Regimental Depot
Victoria Barracks, Belfast.
Battalions of the Regular Army
1st Battalion
August 1914 : stationed in Aden.
Returned to UK and landed at Liverpool on 22 October 1914.
Moved to Hursley Park and came under command of 25th Brigade in 8th Division.
6 November 1914 : landed at Le Havre in France.
3 February 1918 : transferred to 107th Brigade in 36th (Ulster) Division.
2nd Battalion
August 1914 : stationed at Tidworth. Part of 7th Brigade in 3rd Division.
14 August 1914 : landed at Rouen in France.
8 October 1915 : transferred with Brigade to 25th Division.
26 October 1915 : transferred to 74th Brigade in same Division.
13 November 1917 : transferred to 108th Brigade in 36th (Ulster) Division, absorbing 7th Battalion.
8 February 1918 : transferred to 107th Brigade in same Division.
3rd (Reserve) Battalion
August 1914 : at regimental depot.
Moved to Dublin on mobilisation.
Returned to Belfast in April 1916.
Moved to England in April 1918, going to Larkhill. Absorbed the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th (Reserve) Battalions in May.
4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion
August 1914 : at Newtownards. A training unit of the Special Reserve, it moved on mobilisation to Holywood Barracks, with detachments going on coast defences. Moved to Carrickfergus in April 1915 and on to Newry in April 1917. Moved to England in April 1918, going to Larkhill.
5th (Extra Reserve) Battalion
August 1914 : at Downpatrick. A training unit of the Special Reserve, it moved on mobilisation to Belfast. Moved to Holywood in May 1915 and on to Ballykinlar in March 1918. Moved to England in April 1918, going to Larkhill.
The badge of the regiment as depicted on a CWGC grave headstone. Image courtesy of the excellent Ben Sutherland collection at flickr.com, with thanks.
Battalions of the Territorial Force
As the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act of 1907 did not call for the creation of TF units in Ireland, the regiment had no TF battalions.
Battalions of the New Armies
6th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Dublin in August 1914 as part of K1 and came under command of 29th Brigade in 10th (Irish) Division. Moved to the Curragh in February 1915.
May 1915 : moved to Hackwood Park (Basingstoke).
7 July 1915: embarked at Liverpool and sailed to Gallipoli via Mudros. Landed Anzac Cove 5 August 1915.
29 September 1915 : moved via Mudros to Salonika, arriving 4-5 October.
September 1917 : moved to Egypt for service in Palestine.
15 May 1918 : disbanded at Deir-el-Nidham.
7th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Belfast in September 1914 as part of K2 and came under command of 48th Brigade in 16th (Irish) Division. Moved in January 1915 to Ballyvonare.
5 March 1915 : absorbed a company of the Royal Jersey Militia. Moved in June 1915 to Ballyholley and to England in September, going to Aldershot.
20 December 1915 : landed at le Havre.
23 August 1917 : transferred to 49th Brigade in same Division.
14 October 1917 : transferred to 108th Brigade in 36th (Ulster) Division. Absorbed into 2nd Bn on 14 November 1917.
8th (Service) Battalion (East Belfast)
Formed in Belfast in September 1914 from the Belfast Volunteers. Moved to Ballykinlare and came under orders of 107th Brigade in 36th (Ulster) Division.
July 1915 : moved to Seaford.
October 1915 : landed at Boulogne.
29 August 1917 : amalgamated with 9th Bn to form 8/9th Bn.
7 February 1918 : disbanded in France.
9th (Service) Battalion (West Belfast)
Formed in Belfast in September 1914 from the Belfast Volunteers. Record same as 8th Bn.
10th (Service) Battalion (South Belfast)
Formed in Belfast in September 1914 from the Belfast Volunteers. Moved at first to Newcastle and disbanded on 20 February 1918 but otherwise record same as 8th Bn.
11th (Service) Battalion (South Antrim)
Formed in County Antrim in September 1914 from the Antrim Volunteers. Came under orders of 108th Brigade in 36th (Ulster) Division. Moved to Clandeboye in December 1914.
July 1915 : moved to Seaford.
October 1915 : landed at Boulogne.
13 November 1917 : amalgamated with 13th Bn to form 11/13th Bn.
18 February 1918 : disbanded in France, troops going to 22nd Entrenching Battalion.
12th (Service) Battalion (Central Antrim)
Formed in County Antrim in September 1914 from the Antrim Volunteers. Moved to Newtownards and came under orders of 108th Brigade in 36th (Ulster) Division.
July 1915 : moved to Seaford.
October 1915 : landed at Boulogne.
13th (Service) Battalion (1st County Down)
Formed in County Down in September 1914 from the Down Volunteers. Moved to Clandeboye and came under orders of 108th Brigade in 36th (Ulster) Division. Record same as 11th Bn.
14th (Service) Battalion (Young Citizens)
Formed in Belfast in September 1914 from the Belfast Volunteers. Came under orders of 109th Brigade in 36th (Ulster) Division. Moved to Bundoran in December 1914, going on to Randalstown in January 1915.
July 1915 : moved to Seaford.
October 1915 : landed at Boulogne.
18 February 1918 : disbanded in France.
15th (Service) Battalion (North Belfast)
Formed in Belfast in September 1914 from the Belfast Volunteers. Moved to Ballykinlar and came under orders of 107th Brigade in 36th (Ulster) Division.
July 1915 : moved to Seaford.
October 1915 : landed at Boulogne.
16th (Service) Battalion (2nd County Down) (Pioneers)
Formed at Lurgan in September 1914 from the Down Volunteers. became Pioneer Battalion to 36th (Ulster) Division in January 1915.
July 1915 : moved to Seaford.
October 1915 : landed at Le Havre.
17th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Newcastle in March 1915 as a Reserve Battalion, from depot companies of 8th, 9th and 10th Bns. Moved to Ballykinlar in October 1915 and went on to Dundalk in August 1917. Moved to England in April 1918, going to Larkhill where absorbed by 3rd (Reserve) Bn.
18th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Holywood in April 1915 as a Reserve Battalion, from depot companies of 11th and 12th Bns. Moved to Clandeboye in July 1915. Moved to England in April 1918, going to Larkhill where absorbed by 3rd (Reserve) Bn.
19th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Newcastle around October 1915 as a Reserve Battalion, from depot companies of 14th and 15th Bns. Moved to England in April 1918, going to Larkhill where absorbed by 3rd (Reserve) Bn.
20th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Holywood around November 1915 as a Reserve Battalion, from depot companies of 13th and 16th Bns. Moved to Dublin but was at Newtownards by February 1916. Moved to England in April 1918, going to Larkhill where absorbed by 3rd (Reserve) Bn.
Other Battalions
1st Garrison Battalion
Formed in Dublin in November 1915 and moved to India in February 1916. Some evidence that it was at Dundalk shortly before departure. Appears to have been at Cawnpore, Allahabad and possibly Shahjahanpur.