Often known as the “Fighting Fifth” as the regiment was until 1881 the Fifth Foot, the Northumberland Fusiliers raised no fewer than 51 battalions for service in the Great War. This makes it the second largest after the London Regiment.
The regimental badge as depicted on a CWGC grave stone. From the excellent Amble & District Genealogical and Historical Resources website, with my thanks.
Regimental Depot
Battalions of the Regular Army
1st Battalion
August 1914 : in Portsmouth. Part of 9th Brigade, 3rd Division.
Landed at Le Havre 14 August 1914. The brigade was attached to 28th Division between 17 February and 2 April 1915.
3 April 1919: cadre entrained at Lindenthal (Cologne) for return to England.
2nd Battalion
August 1914 : in Sabathu in India. Returned to England 22 December 1914. Joined 84th Brigade, 28th Division.
Landed at Le Havre 18 January 1915. Moved to Egypt, arriving at Alexandria on 29 October 1915 and thence to Salonika.
June 1918 : left Brigade and moved to France. Joined 150th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division.
3rd (Reserve) Battalion
August 1914 : in Newcastle on Tyne. A training unit, it remained in UK throughout the war. Moved to East Boldon in August 1914, then to Sunderland.
Battalions of the Territorial Force
1/4th Battalion
August 1914 : in Hexham. Part of Northumberland Brigade, Northumbrian Division.
April 1915 : landed in France.
May 1915 : became 149th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, in France.
15 July 1918 : reduced to cadre strength and transferred to Lines of Communication.
16 August 1918 : transferred to 118th Brigade, 39th Division.
10 November 1918 : disbanded in France.
1/5th Battalion
August 1914 : in Walker. Part of Northumberland Brigade, Northumbrian Division.
Record same as 1/4th Battalion.
1/6th Battalion
August 1914 : in St George’s Drill Hall, Newcastle. Part of Northumberland Brigade, Northumbrian Division.
Record same as 1/4th Battalion.
1/7th Battalion
August 1914 : in Alnwick. Part of Northumberland Brigade, Northumbrian Division.
Record same as 1/4th Battalion up to February 1918.
12 February 1918 : transferred to 42nd (East Lancashire) Division and converted to Pioneer Battalion.
2/4th, 2/5th and 2/6th Battalions
2/4th and 2/5th formed at Blyth, 23 and 22 November 1914, and 2/6th at Newcastle, 28 December 1914.
January 1915 : placed under orders of 188th Brigade, 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division.
July 1916, Division broken up.
November 1916 : transferred to 217th Brigade, 72nd Division.
December 1917, 2/6th and 2/5th disbanded in England, 24 May 1918 2/4th same.
2/7th Battalion
Formed at Alnwick, 26 September 1914.
January 1915 : came under command of 188th Brigade, 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division.
July 1916, Division broken up.
20 January 1917: sailed for Egypt for duty as a Garrison Battalion.
3/4th, 3/5th, 3/6th and 3/7th Battalions
Formed at home bases in June 1915, respectively.
8 April 1916 : all became Reserve Battalions (4th, 5th, 6th and 7th)
All others absorbed into 4th Reserve Battalion.
35th Battalion
On 1 January 1917, what had previously been called the 21st Provisional Battalion became 35th Bn TF. It had been formed in 1915 from Home Service personnel from the TF Bns of the regiment. Based at Herne Bay in Kent.
36th Battalion
On 1 January 1917, what had previously been called the 22nd Provisional Battalion became 36th Bn TF. It had been formed in 1915 from Home Service personnel from the TF Bns of the regiment. Went to France in May, 1918 as a Garrison Guard Battalion : then attached to 178th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division.
Battalions of the New Armies
8th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Newcastle in August 1914 as part of K1 and came under orders of 34th Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division.
Moved to Gallipoli in July 1915, landing at Suvla Bay on 6 August. Went to Egypt in January 1916 and thence to France in July 1916.
9th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Newcastle in September 1914 as part of K2 and came under orders of 52nd Brigade, 17th (Northern) Division.
Landed in France in July 1915.
August 1917 : transferred to 103rd Brigade, 34th Division.
25 September 1917 : absorbed the 2/1st Northumberland Yeomanry and became the 9th (Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry) Bn.
26 May 1918 : transferred to 183rd Brigade, 61st (2nd South Midland) Division.
10th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Newcastle in September 1914 as part of K3 and came under orders of 68th Brigade, 23rd Division.
Landed in France August 1915.
Moved to Italy with the Division in November 1917.
11th (Service) Battalion
Record same as 10th (Service) Battalion.
12th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Newcastle in September 1914 as part of K3 and came under orders of 62nd Brigade, 21st Division.
Landed in France September 1915.
10 August 1917: amalgamated with 13th Bn, becoming 12/13th Battalion.
Article: Hard time for 12/13th Northumberland Fusiliers, 16 April 1918
13th (Service) Battalion
Record same as 12th Battalion.
14th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers)
Formed at Newcastle in September 1914 as part of K3 and came under orders of 21st Division as Army Troops.
January 1915 : converted into Pioneer Battalion.
Landed in France September 1915.
15th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Darlington in October 1914 as a Service battalion, part of K4.
November 1914 : came under orders of 89th Brigade, original 30th Division.
10 April 1915 : became a Reserve battalion.
September 1916 : absorbed into Training Reserve Battalions in 1st Reserve Brigade.
16th (Service) Battalion (Newcastle)
Formed at Newcastle in September 1914 by the Newcastle & Gateshead Chamber of Commerce.
June 1915 : came under orders of 96th Brigade, 32nd Division.
Landed at Boulogne 22 November 1915.
February 1918 : disbanded in Belgium.
17th (Service) Battalion (North Eastern Railway Pioneers)
Formed at Hull in September 1914 by the North Eastern Railway Company.
January 1915 : became a Pioneer Bn.
June 1915 : attached as Divisional Troops to 32nd Division.
Landed at Le Havre 21 November 1915.
19 October 1916 : transferred to GHQ as Railway Construction Troops.
2 September 1917 : rejoined 32nd Division, leaving on 15 November 1917, again to GHQ as Railway Construction Troops.
31 May 1918 : transferred as Divisional Troops to 52nd (Lowland) Division.
18th (Service) Battalion (1st Tyneside Pioneers)
Formed at Newcastle, 14 October 1914, by the Lord Mayor and City.
8 February 1915 : became a Pioneer Bn.
16 June 1915 : attached as Divisional Troops to 34th Division.
Landed at Le Havre 8 January 1916.
8 May 1918 : reduced to cadre strength.
17 June 1918 : transferred as infantry to 116th Brigade, 39th Division.
29 July 1918 : transferred to 118th Brigade in same Division.
29 July 1918 : transferred as Divisional Troops to 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division.
20 September 1918 : transferred with 197th Brigade to Lines of Communication.
19th (Service) Battalion (2nd Tyneside Pioneers)
Formed at Newcastle, 16 November 1914, by the Lord Mayor and City.
8 February 1915 : became a Pioneer Bn.
July 1915 : attached as Divisional Troops to 35th Division.
Landed at Le Havre 29 January 1916.
20th (Service) Battalion (1st Tyneside Scottish)
Formed at Newcastle, 14 October 1914, by the Lord Mayor and City.
June 1915 : came under orders of 102nd Brigade, 34th Division.
Landed in France in January 1916.
3 February 1918 : disbanded in France.
21st (Service) Battalion (2nd Tyneside Scottish)
Formed at Newcastle, 26 October 1914, by the Lord Mayor and City.
Record same as 1st Tyneside Scottish.
22nd (Service) Battalion (3rd Tyneside Scottish)
Formed at Newcastle, 5 November 1914, by the Lord Mayor and City..
June 1915 : came under orders of 102nd Brigade, 34th Division.
Landed in France in January 1916.
17 May 1918 : reduced to cadre strength; returned to England 18 June 1918 with the 16th (Irish)Division.
18 June 1918 : absorbed new 38th Bn, and then attached to 48th Brigade, 16th Division.
Landed in France in July 1918.
23rd (Service) Battalion (4th Tyneside Scottish)
Formed at Newcastle, 16 November 1914, by the Lord Mayor and City..
June 1915 : came under orders of 102nd Brigade, 34th Division.
Landed in France in January 1916.
17 May 1918 : reduced to cadre strength.
17 June 1918 : transferred to 116th Brigade, 39th Division.
29 July 1918 : transferred to 197th Brigade, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division.
20 September 1918 : transferred with 197th Brigade to Lines of Communication.
24th (Service) Battalion (1st Tyneside Irish)
Formed at Newcastle, 14 November 1914, by the Lord Mayor and City.
June 1915 : came under orders of 103rd Brigade, 34th Division.
Landed in France in January 1916.
10 August 1917 : amalgamated with 27th Bn to form 24/27th Battalion.
26 February 1918 : disbanded in France.
25th (Service) Battalion (2nd Tyneside Irish)
Formed at Newcastle, 9 November 1914, by the Lord Mayor and City..
June 1915 : came under orders of 103rd Brigade, 34th Division.
Landed in France in January 1916.
3 February 1918 : transferred to 102nd Brigade in same Division.
16 May 1918 : reduced to cadre strength.
17 June 1918 : transferred to 116th Brigade, 39th Division.
29 July 1918 : transferred to 197th Brigade, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division.
20 September 1918 : transferred with 197th Brigade to Lines of Communication.
26th (Service) Battalion (3rd Tyneside Irish)
Formed at Newcastle, November 1914, by the Lord Mayor and City.
June 1915 : came under orders of 103rd Brigade, 34th Division.
Landed in France in January 1916.
3 February 1918 : disbanded in France.
27th (Service) Battalion (4th Tyneside Irish)
Formed at Newcastle, January 1915, by the Lord Mayor and City.
June 1915 : came under orders of 103rd Brigade, 34th Division.
Landed in France in January 1916.
10 August 1917 : amalgamated with 27th Bn to form 24/27th Battalion.
26 February 1918 : disbanded in France.
28th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Cramlington in July 1915 as a reserve battalion, from depot companies of 18th and 19th Bns.
1 September 1916 : absorbed into Training Reserve Battalions in 19th Reserve Brigade.
29th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Alnwick in July 1915 as a reserve battalion, from depot companies of Tyneside Scottish Bns.
1 September 1916 : converted into 84th Training Reserve Battalion in 20th Reserve Brigade.
30th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Woolsington in July 1915 as a reserve battalion, from depot companies of Tyneside Irish Bns.
1 September 1916 : converted into 85th Training Reserve Battalion in 20th Reserve Brigade.
31st (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Catterick in July 1915 as a reserve battalion, from depot company of 16th Bn.
1 September 1916 : converted into 86th Training Reserve Battalion in 20th Reserve Brigade.
32nd (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Ripon in July 1915 as a reserve battalion, from depot company of 17th Bn.
1 September 1916 : converted into 80th Training Reserve Battalion in 19th Reserve Brigade.
33rd (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Hornsea in June 1916 from 29th (Reserve) Battalion.
1 September 1916 : converted into 80th Training Reserve Battalion in 19th Reserve Brigade.
34th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Hornsea in June 1916 from 30th (Reserve) Battalion.
1 September 1916 : absorbed into Training Reserve Battalions in 19th Reserve Brigade.
Other Battalions
37th (Home Service) Battalion
Formed in Margate on 27 April 1918 and then located at St. Nicholas-at-Wade in Kent.
38th (Home Service) Battalion
Formed in Margate on 1 June 1918 but absorbed into 22nd Battalion on 18 June.
1st Garrison Battalion
Formed in August 1915 and went to Malta.
2nd Garrison Battalion
Formed in Newcastle in October 1915 and went to India. Was at Ahmednagar in 1917 and 1918.
3rd (Home Service) Garrison Battalion
Formed in Sunderland in March 1916 and went to Ireland.
39th Battalion
Formed at the depot 10 May 1919, went to France 1 August 1919 and was disbanded 5 March 1920.
40th Battalion
Little known except disbanded in France 19 September 1920.
Books
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Links
42nd (East Lancashire) Division
59th 2nd North Midland) Division
63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division
66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division
Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry
N. Storey’s excellent website on the 4th Battalion
Dedication
This page is dedicated to our great uncle James McSloy, 14th (Service) Battalion, wounded by a machine gun bullet to the stomach while the battalion was digging a reserve trench. He subsequently died of his wounds and is buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension. Never forgotten by his family.