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6th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment
6th (Service) Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment was raised at Warrington in August 1914 as part of Kitchener's First New Army and joined 38th Brigade, 13th (Western) Division, they trained at Tidworth spending the winter in billets at Winchester. Near the end of February the Division concentrated at Blackdown in Hampshire, with the 6th East Lancashires at Alma Barracks. They sailed from Avonmouth on the 16th of June 1915 landing at Alexandria then moving to Mudros, by the 4th of July to prepare for a landing at Gallipoli. The infantry landed on Cape Helles between the 6th and 16th of July to relieve 29th Division. They returned to Mudros at the end of the month, and the entire Division landed at ANZAC Cove between the 3rd and 5th of August. They were in action in The Battle of Sari Bair, The Battle of Russell's Top and The Battle of Hill 60, at ANZAC. Soon afterwards they transferred from ANZAC to Suvla Bay. They were evacuated from Suvla on the 19th and 20th of December 1915, and after a weeks rest they moved to the Helles bridgehead. They were in action during The last Turkishh attacks at Helles on the 7th of January 1916 and were evacuated from Helles on the 8th and 9th. The Division concentrated at Port Said, holding forward posts in the Suez Canal defences. On the 12th of February 1916 they moved to Mesopotamia, to join the force being assembled near Sheikh Sa'ad for the relief of the besieged garrison at Kut al Amara. They joined the Tigris Corps on the 27th of March and were in action in the unsucessful attempts to relieve Kut. They were in action in The Battle of Kut al Amara, The capture of the Hai Salient, he capture of Dahra Bend and The passage of the Diyala, in the pursuit of the enemy towards Baghdad. Units of the Division were the first troops to enter Baghdad, when it fell on the 11 March 1917. The Division then joined \"Marshall's Column\" and pushed north across Iraq, fighting at Delli 'Abbas, Duqma, Nahr Kalis, crossing the 'Adhaim on the 18 April and fighting at Shatt al 'Adhaim. Later in the year they were in action in the Second and Third Actions of Jabal Hamrin and fought at Tuz Khurmatli the following April. By the 28th of May 1918, Divisional HQ had moved to Dawalib and remained there until the end of the war, enduring extreme summer temperatures.
29th Sep 1915 Orders
27th Nov 1915 Trenches Flooded
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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| Want to know more about 6th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment? There are:5232 items tagged 6th Battalion, South Lancashire 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.
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Those known to have served with6th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Archbold James. Pte. (d.5th Apr 1916)
- Burton R.. Pte. (d.19th Feb 1917)
- Cummings Fred. Pte. (d.4th Jul 1916)
- Dewett Edmund. Pte. (d.2nd December 1915)
- Dolman Richard. Pte (d.7th Aug 1916)
- Downing Thomas. Pte. (d.19th Feb 1917)
- Game David James . Sgt.
- Goodier MM. Thomas. Pte.
- Harrop Frederick James. Pte. (d.25th May 1917)
- Jones R. M.. Pte. (d.21st Dec 1917)
- Keegans John. Pte.
- Kewley Samuel. Pte.
- Lofthouse John. Pte. (d.25th Feb 1917)
- Myles Edward James. Pte.
- O'Brien Joseph. Pte. (d.5th April 1916)
- Platt Percy. A/Cpl. (d.26th April 1916)
- Prescott Richard. Pte. (d.26th July 1915)
- Price James.
- Price James. Pte.
- Scally Edward. Pte. (d.9th Apr 1916)
- Speake John Higgin. CSM. (d.16th Apr 1916)
- Yates QM. Thomas. Pte. (d.10th Nov 1915)
- Zorn Charles Jacob. Pte. (d.9th Apr 1916)
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 6th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment from other sources.
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Sgt. David James Game 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment  Sgt. David James Game served with the
1st Battalion South Lancs 1904-1913 [7yrs India],
2nd Battalion South Lancs BEF 1914 [Battle of Mons] and
6th Battalion South Lancs BEF 1915-1919 Gallipoli and Mesopatamia
My grandfather was born 23rd August 1888 in Cambridge, he was one of 9 children, his parents moved to Leamington around 1899, and they lived in Bedford Street.
Grandad enlisted with the 1st Battalion South Lancs in 1904 aged 15 years old, he was under age, on his service record he put his DOB as 1886, he served 9 years, 7 of them in India, he left in 1913 to join his brothers in Canada. Unfortunately war broke out and Grandad was back to the UK, he was now with the 2nd Battalion South Lancs as the 1st Battalion served the war in India.
Being in the regular army he was with the BEF [British Expeditionary Force] who were sent out to France whilst the New Army was being trained. I am able to piece together my grandfather’s experiences from himself, his service records and the War Diaries.
Having served in France between 5 August and 22 November 1914, Grandad was truly "An Old Contemptible".
He was also entitled to wear the clasp & rose to his 1914 Star Medal, awarded to all those who served under fire with the original British Expeditionary Force. By European standards the peacetime British Army was very small, but what it lacked in numbers it made up for in quality. Its Regular soldiers were long-time service professionals, confident in their marksmanship and discipline, and intensely proud of their Regiments. In comparison with the largely conscript continental armies, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) of 1914 was indeed ‘a rapier among scythes’
Grandad took part in, the battles of Aisne and La Bassee,
From 12th to 29th October 2nd South Lancashires experienced severe fighting and heavy casualties at the Battle of La Bassée, on the 21st October under cover of the mist, the Germans penetrated the front of the South Lancashires, on this day alone they lost seven officers and over two hundred men , but despite determined German attacks the battered line never broke.
First Battle Ypres: 2nd South Lancashires joined the 1st Loyal North Lancashires in the Ypres fighting, withstanding repeated attacks at Nonne Boschen 11th-13th Nov.
The battle swayed back and forth as fresh German divisions were committed and, with ever decreasing numbers, the British Regular Army fought almost literally to the death, constantly attacking , withdrawing and counter attacking. The line held but at a terrible cost, both battalions being reduced to barely company strength.
"Although names are given to periods of fighting, it is not possible to describe them as battles. It was a period of continuous, prolonged, ruthless encounter hardly interrupted at night. Our troops had no rest. They were out-numbered, out-gunned and opposed by a determined, skilful and implacable enemy. The fighting was largely individual. The casualties were so heavy that units lost their identity and were roughly grouped under brigades. The troops fought in shallow trenches and shell holes, and in terrible weather conditions. In addition to wound and death casualties, they suffered from frozen feet and knees and from rheumatism. Repulse of German attacks was a daily commonplace. Hourly shelling, to which no reply was possible, owing to shortage of ammunition.
Only at night could supplies be brought up and wounded removed. As soon as dusk fell, Ypres was crowded with vehicles passing in and out...
It was at Nonne Boschen on the 13th Nov my granddad was wounded, he was returned home to England.
In July 1915 he was with the BEF attached to the 6th Battalion South Lancs on his way to Gallipoli, they sailed from Avonmouth in June 1915, landed at Cape Helles (Gallipoli) 7-31 July, then moved to Mudros. Landed at Anzac Beach 4 August 1915. They were in action in The Battle of Sari Bair, The Battle of Russell's Top and The Battle of Hill 60, at ANZAC. It was here in Gallipoli he was promoted to Sergeant.
They were evacuated from Gallipoli and went to Egypt via Mudros.
February 1916 he was on his way to Mesopotamia, the 6th Battalions of the East Lancashires, South Lancashires and Loyal North Lancashires, veterans of Gallipoli, were sent to Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) .
They landed at Basra in March 1916. They formed part of the 38th (Lancashire) Infantry Brigade of the 13th (Western) Division of Kitchener’s New Army
Here they had to acclimatize into the extreme weather conditions. Even so, with temperatures regularly exceeding 50 deg.C, death and illness from heat-stroke were common and dysentery, malaria and other tropical diseases were endemic.
Grandad was used to the high temperatures, from his time spent in India, he partook in the battles here, and he finally returned home in March 1919.
He was so very lucky to have survived all this, to come home, due probably to his expert pre war training.
He married Ellen Donald in 1920.
On his return home from the Great War to a home fit for heroes, he found 2 1/2 days a fortnight work, digging trenches" for pipes. In 1923 - 1926 he joined the East Lancs as a private.
Re-enlistment was encouraged by the short-term offer of a considerable financial incentive, this enabled my grandparents to eventually buy their home in Coventry.
I believe he was truly a remarkable man.
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Pte. Frederick James Harrop 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.25th May 1917) James Harrop was killed in Mesopotamia and is buried in Basra.
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Pte. James Price 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment James Price served with the 6th South Lancashire Regiment in WW1.
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Pte. Edward Scally 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.9th Apr 1916) My relative Edward Scally was a Private in WW1.
He is listed on the cenotaph at Wigan.
Today via Wigan Council archives, thankfully I found he was a coal hewer trammer underground at Maypole Colliery.
Edward is the uncle of my great great grandmother.
He served with the 6th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment and was killed in action on the 9th of April 1916. He is remembered on the Basra Memorial in Iraq. He was the husband of Jane and son of Patrick and Mary
He was born in Nantwich.
I have seen a photograph published when he was missing but it isn't clear enough. I am wondering if anyone can help or if they have any photographs of the battalion at the time?
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Pte. Charles Jacob Zorn 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.9th Apr 1916) Charles J. Zorn was born in Manchester. He was married with three children and lived in Hotel Street, Earlestown. He worked at Collins Green Colliery, and had in earlier days been a sailor. He was born in Germany and in 1911 was working as a butcher and living at 23 Thomas Street in Birkenhead with his wife Annie who was born in Liverpool and their son Charles J. Zorn, age 2 months, born in Birkenhead, Cheshire.
He enlisted in May 1915 and, according to the obituary published in the Newton and Earlestown Guardian on 5th of May 1915, after a few weeks training was drafted to Suvla Bay in Gallipoli. From there he was sent to Egypt, and finally to the Persian Gulf, where he was attached to the force that was attempting to relieve Townshend at Kut.
Charles's name is on the Basra Memorial in Iraq which bears the name of more than forty thousand members of the Commonwealth Forces who died in the operations in Mesopotamia from the autumn of 1914 to the end of August 1921 and whose graves are not known.
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James Price 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment My grandpa James Price and uncle Harry fought together at Gallipoli.
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Pte. Edward James Myles 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment Edward Myles served with the 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment.
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CSM. John Higgin Speake 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.16th Apr 1916) CSM John Higgin Speake of the 6th Batt. South Lancs Regt. died of wounds in Mesopotamia, his name is on the Baghdad Memorial and a poster received by wife and family. Further information would be appreciated.
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Pte. Thomas Goodier MM. 6th Batt South Lancashire Regiment Sadly, my grandfather, Thomas Goodier never spoke about his experiences during WW1. All my father knew was that he had been at Gallipoli and later served in Mesopotamia where he was awarded the MM. When my father asked him about his MM he replied that he had been in a field latrine and there had been an explosion and that was why he had the award. My father said drink had been taken at the time. He never gave any account of the actual incident.
When my father died I asked my uncle if he knew any more about his father's medal. He replied that he had spoken to another old soldier many years previously and he had told him that my Grandfather had been at the Battle of Kut and had carried a wounded solder some long distance whilst under fire and it was this act of bravery that resulted in his award of the MM. I have no idea if this is correct. If it is true it is quite astonishing, he was only 5'4" tall and very slight in build.
At the end of the First World War my Grandfather signed on again. When I asked my father why he would do this the reply was that he had been an iron moulder in a Warrington factory before the war and had no wish to return to his old job in civvy street. My father felt that, despite the horrors of war, he had enjoyed travelling and had no desire for the dirt and grime of an ironworks.
He later served in Ireland, where he met my grandmother, and eventually rose to the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. He stayed with the regiment until 1945 and later become caretaker of the Drill Hall at Warrington for many years.
I recall him quite well, I was ten years old when he died. My father was a serving soldier by then and we were in Germany so I didn't see him at the end of his life. I do recall that he had severe asthma and he said that this was due to being gassed during the war, again I have no idea if that is the case. The asthma was so severe that he would never have been allowed in the army with such a disability so whatever the cause it occurred later in life.
My father also told me that my Grandfather had scars on his leg which allegedly were the work of a dog that, terrified by the sounds of battle, had attacked him in the trenches.
I wish I had known more about him and his time as a soldier. As my father was also a career soldier we didn’t see as much of Grandad as we would have liked but he probably would not have told us very much in any case.
I have tried to search for further information but there doesn’t seem to be a great deal written about the bravery of the ordinary soldier on the battlefield and I suppose there were many acts of bravery that were never recorded or even noted other than by those directly involved.
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Pte. Samuel Kewley 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment Samuel Kewley was the son of Thomas Henry Kewley and Mary (nee Brown). He was one of six serving brothers, two of whom unfortunately died in the war. Samuel Kewley enlisted in the South Lancashire Regiment at Seaforth on January 9th 1915 and served in Gallipoli and Egypt. He also spent some time in India in a hospital. Due to sickness, Samuel Kewley was discharged on August 16th 1917.
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Pte. John Lofthouse 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.25th Feb 1917) John Lofthouse died 25th February 1917 and is commemorated on the Basra War Memorial in Iraq.
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Pte. Fred Cummings 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.4th Jul 1916) Fred Cummings died 4th July 1916 and is buried in the Amara War Cemetery in Iraq.
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Pte. John Keegans 7th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment Jack Keegans, a labourer gardener enlisted on 12th Aug 1915, his service number being 31101, with the 21st Battalion, King's Liverpool City Regiment John says his age is 19 yrs old and 1 mth though his actual age was 17 yrs old and 1 mth. He was the son of John & Jane Keegans, of 85 Kingswood Avenue, Aintree, Liverpoool his father was a potter printer in Melling. John was born July 1898 in Glasgow. John transfers to 3rd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment on 4th May 1916.
On 21st May 1916 John was posted to 6th Bn, SLR who were in Mesopotamia though returned 6th Nov 1916 back to 3rd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment due to contracting malaria. On 29th Apr 1917 John got posted to BEF, France initially to the depot then on 2nd May 1917 11th Bn, (Pioneer) SLR followed by a posting to 7th Bn, SLR on 23rd May 1917.
John was involved in the Battle of Messines as part of 56th Inf Bde, 19th (Western) Div who were facing 2nd (East Prussian) Div. John came through the battle unscathed though I don't know what company he was in. John was involved in the 3rd Battle of Ypres being wounded in action with a wound to his left leg (either a gun shot wound 31st Jul 1917 or a sharpnel wound 1st Aug 1917 as I have two pieces of information that dispute this). John was evacuated back to the UK 5th Aug 1917.
John transfers on 21st Dec 1917 to the Royal Tank Corps for the good and benefit of the army service. He was posted to 12th(L)Bn, RTC on 28th Dec 1917 and was involved in the 100 days offensive, being promoted to L/Cpl on 10th Sep 1918. He was demobbed from service 31st Mar 1920.
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Pte. Thomas Yates QM. 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.10th Nov 1915) Pte. Thomas Yates was my late grandfather who served with the South lancs Regiment. He died on 10th November 1915 and is buried at Green Hill cemetery. Heading north from Anzac you will encounter Green hill and Chocolate hill.
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Pte. R. M. Jones 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.21st Dec 1917) R.M. Jones served with the South Lancashire Regiment 6th Battalion. He was executed for desertion on 21st December 1917 and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial in Iraq.
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Pte. Thomas Downing 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.19th Feb 1917) Thomas Downing was executed for sleeping at his post 19/02/1917 age 21 and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial in Iraq.
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Pte. R. Burton 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.19th Feb 1917) Pte. R. Burton served with the South Lancashire Regiment 6th Battalion. He was executed for sleeping at his post on 19th February 1917 and is commerated on the Basra Memorial in Iraq.
The mass pardon of 306 British Empire soldiers executed for certain offences during the Great War was enacted in section 359 of the Armed Forces Act 2006, which came into effect on royal assent on 8th November 2006.
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Pte. James Archbold 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.5th Apr 1916) James Archbold enlisted in Carmarthen, Wales as Pte. 11560 in the Welsh Regiment and transferred to the 6th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment.
He was killed in action age 30 on the 5th April 1916. He is remembered at the Basra Memorial.
James was born in Jarrow and lived in Haydon Bridge. His medals were sent to Miss Archbold, 47 Woolmarket, Berwick on Tweed.
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Pte. Joseph O'Brien 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.5th April 1916) Private Joseph O'Brien Reg.No.300, was my Granduncle and brother to my Grandfather, Private John O'Brien, who also fought in WW1. Joseph's family believed that he died and was buried in France, only discovering 3 years ago that he was killed in action in Mesopotamia(Iraq) and is buried there also. His name is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Panel 23. Although Joseph had no children he will be remembered by his many relatives in Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland and in Philadelphia, U.S.A.
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