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13th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps
13th (Service) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps was raised at Winchester on the 7th of October 1914 as part of Kitchener's Third New Army and joined 21st Division as army troops.
They trained at Halton Park, moving into winter billets in November at Amersham and Great Missenden.
They moved to Windmill Hill on Salisbury Plain in April 1915 and transferred to 111th Brigade in 37th Division. They proceeded to France on the 31st of July, landing at Boulogne and marched across France to going into the reserve for the British assault at Loos on the 26th of September suffering heavy casualties. In 1916 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,,the Battle of the Aisne, The Somme, the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Picardy. At the Armistice the Division were around Berlaimont, on the 12th they moved to Beaufort, then in mid December they moved west of Amiens and demobilisation began being completed by the 19th of May 1919.
15th Apr 1915 13th KRRC move to Salisbury Plain 13th Battalion KRRC continued training from their billets until the 9th April 1915 when the battalion entrained to Windmill Camp, near Ludgershall Salisbury Plain in two parties. They were there equipped with the new SMLE and joined the 111th Infantry Brigade, 37th Division.
7th Oct 1914 13th KRRC move to Halton Park 13th Battalion KRRC moved to Halton Park Camp, Wendover Bucks on the 7th & 8th Oct in two halves and lived under canvas. The battalion was clothed in emergency blue uniform and was equipped with 400 DP rifles and 600 wooden ones, this was later upgraded to one khaki service dress per man and 1000 DP rifles.
7th Oct 1914 13th KRRC arrive Halton Park Camp 13th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps arrived at Halton Park Camp, on the 7th & 8th Oct in two halves.
14th Nov 1914 13th KRRC leave Halton Park Camp 13th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps leave the tented camp at Halton Park on the 14th November moving into billets at Amersham (A & B Coys) and Great Missenden (C & D Coys) for the winter
22nd July 1915 Advance Party
28th July 1915 On the Move
29th Jul 1915 13th KRRC advance party leaves camp 29th July 1915, an advance party of 108 men of the 13th KRRC left Windmill Camp with all animals and transport, bound for Le Havre.
29th July 1915 On the Move
30th Jul 1915 13th KRRC proceed to France The remaining 998 men and 31 officers of the 13th Battalion KRRC marched out of Windmill Camp in two halves. They sailed from Folkestone on the SS Servial to Boulogne escorted by two destroyers.
1st Aug 1915 On the Move
3rd Aug 1915 Move
3rd Aug 1915 In Billets
4th Aug 1915 On the Move
5th Aug 1915 Musketry
5th Aug 1915 On the Move
8th Aug 1915 Training
9th of Aug 1915 Working Parties
1st July 1916 Smoke 
2nd July 1916 Reliefs
3rd July 1916 Shelling
4th July 1916 Reliefs
5th July 1916 Orders
6th Jul 1916 Orders Received
12th Jul 1916 Reliefs
16th Jul 1916 Reliefs
18th Jul 1916 Heavy Shelling
28th Aug 1916 Instruction
29th Aug 1916 Instruction
1st Sep 1916 In the Trenches
1st Sep 1916 Trench Work
1st Sep 1916 Orders
2nd Sep 1916 In the Trenches
3rd Sep 1916 Reliefs Completed
13th Sep 1916 Orders
16th Sep 1916 Orders Received
17th Sep 1916 Reliefs
14th Nov 1916 Attack Made
21st of December 1916 Ferme Cour d'Avoue Shelled
2nd February 1917 Reliefs
9th April 1917 37th Divison move up at Arras 13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade with 37th Division were in reserve initially at the launch of the Battle of Arras. After initial success the 37th moved up through the lines to continue the attack. This was the area of the Brown Line and having reached here, the 37th Division was brought up through the other Divisions in order to carry the attack into Monchy.
This was supposed to have happened on the evening of 9 April, but a sudden turn in the weather made advancing much more difficult. It was so cold that men would freeze to death during the night. That evening the 37th continued the attack in the face of snow past Feuchy Chapel reaching an area known as Orange Hill to the south-east of Monchy
10th Apr 1917 Attack Made
11th Apr 1917 Village Taken
11th Apr 1917 Servere Fighting
12th Apr 1917 Reliefs
6th May 1917 In Action
2nd Jul 1917 Outposts
3rd Jul 1917 Patrols
1st Oct 1917 Artillery Active
2nd Oct 1917 Poor Conditions
3rd Oct 1917 Recce
4th Oct 1917 Attack Made
5th Oct 1917 Difficult Relief
6th Oct 1917 Wet Ground
7th Oct 1917 Inspections
8th Oct 1917 Reliefs
9th Oct 1917 Poor Conditions
10th Oct 1917 Working Parties
11th Oct 1917 Working Parties
12th Oct 1917 Reliefs
13th Oct 1917 Poor Weather
14th Oct 1917 Inspections
15th Oct 1917 Reliefs
16th Oct 1917 Training
21st Oct 1917 Church Parade
22nd Oct 1917 Reliefs
26th Oct 1917 Working Parties
28th Oct 1917 Working Parties
28th Oct 1917 Working Parties
29th Oct 1917 Reliefs
30th Oct 1917 Inspections
31st Oct 1917 Training
21st August 1918 Attack Made
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 with13th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps during the Great War 1914-1918. - Baverstock John. Rfmn. (d.23rd Apr 1917)
- Bicknell Harold. Rflmn. (d.19th November 1916)
- Callard Alfred J.. Cpl. (d.22nd November 1916)
- Dale MM Charles William. Rflmn (d.14th July 1916)
- Elliott Samuel James. Rflm. (d.23rd Apr 1917)
- Francis Charles. Cpl. (d.10th Mar 1918)
- Griffiths Horace Henry. Pte. (d.13th July 1916)
- Grimley Leonard. Rflmn. (d.28th April 1917)
- Harris John. Pte. (d.11th Jul 1917)
- Hill MM John. L/Cpl.
- Horsnell Ernest. L/Cpl (d.1 May 1917)
- Houchin Henry William. Rflmn. (d.23rd April 1917)
- Howe Edgar. Rflmn. (d.10th Jan 1918)
- Kelleher Frank. Pte. (d.25th August 1918)
- Laverick DCM Ernest. Sgt. (d.28th July 1917)
- Lepine Richard James. Sgt Mjr. (d.11th Apr 1917)
- Meardon Robert. Rfmn. (d.18th Jul 1916)
- Minch Charles Spencer. Cpl. (d.13th July 1916)
- Mitchell Frederick George. L/Cpl (d.13th Sep 1918)
- Moran John Michael. Sgt.
- Polley Edward. Rfmn. (d.23rd Aug 1918)
- Rhodes James Charles. Rfmn. (d.18th Nov 1917)
- Rhodes James Charles. Rfmn. (d.18th Nov 1917)
- Rhodes James Charles. Rfmn. (d.18th Nov 1917)
- Rhodes James Charles. Rfmn (d.18th Nov 1917)
- Smith A. C.. Pte.
- Turner Edward Henry. Pte.
- Turner John Henry Edward. Rflmn.
- Welsted Charles. Rfm.
- Yates William. Rfmn.
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 13th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps from other sources.
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Rfmn James Charles Rhodes 13th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.18th Nov 1917) James Rhodes served with 13th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps.
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Rflm. Samuel James Elliott 13th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.23rd Apr 1917) Samuel Elliott was born in April 1883 in Rotherhithe, Surrey. He joined the Army on 25th of May 1916. Regrettably, he died less than a year later on the first day of the Battle of Arras. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. He left a wife and 4 young children, the youngest being 3 years of age.
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Rfmn. James Charles Rhodes 13th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.18th Nov 1917) James originally joined up in 1915 when he was still 16 and was reported by his mother for been under age. He was discharged from 15th Brigade RFA for been to young.
As soon as he was old enough he signed up again with 13th Kings Royal Rifle Corps. He died from wounds and is buried in Zonnebeke in Belgium.
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Rfmn. James Charles Rhodes 13th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.18th Nov 1917) James Rhodes originally joined up in 1915 when he was still 16 and was reported by his mother and discharged from 15th Brigade RFA for being under age.
As soon as he was old enough he signed up again.
He is buried at Zonnebeke in Belgium.
He died of wounds. This is all the information we have. He was my paternal grandmother's brother.
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Rfmn. William Yates 13th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps William Yates served with the 5th and 13th Battalions, Kings Royal Rifle Corps.
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Rfmn. Robert Meardon 13th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.18th Jul 1916) Robert Meardon was my uncle. He served with 13th King's Royal Rifle Corps.
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Rfmn. James Charles Rhodes 13th Btn 15 Bde Kings Royal Rifle Corps Royal Field Artillery (d.18th Nov 1917) James Rhodes originally joined up in 1915 when he was still 16 and was reported by his mother and discharged from 15th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery for being under age.
As soon as he was old enough he signed up again.
He was my paternal grandmother's brother.
and is buried at Zonnebeke in Belgium.
He died of wounds. This is all the information we have.
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Pte. Horace Henry Griffiths 13th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.13th July 1916) Horace Griffiths was killed on 13th of July 1916 on the Somme, aged 17.
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Rflmn. Henry William Houchin 13th Btn. King's Royal Rifle Corps (d.23rd April 1917) Henry Houchin was my wife's maternal great uncle.
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Cpl. Alfred J. Callard 13th Btn. King's Royal Rifle Corps (d.22nd November 1916) Alfred J. Callard is one of three sons of Annie Callard of Walworth who had been totally deaf from childhood. Her husband had left her many years before the war. Alfred signed up at Southwark Town Hall on 10th September, 1914. He was 5ft 5ins tall and was a tea packer. He was 24 years, 245 days old.
Alfred was wounded in his arm and left leg on 16th November, 1916 (the last day of the Battle of the Somme) and died of his wounds in Rouen on 22nd November.
His brother Harry W. Callard of the 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment signed up at Kingsway RO, London when he was 22 years and and six months. He was a printer. He was presumed missing on the Somme on 30th July, 1916.
Alfred had a third brother, Leonard, who signed up on 12th November, 1914 aged 18. He was a driver in the Royal Field Artillery and survived the war.
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Rflmn. Harold Bicknell 13th Btn. King's Royal Rifle Corps (d.19th November 1916) Harold Bicknell was my great uncle. He died of wounds, possibly suffered at the Battle of Morval (Somme) in September 1916. He was 23.
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Rflmn. Leonard Grimley 13th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.28th April 1917) Unfortunatly, not much is known about Leonard Grimley, but from what I can understand he was killed near Infantry Hill, South of Gavrelle. Weather conditions on that day was heavy snow. Heavy shelling and machine gun fire was present in the area where he was killed. Exact cause of death is unknown. I now visit his grave at least twice a year to honor him since tracing him 3 years ago. I only have photos of his wife so I would love any pictures of the 13th KRRC.
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Rflmn. John Henry Edward Turner 13th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps John Turner moved to Swindon in 1913 working as a tailor's apprentice. He joined up in 1914 serving with KRRC 13th Battalion arriving in France in 1915. Commended for gallant conduct during operations on the Somme 13th -18th Nov 1916 and wounded during the same time. Served throughout the rest of war.
His mother received a very personal letter from his Sgt Major, CSM Edward Wimpey DCM commending him as the best soldier serving under him in Sept 1918.
He returned to Swindon after the war keeping in touch with old mates and attending reunions. He worked for the same tailors in Gorse Hill Swindon becoming manager and eventually buying the business. He died at his home in the town in Jan 1968. I have many nice photos of him and CSM Wimpey.
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Pte. John Harris 13th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.11th Jul 1917) John Harris was born in Scotland in 1894. He joined up at St Paul's Church, Hackney, London. He was attached to the 13th Battalion, the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and served from 25th August 1915 to 14 December 1915. I think he transferred to 19th Btn. London Regiment, St Pancras (service numbers 6099 and 612384.) He served from 16th June 1916 to 11th July 1917 when he was killed. He is buried at Woods Cemetery. There is an error with on his war grave - it says `John Albert Harris No. 612384, parents John Harris late of South Wales Borderers; mother Ellen Harris, 155 London Road, Dover'. war graves have made a mistake with another soldier of the same name. John's parents were William Harris born Scotland and mother Mary Ann Harris. They lived in Hackney, London. I know this for a fact.
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Rflmn. Edgar Howe 13th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.10th Jan 1918) Would love to learn more about my great uncle, Edgar Howe. I have his last Christmas card sent to his sister before being killed. He had a brother George who survived war but was gassed and had "shakes" for rest of life. Unable to find anything about his records.
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Rfmn. John Baverstock 13th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Brigade (d.23rd Apr 1917) John Baverstock was my paternal great grandfather. He was killed long before my father was born and his wife re-married so the only grandfather my dad knew was named Boot. I had often asked why his grandfather was not called Baverstock but he could not answer as he had never been told. We have now discovered John when doing a family tree. It is sad that he had been forgotten although he gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country. He served with the 13th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Brigade and died on 23rd April 1917. He is commemorated at the Arras memorial which I will shortly be visiting. I sadly know nothing more about him and would like to know exactly where he was killed.
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Sgt. John Michael Moran 13th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps My Great Grandfather John Michael Moran was an unsung hero to his sons John and William, and daughters Lilly and Sadie.
Whilst on a fact-finding holiday to Ypres and the Somme my research into the Manchester Library online Roll of Honour revealed a man who first served his country in 1900 in the second Boer War as a KRRC Rifleman and then in WWI an instrumental part of Kitchener's new army as Lance Corporal then Sergeant. He served with 13th Battalion in the 111th Brigade, 37th Infantry Division.
A quiet well groomed white haired man, he never spoke of his brave deeds despite twice returning to serve his country. Not even a Marker at the family grave as he had survived both wars. A new monument remembering this survivor of the so called "Great War" was erected in June 2014 by my Father Anthony Moran and myself to remember his bravery.
Decorated with British Victory and Star Medals from 1915-18 he finally left the Theatre of war of France through illness receiving a silver medal in 1918.
Only one photo of him survives thanks to my Dad who retrieved the biscuit tin of photos from the bin following my Grandfather's death in 1991.
We are still researching the battalion's movements but are proud to find the truth and honour his courage to return to a terrifying inferno. We honour his memory.
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Rfm. Charles Welsted 13th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps My Grandfather was Rfm. Charles Welsted of the 13th KRRC.
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Pte. A. C. Smith 13th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps Pte A.C. Smith served with the 13th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps and was held as a POW in Germany
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