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12th Battalion, Rifle Brigade
12th (Service) Battalion, Rifle Brigade was raised at Winchester in September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Second New Army and joined 60th Brigade, 20th (Light) Division. After initail training in the Winchester area they moved to Blackdown, then in February 1915 to Witley and to Larkhill in April for final training. They proceeded to France on the 22nd of July 1915, landing at Boulogne, the division concentrating in the Saint-Omer area. They moved to the Fleurbaix area for trench familiarisation. In 1916 they were in action at the The Battle of Mount Sorrel, in which the Division, along with the Canadians, recaptured the heights. They were in action on the Somme in The Battle of Delville Wood, The Battle of Guillemont, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Morval and The Battle of Le Transloy. In 1917 they were in action during The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The Battle of Langemarck, The Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, The Battle of Polygon Wood and The Cambrai Operations. In 1918 they fought in The Battle of St Quentin, The actions at the Somme crossings and The Battle of Rosieres engaging in heavy fighting in each battle, on the 20th of April they were withdrawn to the area south west of Amiensand received many new drafts of men during the summer. They returned to action at The Battle of the Selle and fought in The Battle of Valenciennes, The Battle of the Sambr and the passage of the Grand Honelle. At the Armitice the Division was in the area between Bavay and Maubeuge and later that month the units moved to the Toutencourt-Marieux area. Demobilistion of the Division began in January 1919 and was complete by the end of May.
Jul 1915 Training Instruction
Jul 1915 Billets
20th Jul 1915 On the Move 
22nd Jul 1915 On the Move
23rd Jul 1915 On the Move
26th Jul 1915 Orders Issued
25th Sep 1915 12th Rifle Brigade in Support
25th Sep 1915 In Action
25th Sep 1915 In Action
25th Sep 1915 In Action
25th Sep 1915 In Action
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
6th Nov 1915 Enemy Tricks
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
9th February 1916 Call Ups
22nd Aug 1916 Relief
16th September 1916 Left Morlancourt at 0330 hours and marched to camp at Citadel.
1st Jan 1917 Reliefs
4th Jan 1917 Relief
8th Jan 1917 Adjustment
23rd Jan 1917 Orders Received
25th Jan 1917 Relief Completed
25th Jan 1917 Boundary
26th Jan 1917 Orders
27th Jan 1917 Attack Made
28th Jan 1917 Reliefs Complete
29th Jan 1917 In Reserve
1st Feb 1917 Training
2nd Feb 1917 Training
3rd Feb 1917 Training
4th Feb 1917 Training
5th Feb 1917 Training
6th Feb 1917 Training
7th Feb 1917 In Reserve
8th Feb 1917 Moves
9th Feb 1917 Reliefs
16th Feb 1917 Reliefs Complete
19th Feb 1917 Post Captured
24th Feb 1917 Bombardment
1st Mar 1917 Explosions and Fires
3rd Mar 1917 Reorganisation
4th Mar 1917 Reorganisation
5th Mar 1917 Instructions
7th Mar 1917 Reorganisation
8th Mar 1917 Outposts
10th Mar 1917 Orders
11th Mar 1917 Defence Scheme
12th Mar 1917 Reliefs
13th Mar 1917 Instructions
14th Mar 1917 Orders
15th Mar 1917 Evacuation
16th Mar 1917 Quiet
17th Mar 1917 Withdrawal
18th Mar 1917 Withdrawal
19th Mar 1917 Outposts
19th Mar 1917 Orders Received
20th Mar 1917 Orders
20th Mar 1917 Orders
21st Mar 1917 Line Occupied
22nd Mar 1917 Reliefs
23rd Mar 1917 Reliefs
24th Mar 1917 Patrol
25th Mar 1917 Reorganisation
26th Mar 1917 Ground Gained
27th Mar 1917 Advance
28th Mar 1917 Attack
29th Mar 1917 Advance
30th Mar 1917 Advance
31st Mar 1917 Orders
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with12th Battalion, Rifle Brigade during the Great War 1914-1918. - Allard William. Rflmn (d.1st April 1916)
- Barton Walter. Rfm. (d.27th Sep 1915)
- Chapman Charles Frederick.
- Cliffe Frank. Rfm. (d.25th Sep 1915)
- Coyne Patrick Joseph. Rfmn. (d.17th Aug 1917)
- Cullis Henry Thoreau. 2nd Lt. (d.10th Dec 1915)
- Cumpstey Fred. Pte.
- Dickerson Walter. Pte.
- Dixon Frederick Charles. Sergeant (d.9th Sep 1915)
- Elms Thomas. (d.21st September 1917)
- Esquilant Frederick Alfred. Sgt. (d.2nd Dec 1917)
- Essex Reginald William. Pte. (d.22nd Feb 1916)
- Field Walter Thomas. Cpl. (d.5th Sep 1916)
- Gayes Andrew George. Rflmn. (d.30th November 1917)
- Gregory William Thomas. Pte. (d.17th August 1917)
- Harvey Ernest Edgar. Rfmn. (d.29th Dec 1915)
- Hulse Percy. Cpl. (d.26th Sept 1915)
- Johnstone George Elder. Rflmn. (d.28th Sep 1917)
- Jones Frederick George. Rifleman (d.17th Sep 1916)
- Legg Edward John. L/Cpl. (d.7th Oct 1916)
- Maycock Charles Ernest. Sgt. (d.30th Nov 1917)
- Myatt Walter Albert. Rflmn. (d.30 November 1917)
- Parfitt Frederick William. Rfmn. (d.29th Jun 1916)
- Pitches Charles John. Rfl. (d.19th June 1917)
- Plom Charles Leonard. Rflmn.
- Searle Walter. Pte. (d.19th October 1916)
- Seeger Albert Edward. Rifleman (d.20th Sep 1917)
- Southam George William. Rfm. (d.8th Sep 1915)
- Stewart Cecil. L/Corporal (d.1st May 1917)
- Stewart Cecil . L/Cpl. (d. 1st May 1917)
- Taylor Arthur Leonard. 2nd Lt. (d.19th November 1918)
- Taylor John William. Pte. (d.7th Jan 1917)
- Witts Arthur Thomas. Cpl.
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 12th Battalion, Rifle Brigade from other sources.
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Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
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Rfmn. Ernest Edgar Harvey 12th Btn. Rifle Brigade (d.29th Dec 1915) Ernest Harvey served with the 12th Battalion, Rifle Brigade.
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Rflmn. George Elder Johnstone 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade (d.28th Sep 1917) George Johnstone was my maternal Great Grandfather.
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L/Cpl. Edward John Legg 12th Btn. Rifle Brigade (d.7th Oct 1916)  Edward Legg was born 29th of December 1889 in Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
He was a Seaman from Williamstown, Victoria, Australia, he had landed in England and was waiting for a ship, when war broke out. On the 8th of September he enlisted at the Admiralty Recruiting Office in London, went directly to Rifle Depot, Winchester. On the 10th her was posted to the 9th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, 14th (Light) Division but on the 1st of October was
transferred 12th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, 20th (Light) Division. He landed in France with 12th Rifle Brigade on the 21st of July 1915.
On the 6th of June 1916 he was wounded, a gun shot in right eye and forehead while in the Potijze sector of the Ypres Salient. He was admitted to 17th Casualty Clearing Station the next day and evacuated via No 6 Ambulance Train to No 1 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples where he was admitted on the 8th of June. On the 10th he was transferred No 26 General Hospital and on the 27th to
No 20 Infantry Base Depot, Etaples for convalescence. Edward rejoined the 12th Rifle Brigade on teh 7th of July 1916 near Ypres. from the 15th to 19th he was treated at a Local Field Ambulance for scabies. He was wounded, gun shot to face a second time on the 13th of August 1916 and
admitted to No.29 Casualty Clearing Station and evacuated via No 21 Ambulance Train the next day.
On the 16th he was admitted No 25 General Hospital at Hardelot his injuries recorded as GSW and he was also noted as suffering from urticaria.
He was transferred No 47 Infantry Base Depot, Hardelot for convalescence on the 6th of September and on the 8th was appointed Lance Corporal (unpaid) rejoining 12th Rifle Brigade at
Corbie two days later. Edward was recorded as missing in action on the 7th of October 1916 and officially presumed to have died on or since that date on the 9th of November 1918.
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Pte. Walter Dickerson 12th Btn. B Coy. Rifle Brigade Great uncle Walter Dickerson was captured on 30th of November 1917 at Cambrai.
The ICRC POW record, which incorrectly lists him under Dickinson shows him as being interned at Cottbus on 20th of September 1918 having been moved from Munster II.
A family story handed down is that he was tortured during his internment, which involved the removal or pulling of all of his finger and toe nails. He returned from the war without the use of his legs. He lived with one of his brothers, James in Kilburn, North London, where he used to propel himself about on a small wheeled trolley.
He died in February 1947, age 68.
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2nd Lt. Henry Thoreau Cullis 15th Btn. att. 12th Btn. Rifle Brigade (d.10th Dec 1915) I have come across the name of 2nd Lt Henry T Cullis in a Memorial Plaque at the Bengal Club, Calcutta, India. I would like to have some more information about this officer. Prior to the war he served in India, possibly Calcutta as an Imperial Civil Service officer. There are 15 other names on whom the search is on.
Any help will be much appreciated - so that they are not merely names. Perhaps their descendants/living family members would like to know about it.
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Rfl. Charles John Pitches 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade (d.19th June 1917) My Great Grandfather Chas Pitches died in a field hospital as a result of injuries received in the line of duty. His grave is in Grevillers.
Somewhere in the family, there are some letters from the Matron to my Great Grandmother advising her of his progress and prior to that a handful of touching letters to her from my Great Grandfather whilst on active service.
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Sgt. Frederick Alfred Esquilant 12th Btn., C Coy. Rifle Brigade (d.2nd Dec 1917) Frederick Esquilant was born in 1875. He married Amelia Jane Suttle in 1892. When he entered the army he had four children: Amelia, Nelly, Ivy and Frederick.
Frederick entered the war at age 40. He became a Sergeant in the latter part of the war. He died on 2nd of December 1917. He was possibly killed in the Battle of Cambrai, as that was where the 12th Rifle Brigade fought during 1917. That battle was fought between 20th November 1917 and 8th December 1917.
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Pte. Walter Searle 12th Btn. Rifle Brigade (d.19th October 1916) Walter Searle died on H.S. Western Australia, France.
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Pte. Reginald William Essex 12th Btn. Rifle Brigade (d.22nd Feb 1916) Reginald Essex served with the 12th Battalion, Rifle Brigade.
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Cpl. Percy Hulse 12th Btn. Rifle Brigade. (d.26th Sept 1915) Percy Hulse died of wounds aged 19 and is buried in Merville Communal Cemetery in France.
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2nd Lt. Arthur Leonard Taylor 10th Btn Sherwood Foresters (d.19th November 1918) Arthur Leonard Taylor served with 7th and 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade. On 29th January 1918 he was commissioned into 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters as an Acting 2nd Lieutenant.
He died on the 19th of Novemeber 1918) following a head injury from shrapnel on 13th November. An account of his injury can be found in the Regimental archives.
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Rfmn. Frederick William Parfitt 12th Btn. Rifle Brigade (d.29th Jun 1916) In the 1911 Census: Frederick Parfitt is listed as an Oil Salesman and Travelling Draper's Assistant, living at Ripley, a small village near Woking in Surrey.
Rifleman Frederick Parfitt, S/2352, served with the 12th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. He died on 29th June 1916. Fred is buried in Vlamertinge Military Cemetery, Belgium. [No records are held of place or circumstances of death]
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Rfmn. Patrick Joseph Coyne 12th Btn. Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consorts Own) (d.17th Aug 1917) Patrick Joseph Coyne died aged 20, he was the of John and Margaret Coyne (nee Ging) of 72 Canning Street Hebburn, he was born and lived in Hebburn. The 1911 census records, Patrick Joseph Coyne,age 14, at School, living with his parents John and Margaret Coyne and family at 210 Cuthbert Street, Hebburn. He enlisted at Jarrow.
Patrick is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial and is commemorated on the Palmer Cenotaph (south face) Jarrow.
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Pte. Fred Cumpstey 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade My Grandfather, Fred Cumpstey, was born on 7 September 1883 in Blackburn, Lancashire. He married Clara Heyes in Blackburn on 27 September 1902.
At the outbreak of the Great War he volunteered to join Kitchener’s 2nd Army and at the time of his Enlistment on 4 September 1914 he was 31 years of age and at that time had 4 young children, ages 8 years, 7 years, 4 years and 12 months old.
He joined the 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own), which was formed in Winchester in September 1914 subsequently moving to Blackdown in February 1915, to Witley and then in April 1915 to Larkhill. On 21 July 1915, the Battalion arrived at Southampton Docks and in the evening embarked on SS Viper to sail to Havre, France. The following day they arrived in St Omer before marching into billets at Tatinghem.
My Grandfather was severely wounded in the fierce fighting which occurred on 25 September 1915 at Pietre in a battle which was associated with the Battle of Loos. He survived, and was subsequently discharged on 16 May 1917 as a consequence of his wounds. Although disabled, his right leg was pinned at the knee and he suffered other injuries as a result of mortar fire and shrapnel, he lived an active and fulfilling life until his death in March 1963 in his 80th year. He was a remarkable man and my hero.
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Rifleman Frederick George Jones 12th Service Battalion Rifle Brigade (d.17th Sep 1916) Frederick George Jones was born at Peckham London in 1894. He was the second son of a George and Emily Martha Jones and came from a large family and had several sisters including my Grandmother, Gertrude Annie Jones. George's brother, Charles Jones, served with the East Surrey regiment and survived the war having suffered from frost bite early in 1915.
Fred worked as a pawn broker's assistant at Hyde's of Tooting before the war but joined up as one of Kitchner's Army (K2) when the war broke out.
Fred joined the Rifle Brigade and was assigned to the 12th Service Battalion leaving for France on the 27th October 1915.
He saw action with the Battalion in 1916 and at some point in 1916 was transferred to the 1st Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corp. The story is told that he was sitting in the trenches near Heubeterne when the Germans peppered the front line trenches with shell fire. Fred and one other soldier were killed. The date was the 17th September 1916.
Fred was buried at the Military Cemetery in Heubeterne shortly after along with the other soldier killed on the same day Rifleman Attenborough. They both lie there still side by side. The 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifles war diary confirms that two ordinary ranks were killed on this date.
Fred was 23 years old when he was killed and he was greatly missed by his sisters, brothers and mother and father. My grandmother would stand each year on Remembrance Day the 11th November at 11 O clock and cry as she remembered her brother.
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Cpl. Walter Thomas Field 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade (d.5th Sep 1916) My Great Uncle, Corporal Walter Thomas Field, was killed in WW1 in France.
He died on 5th September 1916. He volunteered at Winchester on 9th September 1914. I would love to find out where he actually died and where he is buried.
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Rfm. Walter Barton 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade (d.27th Sep 1915) My great uncle, Walter Barton, is buried in Merville, located about 15 kilometers from Bethune, Northern France. It was a billeting and hospital center from 1915 to 1918. All the British soldiers buried there were those who died in hospitals. There are over 1000 graves of British casualties in the CWGC cemetery at Merville Communal Cemetery. Unfortunately I do not know where he was injured and when exactly it happened.
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Rfm. Frank Cliffe 12th Battalion Rifle Regiment (d.25th Sep 1915) Frank Cliffe was my great uncle. He joined up in Sept 1914, at Winchester. He then went to Larkhill, from there he landed in Boulogne. He then took part in the Battle of Loos, in the attack at Pietre, where he was killed on the 25th of September 1915, on the first day of the Battle, at the age of 19yrs.
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Rfm. George William Southam 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) (d.8th Sep 1915) George Southam was almost 20 years old when he died from War wounds in France and Flanders. I know very little of the man himself, as I am researching in regards to my family tree, and have traced him to be my 1st cousin twice removed. He was the eldest of his siblings and was the only one who was able to fight, my heart goes out to all of those who fought in any of the wars, and to anybody who lost somebody dear.
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Pte. John William Taylor 12th Btn. Rifle Brigade (d.7th Jan 1917) Jack Taylor was one of 4 killed men when a German shell burst in the trench. Three others were wounded.
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