Regimental Depot
Sobraon Barracks, Burton Road, Lincoln
Battalions of the Regular Army
1st Battalion
August 1914 : in Portsmouth. Part of 9th Brigade, 3rd Division.
Landed at Le Havre on 14 August 1914. The brigade was attached to 28th Division between 17 February and 2 April 1915.
14 November 1915 : transferred to 62nd Brigade, 21st Division.
The Bermuda Rifle Volunteer Corps sent a contingent of 2 officers and 125 men, who served with 1st Lincolns from June 1915 onwards. They had suffered 75% casualties by the end of the war.
2nd Battalion
August 1914 : in Bermuda and moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Returned to England 3 October 1914 and on arrival came under command of 25th Brigade in 8th Division.
6 November 1914 : landed at le Havre.
4 February 1918 : transferred to 62nd Brigade, 21st Division.
3rd (Reserve) Battalion
August 1914 : in Lincoln. A training unit, it remained in UK throughout the war. Moved to Grimsby in August 1914 and remained there until early 1918 when moved to Cork.
Battalions of the Territorial Force
1/4th Battalion
August 1914 : in Lincoln. Part of Lincoln & Leicester Brigade, North Midland Division.
May 1915 : the formation was retitled as 138th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division.
1 March 1915 : landed at Le Havre.
7 January 1916 : moved with Division from Marseilles to Egypt.
4 February 1916 : embarked at Alexandria and returned to France.
31 January 1918 : transferred to 177th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division, absorbing 2/4th Battalion.
8 May 1918 : reduced to cadre strength after suffering heavy casualties.
2 June 1918 : transferred to 49th Brigade, 16th Division.
17 June 1918 : transferred to 102nd Brigade, 34th Division.
27 June 1918 : transferred to 117th Brigade, 39th Division.
27 July 1918 : transferred to 118th Brigade in same Division.
28 September 1918 : transferred to 116th Brigade in same Division.
8 November 1918 : disbanded in France.
1/5th Battalion
August 1914 : in Grimsby. Part of Lincoln & Leicester Brigade, North Midland Division.
May 1915 : the formation was retitled as 138th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division.
1 March 1915 : landed at Le Havre.
7 January 1916 : moved with Division from Marseilles to Egypt.
4 February 1916 : embarked at Alexandria and returned to France.
31 January 1918 : transferred to 177th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division.
31 July 1918: absorbed 2/5th Battalion.
2/4th Battalion
Formed in Lincoln on 13 September 1914 as a Second Line Battalion.
July 1915: attached to 177th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division.
April 1916 : moved with Division to Ireland and took part in actions against rebellion.
January 1917 : returned to England and moved to France next month.
31 January 1918: absorbed into 1/4th Battalion.
2/5th Battalion
Formed in Grimsby on 6 February 1915 as a Second Line Battalion.
July 1915: attached to 177th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division.
April 1916 : moved with Division to Ireland and took part in actions against rebellion.
January 1917 : returned to England and moved to France next month.
8 May 1918 : reduced to cadre.
29 May 1918 : transferred to 21st Brigade, 30th Division.
28 June 1918 : transferred to 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division.
31 July 1918 : absorbed by 1/5th Battalion.
3/4th and 3/5th Battalions
Formed at home bases on 1 June and 17 April 1915.
8 April 1916 : became 4th and 5th Reserve Battalions.
1 September 1916 : 5th absorbed into 4th.
13th Battalion
Formed on 1 January 1917 from what had previously been the 28th Provisional Battalion of the TF. It had been formed in June 1915 from “Home Service only” personnel and was under command of 215th Brigade in 72nd Division until July 1917. Moved to Bedford in January 1917 and thence to Ipswich in May 1917. Disbanded there on 31 October 1917.
Battalions of the New Armies
6th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Lincoln in August 1914 as part of K1 and came under command of 33rd Brigade in 11th (Northern) Division.
Moved to Gallipoli in July 1915. Landed at Suvla Bay 7 August 1915. Went to Egypt in January 1916 and thence to France in July 1916.
7th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Lincoln in September 1914 as part of K2 and came under command of 51st Brigade in 17th (Northern) Division.
14 July 1915 : departed from Folkestone and landed at Boulogne in the early hours of 15 July.
8th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Lincoln in September 1914 as part of K3 and came under command of 63rd Brigade in 21st Division.
10 September 1915 : landed at Boulogne.
8 July 1916: transferred with Brigade to 37th Division.
Article: 8th Lincolns captured in “Swan Trench” at Gommecourt 5 April 1918
9th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Lincoln in November 1914 as Service battalion, part of K4.
November 1914 : came under command of 91st Brigade, original 30th Division.
February 1915: moved to The Hayes, Swanwick in Derbyshire.
10 April 1915 : became a reserve battalion.
1 September 1916 : converted into 11th Training Reserve Battalion in 3rd Reserve Brigade.
10th (Service) Battalion (Grimsby)
Often known by its original name of the Grimsby Chums.
Formed at Grimsby on 9 September 1914 by the Mayor and Town.
June 1915 : came under command of 101st Brigade, 34th Division.
3 February 1918 : transferred to 103rd Brigade in same Division.
18 May 1918 : reduced to cadre strength after suffering heavy casualties.
17 June 1918 : transferred to 116th Brigade, 39th Division.
16 August 1918 : transferred to 197th Brigade, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division.
This memorial to the 810 men of the Grimsby Chums who lost their lives in the war stands in St James’ Church in the town. Image from the Geograph British Isles project, with my thanks.
11th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Lincoln in October 1915 as reserve for 10th (Service) Battalion
1 September 1916 : converted into 82nd Training Reserve Battalion in 19th Reserve Brigade.
Other Battalions
12th (Labour) Battalion
Formed in Brocklesby in July 1916.
August 1916 : landed in France and moved to Lines of Communication.
April 1917 : transferred to Labour Corps as 16th and 17th Labour Companies.
1st Garrison Battalion
Formed in September 1915. Moved next month to India and then remained there, under command of the Presidency Brigade in 8th (Indian) Division.
2nd (Home Service) Garrison Battalion
Formed at North Coates near Grimsby in May 1916.
August 1917: converted into the 4th Battalion, the Royal Defence Corps.
Books
Links
59th (2nd North Midland) Division