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- 3rd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps during the Great War -


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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

3rd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps



   3rd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps were in Meerut, India, part of Bareilly Brigade, Meerut Division when war broke out in August 1914. They returned to England arriving on the 18th of November and joined 80th Brigade, 27th Division at Magdalen Hill Camp near Winchester. They proceeded to France via Southampton on the 21st of December 1914 landing at Le Havre. The Division concentrated in the area between Aire and Arques being joined by Territorial units taken from other Divisions. In 1915 they saw action at St Eloi and in The Second Battle of Ypres. In November they were ordered to Salonika in November 1915 and on the 18th the 3rd KRRC sailed from Marseilles, arriving on the 5th of December. Between the 30th of September and 2nd of October 1916 they were engaged in the capture of Karajakois, followed swiftly by the capture of Yenikoi and then the battle of Tumbitza Farm In 1917 they were in action durinhg the capture of Homondos. In mid 1918 a number of units returned to France and in Sepetember the remaining units of the 27th Division were in action in the final offensive in Salonika, including the capture of the Roche Noir Salient, the passage of the Vardar river and the pursuit to the Strumica valley. Hostilities with Bulgaria ceased on the 30th of September, the 27th Division continued to advance and war wasordered to halt and turn about on the 2nd of November, being ordered to the Black Sea. The Division reached Constantinople on the 19th of December and set up a HQ at Tiflis in January 1919. The Division was finally disbanded on the 24th of September 1919 at Batum.

26th May 1915 Reliefs  location map

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Want to know more about 3rd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps?


There are:5231 items tagged 3rd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.


Those known to have served with

3rd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Barker Albert Aspden. Rflmn. (d.28th Oct 1917)
  • Edwards Samuel. Pte
  • Foljambe Hubert Francis Fitzwilliam Brabazon. Major. (d.14th Sep 1914)
  • Franks Jacob. Rfmn. (d.1st Sep 1918)
  • Grattan-Bellew MC,MID Charles Christopher. Lt.Col.
  • Gravenor John Edward. Pte. (d.29th Jul 1916)
  • Green Edward Francis. Rflm. (d.21st Nov 1916)
  • Jordan Squire. L/Cpl. (d.10th May 1915)
  • Lockie Regnald. Pte.
  • London Frederick William. Rfm. (d.4th May 1915)
  • Machin Reginald. RSM.
  • Moss Thomas James. Pte. (d.16th May 1915)
  • Palmer Rupert. Rfmn. (d.16th June 1918)
  • Priske DCM. Thomas Benjamin. Pte.
  • Spencer Edwin. Rifleman (d.10th May 1915)
  • Wilson John Alpha. Cpl. (d.5th June 1917)
  • Wilson Joseph. Sgt. (d.8th May 1915)
  • Wilson Joseph. Sgt. (d.8th May 1915)
  • Young Benjamin George. Pte.

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 3rd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps from other sources.


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  Pte. Benjamin George Young 3rd Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps

George Young wonthe Novices Welterweight Boxing Championship whilst serving in the 3rd Battalion, KRRC.

Christopher Young






  Sgt. Joseph Wilson 3rd Btn., D Company Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.8th May 1915)

Joseph Wilson was identified whilst researching into Irish soldiers' wills that are located in the National Archives of Ireland in Dublin.

John Black






  Pte. John Edward Gravenor 3rd Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.29th Jul 1916)

Medals were issued to John Gravenor in 1922 alongside the death Penny. From the records, our family can only assume John went missing in action as at some point on his records someone wrote deserted 29th of July 1916 only for this to be crossed out.

His body was never found and his name was missed off any war memorials for nearly 100 years. After petitioning the Commonwealth War Grave Commission, his name will be added to the Dorian Memorial in Salonika. The place in which he died. A week before the centenary of his death our family managed to get his name added to the Birmingham hall of memory in the Book of Remembrance. I heard many stories about John when growing up from older members of my family. Their story always was that he was crossing a river and never returned to his battalion. He was my great uncle.

Nikki Medlicott Hulme






  L/Cpl. Squire Jordan 3rd Btn Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.10th May 1915)

Squire Jordan was my Grandad's brother. My Grandad William had arrived in France with the Scots Guards and they hoped to meet up because they hadn't seen one another since Squire joined up as a regular. We have a copy of a letter from Squire dated 23rd of April 1915 where he described himself 'as well as can be expected'. He was killed on the 10th of May 1915 never having the chance to see his little brother one last time.

Linda Fteedman






  Rfmn. Jacob Franks 2/2nd Btn. London Regiment (d.1st Sep 1918)

Jacob Franks was a regular soldier serving with 3rd Kings Royal Rifle Corps. His service record has been lost (one of the burnt records). However, he is shown on the 1911 census as serving with the KRRC at Shorncliffe, Kent.

He was married in April 1918 but was killed in Sept 1918 whilst serving with 2/2nd London Regiment and he is commemorated on the CWGC memorial at Vis en Artois in France. It is not known why he was serving with the London Regiment, a battlefield casualty replacement perhaps. Certainly his old Regiment stayed in Salonika till the end of the war so the reason is a mystery.







  Sgt. Joseph Wilson 3rd Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.8th May 1915)

Joseph Wilson was killed in action during the 2nd Battle of Ypres. Remembered with Honour on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Roger Mawhinney






  Pte. Thomas Benjamin Priske DCM. 3rd Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps

Thomas Priske was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His citation, published in the London Gazette on the 11th of March 1916 reads, "5564 Pte T B Priske 3rd Btn. KRRC, For conspicuous gallantry. All telephonic communication having been destroyed by heavy shell fire, he continually carried important messages from Battalion to Brigade Headquarters under heavy rifle, machine gun and shell fire."

Dave Redfern






  Rifleman Edwin Spencer 3rd Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.10th May 1915)

Edwin Spencer is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres.

Colette






  Rflmn. Albert Aspden Barker 3rd Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.28th Oct 1917)

Albert Aspden Barker died on the 28th October 1917 and is buried in the Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery in Greece.

s flynn






  Cpl. John Alpha Wilson 3rd Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.5th June 1917)

John Wilson died on the 5th of June 1917, aged 27 and is buried in the Mikra British Cemetery in Kalamaria, Greece. He was the son of John Henry and Amy Florence Wilson of 13 Guy St., Burnley, Lancashire.

s flynn






  Rflm. Edward Francis Green 3rd Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.21st Nov 1916)

My grandfather Edward Green was posted to Salonika, Greece in late 1915. The battalion were engaged in many battles throughout 1916 but was then severely affected by an outbreak of malaria. All ill or wounded soldiers were taken to hospitals in Malta and it was there, on 21st November 1916 that he died of the disease. As Malta is very rocky and there were many casualties he was buried in the military cemetery along with two other soldiers - i.e three to a grave.

<p>Military cemetary Malta

James Green






  Pte. Thomas James Moss 3rd Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.16th May 1915)

Thomas James Moss, was killed on 16th May 1915, he died of 'Battle Wounds'. He was aged 24, leaving his wife (My Grandma) a widow at 21. They had married just over two years before on the 26th December 1912.

Thomas James Moss will be having his name read out on 11th November 2014, at the Tower of London, as part of the 'Roll call of Honor' to remember those that died and fought during the First World war, 100 years ago this year.

Lorraine Bates






  Major. Hubert Francis Fitzwilliam Brabazon Foljambe 3rd Btn. King's Royal Rifle Corps (d.14th Sep 1914)

Major Hubert Foljambe served with the King's Royal Rifle Corps 3rd Battalion. He was killed in action in the 1st Battle of Aisne in September 1914.

s flynn






  Lt.Col. Charles Christopher Grattan-Bellew MC,MID 3rd Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps

On the 27th Feb 1908, Sir Charles Christopher Grattan-Bellew, cadet of the Royal Military Collage Sandhurst, was granted a commission as second Lieutenant in the 3rd battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps based in Crete. The 3rd soon moved to Malta in 1909 and then onto Daghsa in India. Followlng Sir Charles promotion to Lieutenant he was seconded to the Colonial Office on the 21st June 1911,employed as an officer with the Gold Coast Regiment ,this was a popular secondment with officers of the KRRC looking for action. On the 31st July 1914 the British Colonial Administration in Accra mobilised it's military forces entering Tongoland from the Gold Coast,where on the & August a German led Police force opened fire on the British troops,who returned fire with the first shots of the first world war.By the 26th August Tongoland surrendered. Sir Charles stayed with the force until his promotion on the 30th April 1915,then he returned to the KRRC as a casualty replacement in France. Now with the 4th Battalion 80th Brigade,in the 27th division,taking part in the second battle of Yepes.On the 19 November the division sailed from Marcelle to Solonica, to make up a Franco-British force.Sir Charles served with the 4th until the 1st October 1916 were he was appointed a General Staff Officer 3rd class.On the 29th March 1917, Sir Charles is mentioned in despatches by Lt General G F Milne,ironically 5 days after his brother, Major William Grattan-Bellew Royal Flying Corps was Killed. By the 14 August 1917 Sir Charles was promoted to Brigade Major,and on the 25th Feb awarded the Military Cross, for Distinguished Military Service during operations in Solonica.On the 3rd June he was promoted to Brevet Major in recognition of distinguished service. In December Sir Charles rejoined the 4th in Belgium,and by the 23rd April 1921, now serving with the 1st battalion he gained his last promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. During WW2 Sir Charles was recalled to service and commanded troop ships for the entire war.On the 5th Feb Sir Charles ceased to belong to the Reserve of Officers,so ending a long and distinguished career.

Nicholas.W.L.Hindle






  Rfm. Frederick William London 3rd Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.4th May 1915)

Unfortunately not a lot is known from family members as Frederick was killed in Action and no medals or service records remain in our possession. All info comes from military death records and British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards.

Frederick William London was my Great Grandfather, a French Polisher, son of Frederick London a Cabinet Maker from Salibury, Wiltshire. Born in St Pancras, London, in approx 1877 and married in 1899 to Georgina Henrietta Jobe in Christ Church, Somers Town, St Pancras, London.

He enlisted into the 3rd Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps from St Pancras, I think in 1914 and would have travelled to Winchester and joined the 80th Brigade in the 27th Division. The 27th Division embarked at Southampton on the 19th - 21st December and disembarked at le Havre between the 20th and 23rd of December. The 27th Division served on the Western Front in France and Belgium until November, 1915. In the following month it embarked for the Macedonian Front, on which it served for the remainder of the War.

From what info I can find and his date of death I think Frederick died in the Second Battle of Ypres 22nd April to the 25th May 1915 possibly the Battle of St Julien. He was 39 years old and left his wife Georgina, daughter Agnes 13 yrs, son George 5 yrs and son Fred 2 yrs. He is remembered at the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial Panels 51 and 53

Scott London






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