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1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment
1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment were in Fermoy when war broke out in August 1914. They were mobilsed with 16th Brigade and returned to England, where 6th Division concentrated near Cambridge for training. They proceeded to France on the 10th of September 1914, landing at St Nazaire. They marched to the Aisne to reinforce the hard-pressed BEF before moving north to Flanders. They were in action at Hooge in 1915. On the 17th of November 1915 the battalion transferred to 71st Brigade still in 6th Division. In 1916 they were again in action at Battle of Flers-Courcelette on The Somme, and again in The Battle of Morval and The Battle of Le Transloy, in 1917 they were in action at Hill 70 and Cambrai.In 1918 they saw action in the Battle of St Quentin, The Battles of the Lys, The Advance in Flanders, Battles of the Hindenburg Line and The Pursuit to the Selle. After the Armistice, 6th Division were selected to join the occupation force and they moved into Germany in mid December, being based at Bruehl by Christmas 1918.
5th Aug 1914 Reservists receive telegrams Telegrams were sent to the 300 reservists of the Leicestershire Regiment ordering them to report for duty at Glen Parva Barracks, Saffron Lane, South Wigston. The 500 regulars of the 1st Battalion were at Fermoy, Ireland and returned swiftly to England for duty on the East coast in case of invasion.
2nd Oct 1914 Reliefs
21st Oct 1914 1st Leicesters releive 1st West Yorks The 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment relieved the 1st Battalion, West Yorks close to Rue du Bois, near Bois Grenier to the south west of Armentieres. HQ was established at La Houssoie railway station.Fighting Tigers - Matthew Richardson
22nd Oct 1914 1st Leicesters suffer heavy shelling At La Houssoie railway station 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment endure heavy enemy shelling with little cover in the muddy fields. Three officers and 20 other ranks were killed and another twenty injured.Fighting Tigers - Matthew Richardson
23rd Oct 1914 In Support
24th Oct 1914 Enemy launches attack About 4pm as darkness fell, heavy shelling began and the enemy were observed massing in a distillery yard opposite La Houssoie railway station, which was held by the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment. Col. Croker pulled his men back 200 yards from their shallow positions in the fields to form a new defensive line at the low railway embankment. The German artillery halted and the infantry attacked, singing "Wacht am Rhine", blowing whistles and making as much racket as they could. The Leicesters responded with Maxim gun and rifle fire, casualties on both sides were heavy, but the line was not broken.Fighting Tigers - Matthew Richardson
24th Oct 1914 Enemy Attack
25th Oct 1914 Enemy renews attack As dawn broke the enemy launched another attack on line held by the 1st Leicesters on the railway embankment around La Houssoie station. Around the level crossing to the south, D Coy were overwhelmed and about 100 men were taken prisoner. By 9am the British had regained their lost trenches and a bitter hand to hand fight ensued at the level crossing with the Germans engaging heavy weapons. The line was held throughout a day of fighting.
Amongst the casulaties was 6602 Private Albert Swann, his deathw as reported in the Grantham Journal on the 28th of November 1914:
"Yesterday week, Mrs Swann, of Seaton, received an official communication that Pte. Albert Swann, 6602, Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action, and the sympathy and regret of the Army Council was expressed with the widow in her loss. Further information also came on Friday to Mrs Swann, who was visited by Mrs J. Faulks, of Langham, a sister of the deceased, and who had been communicating with relatives at Leicester in order to ascertain the facts. A brother of Mr Percy Garner, 115, Freeman-road, North Leicester, had written:-
"I saw a shell hit your poor cousin Albert Swann. It either knocked him right into the earth or blew him into fragments, as nothing was ever seen of him again. I was talking to him less than five minutes before he was hit. He had been talking about his baby."
The cousin who sent this sad news from the front stated that he was saved himself only by a miracle. They were close friends, and the one spared was very much affected by his cousin’s sad end. Another eye-witness, a wounded Leicester from the same Company, who has returned from France to England, asked if he knew a man named Albert Swann, replied:-
"I should think I did. Poor fellow! I saw him killed, a sight I never shall forget the longest day I live. A shell hit him and blew him into thousands of bits."
It appears that Pte. A. Swann was killed on Oct. 26th at the battle of Armentieres. Deceased served in India three years, and his nine years in the Reserve virtually expired in October, the month he was slain. He was an agricultural labourer, aged 36, and his aged parents reside at Bisbrooke. The widow, for whom great sympathy is felt, is left with two children, the youngest, a daughter, referred to above, having been born since her father had rejoined his regiment."
Albert Swann is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. His surname on the memorial is recorded as "Swan" and his date of death in the register is stated as 25 October 1914. The same spelling of his surname as Swan also appears on his Medal Index Card, but the war memorial inside All Hallows’ Church at Seaton in Rutland states his name as Albert Swann. Fighting Tigers - Matthew Richardson
25th Oct 1914 Enemy Attacks
25th Dec 1914 Nice Gifts
19th Aug 1915 Reliefs
2nd Feb 1916 Artillery Active 
5th of August 1916 Relief
20th Dec 1916 Reliefs
22nd Jul 1917 Trench Raid
20th Nov 1917 Ditched 
A Mark IV (Male) tank of H Battalion ditched in a German trench while supporting the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, one mile west of Ribecourt. Some men of the battalion are resting in the trench © IWM (Q 6433)
3rd Apr 1918 Relief
14th of April 1918 A Counter-Attack
18th of April 1918 Relief for Some
19th of April 1918 A Quiet Day
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Bate Leonard. Pte.
- Beaumont Charles. L/Cpl. (d.15th September 1916)
- Bennett Edward Augustus Sharpe. Pte.
- Berridge Harry Leonard. Pte
- Bramley Robert McFarlane. L/Cpl.
- Buckingham VC William. Pte. (d.15th September 1916)
- Cane Ernest James. Pte.
- Curtis John. Cpl. (d.18th Sep 1918)
- Edwards MM. Arthur Lord. Pte. (d.27th May 1918)
- Hall Albert. Pte. (d.26th Sept 1917)
- Jackson John. Pte. (d.27th October 1914)
- Jeffs William. L/Cpl. (d.25th Oct 1914)
- Jepson George William. Pte. (d.23rd July 1917)
- Johnson Henry. Pte. (d.19th Sep 1918)
- Mills William Henry. L/Cpl. (d.15th Sep 1916)
- Moreby DCM. Williams Henry. Cpl. (d.25th Oct 1914)
- Nisbet Joseph. Pte. (d.23rd Aug 1918)
- Nixon George William. Pte. (d.15th September 1916)
- Nixon William John. Pte. (d.25th Oct 1914)
- Pollard William Amos. Pte. (d.22 March 1918)
- Radford George William. Pte. (d.23rd July 1917)
- Sutcliffe Thomas Horace. Pte. (d.24 July 1917)
- Taylor Vincent. Pte. (d.16th Apr 1918)
- Taylor Vincent. Pte. (d.16th Apr 1918)
- Tyers MM. Arthur. Sgt. (d.23rd July 1917)
- Wilbur Samuel. (d.7 August 1915)
- Wilbur Samuel. Pte. (d.7th August 1915)
- Wild Samuel Edmond. L/Cpl. (d.15th Sept 1916)
- Winson Jack. Pte. (d.21st July 1918)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment from other sources.
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Pte. William Buckingham VC 1st Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.15th September 1916) William Buckingham was killed in action on 15th September 1916, aged 29 and is commemorated on The Thiepval Memorial in France.
he was the son of Mrs. A. Buckingham, of 35 York St., Bedford.
An extract from The London Gazette dated 28th April, 1915, records the following:-"For conspicuous acts of bravery and devotion to duty in rescuing and rendering aid to the wounded whilst exposed to heavy fire, especially at Neuve-Chapelle on 10th and 12th March 1915.
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Pte. Vincent Taylor 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (d.16th Apr 1918) My Great-Uncle Vincent Taylor's Paybook with his last Will & Testament were returned to his Mother in 1925. A Lady, non-relative, was on holiday in Germany when a German man came forward from the crowd and gave the lady a package, requesting that has she was English could she ensure that this package was returned to the Family. She duly complied, and that is how the kindness of a German citizen ensured that the belongings of Vincent, and his last wishes were returned to Vincent's family five years after the War, to end all Wars.
Vincent was the younger brother of our Granddad Harry Taylor, part of Vincent's story is treasured by relatives, and remembered. He sacrificed his life that we may have our tomorrow. We Shall Remember them. Vincent was killed on the 16th April 1918, we believe at Kemmel Ridge, protecting Ypres, which was not occupied by the Germans. We believe he was killed defending the Line in the battle of Lys in 1918.
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Pte. Jack Winson 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (d.21st July 1918) Jack Winson served with the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment.
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L/Cpl. Robert McFarlane Bramley 1st Btn. Leicestershire Regiment Robert Bramley joined up on the 16th of January 1912.
He was recalled on the 5th of August 1914 and arrived in France 9th Sept 1914 and took part in the Battle of the Aisne.
Robert was discharged (Christmas Day) 25th of December 1917.
He was awarded Silver War Badge no. 348038.
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Pte. William John Nixon 1st Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.25th Oct 1914) William Nixon was born in Oakham County in October 1885.
He joined up in 1905 and served in India and then France with the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment.
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Pte. Arthur Lord Edwards MM. 8th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.27th May 1918) .jpg) Arthur Edwards enlisted at Derby whilst residing at Hucknall, he gave his age as 26 yrs and 9 months and his address as 24 Baker Street, Hucknall, his occupation was that of a mining tool smith his next of kin was his wife Louisa Edwards of the same address.
Initially, serving with service number 43343 in the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment later transferring to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment.
A reluctant recruit, he had appealed unsuccessfully against his conscription on the grounds of being the sole support of his ill, widowed mother.
Landing in France on 21st of December 1916, he was posted to 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, he fell ill with trench fever, being admitted to the 17th Field Ambulance on 23rd April 1917, eventuality returning to England on 16th June 1917.
Transferred to 8th Battalion, joining in the field on 27th November 1917, he was wounded in action on 22nd March 1918. He returned to his unit on 26th April 1918. He was killed in action on 27th May 1918 having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial.
The award of his Military Medal was announced in the London Gazette, published on 13th of September 1918.
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L/Cpl. Samuel Edmond Wild 1st Btn. A Coy. Leicestershire Regiment (d.15th Sept 1916) Samuel Wild is my granddad's brother, he was too young to join the army so used the name William Wells.
He died on the Somme trying to help a friend who had become entangled in the barbed wire.
I am visiting France and the Somme this year.
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Pte. Thomas Horace Sutcliffe 1st Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.24 July 1917) Thomas Sutcliffe was the son of W. H.& M. Alice Sutcliffe of 25 Palatine Road, Northenden, Manchester. He served with 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment service no.37868. He died of his wounds on 24 July 1917 aged 21 years and is buried in Bethune Town Cemetery.
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Pte. George William Radford 1st Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.23rd July 1917) George Radford, born in Leicester in 1891 was the son of Robert and Mary Ann Radford of 74 Ridley Street, Hinckley Road, Leicester and formerly a Cotton dyer. He enlisted in Leicester with the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment service no.25360. He was killed in action on 23rd July 1917 aged 26 years, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.
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Pte. George William Jepson 1st Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.23rd July 1917) George Jepson was the son of William and Alice Jepson of 57 Station Road, Bolsover, Chesterfield and husband of Ada Annie Jepson of 5 Scarsdale Street, Carr Vale, Chesterfield. He enlisted with the Leicestershire Regiment. He was killed in action on 23rd July 1917 aged 37 years, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.
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Sgt. Arthur Tyers MM. 1st Btn. D Coy. Leicestershire Regiment (d.23rd July 1917) Arthur Tyers MM from Newark was the son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Tyers of 5 Barnby Cottages, Newark and husband of Adelina Jackson Hosie (formerly Tyers) later of 1 Bank Street, Fermoy. He was the twin brother of Lance Corporal Frederick Tyers (who also served with the Leicestershire Regiment and was killed in action on 24th September 1918 during the Battle of Pontruet). Arthur enlisted at Southwell with D Company, 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment Service no.8761. He was awarded the MM in 1916, as a Corporal. He was killed in action on 23rd July 1917 aged 25 years, He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.
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Pte. Edward Augustus Sharpe Bennett 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment Gus Bennett was my step-grandfather. He fought on the Somme and was wounded but survived. His army service was from 1914-1919. He fought in France and Flanders.
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Pte. Ernest James Cane 1st Btn. A Coy. Leicestershire Regiment Ernest Cane served with 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment and was captured in 1918.
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Pte. Leonard Bate 1st Btn. D Coy Leicestershire Regiment Len Bate was posted to France in autumn of 1914. He was 26 years old. On 21st October, the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment arrived at the line near Armentieres to relieve the 1st Battalion West Yorks.
Len, a member of D Company, was wounded and taken prisoner in the attack on the level crossing south of La Houssoie station on 25th October.
He was to spend the next four years as a POW, initially at Cassel and from December 1916 at Langensalza.
After the war he returned to his wife and daughter in Leicestershire, moved to Staffordshire, where his son was born in 1921, before immigrating to Ontario, Canada where he became a successful businessman and well known amateur artist. He made regular return visits to his family in Leicester until his death in 1971.
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Pte. Henry Johnson 1st Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.19th Sep 1918) Henry Johnson died of wounds on the 19th Sep 1918, aged 27. He is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial in France.
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Cpl. John Curtis 1st Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.18th Sep 1918) John Curtis served with the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment during WW1 and died on the 18th September 1918, aged 38. He is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial in France.
John was the husband of Rachel (later Bradford of Albert Villas, Ravenstone, Leicester.)
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Pte. Joseph Nisbet 1st Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.23rd Aug 1918) Joseph Nisbet served with the Leicestershire Regiment 1st Battalion. He was executed for desertion on 23rd August 1918.and is buried in Nine Elms British Cemetery in Belgium.
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Cpl. Williams Henry Moreby DCM. 1st Btn. (d.25th Oct 1914) William Henry Moreby was a serving police officer in the Leeds City Police and enlisted at the outbreak of war. He was awarded the DCM and died on 25th October 1914 and is remembered at Ploegsteert Memorial panel 4
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