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

1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers



   1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) were in Kinsale when war broke out, serving with 17th Brigade, 6th Division. They returned to England and proceeded to France on the 10th of September 1914, landing at St Nazaire. They marched to the Aisne to reinforce the hard-pressed BEF. They moved north to Flanders and were in action at Hooge in 1915. On the 14th of October 1915 17th Brigade transferred to 24th Division. In 1916 they suffered in the German gas attack at Wulverghem and then moved to The Somme seeing action in The Battle of Delville Wood and The Battle of Guillemont. In 1917 they were in action at The Battle of Vimy Ridge in the Spring, The Battle of Messines in June and Third Battle of Ypres in October before moving south where they were in action during The Cambrai Operations when the Germans counter attacked. In 1918 they were in action on the Somme and The Battle of Cambrai and the Final Advance in Picardy. At the Armistice the Division were in the line 1.5 miles east of the Maubeuge-Mons road. They moved back to the area between Denain and Douai at the end of November moved to St Amand-Orchies, then on the 18th of December the Division moved to Tournai for demobilisation, which was completed by 26 March 1919.

29th July 1914 1st Royal Fusiliers ordered back to barracks  1st Royal Fusiliers were engaged in training at Moore Park when an order suddenly arrived at 10.30pm to strike camp and return to the barracks at Kinsale.

30th July 1914 1st Royal Fusiliers return to Kinsale  1st Royal Fusiliers left Moore Park to return to the barracks at Kinsale entraining at Fermoy Station. The Band pet "Doody" was tragically killed in a motor accident on the way to the station. an hour after arriving at Kinsale, parties were sent out with three days rations to the coast to stop gunrunning, the largest of which was sent to the Old Head of Kinsale.

www.creasey.name



4th Aug 1914 1st Royal Fusiliers mobilized  1st Royal Fusiliers at the barracks at Kinsale, Ireland received the order to mobilize at 6pm.

www.creasey.name



8th Aug 1914 1st Royal Fusiliers at Kinsale  Sixty men and three Officers of the 1st Royal Fusiliers were detailed to go out Horse-Hunting from the barracks at Kinsale. They returned with about 50 horses and unit was ready to depart.

www.creasey.name



13th Aug 1914 Ready to entrain  The 1st Royal Fusiliers were recalled to the barracks at Kinsale in the middle of a route march, but no trains were available to transport them to Cork.

www.creasey.name



14th Aug 1914 1st Royal Fusiliers leave Kinsale  Reveille was called at 3am but it wasn't until 1pm that 1st Royal Fusiliers departed from the barracks at Kinsale, arriving in Cork at 3pm. They marched from the station to the Cattle Market where they rested for the night.

www.creasey.name



15th Aug 1914 On the Move

15th Aug 1914 1st Royal Fusiliers embark at Cork  The 1st Royal Fusiliers paraded in the Cattle Market, Cork, receiving reserve rations. Embarcation orders arrived at 5pm and the Battalion paraded at 9.30pm then marched to the docks to board the Empress of Ireland, with crowds watching their departure. They sailed at 2am the following morning.

www.creasey.name



16th Aug 1914 On the Move  The 1st Royal Fusiliers sailed at 2am from Cork aboard the Empress of Ireland. They sailed round the Irish Coast by Waterford then crossed to Holyhead arriving at 5pm where they entrained for an unknown destination.

www.creasey.name



17th Aug 1914 On the Move  The 1st Royal Fusiliers arrived at Cambridge by train from Holyhead and marched across town to the camp. Crowds of locals came out to watch.

www.creasey.name



18th Aug 1914 Training  The 1st Royal Fusiliers began Divisional Training at Cambridge with a route march and manoevres, which were hampered by the intense heat.

www.creasey.name



31st Aug 1914 On the March

8th Sep 1914 Move

9th Sep 1914 On the Move

10th Sep 1914 On the Move

11th Sep 1914 On the Move

12th Sep 1914 On the Move

13th Sep 1914 On the Move

14th Sep 1914 On the Move

14th Sep 1914 Orders

15th Sep 1914 On the March

15th Sep 1914 Orders

16th Sep 1914 On the March

17th Sep 1914 On the March

18th Sep 1914 In Billets

19th Sep 1914 On the March

20th Sep 1914 Orders

21st Sep 1914 Reliefs

22nd Sep 1914 In Action

23rd Sep 1914 Patrols

24th Sep 1914 Trench Raid

25th Sep 1914 Line Reinforced

26th Sep 1914 Quiet

27th Sep 1914 Patrols Ordered

28th Sep 1914 Snipers Active

29th Sep 1914 Recconaissance

30th Sep 1914 Quiet Day

2nd Oct 1914 Reliefs

1st Jan 1915 Working Parties

4th of February 1915 Chicken Sentries

3rd Apr 1915 Territorials Under Instruction

4th Apr 1915 Territorials Under Instruction

8th Jun 1915 New CO

15th of July 1915  Reliefs  location map

8th of September 1915 Reliefs

12th of September 1915 Reliefs

5th Oct 1915 Trench Work

6th of October 1915 Reliefs

14th Oct 1915 Trench Work

21st Oct 1915 Instruction

23rd Oct 1915 Instruction

25th Oct 1915 Instruction

3rd Nov 1915 Reliefs  location map

10th Nov 1915 Registration  location map

25th Nov 1915 On the March

30th Dec 1915 Inspection

3rd Jan 1916 Route March

13th Jan 1916 Reliefs  location map

5th Feb 1916 Reliefs  location map

10th Feb 1916 Reliefs  location map

11th Feb 1916 Reliefs  location map

11th Feb 1916 Reliefs Complete  location map

11th Apr 1916 Reliefs  location map

17th Apr 1916 Reliefs  location map

23rd Apr 1916 Easter  location map

29th Apr 1916 Reliefs  location map

1st May 1916 Measles  location map

5th May 1916 Reliefs  location map

17th May 1916 Reliefs  location map

25th May 1916 Reliefs  location map

10th Jun 1916 Reliefs  location map

13th Jul 1916 Reliefs

18th Aug 1916 Attack Made  location map

21st Aug 1916 Attack Made  location map

28th Aug 1916 Congratulations  location map

18th Oct 1916 Reliefs

22nd October 1916 Relief Table  location map

2nd Nov 1916 Reliefs

10th Nov 1916 Reliefs

16th Nov 1916 Reliefs  location map

23rd Nov 1916 Quiet

28th Nov 1916 Reliefs

3rd Dec 1916 Reliefs

10th Dec 1916 Reliefs  location map

16th Dec 1916 Reliefs

22nd Dec 1916 Reliefs

28th Dec 1916 Reliefs

3rd Jan 1917 Reliefs  location map

8th Jan 1917 Reliefs

14th Jan 1917 Attack Made

16th Jan 1917 Reliefs

23rd Jan 1917 Reliefs

30th Jan 1917 Reliefs  location map

6th Feb 1917 Shelling

4th Mar 1917 Relief Complete

9th Mar 1917 Snow

15th Mar 1917 Reliefs  location map

27th Mar 1917 Reliefs  location map

30th Mar 1917 Reliefs  location map

31st July 1917 In Action  location map

2nd Aug 1917 Message of Congratulation  location map

8th Aug 1917 Reliefs  location map

19th August 1917 Operational Order 125  location map

23rd Aug 1917 Reliefs

5th Nov 1917 Training

18th Dec 1917 Reliefs

28th Dec 1917 Reliefs Completed

21st Jan 1918 Reliefs

15th Feb 1918 Reliefs Completed

21st Mar 1918 In Action  location map

26th Mar 1918 Withdrawal  location map

29th Mar 1918 Attack  location map

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





Want to know more about 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers?


There are:5342 items tagged 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 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

1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Ansell George. Cpl. (d.21st March 1918)
  • Burchell Jonathan. Pte. (d.24th Sep 1915)
  • Charteris Ernest. Pte. (d.7th July 1917)
  • Farrington Charles. Pte. (d.27th Sep 1914)
  • Gearey Frederick Thomas . Pte. (d.15th September 1916)
  • Goodhand George. Cpl.
  • Grace William Sanders. Pte.
  • Green William Charles. Pte. (d.30th Aug 1915)
  • Hayden Military Medal Frederick Henry. Sjt.
  • Hayes Claude Patrick Julian. Capt. (d.9th Aug 1916)
  • Jeffery MID Arthur Victor.
  • Jeffery MID Arthur Victor. Sgt.
  • Jeffrey Horace James. Pte. (d.4th November 1918)
  • Jennings George William. Pte. (d.11th August 1917)
  • Joel MM. Joseph Henry. Sgt.
  • Muckell Charles William. Pte. (d.5th April 1918)
  • Newton Percy Holyoake Neller. Rfmn. (d.22nd Mar 1915)
  • Page Alfred Charles. Sgt. (d.16th June 1917)
  • Wakefield George Fredrick . L/Cpl. (d.1st May 1915)
  • Weedon DCM/ William Arthur. A/Sgt.
  • White Leonard Gilbert. Fus. (d.16th Nov 1918)
  • Wright James. Pte.

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, Royal Fusiliers from other sources.


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  Sgt. Alfred Charles Page 1st (City of London) Btn. Royal Fusiliers (d.16th June 1917)

Alfred Charles Page

Alf Page was born St Pancras, London. He was my great uncle, the brother of my grandfather. He originally joined the army in 1892, serving in the York and Lancaster Regiment. Alf was based in Colchester, Essex where he met his wife Alice. He rejoined the army in 1915 when he was living back in St Pancras, this time serving with the 1st Battalion (City of London), Royal Fusiliers.

He died on 16th June 1917, having been gravely wounded. His name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial as Serjeant, A. C. Page.

Linda Pearce






  Capt. Claude Patrick Julian "Pat" Hayes 1st Btn. Royal Fusiliers (d.9th Aug 1916)

Capt & Mrs Hayes at a Point to Point 1914

Captain Claude Patrick Julian Hayes served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers during WW1 and was killed on the 9th August 1916. He is buried in Bray Military Cemetery, Bray sur Somme, France.

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Colin Yarwood






  L/Cpl. George Fredrick Wakefield 1st Btn. Royal Fusiliers (d.1st May 1915)

George Wakefield was killed in action in Flanders.







  Pte. James Wright 24th Btn. Royal Fusiliers

James Wright during WW2

James Wright served with 24th Royal Fusiliers in the Great War. He also served with the 1st, 2nd and 12th Royal Fusiliers. He also served with the Canadian Army during WW2.







  Pte. William Sanders Grace 2/4th Btn. East Kent Regiment

Details of William Grace's service are unknown except for his medal records, but like many men Billie did not discuss his time much. Photos indicate he served in the Signal Corps and was a certified instructor in signals and given rank of Lance Corporal. He was injured with a piece of shrapnel in his foot which he carried for the remainder of his life. In 1939, aged just 42, he died from septicaemia as the piece of shrapnel moved and caused blood poisoning. He left a wife a son of 7 years.

His souvenirs from the war include an Iron Cross (removed from a dead German officer) and his RF cap badge. The only story of the war that was passed on was how he lost he signet ring in the trenches before an advance. After a retreat he found himself back in the same place in the same trench and found his signet ring.

Mark Grace






  Pte. Frederick Thomas Gearey 1st Btn. Royal Fusiliers (d.15th September 1916)

Private Frederick Thomas Gearey served with the 1st (City of London) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers London Regiment (service no.5014).

He was killed in action on 15th September 1916 in France and Flanders and is buried in Combles Communal Cemetery, France. He is remembered on both The War Memorial and The Alamada, St. Andrews Church, Ampthill.

Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com

Caroline Hunt






  Pte. George William Jennings 1st Btn. Royal Fusiliers (d.11th August 1917)

George Jennings was one of four brothers who served during the Great War. He served with the 1st & 2nd Btns. Royal Fusiliers. Only two of the brothers returned home in 1918, both George and his brother Percy died during the Battle of Passchendaele the Third Battle of Ypres. Georges body was never recovered, probably a victim of the Flanders mud during this terrible battle.

Peter Jennings






  Pte. William Charles Green 1st Btn. Royal Fusiliers (d.30th Aug 1915)

William Green died on 30th August 1915 aged 29 while serving his country. He is buried in the Hop Store Cemetery at Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium. He was my great uncle.

Gillian Carter






  Pte. Charles Farrington 1st Btn. Royal Fusiliers (d.27th Sep 1914)

Charles Farrington was born Charles Parringon in East Dulwich, Surrey in 1889. At that time his family, consisting of his father Charles, mother Edith, and three sisters Harriet, Elizabeth and Ellen lived at 9 Landals Road, E. Dulwich. At some point the family name became Farrington and this is the name he enlisted under. My grandmother recalled that he joined the army at about age 15 and was a drummer boy for a while.

His records show that he served in India with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. However, in 1914 we believe he was stationed in Kinsale, Ireland with the 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. The 1st Battalion was called into service almost immediately, and was in France by September 1914. Charles lost his life on 27th of September 1914 at Soupier, France. He is commemorated on a memorial monument at La-Ferte-Sous-Jouarre, France. No body was ever found. Charles was never married and to my knowledge had no offspring. In his will he left all his belongings, pay and gratuities to his sister Ellen. She took possession of his belongings and medals in London in 1915.

Donna Day






  Pte. Charles William Muckell 1st (London) Btn. Royal Fusiliers (d.5th April 1918)

Charles Muckell was baptised on the 25th of Sep 1889 at Battersea, St Saviour, Wandsworth in London, only child of Charles Muckell and Alice Mary Atterton. He enlsited with the Cyclist Battalion, Sussex Regiment. Whilst serving with the 1st London Battalion, Royal Fusiliers he was killed in action on 5th of Apr 1918.

Charles is my 3rd cousin twice removed. We can never do enough to honour our fallen heroes. With him being the only child of grieving parents, I want him to be remembered for his ultimate sacrifice.

Amanda Churchill






  Sgt. Joseph Henry Joel MM. 1st Btn. Royal Fusiliers

Joseph Joel served with the 1st Btn. Royal Fusiliers during the Great War. My Grandfather appears to have been in various battalions of The Royal Fusiliers over the years.

He was in the1st Battalion for Tibet in 1903-4 and by 1911, he was definitely in the 2nd Battalion in India for the 1911 Census.

He got married to my Grandmother in Colchester on 1 Dec 1914, so it looks like he returned to England earlier than the rest of the 2nd Battalion

His medal card shows that his first theatre of war was France and he arrived there 1st June 1915. (The dates indicate that he was probably in 8th Battalion after he returned from India) which is backed up by his record card which shows a discharge date of 5th Dec 1918 as a Sgt and his unit is showing as 8/R. Fus

My Grandfather was awarded the MM. Whilst we have found the entry in the London Gazette where the MM was awarded, we haven't yet found the citation.

It appears in the London Gazette dated 19th March 1918 (published on 15th March 1918). A very brief entry on page 3465. If anyone could help me track down the corresponding citation I would be hugely indebted to you.

Gerry Chandler






  A/Sgt. William Arthur Weedon DCM/ 1st Btn. Royal Fusiliers Regiment

Billy Weedon was 19 years of age and on manoeuvres with the 1st Royal Fusiliers in Fermoy in Ireland when war was announced. He wrote a manuscript which I have inherited detailing incidents with the 1st Royal Fusiliers in France and Belgium from 9th September 1914 to 23rd August 1916. On 23rd August 1916 during the Battle of Guillemont he was severely injured and was returned to England and to Exeter Hospital where he had his right leg and arm amputated. In his manuscript he mentions several individuals including officers and fellow colleagues.

Billy died on 29th October 1969 in Braishfield, Nr. Romsey, Hampshire.

John Kemp






  Rfmn. Percy Holyoake Neller Newton 3rd Btn. Rifle Brigade (d.22nd Mar 1915)

Percy Holyoake Neller Newton was born on 12 July 1895 at Islington, Middlesex in 1904. His father died in an accident and in 1906 Percy was admitted to the Orphan Working School and Alexandra Orphanage (OWS) at Haverstock Hill in North London (now the Royal Alexandra and Albert School at Reigate in Surrey). He left OWS and in 1911 was a Baker's Assistant in Willesden Green.

At the outbreak of WW1 Percy enlisted, as a Rifleman, into 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers. Soon after, he was transferred to 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own). He was despatched to serve in France and Flanders on or around the 27th of November 1914. He died, aged 19, on 22nd of March 1915 and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

John Billingham






  Sgt. Arthur Victor Jeffery MID 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers

My grandfather, Arthur Jeffery was a regular based in Kinsale, Ireland in 1914 were he met my grandmother. He served in France until 1916 when he was wounded by bullet and bayonet. He served in RASC there after.

Larry Garrett






  Pte. Jonathan Burchell 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers (d.24th Sep 1915)

Jonathan Burchell is my husband's great uncle. He was born at Peckham, the son of William and Jane Burchell. According to the 1911 census he was a polisher. He married Margaret Scierloh in 1911 and they had 2 daughters, Elizabeth and Annie (who died as a baby). Margaret remarried in 1919 to a William Baldwin but I do not know what happened after that. He was killed in action and buried in the New Irish Farm Cemetery, North East of Ypres in Belgium.

Alison Smith






  Fus. Leonard Gilbert White 1st Batn. Royal Fusiliers (d.16th Nov 1918)

Leonard White had been a milkman in Shoreham Sussex, a bachelor aged 27, he enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers. In the action at Cambrai, Leonard was wounded in the head, only a few days before the Armistice. He was conveyed to hospital in Liverpool, he died of blood poisoning on 16 Nov 1918. He is buried in Mill Lane Cemetary in Shoreham-By-Sea. He is listed on the Town War Memorial. His Memorial Plaque has come down to me a great Nephew, who he never knew.

G L White






   Arthur Victor Jeffery MID 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers

Taken in Kinsale, Co Cork

My Grandfather, Arthur Victor Jeffery, was a regular NCO in the Royal Fusiliers pre 1914, saw service in India, the 1st Battalion was stationed in Kinsale Co Cork, were he met my Grandmother Mary Madden. The photo is taken in Kinsale. He survived WW1, mentioned in dispatches, wounded by bullet and bayonet, he was transferred to the RASC. Like many WW1 soldiers he had what we now call traumatic shock, and received a pension.

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Laurence Garrett






  Cpl. George Ansell 1st Btn. Royal London Fusiliers (d.21st March 1918)

George Ansell joined the 1/19th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and trained at St Albans, before going to France and joining the 1st Btn. He was killed on the 21st of March 1918 fighting with a company of the 2/2 Btn Royal London Fusiliers at Travesty, France. His c/o Capt. Harper wrote a citation recording his bravery before his death. Stating that George had killed many advancing enemy before being shot by a sniper. Unfortunately, there is no record on the Roll of Honour of the 2/2 Btn as he was lent from the 1st Btn.

I remember a photo of him at my grandmother's before WW2, when at the age of 5yrs. Sadly his photo was lost during the war. Are there any photos of the 1/19th TA Regt who did their training at St Albans, North London in 1914 before they went to France in March 1915?

John Ansell






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