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- 11th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers during the Great War -


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

11th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers



   11th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers was raised at Newcastle in September 1914 and joined 68th Brigade, 23rd Division. The Division was established in September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Third New Army, and concentrated in Hampshire in September with 68th Brigade at Bullswater, 69th and 70th brigades at Frensham. The artillery units assembled at Mytchett Camp in November. As the winter set in, the Division moved to Aldershot, with CII and CIII Artillery Brigades moving to Ewshott. At the end of February 1915 they moved to Shorncliffe, Kent, and some of the infantry were engaged in constructing defences to the south of London in April and May, before the Division moved to Bordon, Hampshire at the end of the month. They proceeded to France in the third week of August, landing at Boulogne and concentrating near Tilques. On the 5th of September 23rd Division became attached to III Corps, moving to the Merris-Vieux Berquin area, for trench familiarisation under the guidance of the 20th (Light) and 27th Divisions. They took over front line sector between Ferme Grande Flamengrie to the Armentieres-Wez Macquart road in their own right on the 14th. During the Battle of Loos 23rd Division held the front at Bois Grenier, they were relieved from that sector at the end of January 1916 and Divisional HQ was established at Blaringhem with the units concentrated around Bruay for a period of rest. On the 3rd of March they returned to the front line, taking over a sector between the Boyau de l'Ersatz and the Souchez River from the French 17th Division, with the Artillery taking over an exposed position between Carency and Bois de Bouvigny where it was subjected to heavy shelling. In early March a Tunnelling Company was established and men with a background in mining were transferred from the ranks to the Royal Engineers. In Mid April they returned to Bruay area for rest until mid May when they again took over the Souchez-Angres front, just before the German Attack on Vimy Ridge on the 21st. The brunt of the attack fell on 47th (London) Division, to the right of 23rd Division and the 23rd Divisional Artillery went into action in support of the 47th. On the 1st of June the Artillery supported 2nd Division as they undertook operations to recover lost ground. On the 11th of June the 23rd Division Infantry moved to Bomy and the artillery to Chamblain Chatelain and Therouanne to begin intensive training for the Battles of the Somme. They were in action in The Battle of Albert including the capture of Contalmaison, The Battles of Bazentin Ridge, Pozieres, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and The Battle of Le Transloy including the capture of Le Sars. In 1917 they fought in The Battle of Messines, The Battles of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood and the The First and Second Battles of Passchendaele. In November 1917 the Division moved to Italy concentrating between Mantua and Marcaria before taking over the front line at the Montello on the 4th of December. In 1918 they were in action during the fighting on the Asiago Plateau and the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, including the passage of the Piave and the Monticano. At the Italian Armistice at 3pm on the 4th of November, the 23rd were midway between the Rivers Livenza and Meduna, east of Sacile. They moved to billets west of Treviso and demobilisation took place in January and February 1919.

9th Sep 1915 Attachment

10th Sep 1915 Shelling

13th Sep 1915 Reliefs

14th Sep 1915 Artillery in Action

15th Sep 1915 Trench Work

26th Feb 1916 Reinforcements

19th Dec 1917 Reliefs Completed

3rd Feb 1918 Reliefs

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





Want to know more about 11th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers?


There are:5238 items tagged 11th Battalion, Northumberland 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

11th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Backley James Arthur. Pte. (d.27th Oct 1918)
  • Backley James Arthur. Pte (d.17th Oct 1918)
  • Bell Robert. Pte. (d.15th Oct 1916)
  • Campbell Henry W. Pte (d.24th Sep 1916)
  • Cawthorne Albert. Pte. (d.26th Aug 1918)
  • Clark John. Pte
  • Essen Rolf Van. Pte. (d.8th Oct 1916)
  • Johnson MM & Bar. John Thomas. Pte. (d.27th Oct 1918)
  • Lawson George. L/Cpl (d.13th Dec 1916)
  • Steel Edward. Pte.
  • Taylor Benjamin. Pte. (d.20th Sep 1917)
  • Thompson Robert Wilks. 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 11th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers from other sources.


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  Pte James Arthur Backley 11th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers (d.17th Oct 1918)

James was born in Jarrow, Durham in 1896.

His mum Margaret Cooper was my great great aunt. She was born in Ireland in 1868 and moved with her family to Newcastle, before marrying James' dad, Charles Henry Backley in 1889.

James was a below-ground coal driver when he was fifteen years old (in 1911), before becoming a conductor with the National Union Of Railwaymen in 1915 and then joining the army.

He was killed in action on 1918-10-27 in Italy.

His older brother, Herbert, died in 1916 in France.

In fact, between childhood mortality and the war, out of 14 Backley children only seven lived beyond the age of 24. (From eldest to youngest: William, died aged 17, accident. Mary Elloner, married and had 3 children, died age 62. Benjamin, died 7 months old. Herbert, died age 22 in France (buried at Thiepval). James Arthur died in Italy, in 1918 aged 22. John Magnus, married with three children, died aged 64. Horace, died 11 months old. Percy, died 1 year old. Charles, married with two children, died aged 68. Harold, married with a daughter, but died age 44 (WWII memorial in Whitley Bay). Alfred, married with three children, died aged 60. Francis, died 2 months old. Frederick, married with one child, died aged 50. Elizabeth Matilda, married with two girls, died 1977 (age 67).

Qristina






  Pte John Clark 18th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers

John Clark served with the 18th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in WW1.







  Pte Robert Wilks Thompson 11th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers

His brother Alexander Wilks Thompson served in this Regiment above. My Grandfather George Wilks Thompson b 1896 served but not 100% certain it was in the same regiment. On his photo he had leather pouches on a belt across his chest.

Linda Jeffery






  Pte. Robert Bell 19th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.15th Oct 1916)

Robert Bell was killed in action on 15th October 1916. Aged 30 years. CWGC have him listed as transferred or attached to 11th Northumberland Fusiliers at the time of his death. He is buried in the churchyard at Ashington (Holy Sepulchre). He was the husband of Elizabeth Bell of 18 Morven Terrace, Ashington.

From the 19th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers Roll of Honour.

Dave Willis






  Pte. John Thomas Johnson MM & Bar. 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (d.27th Oct 1918)

John Johnson was my grandma's brother, aged 25. He saw his first action during the German attack of Vimy Ridge. He was killed in action in the Battle of Asiaqo in Italy one week before the end of the war. He was twice awarded the Military Medal. He is buried at Tezze British Cemetery,

John Turnbull






  Pte. Rolf Van Essen 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers (d.8th Oct 1916)

Rolf Essen was killed in action on 8th of October 1916. Aged 28 years, he is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial in Belgium. Rolf was the husband of Barbara Ellen Scott Essen of 3 Adamson Buildings, North Shields. he Commonwealth War Grave Commission have his service number recorded as 1166 and him shown as a member of the 11th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers, however this is believed to be an error and should be 19/1166. The 19th NF Battalion history records him as one of theirs.

From the 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers Roll of Honour.

Dave Willis






  Pte. Albert Cawthorne 11th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.26th Aug 1918)

Albert Cawthorne served with 11th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers

Linda






  Pte. Edward Steel 11th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers

Edward Steel served with the 11th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers during WW1. Grandfather, enlisted 1914 and married 1915 before going to France. He was wounded on Hill 60 and on one other occasion. Edward was batman to Capt. EG Bowers. He was discharged by March 1919.

John Edward Steel






  Pte. Benjamin Taylor 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (d.20th Sep 1917)

Benjamin Taylor died age 29, he was born in Howdon and enlisted Newcastle. he was the brother of John Thomas Taylor of 80 Beech Street Jarrow.

Benjamin is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

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Vin Mullen






  Pte Henry W Campbell 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers (d.24th Sep 1916)

Campbell, Henry, W. Private, 19/252, Killed in action on 24th September 1916. Aged 21 years.

Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial on the addenda panel. This casualty was only recently accepted for commemoration by the Commission and is now listed on the addenda panel.

Private Campbell was a member of the 19th Btn N.F. with service number 19/252, Btn records state that he was killed with 1st Btn N.F. but CWGC records show him as 11th Btn N.F. this could be in error.

From the 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers Roll of Honour.

Dave Willis






  L/Cpl George Lawson 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers (d.13th Dec 1916)

Lawson, George, Lance Corporal, 19/1314, Killed in action on 13th December 1916. Aged 37 years.

Buried in Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, in grave VI. Q. 1.

Husband of Elizabeth Lawson, of 12, Douglas Terrace, Dipton, Co. Durham.

Lance Corporal Lawson was a member of the 19th Btn N.F. with service number 19/1314, but CWGC records show him as 11th Btn N.F. this could be in error.

From the 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers Roll of Honour.

Dave Willis






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