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The home of the 11th (Service) Battalion Border Regiment in the First World War

Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pense — Evil Be To Him Who Evil Thinks

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At the Lonsdale Battalion wiki we believe in the sharing of knowledge to better understand a challenging and devastating period that affected hundreds of millions of people. This knowledge should be available to everyone without cost. Included here is public domain information we have been able to find, such as battalion histories, war diaries and newspaper articles. Do you have any connection with the Lonsdale Battalion and the Border Regiment? Or maybe you have some information you would like to share? If you do, then we would like to hear from you. Learn more about helping our projects.

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The Lonsdales

Battalion History

On This Day

Roll Of Honour

War Diary

Border Regiment

On this day

28 April

A daily listing of events across all fronts that took place on this day between 1914–1918. This information refreshes daily.

1915 (Wednesday)

Events preceding the Lonsdales' arrival in France

• Mock attack takes place by D Company on C Company.
• Lt-Col. Machell to Lord Lonsdale: "Today received orders appointing Lonsdale to 97th Brigade with three battalions Highland Light Infantry to assemble at Prees Heath [near Whitchurch in Shropshire] and advanced party to be held in readiness proceed early so all is well. I expect we have to thank you and am deeply grateful."
• Copy letter of Machell: "The original 'fields' [leased] have of late been merged to a great extent, and there is no doubt that the troops use practically the entire area....though of course part of the ground, immediately in front of the Stand is used most. I suppose Mr. Irving’s claim for £57 10s represents something a little over 25% of his rent, and, having regard to everything, especially the fact that it has been impossible for him to turn out more than perhaps 1/3 of the usual number of ewes this spring, I am inclined to consider his claim to be reasonable."
• Telegram from Western Command: "hold 11th Border Regiment (Lonsdale) in readiness to proceed shortly to Prees Heath. Please arrange for despatch of an advance party 4 officers 200 other ranks required at Prees Heath early to prepare camp."

1916 (Friday)

• Contay Wood: Battalion in isolation camp (measles) involved in Divisional and Brigade manoeuvres, training and small working parties.
• Newspaper articles Been Back a Bit, but Moved Up Again and May Be Called Upon Any Minute are published.
• Private T.R. Lamont writes to the Workington Star and Harrington Guardian: "Dear Sir, I received your welcome parcel of tobacco in the best order, and I thank you very much for the same. We had just come out of the trenches after having a wet time of it, so I could not have received the parcel at a better time. I shared it amongst the boys, which is the general custom with any parcels from England, and it would have done you good to see the pleasant smiles on the faces of the lads when I handed a laal bit of bacca across to them. Well, I am just thinking of the Uppies and Downies do that will be taking place to-day. I would have liked to have had a go in with them; but duty first and pleasure afterwards. I am living in full confidence of coming back again to the old town. Again thanking you and the subscribers to the STAR fund for their welcome gift."

1917 (Saturday)

• Offoy: Preliminary parades for Corps Commanders inspection. Training.

1918 (Sunday)

• Lahertie: Church parade for Brigade held at Bazéque Farm at 11am.
• Whole brigade marches past the G.O.C., the battalion leading.
• Football competition (final round) during afternoon and evening; all four teams of Lonsdale battalion lose.

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Articles

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A discussion is taking place between the Commanding Officer and one of his men

"This is how you do it lads." An aiming drill staged for the photographer

Learning how to "dig-in" and the rigid training involved of digging entrenchments

Inspection of the troops by Lord Lonsdale, the men standing to attention as he passes by

Close quarter bayonet training with sandbags

Officers out for a stroll through the grounds keeping a watchful eye on the training

Officers of the Lonsdale Battalion

A parade of new recruits, many without uniform until these could be supplied at a later date

There is no getting away from the morning stretches!

The Commanding Officer, Percy Machell and other officers, watch the physical drill instructor

A route march through the streets of Carlisle

A route march through the streets of Carlisle, the fanfare of the lads marching off to war

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