at France on 26 September 1915.
17 June 1918 : reduced to cadre strength and personnel transferred
to 1/6th Bn.
23 June 1918 : cadre transferred to 39th Division.
3 August 1918 : disbanded in France.
12th (Service) Battalion:
Formed at Chester
in September 1914 as part of K3 and attached as Army
Troops to 22nd Division. Moved to Seaford and
by December 1914 was in billets in Eastbourne.
February 1915 : transferred
to 66th Brigade, 22nd Division. Moved to
Aldershot in June 1915 and landed at Bouogne on 6 September 1915 but by
November 1915 was at Salonika.
13th (Service) Battalion:
The Battalion war
diary refers to this as the Wirral Battalion, although it did not have
this as an official second title. Formed at Port Sunlight
on 1 September 1914 by Gershom Stewart, MP. Moved to Chester.
October 1914 : attached to 74th Brigade, 25th
Division. By December 1914 was in billets in
Bournemouth. Moved to Aldershot in May 1915 and landed at France on 25
September 1915.
16 February 1918 : disbanded in France.
14th (Reserve) Battalion:
Formed in Birkenhead in October
1914 as a Service Battalion of K4 andattached to 105th Brigade of original
35th Division.
10 April 1915 : became a Reserve battalion. Moved in July 1915 to Kinmel
(Rhyl) and in August 1915 to Prees Heath.
1 September 1916 : converted into 59th Battalion of 11th Reserve Brigade
of Training
Reserve.
15th (Service) Battalion (1st Birkenhead):
Formed at Birkenhead
on 18 November 1914 by Alfred Bigland MP, as a Bantam Bn.
Moved to Hoylake.
June 1915 : attached to 105th Brigade, 35th Division at
Masham and in August 1915 to Salisbury Plain. Adopted by the War Office
on 15 August 1915. Landed at Le Havre in January 1916.
> Review of a book about the Cheshire Bantams
16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Birkenhead):
Formed at Birkenhead
on 3 December 1914 by Alfred Bigland MP, as a Bantam Bn.
Moved to Hoylake.
June 1915 : attached to 105th Brigade, 35th Division at
Masham and in August 1915 to Salisbury Plain. Adopted by the War Office
on 15 August 1915. Landed at Le Havre in January 1916. 6 February 1918
: disbanded in Belgium.
> Review
of a book about the Cheshire
Bantams
17th (Reserve) Battalion:
Formed at Bebington
on 10 August 1915 as a local reserve Bn for the 15th and 16th. Moved
to Prees Heath.
1 September
1916 : converted into 74th Battalion of 17th Reserve
Brigade of Training Reserve.
> Review
of a book about the Cheshire
Bantams
Other battalions raised by the regiment
18th and 19th (Labour) Battalions:
Formed at Oldham in March
and April 1916, moving to France in April and May 1916 respectively.
April 1917 : converted into 56th to 59th Labour Companies of the Labour
Corps.
20th (Labour) Battalion:
Formed at Chester in June
1916, moving to France in July 1916.
April 1917 : converted into 60th and 61st Labour Companies of the Labour
Corps.
21st (Labour) Battalion:
Formed at Chester in August
1916, moving to France in October 1916.
April 1917 : converted into 62nd and 63rd Labour Companies of the Labour
Corps.
22nd (Labour) Battalion:
Formed at Chester in December
1916, moving to France in the same month.
April 1917 : converted into 64th and 65th Labour Companies of the Labour
Corps.
24th (Home Service) Battalion:
Formed at Mundesley on 27 April 1918 to replace the 23rd Bn (above).
1st Garrison Battalion:
Formed at Chester on 1 August 1915, then to Gibraltar where it remained throughout the war.
2nd Garrison Battalion:
Formed at Bebington in October 1915, then to Egypt and Palestine (where it worked on Lines of Communication).
3rd (Home Service) Garrison Battalion:
Formed November 1915. Moved to Ramsay, Isle of Man, in July 1916 moved to Gretna and in November 1916 to Liverpool. Converted into 11th Bn, the Royal Defence Corps in August 1917.
51st (Graduated) Battalion:
Up to 27 October 1917, this was known as 213th Graduated Battalion and had no regimental affiliation. Before that it had been 59th Battalion of the Training Reserve and up to September 1916 had been the 13th (Reserve) Battalion of the South Wales Borderers . A training unit based at the Curragh in Ireland, it was part of 194th Brigade in 65th Division. It remained at the Curragh when the Division was broken up in March 1918.
52nd (Graduated) Battalion:
Up to 27 October 1917, this was known as 221st Graduated Battalion and had no regimental affiliation. Before that it had been 61st Battalion of the Training Reserve and up to September 1916 had been the 21st (Reserve) Battalion of the Welsh Regiment. A training unit based at the Curragh in Ireland, it was part of 196th Brigade in 65th Division. It remained at the Curragh when the Division was broken up in March 1918.
53rd (Young Soldier) Battalion:
Up to 27 October 1917, this was known as 62nd Batalion of the Training Reserve had had formerly been 12th (Reserve) Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. A basic recruit training unit based at Kinmel (Rhyl), it was part of 14th Reserve Brigade.
Did you know? The 1st Battalion fought in an heroic but almost forgotten "last stand" during the early hours of the reatreat from Mons on 24 August 1914. Being cut off near the village of Audregnies, the battalion held out against the attack of two entire German Corps. Only 2 officers and 200 men got away: the rest of the original 1000 were lost as killed, wounded or prisoners.
This plot in the communal cemetery at Audregnies is made up almost exclusively of graves of men of 1st Cheshires. |
This page is dedicated to the memory of Thomas Westley, who served as a regular with 2nd Battalion before going to the Indian Telegraphic Department; Gwilym Parry, a conscript with the 1/5th Battalion; Sydney Ellis Atherton also of 1/5th Battalion, who won the MM at Westhoek during Third Ypres; Arthur Sherlock of 1/4th Battalion; William Seel, who served with 6th and 10th (Service) Battalions; John Bailey, another 1/5th Battalion man; and Joseph Price, 9th (Service) Battalion, whose service in France was only four months before he fell seriously ill with an infection.