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- 4th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps during the Great War -


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

4th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps



   4th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps were in Gharial, India when war broke out in August 1914. They returned to England with the 3rd KRRC arriving on the 18th of November and joined 80th Brigade, 27th Division at Magdalen Hill Camp near Winchester. They proceeded to France via Southampton in mid December 1914 landing at Le Havre. The Division concentrated in the area between Aire and Arques being joined by Territorial units taken from other Divisions. In 1915 they saw action at St Eloi and in The Second Battle of Ypres. In November they were ordered to Salonika in November 1915 and on the 19th the 4th KRRC sailed from Marseilles, arriving on the 25th. Between the 30th of September and 2nd of October 1916 they were engaged in the capture of Karajakois, followed swiftly by the capture of Yenikoi and then the battle of Tumbitza Farm In 1917 they were in action durinhg the capture of Homondos. In mid 1918 a number of units returned to France and in Sepetember including the 4th KRRC who moved to France in June and joined the reforming 151st Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division on the 16th of July. They went back into action in October in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line, The Pursuit to the Selle and the Final Advance in Picardy. At the Armistice the 50th Division was resting at Solre le Chateau, demobilisation began December and the service of the Division was disbanded on 19th of March when the final troops left for England.

10th February 1915 Reliefs

6th of March 1915  No Hostile Patrols   location map

8th Oct 1918 4th KRRC under fire near Villers Outreaux.  A company of the 4th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, led by T/Lieutenant Horace Sydney Bennett came under under heavy fire near Villers Outreaux.

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





Want to know more about 4th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps?


There are:5233 items tagged 4th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps 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

4th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Ayres Robert John. Rfmn. (d.16th Nov 1918)
  • Bailey W.. L/Cpl.
  • Boxall Joseph John. Rflmn
  • Buttery Edward. Rflmn. (d.18th Oct 1918)
  • Chalmers Thomas. Cpl. (d.25th May 1915)
  • Clegg Harry Hindle. Pte. (d.21st November 1917)
  • Gill Arthur Henry. Rflmn. (d.3rd October 1918)
  • Griffin Samuel Joseph. Bndmn. (d.5th Jun 1915)
  • Hurley Timothy. Pte.
  • King Lucas Henry St. Aubyn. Lt. (d.8th May 1915)
  • Lowther Henry. Rfmn. (d.25th May 1915)
  • Martin Benjamin Walter. (d.19th Oct 1918)
  • O'Sullivan John. Pte
  • Pearce Edward. L/Cpl (d.17th May 1915)
  • Poë Charley Vernon Leslie. Capt. (d.1st March 1915)
  • Robinson Herbert. Rflmn. (d.10th May 1915)
  • Sapsford James Thomas. Pte.
  • Underwood Walter Oliver. Pte (d.24th Apr 1915)
  • Whale Albert Edward. Cpl
  • Wheat James. Pte. (d.6th Nov 1918)
  • Wheat James. (d.6th Nov 1918)
  • Wollerson Charles Arthur. Rifleman (d.10th May 1915)

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 4th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps from other sources.


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  Rfmn. Henry Lowther 4th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.25th May 1915)

Henry Lowther was born in Leeds. He was my great great Uncle on my dad's side of the family. His name is on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial as his body was unfortunately never recovered or found. We believe he may be in an unmarked grave at Hooge Crater.

Lucy-Jayne Brown






  Rfmn. Robert John Ayres 4th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.16th Nov 1918)

I have recently discovered that my great grandfather, Robert Ayres served his country and sadly passed away aged 36, in the Wharncliffe hospital, Sheffield. It appears that he died from the effects of gas, at the end of WW1 and is buried at Wadsley churchyard in Sheffield. Quite tragic to survive the fighting but then to die after the war ended.

I also discovered that he is on the war memorial at the church, so a couple of years ago I managed to have flowers placed there for Remembrance Sunday. I remember my late mother, his granddaughter, saying how sad it was when the family received the telegram with the tragic news. Bless them. I am glad I was able to find out more about him and do something in his memory.

Linda Phelps






  Pte. Timothy Hurley 4th Btn. King's Royal Rifle Corps

Timothy Hurley was born in 1894 and lived in Chelsea with his brother Daniel and his mother. His brother joined the Royal Field Artillery and died in 1916. Timothy survived, dying in 1963. Both boys attended Duke of York's RMS in Chelsea.







  Cpl Albert Edward Whale 4th Btn King's Royal Rifle Corps

Albert Whale served with the 4th KRRC.







  Rflmn. Arthur Henry Gill 4th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.3rd October 1918)

My Great-Uncle Arthur Gill died on 3rd of October 1918 during the Battle of the Hindenburg Line, having served throughout almost the entire Great War. On the following day, with tragic timing for Arthur's family, but no doubt to great relief for the world at large, Germany submitted their request for the Armistice after the vigorous Allied attack to which Arthur must have contributed.

My late mother told me that when she was two years old she remembered her uncle Arthur on leave, standing in the living room in front of the fireplace, in his uniform, at their home in Edmonton, giving her a green glass bead necklace that he had brought back from France, as a present. I still have those beads, together with two embroidered postcards that he sent, one, embroidered "My Dear Niece" signed "From Uncle Arthur xxxx" and the other, sent much earlier, at Christmas 1915, embroidered with Christmas Wishes, containing a card insert within the lace pocket, showing flags of France, Britain and Belgium, stating "Souvenir de Glorieuse Memoire, 1914 1915, Merry Christmas and Happy Future", addressed to "Mother and Dad with love from Arthur xxxx".

He was much loved, deeply missed, and has never been forgotten, and he now rests in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gouy, located south of Cambrai in France. I am submitting this on 2nd October 2018, in memory and appreciation of his service and tragic sacrifice almost exactly a century ago.

R. Payne






  Pte. James Thomas Sapsford 4th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps

Tom Sapsford served with 4th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps.







  L/Cpl. W. Bailey 4th Btn. King's Royal Rifle Corps

L/Cpl. Bailey appears to have been sent to Holmfirth Auxiliary Military Hospital possibly via Royds Hall or Huddersfield War Hospital to recover from his injuries. A poem he wrote is an entry in the Holmfirth Auxiliary Military Hospital Album on 17/6/1916. This is currently held and is on display at the Tolson Museum, Huddersfield. The poem appears to be inscribed on the date that Lance Corporal W Bailey was discharged.

Holmfirth Auxiliary Military Hospital






  Capt. Charley Vernon Leslie Poë 4th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.1st March 1915)

Charley Poë fell gloriously after being twice wounded, when leading a night attack on the German trenches at St. Eloi, Belgium, on the 1st March 1915, Aged 34 years. He was the elder and dearly loved son of Captain George Leslie Poë, RN and Mary his wife.

s flynn






  Lt. Lucas Henry St. Aubyn King 4th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.8th May 1915)

Lt. Lucas King was the eldest son of Lucas White King, CSI, and Geraldine his wife. He fell at Ypres on the 8th of May 1915, aged 20.

s flynn






  Pte Walter Oliver Underwood 4th Btn Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.24th Apr 1915)

Walter Underwood is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial.

Margret






   James Wheat 9th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.6th Nov 1918)

My Great Uncle, James Wheat from Coventry, was a soldier with 9th Battalion of King's Royal Rifle Regiment. Having joined up at the start of WW1 in 1914, he died on Wednesday 6th November 1918, just five days before the Armistice. He is buried in the Premont British Cemetery, Aisne.

What happened to this group of soldiers, I wonder, between being 'disbanded' in August and meeting their fate in November? What is the war story surrounding the Premont area at this time? Does anyone know and can help me?

Editor's note: Men from disbanded battalions were transferred to other battalions which were short of men. CWGC records James as serving with "D" Coy. 4th Bn, KRRC when he was killed.

David Booth






  Pte. James Wheat 4th Battalion, D Company. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.6th Nov 1918)

James Wheat is my Great Uncle. He joined D Company 4th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps on 12th December 1914. I have no knowledge of his movements during the war. Having survived whatever the Great War threw at him over four years, he died aged just 24 and unmarried on 6th November 1918, just five days before the Armistice. I don't know where he fell, but he is buried in the British Cemetery, Premont, Anise, France (Grave III.B.12).

His elder brother, William, fought with the 9th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Again I have no knowledge of his movements during the war. He fell in action aged 27 on 21st March 1918, leaving behind his young wife, Sarah of 164, Station St. East, Coventry. He died on the first day of the so called Advance to Victory. His body was never found, but his name is commemorated on Panels 61 to 64 the Pozieres Memorial, Somme

They were the sons of James and Ellen Wheat, of 24, Princess St., Coventry.

David Booth






  Cpl. Thomas Chalmers 4th Btn King's Royal Rifle Corps. (d.25th May 1915)

Thomas Chalmers aged 24, died on 25th May 1915 whilst serving wit the 4th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps. Born in Jarrow in 1891, son of David And Mary Chalmers. He lived in Newcastle and enlisted in Sunderland. On the 1911 census., he is listed as Thomas Chalmers age 21 single. Rifleman, 4th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, born Jarrow.

Thomas is remembered in Ypres on the Menin Gate Memorial.

Vin Mullen






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