MarketList of Northumberland Fusiliers battalions in World War I
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List of Northumberland Fusiliers battalions in World War I

This is a list of Northumberland Fusiliers battalions in World War I. When the First World War broke out in August 1914, the Northumberland Fusiliers, a fusilier infantry regiment of the British Army, consisted of 7 battalions, eventually expanding to 52 battalions, although not all existed at the same time, of which 29 served overseas. It was the second largest infantry regiment of the British Army during World War I, surpassed only by the 88 battalions of the London Regiment.

Introduction
Pre-war At the outbreak of the First World War, the Northumberland Fusiliers consisted of seven battalions: • the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Regular Armyin common with all line infantry regiments of the British Army at this time, one was at home (1st Battalion at Portsmouth) and the other was overseas (2nd Battalion at Sabathu, India) • the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the Special Reserve (S.R.)the former Northumberland Light Infantry Regiment of Militia that was transferred to the Special Reserve by Haldane's military reforms in 1908 • and the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Battalions of the Territorial Force (T.F.)these formed the Territorial Force's Northumberland Brigade of the Northumbrian Division. Expansion The expansion in battalions mostly came through two sources: the duplication of the Territorial Force battalions and the formation of Kitchener's New Armies. Of the 45 battalions raised during the war, 10 were Territorial Force and 27 were New Army. When 2nd Line battalions were formed, the 1st Line took on a fractional designation so, for example, 4th Battalion became 1/4th Battalion (first fourth) and its 2nd Line was designated 2/4th Battalion (second fourth); in due course the 3rd Line was formed as the 3/4th Battalion (third fourth). In the case of the Northumberland Fusiliers, the 21st and 22nd Provisional Battalions became the 35th and 36th Battalions (T.F.) of the regiment. Each of the 69 line infantry regiments raised one battalion for the First (K1) and for the Second New Armies (K2) designated as Service battalions and numbered after the existing Territorial Force battalions (so 8th and 9th (Service) Battalions for the Northumberland Fusiliers). This rigid structure did not take account of the differing ability of regiments to raise troops based upon the population of their recruiting areas. Therefore, the Third New Army (K3) had a much higher proportion of battalions from the more populous north of England, notably Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland (10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th (Service) Battalions). The Fourth New Army (K4) was formed from men of the Reserve and Special Reserve battalions which were over establishment. Originally formed into the 30th35th Divisions, these were broken up so the battalions could train recruits and send drafts to the first three New Armies. The locally recruitedpalsbattalions formed depot companies and in 1915 these were grouped into local reserve battalions to provide reinforcements for their parents. The regiment formed 28th, 29th (Tyneside Scottish), 30th (Tyneside Irish), 31st, 32nd, 33rd (Tyneside Scottish), and 34th (Tyneside Irish) Reserve Battalions. Reserve battalions A number of reserve battalions served during the war. They recruited and trained drafts for the active service units and were designated by use of (Reserve) after the battalion number. These had a number of different origins and had a variety of fates. Special Reserve battalions The Childers Reforms of 1881 created regimental districts, each allocated a two-battalion regiment, usually bearing a "county" title. Existing two-battalion regiments of foot (1st to 25th inclusive) were redesignated, whereas the single-battalion foot regiments were paired to become the 1st or 2nd battalions of the new regiments. At the same time the existing militia and rifle volunteer units of the district became battalions of their regiments, the militia numbered after the regularsthus 3rd (Millitia) Battalion, 4th (Millitia) Battalion, etc.and the volunteers in a separate sequence1st Volunteer Battalion, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, etc. As the 5th (Northumberland) (Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot already had two battalions, it simply became the Northumberland Fusiliers as the county regiment of Northumberland. The Northumberland Light Infantry Militia became the 3rd (Militia) Battalion and the rifle volunteers formed the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Volunteer Battalions of the regiment. The divisions were never fully formed; the need for trained reinforcements for the first three New Armies meant that they were broken up and the infantry battalions were used to provide and train reinforcements. On 10 April 1915, the infantry battalions became reserve formations to be known as 2nd Reserve battalions (in the sense that they were second to the original Reserve and Extra Reserve battalions). The 15th Battalion became the 15th (Reserve) Battalion and provided replacements for the 8th – 14th battalions. Local Reserve battalions The locally recruited Service battalions of the Fifth and Sixth New Armiesthe Pals battalionsformed depot companies and in 1915 these were grouped into Local Reserve battalions to provide reinforcements for their parents. Like the 2nd Reserve battalions, they became part of the Training Reserve on 1 September 1916. and the Durham Light Infantry. In April 1916 they dropped the fractional designation and became Reserve Battalions T.F. On 1 September 1916 the reserve territorial battalions of each regiment were amalgamated into a single unit (or two units in certain large regiments, for example the Manchester Regiment's 5th and 8th Reserve Battalions). At the same time, the Third Line Groups were renamed as Reserve Brigades T.F. The Northumbrian Reserve Brigade T.F. commanded 4th (Reserve) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, 4th (Reserve) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, 4th (Reserve) Battalion, Green Howards, and 5th (Reserve) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry in the Hornsea area as part of the Humber Garrison. Along with the Special Reserve battalions, the T.F. Reserve battalions remained as regimental reserves. New recruits were posted to them first until they were up to strength, then to the Training Reserve. When drafts were needed for the overseas units, they were taken first from the regimental reserves; if there were insufficient trained replacements then recourse was made to the Training Reserve. ==Battalions==
Battalions
1st Battalion The 1st Battalion was a regular army battalion, stationed in Portsmouth at the outbreak of World War I. It was assigned to the 9th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division and remained with it throughout the war. It landed at Le Havre on 14 August 1914 and remained on the Western Front until the Armistice with Germany. :Battle of Mons :First Battle of the Aisne :First Battle of Ypres :Battle of the Somme (1916) :Battle of Arras (1917) :Third Battle of Ypres :First Battle of the Somme (1918) :Battle of the Lys (1918) :Second Battle of the Somme (1918) :Battles of the Hindenburg Line :Final Advance in Picardy 2nd Battalion The 2nd Battalion was a regular army battalion, stationed in Sabathu, India It departed Karachi on 20 November 1914, arrived at Plymouth on 22 December and proceeded to Winchester where it joined the 84th Brigade, 28th Division. :Second Battle of Ypres :Battle of Loos :Struma and with 50th Division: :Battles of the Hindenburg Line :Final Advance in Picardy 3rd (Reserve) Battalion The 3rd Battalion was a Special Reserve battalion based in Newcastle upon Tyne at the outbreak of war. In August 1914 it moved to East Boldon (near Sunderland) where it remained throughout the war as part of the Tyne Garrison The battalion was disembodied on 29 July 1919 (personnel transferred to the 1st Battalion on 12 July) but was not formally disbanded until April 1953. ===4th Battalion (T.F.)=== In peacetime, the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions formed the Northumberland Brigade, Northumbrian Division. They were mobilised on the outbreak of the war and were posted to the Tyne Defences. The 4th Battalion was redesignated as 1/4th Battalion with the formation of the 2nd Line battalion in November 1914. In April 1915, the brigade was posted to France and on 14 May was redesignated as 149th (Northumberland) Brigade in 50th (Northumbrian) Division. On 15 July 1918, the battalion was reduced in strength to a cadre and transferred to Lines of Communication duties. On 16 August 1918, it was assigned to the 118th Brigade, 39th Division. It was disbanded on 10 November 1918. :Second Battle of Ypres :Battle of the Somme (1916) :Battle of Arras (1917) :Third Battle of Ypres :First Battle of the Somme (1918) :Battle of the Lys (1918) ===5th Battalion (T.F.)=== This history of the 5th Battalionredesignated as 1/5th Battalion with the formation of the 2nd Line battalion in November 1914 was identical to that of the 4th Battalion. and the 1/7th Battalion was transferred to 42nd (East Lancashire) Division as Pioneers on 12 February 1918 where it remained for the rest of the war. :Battles of the Hindenburg Line :Final Advance in Picardy ===2/4th, 2/5th and 2/6th Battalions (T.F.)=== The 2/4th and 2/5th Battalions were formed at Blyth in November 1914 and the 2/6th Battalion at Newcastle on 28 December 1914. In January 1915 they were assigned to the 188th (2/1st Northumberland) Brigade, 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division at Swalwell Camp near Newcastle. In November 1915, the brigade moved to York and in July 1916 the Division was broken up; the battalions remained with the brigade at York. In November 1916, the battalions were assigned to the 217th Brigade, 72nd Division at Clevedon. They moved to Northampton in January 1917 and to Ipswich in May. 2/7th Battalion (T.F.) The 2/7th Battalion was formed at Alnwick on 26 September 1914 and assigned to the 188th (2/1st Northumberland) Brigade, 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division in January 1915. ===3/4th, 3/5th, 3/6th and 3/7th Battalions (T.F.)=== The 3rd Line battalions were formed in June 1915 at Hexham (3/4th), Newcastle (3/5th and 3/6th) and Alnwick (3/7th). On 8 April 1916 they became Reserve Battalions at Catterick: the 3/4th Battalion was redesignated as 4th (Reserve) Battalion, 3/5th as 5th (Reserve), 3/6th as 6th (Reserve), and 3/7th as 7th (Reserve). On 1 September 1916, the 4th (Reserve) Battalion absorbed the other three. After March 1917 it was at Atwick, Hornsea, to South Dalton in early 1918 and by July 1918 was at Rowlston (near Hornsea) where it remained in the Northumbrian Reserve Infantry Brigade until the end of the war. ===8th (Service) Battalion=== The 8th (Service) Battalion was formed at Newcastle on 19 August 1914. as part of Kitchener's First New ArmyK1and was assigned to the 34th Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division at Grantham. In July 1915 it departed for the Mediterranean and landed at Gallipoli on 7 August. In January 1916 it moved to Egypt where it formed part of the Suez Canal Defences, and in July to France where it spent the rest of the war (still in 34th Brigade, 11th Division). :Battles of Suvla including the Landing at Suvla Bay and the Battle of Scimitar Hill :Battle of the Somme (1916) :Battle of Messines (1917) :Third Battle of Ypres :Battle of Arras (1918) :Battles of the Hindenburg Line :Final Advance in Picardy 9th (Northumberland Hussars) Battalion The 9th (Service) Battalion was formed at Newcastle on 8 September 1914 On 25 September 1917, it absorbed the 2/1st Northumberland Hussars and became the 9th (Northumberland Hussars) Battalion. On 26 May 1918, it was transferred to the 183rd Brigade, 61st (2nd South Midland) Division. It was disbanded on 1 November 1919 in France. :Battle of the Somme (1916) :Battle of Arras (1917) with the 34th Division: :Third Battle of Ypres :First Battle of the Somme (1918) :Battle of the Lys (1918) and with the 61st Division: :Final Advance in Picardy 10th and 11th (Service) Battalions The 10th and 11th (Service) Battalions were formed at Newcastle on 22 September 1914 :Battle of the Somme (1916) :Battle of Messines (1917) :Third Battle of Ypres :Battle of the Piave :Battle of Vittorio Veneto 12th and 13th (Service) Battalions The 12th and 13th (Service) Battalions were formed at Newcastle on 22 September 1914, The combined battalion remained in 62nd Brigade, 21st Division on the Western Front for the rest of the war. :Battle of Loos :Battle of the Somme (1916) :Battle of Arras (1917) :Third Battle of Ypres :Battle of Cambrai (1917) :First Battle of the Somme (1918) :Battle of the Lys (1918) :Second Battle of the Somme (1918) :Battles of the Hindenburg Line :Final Advance in Picardy ===14th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers)=== The 14th (Service) Battalion was formed at Newcastle on 22 September 1914, 15th (Service) Battalion became a 2nd Reserve battalion and was redesignated as 15th (Reserve) Battalion. It remained in 89th Brigade which now became 1st Reserve Brigade. It provided replacements for the 8th – 14th battalions. In September 1916, it was absorbed by the other Training Reserve battalions of the 1st Reserve Brigade. and in June 1915, the 16th (Newcastle) Battalion was assigned to the 96th Brigade, 32nd Division at Catterick. On 22 November 1915, it landed at Boulogne and remained on the Western Front until 7 February 1918 when it was disbanded at Elverdinghe. The battalion fought in the following battles: :Battle of the Somme (1916) (including the battles of Albert, Bazentin Ridge, Ancre Heights and Ancre) ===17th (Service) Battalion (N.E.R. Pioneers)=== The 17th Battalion was also a Pals battalion, raised by the North Eastern Railway at Hull in September 1914. It became a pioneer battalion on 11 January 1915 and was assigned to the 32nd Division at Catterick in June. It was taken over by the War Office on 1 September 1915, and landed at Havre on 21 November with 32nd Division. On 19 October 1916 it moved to GHQ Railway Construction Troops, 2 September 1917 back to 32nd Division, 15 November back to GHQ Railway Construction Troops and finally on 31 May 1918 to 52nd (Lowland) Division as Pioneer Battalion where it remained until the end of the war. :Second Battle of the Somme (1918) :Battle of Arras (1918) :Battles of the Hindenburg Line :Final Advance in Artois 18th (Service) Battalion (1st Tyneside Pioneers) The 18th Battalion was a Pals battalion raised in Newcastle on 15 October 1914 by the Lord Mayor and City. On 8 February 1915 it became a Pioneer Battalion and in July joined 34th Division at Kirkby Malzeard. It was taken over by the War Office on 15 August 1915, and landed at Havre on 8 January 1916 with 34th Division. It was reduced to cadre strength on 18 May 1918. On 17 June 1918, it was transferred to the infantry and assigned to the 116th Brigade, 39th Division. It moved again on 29 July 1918, when it was assigned to the 118th Brigade, 39th Division. On 16 August 1918, it was assigned as Divisional Troops to the 66th Division. Its last move was on 20 September 1918, when it was assigned to the 197th Brigade as Lines of Communication troops. :Battle of the Somme (1916) :Third Battle of Ypres :First Battle of the Somme (1918) :Final Advance in Flanders ===20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd (Service) Battalions (Tyneside Scottish)=== The 1st – 4th Tyneside Scottish Battalions were Pals battalions raised in Newcastle by the Lord Mayor and City on 14 October (1st), 26 September (2nd), 5 November (3rd) and 16 November 1914 (4th). In March 1915 they moved to Alnwick and together they formed 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, 34th Division in June 1915. They were taken over by the War Office on 15 August 1915, moved to Salisbury Plain at the end of the month and crossed to France in January 1916. the 20th and 21st Battalions were disbanded on 3 February and the 25th Battalion joined from the 103rd (Tyneside Irish) Brigade on the same date. ===24th, 25th, 26th and 27th (Service) Battalions (Tyneside Irish)=== . The 1st – 4th Tyneside Irish Battalions were Pals battalions raised in Newcastle by the Lord Mayor and City on 14 November (1st), 9 November (2nd), 23 November 1914 (3rd) and 5 January 1915 (4th). In March 1915 they moved to Woolsington and together they formed 103rd (Tyneside Irish) Brigade, 34th Division in June 1915. They were taken over by the War Office on 27 August 1915, moved to Salisbury Plain at the end of the month and crossed to France in January 1916.) was formed about June 1915 from the Home Service personnel of the 4th and 7th T.F. Battalions. On 1 January 1917 it became the 35th Battalion (T.F.) of the regiment at Herne Bay in 227th Brigade. It remained at Herne Bay until early 1918 when it moved to Westleton where it remained until the end of the war with 227th Brigade. The 35th Battalion was disbanded on 4 September 1919 at Saxmundham. :Second Battle of the Somme (1918) :Final Advance in Artois and Flanders 37th (Home Service) Battalion The 37th (Home Service) Battalion was formed on 27 April 1918 at Margate to replace the 36th Battalion (T.F.) in 222nd Brigade. It remained at Margate in 222nd Brigade until the end of the war. 38th Battalion The short-lived 38th Battalion was formed at Margate on 1 June 1918. It was absorbed by the 22nd Battalion (3rd Tyneside Scottish) on 18 June. and to Ahmednager Brigade in October where it remained until the end of the war. It was disbanded in the UK on 19 January 1920. The battalion was converted to a service battalion as 52nd (Service) Battalion on 8 February 1919. It was disbanded on the Rhine on 28 March 1920. ===53rd (Young Soldier) Battalion=== The 53rd (Young Soldier) Battalion was formed on 27 October 1917 by the redesignation of the 5th Young Soldier Battalion, Training Reserve. It originated as the 5th Training Reserve Battalion (formerly 10th (Reserve) Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment) at Rugeley, Cannock Chase. It remained in the United Kingdom throughout the war. The battalion was converted to a service battalion as 53rd (Service) Battalion on 8 February 1919. It was disbanded on the Rhine on 26 October 1919. ==Post-war==
Post-war
The Northumberland Fusiliers continued to raise new battalions after the end of the war: the 39th (Service) Battalion on 10 May 1919 and the 40th (Service) Battalion in September 1919. They were disbanded in France on 5 March 1920 and 19 September 1919, respectively. The 1st Line Territorial Force battalions were reconstituted on 7 February 1920 as part of the new Territorial Army where they once again formed the Northumberland Brigade in the Northumbrian Division. Therefore, the Northumberland Fusiliers entered the inter-war period with • 1st Battalion • 2nd Battalion • 3rd Battalion (Militia) • 4th Battalion (T.A.) • 5th Battalion (T.A.) • 6th Battalion (T.A.) • 7th Battalion (T.A.) ==See also==
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