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- 8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment during the Great War -


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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment



   8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment was raised at Leicester in September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Third New Army and joined 23rd Division as Divisional Troops. In April 1915 they transferred to 110th Brigade, 38th Division and proceeded to France on 29th of July 1915 the Division concentrating near Tilques. On the 8th of July 1916 they transferred with 110th Brigade to 21st Division. They were in action in the Battles of The Somme, including The Battle of Morval in which the Division captured Geudecourt. In 1917 they were in action during The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Arras offensive, the Third Battles of Ypres and The Cambrai Operations. In 1918 they fought on The Somme then moved north and were in action during the Battles of the Lys suffering heavily. On the 28th of June 1918 the 8th Leicesters was reduced to cadre strength with troops transferring to the 7th Leicesters. The cadre transferred to 25th Division and returned to England, on the 7th of July they were absorbed by the 14th Battalion, West Riding Regiment.

22nd July 1915 Advance Party

28th July 1915 On the Move

29th July 1915 Mules in the Hold

29th July 1915 On the Move

1st Aug 1915 On the Move

3rd Aug 1915 In Billets

4th Aug 1915 On the Move

5th Aug 1915 On the Move

8th Aug 1915 Training

1st July 1916 Smoke  location map

2nd July 1916 Reliefs

3rd July 1916 Shelling  location map

4th July 1916 Reliefs

5th July 1916 Orders

6th July 1916 Moves

1st Oct 1917 Attack made

28th Feb 1918 Reliefs

28th Feb 1918 Shelling

21st Mar 1918 Leicesters in action at Ephy  The 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment was famously involved, with the 7th and 8th Battalions, in the Battle of Epehy, as part of the 110th Brigade, 21st Division. Between 21st March (the first day of the German offensive) to 30th March, the Battalion lost 18 officers and 445 other ranks.

28th May 1918 Hard Fighting

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Want to know more about 8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment ?


There are:5250 items tagged 8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.


Those known to have served with

8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Ballard Leonard George. L/Cpl. (d.3rd May 1917)
  • Barnes James Alfred. Pte. (d.3rd May 1917)
  • Baxter Charles Roland James. Pte. (d.21st March 1918)
  • Beechey Albert Ernest. Pte. (d.19th Dec 1915)
  • Bowler Leonard. Sgt.
  • Clamp George. Pte.
  • Clarke Albert Augustus. L/Cpl. (d.15th Jul 1916)
  • Collins Frank. Pte (d.8th June 1917)
  • Dalton Charles Harry. Pte.
  • Dove Maurice Neville. 2nd Lt.
  • Edwards MM. Arthur Lord. Pte. (d.27th May 1918)
  • Edwards Arthur Lord. Pte. (d.27th May 1918)
  • Evans David. Sgt. (d.11th October 1917)
  • Gill Walter Henry. Pte. (d.23rd Sep 1918)
  • Gregory. William James. Cpl. (d.25th September 1916)
  • Grudgings William. Capt.
  • Harper Sidney Wilfred. Pte.
  • Hodges William Henry. L/Cpl (d.15th Jul 1916)
  • Housby George William. L/Cpl. (d.15th July 1916)
  • Mitchell CdG. George Balderson. Sgt.
  • Morris William Edward. 2nd Lt.
  • Palmer Wilfred. Pte. (d.15th July 1916)
  • Price George Charles. Pte. (d.11 April 1917)
  • Stockwell Albert Edgley. Cpl. (d.25th Sep 1916)
  • Wilbur Arthur. Pte. (d.21st March 1918)
  • Wilbur Arthur. Pte. (d.21st March 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 8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment from other sources.


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  Sgt. George Balderson Mitchell CdG. 8th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment

George Mitchell came from Wilford, Nottinghamshire. As a Lance-Corporal in the Leicestershire Regiment he entered the France and Flanders theatre of war on 30th of July 1915. As a Sergeant with the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, he served as a member of the Special Intelligence Police of the Fourth Army. As a Lance-Corporal in the Royal Fusiliers he was awarded the French Medal of Honour, 2nd Class in Silver with swords (London Gazette 29th January 1919). His last rank and unit on the m.i.c. is given as Acting Company Sergeant Major with the Royal Fusiliers. After the war, still working for military intelligence, he was employed in Barcelona, Spain, possibly in operations to track down military deserters, many of whom ended up in that neutral country.







  Pte. Sidney Wilfred Harper 8th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment

Sidney Harper was wounded in the head by shrapnel in 1917 and hospitalised in Aberdeen. He survived the war, married in 1922 and had 1 son.







  Pte. James Alfred Barnes 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (d.3rd May 1917)

My Grandmother's first husband, James Barnes was killed while serving with the 8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment.

Kenneth Williams






  Pte. George Clamp 8th Btn. Royal Leicestershire Regiment

George Clamp joined up on the 1st of September 1914. He fought at the Cattle of Thiepval in Sept 1916 and was injured by a gunshot wound to the left eye on the 28th of September and returned to England on the 30th.

Richard Clamp






  2nd Lt. Maurice Neville Dove 8th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment

In memory of my Great Uncle Maurice Dove who I have only just discovered fought and was wounded in the Battle of the Somme on 14th of July 1916. He then went on to serve in the British Army in India

Jon Collins






  Pte. Arthur Lord Edwards 8th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.27th May 1918)

Arthur Lord Edwards died on Monday 27th May 1918 on the first day of the Third Battle of the Aisne. He is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial in France.

Janine Tanner






  Sgt. Leonard Bowler 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment

Len Bowler served with the 8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment.

Andrew Tilby






  L/Cpl. Albert Augustus Clarke 8th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.15th Jul 1916)

Albert Clarke is my Great Uncle and his name is commemorated at Thiepval Memorial, so no known grave. He was killed in action at the Battle of Bazantine Ridge. He was the son of Susan Clarke of 32 Clarence Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire, and the late Austin Clarke.

Penny Salisbury






  Pte. Charles Roland James Baxter 8th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.21st March 1918)

Charles Baxter was born in Offord Cluny, Huntingdonshire in 1890. The only son of Benjamin Robert Baxter & his wife Alice (nee Fensome) who married at Offord Cluny in 1882. He had 5 sisters, Grace, Winifred, Elsie, Ruby & Dorothy and the family moved to Loughborough c1892.

Having previously served with the Leicestershire Yeomanry, Charles re-enlisted at Loughborough on 3rd of September 1914 and was posted to the 8th Service Battalion. He was destined to become a stretcher bearer, one of only 16 per Battalion. They were unarmed and called to the most dangerous places, where casualties had already taken place.

On 25th of September 1916 Charles was admitted to No 64 Field Ambulance with debitity and a leg injury. He rejoined his battalion on 30th of September. Charles was subsequently killed in action on 22nd of March 1918 near Epehy during the German Spring Offensive. Charles is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial. He is also remembered on the memorial in Emmanuel Church, Loughborough and on the Loughborough Carillon.

Jane Welsh






  Pte. Arthur Lord Edwards MM. 8th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.27th May 1918)

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.

Harry






  Pte. Albert Ernest Beechey 8th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.19th Dec 1915)

Albert Beechey enlisted at 19 years old in St. Albans on 2nd of September 1914. He embarked from Folkestone on 29th of July 1915.

Andrew Beechey






  L/Cpl. George William Housby 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (d.15th July 1916)

George William Housby, born in 1884 in Stafford and married to Fanny Wilson in June of 1911. He fell at Bazentin Ridge during the Battle of the Somme and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial George was my great granduncle.

Mark Housby






  Pte. Charles Harry Dalton 8th Btn Leicestershire Regiment

My Father, Private Charles Harry Thomas Dalton, service No. 42130 was taken prisoner of war at Cormicy on 27th May 1918 and detained in Langensalza camp. I have his information from the International Red Cross. I would like to know if there is anymore information regarding his Army life, i.e when did he join up and where else did he serve?

Robert Dalton






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