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Archiver > GREATWAR > 2000-11 > 0973062044


From: Iain Kerr <>
Subject: Re: [WW1] Shropshire Light Infantry
Date: Wed, 01 Nov 2000 07:00:44 +0000
References: <5.0.0.25.2.20001015071855.00a74d80@127.0.0.1>
In-Reply-To: <010301c0439a$b297eee0$f348b9d8@rowem>


At 23:59 31/10/00, Mark Rowe wrote:
>Looking for general information on the 2nd and 5th (Service) Battalion, The
>Kings (Shropshire Light Infantry). Where did they serve during the Great
>War?
>
>My uncle joined them, even though he lived in Shanghai, China. Anyone know
>how my Australian born uncle who lived in China ended up in a Shropshire
>regiment?

Mark,

The King's (Shropshire Light Infantry) raised a total of 12 battalions
during World War I from its pre-war establishment of two regular, one
reserve and three territorial battalions. The regiment was awarded 52
battle honours and its men won one Victoria Cross during the war. The
regiment lost a total of 4,710 casualties during the Great War.

The 2nd Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry was based in
Secunderabad, India on the outbreak of war on 4 Aug 1914. It embarked from
Bombay for the UK on 13 Oct and in Nov landed at Plymouth. It moved to
Winchester and was assigned to 80th Brigade in 27th Division. Being formed
from units returning from overseas. On 21 Dec 1914 the battalion embarked
for France and Flanders, landing at Le Havre. The battalion was redeployed
to Salonika with its formations, arriving on 4 Dec 1915. The 2nd Battalion
ended the war in the same formations on 30 Oct 1918 north of Doiran, Macedonia.

The 5th (Service) Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry was
formed at Shrewsbury in Sep 1914 as part of the first of Kitchener's New
Armies. It was assigned to 42nd Brigade in 14th Division and was initially
based at Aldershot. From Nov 1914 to Mar 1915 it was in billets in
Chiddingfold and ten returned to Aldershot for final training. On 20 May
1915 the battalion embarked for France and Flanders, landing at
Boulogne. The 5th Battalion served in France and Flanders in the same
formation until 4 Feb 1918, when it was disbanded at Jussy. The remaining
personnel were transferred to the 1st, 1/4th, 6th and 7th Battalions.

The British Army did not accept volunteers overseas, so he must have
shipped to the UK to enlist. There were no "rules" for assigning recruits
to units unless they expressed a preference. So the KSLI probably had most
need at the time of his enlistment. Or he knew someone in the regiment. Or ???

Yours aye,

Iain Kerr
In Windsor, Berkshire
Web Page at: http://home.clara.net/iainkerr/index.htm
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